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30 Best MPH Online Programs

“Public health” can be a somewhat misunderstood profession. But the online Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is one of the most popular online master’s degrees available.

Even working professionals in public health can sometimes find it difficult to describe what exactly public health is and is not.

Often it is only when public disasters or disease outbreaks strike that society is reminded again that there is this system called public health. Public health is not treating a disease, it is working to prevent the disease in the first place.

Public health does not manage large-scale health crises. Instead, it looks at populations to promote education and better procedures to avoid a future crisis. Public health is a network of healthcare professionals who are engaged in a process of preventing disease and harm. They work hard to present information to help the public disengage from harmful practices.

There are countless MPH best programs to consider. Yes, even beyond what we’ve included on this list! The long list includes:

  • Liberty University online MPH 
  • Loyola University
  • Florida International University
  • Mercer University
  • Drexel University
  • University of California Los Angeles
  • University of Iowa Des Moines

So how do you choose the best MPH program to start public health careers?

Before selecting a college or university, it is important to look into the following factors:

  • Required course load and necessary prerequisite courses
  • Accreditation
  • Graduation rates
  • Full time availability of instructors and classes
  • State tuition costs
  • Degree options and specializations offered

A hybrid format may also be available for some dedicated students interested in combining virtual education with on-site elements such as lab work and internships. Taking the time to research each of these components will help potential students make an informed decision about their academic future.

The length of time it takes to finish a public health degree varies based on an individual’s educational goals and program requirements. Many accelerated programs can be completed in as little as 12 months.

However, these accelerated MPH options are designed for motivated individuals with prior healthcare or public health experience.

For those without such background, the most common program length is around 18 months to two years. It is important to keep in mind that accelerated programs can still require more intensive study. They are presented in compressed formats with accelerated MPH coursework to help you meet your educational goals.

There are even some 4-year programs that focus more on research opportunities. That’s while balancing rigorous academic course work to give students access to both educational and practicum experiences.

You’ll also need to consider whether you plan to study on a part time or full time basis.

What to Look for in MPH Best Programs

When looking at the top MPH programs, ask yourself the following questions:

  • What are the graduation rates?
  • How does the school support current and incoming students?
  • Will I be able to have a flexible schedule?
  • Is this an affordable option, with financial aid available?
  • How rigorous are the admissions requirements and will I need to submit GRE scores?
  • Does the school offer on campus visits to give me an idea of whether
  • Do I need full time work experience?
  • How many years to complete this degree?
  • Can I complete classes on a part time basis?
  • Is this a terminal degree?
  • Will I be able to complete a practicum experience or internship experience?
  • What kinds of concentration areas are available?
  • Are there resources for online learning?

These questions might not be important for all MPH students to answer. Some degree programs will check off some boxes for you but not all. Try to find the public health program that will meet most of your goals but be sure to research all options with detail.

Admissions Requirements for a Public Health Degree Program

There are certain admissions requirements that must be met. Applicants must submit:

  • Two letters of recommendation (sometimes it’s three letters) in support of their application, often from prior employers or professors
  • A bachelor’s degree with at least three years of relevant experience in the industry
  • A personal statement detailing your interest in public health and health sciences
  • A GRE score that meets the program’s stated criteria

It is important to take these considerations into account before starting the admissions process. Some schools have high standards and this will  increase the chances of enrollment success.

Students enrolled in a public health degree program will learn a variety of skills and develop an appreciation for a holistic approach to healthcare.

You’ll take essential classes such as epidemiology and biostatistics. Plus, students are also exposed to elective courses which vary depending on the school they attend.

Some students explore further topics such as health promotion and communication or even leadership skills.

Common courses and public health specializations will allow you to gain a competitive edge. The average MPH curriculum includes practical experience and asynchronous coursework in topics like:

  • Data analytics and educational technology
  • Global disaster management
  • Maternal and child health
  • Nutrition and dietetics
  • Public health informatics
  • Social and behavioral aspects that affect public health
  • Public health law and health policies
  • Health administration
  • Public health challenges in community organization
  • Spatial data science
  • Environmental factors in human health and wellness
  • Infection control and infectious diseases
  • Community health sciences/community health education

Many schools require students to complete a public health practicum as well. Some programs require a public health internship in local communities, too. Others require a culminating capstone project for applied practice experience.

