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MPH: Master of Public Health

About the MPH Program

MPH Requirements | MD/MPH | MSN/MPH | PhD/MPH

The KU-MPH degree program is nationally accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health

The MPH degree is offered through the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City and the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita in Wichita.  Select courses also available in a Web-based format.

The MPH degree is a 42-credit-hour program that culminates with a practical experience. The MPH student must complete 15 core course hours, a 3 credit hour data management class, a 1 credit hour epidemiology lab, as well as additional courses. Competencies in the five basic public health specialty areas will be provided by the core course work in epidemiology, biostatistics, social and behavioral sciences, health services administration and environmental health sciences.

MPH Degree Requirements

Each candidate shall complete a minimum of 42 credit hours towards the degree.   Credits shall be distributed according to the following:

Core Courses (15 credit hours)

  • PRVM 800 Principles of Epidemiology (3)
  • PRVM 804 Principles of Statistics in Public Health (3) OR
    PRVM 814 Fundamentals of Biostatistics I (3) OR
    BMTR 811 Principles of Statistical Inference (3)
  • PRVM 818 Social & Behavioral Aspects of Public Health (3)
  • PRVM 827 Public Health Administration (3)
  • PRVM 830 Environmental Health (3)

Program Requirements (4 credit hours)

  • PRVM 802 Principles of Epidemiology Lab (1)
  • PRVM 875 Management of Public Health Data (3)

Elective Courses (17 credit hours)

The MPH generalist degree allows students to complete a variety of elective courses, totaling 17 credit hours, in core-related knowledge and skill areas (see Course Catalog).   These 17 credit hours of elective courses must be approved by the Faculty Advisor or Program Director as consistent with the student's academic plan. Students may arrange their electives to meet his/her educational objectives. Up to six credit hours of elective course work from approved graduate programs may be transferred, subject to advisor approval and review by the Curriculum Committee (see Student Handbook for more information).

The Capstone Project (6 credit hours)

The Capstone Project is a practical experience designed to serve as the demonstration of proficiency in the MPH curriculum and to enhance and extend the student’s academic experience through the application of public health concepts and skills in a supervised field experience, which includes a focused project component.  Students are required to synthesize and integrate knowledge gained and to apply theory and principles in situations that approximate some aspect of professional practice. 

The goals of the Capstone Project are to broaden and hone student proficiency in a specified area of public health practice through a meaningful field experience as well as demonstrate integration of knowledge and a deeper understanding of public health practice while exposing the student to the expertise and leadership of a public health professional.

The student's capstone experience consists of six credit hours. The capstone is designed to serve as the demonstration of public health competencies.

Capstone Courses (6 credit hours):

  • PRVM 891 Public Health Practicum (3)
  • PRVM 893 Public Health Project (3)

In fulfilling the capstone requirement, each candidate must: (a) submit a formal written paper of sufficient depth and rigor; and (b) satisfactorily complete an oral examination based upon the project chosen as the basis for the written paper.

The candidate must satisfy all applicable University of Kansas regulations for graduate degrees. For further details, see the KU-MPH student handbook.

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MD/MPH Program

The MD/MPH dual degree program is a five-year program of study in which the medical student takes one year to complete the requirements for his/her MPH degree earned through the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Public Health in both Kansas City and Wichita. This can be accomplished either between the second and third or between the third and fourth years of medical school.

MD/MPH Program Brochure

Students admitted into the MD/MPH Dual Degree program must complete the MD degree requirements as prescribed by the School of Medicine. They will complete the MPH degree in three semesters - beginning in the Summer Semester (June), and proceeding through the Fall Semester (August) and the Spring Semester (January) - with completion by the end of May. Students will have two options for completing the MPH degree within the MD/MPH Dual Degree Program:

PLAN A

Year One and Two - Complete the first two years of medical school
Take USMLE - Step I Exam (May)
Year Three - (June - May) Complete the MPH Degree
Years Four and Five - Complete the final two years of medical school

PLAN B

Years One and Two - Complete the first two years of medical school
Take USMLE - Step I Exam (May)
Year Three - (June - May) Complete first clinical year of medical school
Year Four - (June- May) Complete the MPH Degree
Year Five - Complete the final year of medical school

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MSN/MPH

This joint program addresses the changing role of the community/public health advanced practice nurse (C/PHAPN) functioning in local to international public health arenas. The C/PHAPN needs knowledge and expertise in nursing, public health science, social and cultural sciences and the advanced practice nursing role in various public health settings. They function in administrative and clinical roles, with titles such as director, bureau chief, clinical specialist, consultant, coordinator or manager.  For more information, visit http://www2.kumc.edu/son/academicinformation/publichealthnursing.html.

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PhD/MPH Program

Offered by the Department of Applied Behavioral Science (Lawrence) and the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Public Health (Kansas City and Wichita), this joint program is the first in the nation to combine the strengths of advanced study in applied behavioral science with a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. The joint PhD/MPH program provides a variety of opportunities to learn and contribute through formal courses, research training with faculty mentors, and practicum experiences in the field.  For more information, visit http://www.absc.ku.edu/graduate/joint_program.shtml.