The MPH curriculum requires 42 credits, including 11 classes (33 credits) of required coursework that is established to fulfill the competencies required for the CEPH accreditation and three electives (9 credits). Included in the MPH curriculum is a 100-hour field experience in which the student is expected to apply the theory and the practice to a particular area of interest in a professional public health setting. The final course in the curriculum is an integrating seminar in which students work in teams, bringing both their individual and joint perspectives, as well as their expertise to address a specific public health problem for a New Hampshire-based public health entity.
For the purposes of determining academic standing, grades below the "B-" level in graded courses are considered failing grades. The MPH program director will recommend dismissal of a student to the Graduate School when a failing grade occurs in six or more credits, either in two courses or in one course taken twice. Repeating a course does not remove the original failing grade from the record. Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B), or higher, in order to graduate. Students admitted on a conditional or provisional basis must meet the conditions or provisions as stated in the letter of admission in order to remain in the Graduate School.
CEPH Foundational Competencies:
Evidenced-based Approaches to Public Health
- Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
- Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.
- Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.
Public Health and Health Care Systems
- Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
- Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels.
Planning and Management to Promote Health
- Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities' health.
- Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
- Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
- Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
- Select methods to evaluate public health programs.
Policy in Public Health
- Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
- Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
- Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
- Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
Leadership
- Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include: creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision-making.
- Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
Communication
- Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
- Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
- Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.
Interprofessional Practice
- Perform effectively on interprofessional teams
Systems Thinking
- Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.
UNH Master of Public Health Program Competencies
- Use innovative problem-solving to impact complex public health issues.
- Strengthen leadership skills through reflection and observation to identify areas for personal and professional growth.
- Analyze the impact of determinants of health on public health issues using a social ecological framework.
- Apply basic principles of ethical analysis to improve health equity and policy relevance.
- Incorporate relevant theories to inform and create public health interventions.
