Program Overview

Program Overview

The MPH in Disaster Management program prepares professionals to apply scientific principles to prevent, detect, and mitigate environmental public health problems and threats associated with natural and technological disasters, locally to globally. Students gain skills to implement population-based interventions to protect communities, particularly vulnerable populations, from natural, accidental, and intentional disasters. This MPH offering is intended for both pre-professionals and mid-career individuals. Students typically have a background in a life or physical science or engineering. This course is offered by Distance Learning and on campus.

Program Competency

Upon completion of the MPH degree in Disaster Management, graduates will have the following competencies:

• Apply scientific principles to prevent, detect, respond to, and mitigate local and global threats to environmental health that are associated with natural and technological disasters.
• Develop population-based interventions to protect communities and particularly vulnerable populations from natural, accidental, and intentional disasters that affect person and community health.
• Develop a strategy (-ies) to improve the capacity of public systems to effectively respond to natural and intentional disasters.
• Evaluate the capacity of public health systems to effectively respond to natural and intentional disasters.
• Apply international, federal, and state regulatory policies, guidelines, and authorities to address public health needs during disasters.

Program Requirements

The MPH Degree in Disaster Management requires 45 credits that includes:

Course List

Course ID | Title | Credits
---|---|---
SPHTM Foundational Requirements|
SPHL 6020| Foundations in Public Health| 3
SPHL 6050| Biostatistics for Public Health| 3
SPHL 6060| Epidemiology for Public Health| 3
SPHL 6070| Health Systems Policy and Management| 3
SPHL 6080| Design Strategies in Public Health Programs| 3
Program Course Requirements|
ENHS 6030| Survey of Environmental Health| 3
ENHS 6600| Principles of Toxicology| 3
ENHS 6910| Health Security Threats| 3
ENHS 6950| Psychosocial Aspects of Disaster| 3
ENHS 7130| Outbreak and Disaster Response Readiness| 3
ENHS 7620| Health Risk Assessment| 3
ENHS 7750| Environmental Policy| 3
Elective Courses| 6
Additional Coursework|
SPHL 6000| Fundamentals of Interprofessional Collaboration & Practice| 1
SPHL 9980| Applied Practice Experience| 1
SPHL 7950| Integrative Learning Experience| 1
Total Credit Hours| 45

Model Course Schedule

Plan of Study Grid Year 1

Fall| Credit Hours
SPHL 6000 | Fundamentals of Interprofessional Collaboration & Practice | 1
SPHL 6020 | Foundations in Public Health | 3
SPHL 6050 | Biostatistics for Public Health | 3
ENHS 6910 | Health Security Threats | 3
ENHS 6030 | Survey of Environmental Health | 3
| Credit Hours| 13
Spring
SPHL 6060 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3
SPHL 6070 | Health Systems Policy and Management | 3
SPHL 6080 | Design Strategies in Public Health Programs | 3
ENHS 7130 | Outbreak and Disaster Response Readiness | 3
| Credit Hours| 12
Summer Session
SPHL 9980 | Applied Practice Experience | 1
| Credit Hours| 1
Year 2
Fall
ENHS 6600 | Principles of Toxicology | 3
ENHS 6950 | Psychosocial Aspects of Disaster | 3
Elective | 3
| Credit Hours| 9
Spring
ENHS 7620 | Health Risk Assessment | 3
ENHS 7750 | Environmental Policy | 3
SPHL 7950 | Integrative Learning Experience | 1
Elective | 3
| Credit Hours| 10
| Total Credit Hours| 45

Program String and Field of Study

PHMPH_GR, EHDM

Faculty Lead

Stephen Murphy, PhD

Catalog Addenda Note

Corrections were made to this program requirements page on 8/19/2025.