74 Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine—Public Health Program The Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) Program is an accredited, graduate-level program designed to prepare students to define, critically assess, and resolve public health problems. The program provides training in theories, concepts, and principles of public health and their application. To meet the rapidly changing needs of professionals, the curriculum is structured to accommodate a diversity of backgrounds and individual career goals. There is a need for public health professionals to address emerging and reemerging diseases, environmental health concerns, health care reform, healthcare system, sociopolitical factors affecting our nation’s health, and expansion of health issues that are global in scope. Professionals with the M.P.H. degree may hold positions of responsibility in a variety of settings including health care facilities, county and state health departments, social service agencies, health policy and planning organizations, universities, and community-based health education and health promotion settings, nongovernmental organizations, governmental agencies, international health organizations, and the corporate world. These positions often involve active participation of the M.P.H. graduate in the coordination, planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of health programs and services. Some students pursue further advancement in their graduate education upon completion of the M.P.H. degree program. Concurrent Degree Programs Health Professions Division students have an option to pursue the M.P.H. degree concurrently with osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant, physical therapy, dental medicine, nursing, optometry, and health science degrees. Schedules will allow students the opportunity to achieve and meet the requirements of both degrees within three to four years. Students must maintain good academic standing in both programs. Program Vision To be a trusted academic public health resource center for students, communities, public health organizations, health care centers, and policymakers, dedicated to improved local and global health outcomes and equity. Program Mission To develop a competent public health workforce that improves the health of the population through education, research, and service, with an emphasis on multicultural and underserved populations. Goal 1: Education to provide quality and broad-based education in public health Goal 2: Research/Scholarly Activity to contribute to the discovery and application of knowledge in public health, with an emphasis on multicultural and underserved populations Goal 3: Service to provide public health leadership and service in the community, with an emphasis on multicultural and underserved populations Course of Study The M.P.H. Program offers a general Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree, which requires a minimum of 42 credit hours of study. This consists of 27 credit hours of required core courses and 15 credit hours of public health elective courses. Coursework may be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. M.P.H. students are required to complete their course of study within five years of matriculation, but the degree can be completed in as little as one year. Online/hybrid classes are offered in the evening, with each class generally scheduled one evening per week. Orientation is required for students prior to matriculation into the program. Students must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 to remain in good academic standing. Graduating students have the opportunity to participate in a commencement exercise in May of each year. An exit survey must be completed prior to graduation. The schedule of course offerings and other pertinent information about the program is available on the website: osteopathic.nova.edu/ph/mph. Professional Accreditation The M.P.H. program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) (ceph.org). Application Procedures/ Admissions Requirements The M.P.H. program evaluates the overall quality of applicants, including academic achievement, personal motivation, knowledge about the public health profession, health care and life experiences, and recommendations. Applicants may apply for matriculation into any one of three semesters (fall, winter, or summer). The Committee on Admissions for the NSU-KPCOM public health program will review all applications to this program and make recommendations to the program director and, subsequently, the executive associate dean of undergraduate, graduate, technology, and community education. Public Health Program
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