Program Overview

Master of Public Health Online (MPH@UNC)

The Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers its Master of Public Health (MPH) program on-campus and online. The program prepares students to anticipate and combat the most urgent public health challenges that local and global communities face today.

Program Overview

The online MPH@UNC program offers three accredited concentrations: applied epidemiology, leadership and nutrition. Upon graduation, students join a network of more than 22,000 Gillings School alumni who live and work around the world.

Program History

For more than 80 years, the UNC Gillings School has provided world-class education that bridges the gap between conducting innovative research and incorporating research findings into real-world practice with life-saving results.

Rankings and Accreditation

Gillings is ranked the No. 1 public school of public health by U.S. News & World Report. The School’s mission is to improve public health, promote individual well-being and eliminate health inequities across North Carolina and around the world.

Admissions Requirements

• Online application
• Résumé or CV
• Unofficial transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended
• Statement of purpose
• Three letters of recommendation GRE scores are not required to apply.

Program Structure

The UNC MPH online program consists of 42 credit hours and a 200-hour (minimum) applied practice experience. It was designed to prepare students to lead sustainable change that makes a world of difference — and a different, healthier world.

Concentrations

• Applied Epidemiology: Students learn to use data to improve population health, focusing on public health surveillance, study design, research questions and methods for sharing their findings with diverse audiences.
• Leadership in Practice: Students train in how to lead organizations, projects and teams to eliminate health disparities, improve individual well-being, and foster positive change in local and global communities. The practical solutions to systemic challenges at the core of this concentration are applicable to any area of public health.
• Nutrition, Food Systems and Health: Students explore nutrition science, behavior change, counseling and the effects of dietary culture. Graduates possess the skills to assess scientific evidence for nutritional guidelines, evaluate how community factors affect diet and craft communications related to public health nutrition programs.

Curriculum and Faculty

The online MPH offers three start dates per year: Spring, Summer and Fall. Students complete the same rigorous coursework as their counterparts in the residential program and attend live classes taught by Gillings faculty members who are leaders in their fields.

Faculty List

A list of faculty members includes:

• Zara Ahmed, MPH, MPP, DrPH
• Maha Asham, MD, MPH
• Carol E. Breland, MPH, RRT
• Elizabeth Cahn Goodman, JD, DrPH, MSW
• Frankie Catalfumo, MPH, CIC
• Jill Center, MPH, DrPH
• Carrie Cochran-McClain, DrPH, MPA
• Angela Consentino, MPH
• Sheila F. Davies, PhD
• Celeste Davis, MPH, JD
• Laura DiGrande, DrPH, MPH
• Margaret Eaglin, MPH, MUPP
• Kristie Fitzwater Mikus, MPA, DrPH
• Mehrete Girmay, PhD, MPH, CGH
• Amy Guisinger Edgecomb, PharmD, MPH
• Laura Hoemeke, DrPH
• Christelene Horton, PhD, MPH, MS
• Daria Igudesman
• Diane R. Johnson, MPH
• Douan M. Kirivong, DrPH, MPH
• Dr. Allison Maria Lacko, Ph.D.
• Judy Lester, MS, RDN, CSG, LDN
• Sharon E. Loza, PhD
• Brieanne Lyda-McDonald, MSPH
• Diona Martyn, PhD, RN, PHNA-BC
• Mackenzie Reeser, MPH
• Danielle C. Robinson, MPH, PhD
• Jan Lee Santos MD, MHA, MA
• Alice J. Schenall, DrPH, MPH
• Randy Schwartz, MSPH
• Aimee Shea, MPH, RD, LD
• Tina Simpson, JD, MSPH
• Kristin Sullivan, PhD
• Emily C. Taylor, MPH
• W.H. Davin Townley-Tilson, PhD, MPH
• Katherine L. Turner, MPH
• Eduardo Valverde, DrPH
• Jaimee Watts Isley
• Enjoli Willis, DrPH, MPH, CHES
• Brandon G. Wilson, DrPH, MHA
• Dana Wollins, DrPH, MGC
• Niketta Womack
• Daria Yang, MD, MPH, CPHQ, ACHE

Conclusion

The Master of Public Health Online (MPH@UNC) program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a comprehensive and accredited program designed to prepare students for careers in public health. With its strong faculty, rigorous curriculum, and three concentrations, the program offers students a well-rounded education that prepares them to make a difference in the field of public health.