They provide students with professional networking opportunities that are vital for building professional relationships and communication skills.

Ultimately, a public health degree program provides students with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. These can be applied to the chosen field for career advancement. You may be eligible for federal financial aid or scholarship.

What Kinds of Jobs Can I Get With a Public Health Degree?

A Public Health degree provides the perfect stepping stone for working professionals to work in government agencies, community organizations, and the healthcare industry in general.

With government agencies, public health majors have a wide range of career opportunities. You could help carry out health screenings or aid programs that provide medical care for those in need.

Community organizations also rely on individuals with a Public Health background for research and analysis of health trends. You could also work on developing initiatives aimed at improving public well-being.

Healthcare administration is an excellent field for individuals with a degree in Public Health; these professionals are often renowned for their ability to effectively manage personnel and resources.

After earning an online master of public health, you could also work in the following fields and career paths in the healthcare field:

  • Social workers
  • Health policy
  • Community health promotion
  • Public health workers
  • Epidemiologists
  • Health data analyst
  • Health Services administration
  • Environmental health science

As you can see, the best online MPH programs are those that are interdisciplinary and flexible. This is a generalist degree that can prepare you for all kinds of career goals, including preparation for later doctoral degrees if desired.

Top 10 Public Health Programs

  1. University of South Florida
  2. University of Nebraska Medical Center
  3. University of Illinois at Chicago
  4. University of Alabama at Birmingham
  5. Tulane University
  6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  7. University of North Texas Health Science Center
  8. University of Florida
  9. University of Massachusetts Amherst
  10. University of South Carolina

Best MPH Programs in the World Methodology

There are countless top MPH programs online with accreditation. But how do you find the right one? From the Liberty University MPH online to the University of Florida MPH, there are no shortage of options.

We focused on several important sources that are available to the public:

  • the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
  • Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB)
  • the American Public Health Association (APHA)
  • U.S. News and World Report
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • the websites of schools offering online MPH degree programs

We developed a four-point crediting system to rank the top schools, as follows:

  • School reputation (25%)
  • Affordability (25%)
  • Program accreditation (25%)
  • Accessibility/flexibility (25%)

Ready to learn more? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the 30 best online programs for public health students!

30 Best MPH Online Programs

#30. Benedictine University

Online Master of Public Health

Benedictine University

You will find one of the best online MPH programs at Benedictine University.

The comprehensive, 58-credit online MPH program at BenU offers six session start dates a year. The online MPH can be completed in just two years. Students start with 46 credits of foundational coursework. The core curriculum for the online MPH includes:

  • Research Methods in Public Health
  • Community Health Analysis
  • Management of Health Services Organizations

The remaining credits can be used to gain a public health certificate alongside the online MPH. Certificate possibilities include:

  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Health Management & Policy
  • Epidemiology

A thesis paper is not required for graduation from this online master’s degree. However, students must participate in an internship with 240 contact hours.

Support services and resources are also comprehensive. These start even before an application is submitted. Prospective students can go through a step-by-step guide to the admissions process and explore the online delivery system. They will even be assigned a program manager for whatever guidance is desired.

#29. University of Maryland

Master’s in Public Health

University of Maryland

The University of Maryland MPH online is another one of the best options.

UMD’s School of Public Health offers a hybrid online Master of Public Health, Public Health Practice and Policy (MPH-PHPP) program. The coursework for this online MPH is 100% online plus six required weekend residencies of on-site instruction.

