Program Overview

Master of Public Health Curriculum

The Master of Public Health (MPH) program at Tufts University is designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and real-world experience to make a lasting impact in public health. The program combines rigorous academic training with practical experience, specializations, and flexible learning formats.

Program Overview

The MPH program consists of 42 credits, ensuring a comprehensive education with core courses, six concentration options, and electives. The curriculum is built upon key competencies encompassing:

• Evidence-Based Approaches to Public Health
• Public Health and Health Care Systems
• Planning and Management to Promote Health
• Policy in Public Health, Leadership
• Communication
• Interprofessional Practice
• Systems Thinking

Core Courses

The Tufts MPH curriculum requires students to complete five core courses, which count as 15 credits toward the degree. These courses provide a robust foundation in the essential disciplines of public health:

1. Principles of Epidemiology (3 credits): This course provides an introduction to the epidemiological perspective on health and disease.
2. Public Health Assessment: Data, Determinants, and Systems (3 credits): This course introduces the profession of public health, the social ecological model, the social determinants of health, and health equity.
3. Public Health Action: Programs, Policy, and Advocacy (3 credits): This course equips public health professionals with the concepts, frameworks, and skills to address critical public health problems.
4. Principles of Biostatistics (3 credits): This course delves into topics including the description and presentation of data, random variables and distributions, descriptive statistics, introduction to probability, estimation, elements of hypothesis testing, and one- and two-sample tests.
5. Evaluation of Public Health Programs (3 credits): This introductory course teaches students how to evaluate public health interventions, addressing formative, process, and outcome evaluation.

Concentration Courses (12 Credits)

The MPH program curriculum offers a range of concentrations, allowing students to specialize in an area that aligns with their interests and career aspirations. Depending on the chosen concentration, students take a set of required courses. The available concentrations include:

• Epidemiology & Biostatistics
• Global Health Science & Practice
• Health Management & Policy
• Individualized
• Nutrition
• Population Health Promotion

Electives (12 Credits)

Regardless of the concentration chosen, the curriculum allows room for additional electives to customize the public health education. Students are encouraged to take two elective courses, equivalent to six credits, outside of the School of Medicine to broaden their perspective and enrich their learning experience.

Study Schedule and Time to Degree Completion

The MPH curriculum offers flexible class schedules, with in-person classes in the morning and afternoon, and online courses in the evening. Most full-time students complete the program in four semesters, but students have up to five years to earn their degree, depending on their pace. An accelerated path (summer entry only) allows students to achieve their MPH degree in just 12 months.

Engaged Practice

The Tufts MPH curriculum incorporates two applied learning elements: the Applied Practice Experience (APE) and the Integrative Learning Experience (ILE). These experiences ensure that students put theory into action, transforming their knowledge into real-world impact.

Skills and Tools for Engaged Practice (STEP) Courses

The STEP three-course sequence provides mentorship and guidance to help students prepare for their practicum and capstone, charting their professional path in public health with confidence.

MPH Program Requirements Overview

The Master of Public Health program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in public health, with a focus on evidence-based approaches, public health and health care systems, planning and management, policy, leadership, communication, interprofessional practice, and systems thinking. The program requires students to complete 42 credits, including core courses, concentration courses, and electives.

MPH Curriculum and Classes FAQs

• What is the difference between the APE and ILE?: The Applied Practice Experience (APE) is a field-based practicum where students apply public health knowledge in a real-world setting, creating practical deliverables for a community partner organization. The Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) is a culminating capstone project that demonstrates students' ability to synthesize and integrate the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program.
• Are online students required to complete the APE?: Yes, all MPH students, whether enrolled in the online or on-campus format, complete the same Applied Practice Experience requirement. Online students can arrange practicum placements in their local communities.
• Can I take classes both online and on-campus?: Yes, students can cross-register to study in a hybrid format, which allows them to balance the flexibility of virtual learning and in-person connection.
• If I’m in the online MPH, how many hours of work can I expect each week?: The online MPH program is designed for flexibility, combining live (synchronous) sessions with self-paced (asynchronous) learning. Each week, students can expect 90 to 120 minutes of live, instructor-led sessions, and 60 to 90 minutes of self-paced activities. That’s about 3 hours of direct instruction per week, with extra time for readings, assignments, and preparation, typically bringing the total to 9–12 hours of work per week.