Institute of Public Health

MPH Curriculum and Program of Study

(Effective through Summer 2008)

For students starting Fall 2008 and after, please see the revised curriculum.

Philosophy
The Institute of Public Health is a multi-disciplinary, research-based institute, drawing upon the faculty of all six Georgia State University colleges, dedicated to advancing the health of the public through training, research and community service. The Institute of Public Health achieves this mission by applying existing scholarship within GSU to priority public health problems, particularly those that are aimed at reducing health disparities in urban settings.  Training and research programs focus on both building the science base that underlies public health practice, as well as applying effective interventions that have been demonstrated to improve the public health.  Academic and training efforts will emphasize the basic prevention sciences (e.g., emerging infectious diseases, immunology, virology, bioinformatics, genomics, and geographic sciences), as well as applied public health efforts (e.g., chronic disease prevention, health promotion, behavior change, program evaluation, health policy, public health ethics and law, health communications, community-based participatory research, and global health).

Objectives
The objectives of the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program are to:

1. Prepare students to use multi-disciplinary skills to address contemporary public health problems.
2. Prepare students for positions of senior responsibility in public health practice, research, and training, particularly at the federal, state and local levels.
3. Train students to understand an “ecological approach” to public health, with emphasis on the linkages and relationships among the multiple determinants of health.
4. Train students to excel in reducing public health disparities, particularly in urban communities.
5. Advance public health sciences and our understanding of the causes and prevention of disease.

Curriculum
The MPH program includes a minimum of 42 semester credit hours of study at the master’s level beyond the bachelor’s degree. 

The curriculum includes:

• 18 credit hours (six courses) in core public health courses required of all students;
• 9 additional credit hours (generally three courses) in the student’s selected specialty track;
• 6 credit hours (generally two courses) of public health electives from a list of recommended electives designed to supplement the specialty track;
• 6 credit hours for a required practicum, internship or field placement;
• at least 3 credit hours for a thesis or special capstone project.

Students must choose one of three tracks in public health (Prevention Sciences, Health Promotion and Behavior, and Health Management and Policy) from which the nine credit hours are selected. The topic of the thesis or special project should correspond to the track selected.  Within these specialty tracks, further specialization can be selected (e.g., nutrition, health economics, substance abuse, mental health, etc.) The student, with advisor input and approval, determines the thesis or special project.   Required or elective courses may have prerequisites, or require permission of the instructor.

1. Required Courses
   Students must complete 18 credit hours of required coursework listed below (all accredited MPH programs require courses in these five areas).  Semester hours are shown in parentheses after each entry.
     PH 7011  Epidemiology for Public Health (3)
     PH 7019  Public Health Research Methods (3)
     PH 7140  Social and Behavioral Dimensions of Public Health (3)
     PH 7150  Environmental Health (3)
     PH 7160  Introduction to the Healthcare System (3)
     Stat 7010  Biostatistics for Public Health (3)
   
   Students are also strongly encouraged to take:
     PH 7010  Foundations of Public Health Administration and Policy (3)
     This course may be used as a Specialty Track course or an elective course.
   
2. Specialty Tracks. The course offerings and research opportunities in the three specialty tracks draw upon the existing strengths and expertise of the Georgia State University faculty, as well as the scientific and public health expertise that can be found throughout the region.  Students are able to select from a range of courses offered through the Institute of Public Health as well as courses offered in other departments throughout Georgia State.
   1. Prevention Sciences (9 hours): Scientific discovery is essential for protecting and improving the public health.  The Prevention Sciences track is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to advance the understanding of disease etiology, occurrence, prevention, and detection in a manner that will benefit population health.  The Prevention Sciences track draws from a variety of disciplines including, emerging infectious diseases, immunology, virology, biostatistics, bioinformatics, epidemiology, research methods, genomics, and geographic sciences.
   2. Health Promotion and Behavior (9 hours): Health promotion and disease prevention are key concepts in public health and provide the foundation for community participation as well as health behavior change.  The Health Promotion and Behavior track draws from a variety of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, communications, and ethics.
   3. Health Management and Policy (9 hours): The Health Management and Policy track draws upon a variety of disciplines, including health administration, health policy, public administration, business, public health law, health ethics and economics.  Health management and policy is concerned with the administration and management of public, not-for –profit, and community-based health care organizations, formulating and implementing health care policy, analyzing the distribution of and access to health care services, financing, and reimbursement of heath care services and evaluating quality and outcomes of health care services and programs. 
3. Additional Electives
   All MPH students must take six (6) credit hours of approved electives relevant to their specialty track and career goals. These elective may come from public health course offerings recommended for the track or in consultation with the student’s advisor, the graduate coordinator or the director of the Institute.
4. Practicum or Internship
   Students will take six (6) credit hours of a required practicum, internship, field placement or equivalent in the students’ specialty field of study.  Placements will be developed by the Institute of Public Health working in partnership with individual students.
5. Thesis or Special Capstone Project
    Following completion of all coursework, students must complete at least three (3) credit hours for a master’s thesis or a special capstone project.