The online MPH has 42 hours of fifteen mandatory courses. There are both an internship and Capstone Project. Students study topics such as:

  • Healthcare Strategic Planning and Evaluation
  • Health Law and Ethics

Students move through the online master’s degree as a cohort. They can complete the program in just two years. A web-page maintained by UMD’s Office of Extended Studies is full of resources and guidelines specific to online public health graduate students. This can help both prospective and current students find the services and support they need to be successful in the online MPH degree.

#28. University of Alaska Anchorage

Master’s in Public Health Practice

University of Alaska Anchorage

The online MPH in Public Health Practice through the Department of Health Sciences at UAA’s College of Health is an interdisciplinary, 42-hour online MPH. It has a specific emphasis “on the needs of Alaska and the circumpolar north.”

The foundational coursework is in subjects like:

  • Circumpolar Health Issues
  • Public Health Emergencies and Disasters

The interdisciplinary electives for this online MPH degree program are all 100% online. Students must come to campus once a year for a face-to-face meeting with faculty and other MPH students. You must also come to campus to defend the final practicum thesis or project. The practicum requirements are dictated by CEPH accreditation. Students should expect to put in 225 hours over the course of two semesters. Students in the program often graduate within two to four years. This depends on whether they take classes for the master of public health on a full time or part time basis.

#27. San José State University

Online Master’s in Public Health

San Jose State University has an online MPH program format through the International and Extended Studies department. This online MPH is a twenty-four month, cohort-model program. It starts every fall for about twenty-five students.

Classes for this master of public health are delivered in a synchronous and sequential fashion. Students benefit from moving through the program with their cohort. They participate together each week as if in an actual classroom.

The curriculum is based on the CEPH recommendations. The 42-credit master of public health program provides a specialization in community health. It is one of only five in the country. It includes a culminating experience. San Jose State University offers multiple advising resources to current students in the master of public health. 

#26. New Mexico State University

Master’s in Public Health

New Mexico State

Next on our list of MPH best programs is New Mexico State University. With an online program that mirrors the on-campus program, the 42-hour online MPH offers students the same quality program. It is delivered in an asynchronous format for their convenience. Core courses in the online MPH cover topics such as:

  • Epidemiological Approaches to Disease Control and Prevention
  • Community and Psychosocial Aspects of Public Health
  • Health Services System: Administration and Organization

There are two concentration options for this mater of public health:

  • Community Health
  • Health Management, Administration and Policy

A field experience provides students with the opportunity to apply what they have learned and culminates the master of public health program.  

#25. University of West Florida

Master’s in Public Health

University of West Florida

The 42-credit online MPH at the University of West Florida’s Department of Public Health provides students an opportunity to explore a multidisciplinary program. This master of public health has the added benefit of customizing it to fit their career goals.

Students at the University of West Florida can opt for a general track. Or they can select the specialization in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior.

An internship and a comprehensive exam are also required. Several key student services are also made available for online students. These include academic and career advising, and military and disability services.

#24. Johns Hopkins University

Online Master’s in Public Health

Johns Hopkins

Another top MPH is the John Hopkins MPH online.

The part-time online MPH program at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health has asynchronous, per-recorded lectures. Classes for this master of public health can be completed when convenient for each student.

The 80-credit program requires at least four weeks of on-campus face-to-face classes of the student’s choice. There is a free, non-credit course, Introduction to Online Learning. This is required at the beginning of the master of public health to help future students become acclimated to the online culture at Johns Hopkins University. Students then take the core courses and choose their electives. They are able to customize the master of public health from over 200 offered classes.

The program is rigorous and comprehensive. But as an added benefit all online/part-time students receive the Welch Scholarship to defray the cost of out of state tuition.

#23. Emory University

 Executive Master’s in Public Health

Emory College

The Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University offers an Executive MPH (EMPH)  program. This is delivered as a hybrid program.

Within this 42-credit program at Emory University there are three tracks from which students can choose:

  • Applied Epidemiology
  • Applied Public Health Informatics
  • Prevention Science

All students start the program in the fall semester. They complete the program in two years. Eleven core courses and a two-credit practicum serves as the foundation for all students regardless of chosen concentration. Classes for this best online master of public health include:

  • Social Behavior in Public Health
  • Public Health Advocacy

This program is for working health professionals with at least three years of professional experience. 

#22. Northeastern University

Master’s in Public Health

Northeastern University

The MPH in Urban Health degree through NU’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences is a 100% virtual program. This best online master of public health has 42 credits. General education classes cover subjects like:

  • Race, Ethnicity, and Health in the United States
  • Principles and History of Urban Health
  • Society, Behavior, and Health
  • Health and Human Rights
  • Food, Food Policy, and Health

This will allow you to perceive and explore how public health is affected by issues “ranging from poverty, violence, and substance abuse to immigration, migration, and suburbanization.”

A 200-contact hour practicum is also required for this best online master of public health. However, students can participate in the program full or part-time. They have between two and five years to complete it.

#21. University of California, Berkeley

Master’s in Public Health

Berkeley

The University of California Berkeley online MPH degree at the School of Public Health is a two-year powerhouse of a program. In this best online master of public health, students take six core courses in their first year. They take two core courses plus electives and a practicum in the second year. Faculty teach the same rigorous curriculum as on-campus.

Courses for these best online MPH programs include:

  • Introduction to Probability and Statistics in Biology and Public Health
  • Global Health Disaster Preparedness and Response

Students take fourteen courses (at least 42-credits) to graduate from these best online MPH programs.

There are several different tracks that students can choose to follow at the University of California Berkeley. The degree is very customizable. Students can follow an interdisciplinary approach. Or they can choose from either the Health Policy and Management (HPM) concentration or Global Health concentration.

#20. California State University, Northridge

Master’s in Public Health

Cal State Northridge

Graduate students will find another one of the best MPH online programs at California State University, Northridge.

The Tseng College of Extended Learning at CSUN provides a fully online MPH: Community Health degree program. This master of public health is offered in conjunction with the College of Health and Human Development.

The best online master of public health program is designed for students with little or no experience. These are candidates who are “seeking to enter or advance in the field” of public health. The master’s presents a curriculum which focuses in the “five core areas of public health and professional preparation (such as biostatistics and epidemiology).” Students move through the 42-credit hour, two-year program as a cohort.

Classes include topics such as:

  • Advanced Concepts of Health Behavior
  • Curriculum Development in Health Education

A 300-contact hour Practicum is required for graduation. It can be chosen from appropriate placements in the student’s location (with advisor approval).

#19. Kent State University

Master’s in Public Health

Kent State

The College of Public Health at Kent State offers an online 46-credit MPH online program with two specialization options.

The Health Policy and Management (HPM) specialization is ideal for individuals who want to make a difference on a local or national level through policy change. The Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) specialization is a good fit for professionals who desire to “prevent disease, promote health and health equity, and manage chronic illnesses.” This is on an individual and collective-community basis.

Fifteen of the 46 credits are devoted to the specializations. The remaining credits are made up of twenty-five credits of core courses.

The best online MPH programs here include studies in subjects such as:

  • Fundamentals of Public Health Epidemiology
  • Public Health Administration

There is also a practicum experience.

#18. National University

 Master’s in Public Health Promotion

National University

Through the Community Health department at the School of Health and Human Services, National’s online MPH program offers three specialization options:

  • Health Promotion
  • Healthcare Administration
  • Mental Health

All students take the eight required core courses (36 quarter units).

The best online MPH programs here include classes in:

  • Theories of Health Behavior
  • Public Health & the Environment

They will then participate in their eight specialization required courses (36 quarter units) to complete the degree. Students may transfer up to thirteen and a half quarter units from another institution.

#17. Northern Illinois University

 Master’s in Public Health

Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University is home to one of the best MPH programs online. The online MPH at NIU’s School of Health Studies is through the College of Health and Human Sciences. This online master’s in public health promotes understanding public health from many different points of reference.

Two specializations are offered by the Northern Illinois University online master’s in public health programs:

  • Health Promotion
  • Health Services Management

Students must take 43-46 credits in order to graduate.

Core coursework for these best online MPH programs include:

  • Problems and Issues in Environmental Health
  • Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
  • Community Health Planning

Both programs develop students into leaders in the field. The Health Promotion specialization prepares students for the Certified Health Education Specialist (C.H.E.S.) exam. Students in the Health Services Management specializationare eligible to participate in the Illinois Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Examination.

#16. East Tennessee State University

Master’s in Public Health

East Tennessee State

Three MPH concentrations are available completely online at ETSU:

  • Community Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health Administration

All three concentrations require sixteen core courses. These best online MPH programs include classes such as:

  • Philosophy of Public Health
  • Health Service Administration

The remaining credits in the 43-credit program are made up of concentration courses, electives and a final, six-credit culminating experience. This is known as “Pubic Health Program Field Experience – Community and Behavioral Health.”

The MPH Community Health degree provides the same on-campus quality program in a convenient delivery. Online classes offered in both a synchronous and asynchronous format.

A dedicated online tech support service is available to assist students with any questions or problems they may have with the online process. There are other services and resources to help the online student succeed as well.

#15. University of Memphis

Master’s in Public Health

University of Memphis

Five focus areas await the MPH student through U of M Global’s online program:

  • Biostatistics
  • Epidemiology
  • Environmental Health
  • Health Systems and Policy
  • Social and Behavioral Science

These best online MPH programs are 42-credit programs. The core curriculum covers:

  • Environmental Health
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences Principles

The focus area choice determines the twelve credit hours of specialization electives. A practicum of 240 contact hours completes the degree.

#14. University of Southern California

Master’s in Public Health

USC

The Department of Preventive Medicine at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California offers the only medical school-based online MPH program. The medical school’s has a world-class faculty. Students can customize these best online MPH programs with five concentration options:

  • Biostatistics and Epidemiology
  • Health Education and Promotion
  • Global Health Leadership
  • GeoHealth
  • Health Services and Policy

Each concentration track requires twenty units towards the online degree requirements. Students have three start dates a year at which to begin their online education journey.

#13. George Washington University

Master of Public Health Program

George Washington University

The Milken Institute School of Public Health offers George Washington University’s online MPH  program (called MPH@GW). There are several offered length-options. Students can participate in the MPH@GW program on a part-time basis. Students complete the MPH program in two, three or four years. Or they can opt for one of the two full-time accelerated options and complete the program in twelve months or eighteen months.

The curriculum at George Washington University is the same coursework no matter the pace.

The online master of public health has 45 required credit hours. These are in courses such as:

  • Comparative Global Health Systems
  • Biological Concepts for Public Health
  • Principles and Practice of Epidemiology

Electives can be chosen from a broad range of topics. Or they can be grouped together in a particular focus area. Options include:

  • Global Health
  • Health Communication
  • Health Policy
  • Program Planning and Evaluation

A practicum and a culminating experience are both required to complete the program at George Washington University.

#12. Loma Linda University

Online Master of Public Health Program

You will find another one of the best MPH programs in the world at Loma Linda University.

Loma Linda

Two online MPH options are offered at Loma Linda’s School of Public Health. The MPH with a concentration in Lifestyle Management is a 56-unit program. This MPH program is for current practitioners who want to further their reach in the arena of public health. It is also ideal for those who wish to advocate for “lifestyle change interventions and promote healthy behaviors for patients with chronic diseases.”

The online master of public health at Loma Linda University also requires 56 units to graduate. It is the only online program of its kind in California. Students in both programs focus on helping provide health instruction to patients and potential patients. This is all with the goal to help prevent and manage disease.

#11. University of Minnesota

Master of Public Health Program

University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota’s renowned School of Public Health (SPH) offers an online MPH. This online MPH program has a focus on Maternal & Child Health (MCH).

The curriculum for the online master of public health entails:

  • fifteen credits of public health core courses
  • at least five credits in subjects like “Global Reproductive Health” and “Maternal and Infant Nutrition”
  • fifteen credits of methodology, policy, management, advocacy topics and application work (internship and final paper)

The remaining coursework is comprised of electives. These are to complete the 42-credit hour program (or 48 credits for those students without a prior earned master’s degree).

There is a dedicated Office of E-Learning and Academic Services at the SPH. All elements of distance learning are supported. Students of the online MPH MCH program can be assured that their program will provide them every opportunity to succeed.

#10. University of South Carolina

Master of Public Health Program

University of South Carolina-Columbia

The MPH in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior (HPEB)-Professional Online Program is offered through the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina.

This online MPH degree is a 45-unit, interdisciplinary degree. It is ideal for those who are already working as practitioners in the field of public health. It’s also a great option for those who want to make deeper, long-lasting improvements in society.

The online master of public health program requires fifteen credits of a public health core curriculum. It has fifteen credits of a HPEB core. The remaining credits are made up of the HPEB focus courses:

  • Race, Ethnicity, and Health: Examining Health Inequalities
  • Consumer Health in Contemporary Society
  • Applied Health Communication

There is also a practicum seminar and field experience. All classes in this MPH degree are delivered online. The MPH program is offered via an asynchronous delivery for flexibility. Students complete the program in about two years.The master’s degree in public health at the University of South Carolina is one of the best for giving students real world experience.  

#9. University of Massachusetts Amherst

Master of Public Health Program

The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s School of Public Health and Health Sciences offers two online MPH options.

There is the general track MPH in Public Health Practice or the specialized MPH in Nutrition. The MPH degree concentration in Nutrition is the first online degree of its kind. The online master of public health requires 44-credit hours to graduate. Students take core MPH courses. There are nutritional core classes in subjects such as:

  • Nutritional Epidemiology
  • Nutritional Problems in U.S.

There are three electives, and a 200-contact hour practicum.

The Public Health Practice track requires 42-credit hours with a focus on the core coursework. The online MPH program also has six electives and the same practicum requirement. All classes are delivered in an asynchronous format for flexibility and convenience. Students are allowed to take up to four courses as a non-degree student before being admitted.

This is a benefit for individuals who desire to get a head start on coursework. It’s also great for those who want to test an online course to see if the program is a good fit for them. 

#8. University of Florida

Master of Public Health Program

UF

This online master’s in public health science is designed to emphasize the “development of competence in key public health skills and to meet current standards in the field of public health.” The online MPH is offered through the College of Public Health and Health Professions at UF. It is a 100% online, asynchronous MPH degree.

The public health online master’s requires 48-credit hours to graduate. It allows students to start with core courses in:

  • Public Health Management and Policy
  • Epidemiology
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences

This is all before choosing a concentration in Public Health Practice or Social and Behavioral Sciences

#7. University of North Texas Health Science Center

Master of Public Health Program

University of North Texas

The University of North Texas offers two online MPH options for students interested in their MPH program.

There is the 48-credit hour MPH Online degree and the 42-credit hour MPH Online – Professional Option.

Both of these educational opportunities at the University of North Texas take an interdisciplinary approach. But the students in the Professional Option must have already achieved an advanced degree. Or they must be enrolled in another master’s program along with the MPH program.

There are required core courses for both public health online programs. These cover topics such as:

  • Environmental Determinants of Health
  • Leadership for Public Health

Then students choose twelve credits of electives. For students in the standard online program their electives will fall into one of two tracks: Global Health or Geographic Information Systems.

Students can attend a School of Public Health Admissions Webinar for assistance with their application. Once admitted, all online students can take advantage of all the same student services that are available on-campus. However, these aspiring public health professionals can access the resources from the comfort and convenience of their own homes. 

#6. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Master of Public Health Program

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The MPH at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a brand-new online format. It is a version of the same stellar on-campus MPH programs offered at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Three different degrees are offered. These online master’s in public health programs are all 100% online. There is a 42-credit hour MPH and the 42-credit hour MPH with Leadership Track. There is also the 51-credit hour Master of Public Health/Registered Dietitian degree in Nutrition (MPH/RD).

All three public health online programs offer online students the same curriculum, faculty and well-known rigorous instruction as their on-campus counterparts. It’s just in an online delivery.

#5. Tulane University

Master of Public Health Program

Tulane University

Three distinct MPH programs are offered through the distance learning online format through the Center for Applied Environmental Public Health (CAEPH) at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

The program provides MPH specializations in:

  • Occupational Health and Safety Management
  • Occupational and Environmental Health
  • Disaster Management

All classes are provided in real-time. However, they are also recorded for students who need added flexibility.

They are designed for professionals already mid-career in the public health field. The core MPH curriculum focuses on the five foundational basics of:

  • epidemiology
  • behavioral science
  • environmental health
  • biostatistics
  • management

This is to further each student’s scope and professional potential. The concentrations then serve to specialize each student’s chosen focus area. Specific focus classes for this online master’s in public health include:

  • Principles of Industrial Hygiene
  • Environmental Aspects of Disaster Response
  • Biological Basis of Disease 

#4. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Online Master of Public Health Program

University of Alabama T

The 42-credit hour degree program through the UAB School of Public Health offers five different departments. There are a multitude of concentration options for the online MPH student. There are multiple departments involved in these public health online programs. They include:

  • Biostatistics
  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Care Organization and Policy

Together, they offer concentrations such as:

  • Epidemiology
  • Health Behavior
  • Health Care Organization & Policy
  • Industrial Hygiene
  • Maternal and Child Health Policy and Leadership

Students have three different start-dates to begin the program. All applicants to the program must be able to demonstrate that they have met The Biological Basis of Public Health Competency Requirements. Students must participate both in an internship and a Public Health Integrative Experience.

#3. University of Illinois at Chicago

Online Master of Public Health Program

University of Illinois Chicago

This school claims the distinction of being the only school in the nation to offer an online MPH in Public Health Informatics degree program. UIC’s School of Public Health also offers two other online MPH programs. These online master’s in public health have concentrations in Community Health Sciences or Health Policy and Administration.

The programs range from 42 to 45 required credit hours. The program can be completed in a flexible format. All classes are offered in an asynchronous format.

The curriculum for these public health degree programs covers:

  • Social Ethics and Public Health
  • Public Health Concepts and Practice
  • Leadership in Public Health Practice

#2. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Online Master of Public Health Program

The College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center offers multiple online master’s degrees. There are also several certificate options. Two MPH concentrations are accessible online. These are the MPH in Biostatistics and the MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health.

Both public health degree programs require 45-credit hours. They share some of the same key curricular elements. Classes for these online master’s in public health include:

  • Foundations of Public Health
  • Public Health Environment and Society

The focus then goes in different directions. The Biostatistics concentration curriculum emphasizes “statistical and quantitative evaluation of public health research and programs”.

The alternative specialization concentrates on:

  • ecological health
  • environmental health
  • occupational health
  • safety or toxicology with particular emphasis on agriculture

On-campus, advisors, online library resources, and career services are all available to online students. The only difference in their education experience is the flexibility and convenience of completing their public health degree programs.

#1. University of South Florida

Online Master of Public Health Program

University of Southern Florida

There are no less than seven distinct online MPH specializations available through the University of South Florida College of Public Health.There is also an online DrPH program and thirteen online MPH graduate certificates). Prospective students are sure to find a program track to fit their needs in our number one pick.

This program at the University of South Florida requires at least 42-credit hours. Some concentrations in this interactive online degree require more credit hours than others. Students enjoy foundational coursework in:

  • biostatistics
  • epidemiology
  • health policy and management
  • environmental and occupational health

Online students can choose to customize their degree with focus areas in:

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health Practice
  • Global Disaster Management
  • Humanitarian Relief & Homeland Security
  • Infection Control
  • Social Marketing
  • Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Health, Safety & Environment

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Michael Templeton
Managing Editor

Kacey Reynolds Schedler
Contributing Editor