Public Health, M.P.H.

Program Description

The Master of Public Health curriculum provides students with core knowledge and skills in the foundational areas of public health. The program is geared towards social justice, addressing inequalities experienced by underserved communities. Special emphasis is placed on understanding social determinants of health and the intersection of theory and practice to make a difference. The program teaches core health knowledge and practical skills to prepare students for the public health arena.

Core curriculum topics include Principles of Public Health, Foundations of Biostatistics, Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health, Principles of Epidemiology, and Environmental Determinants of Health. The curriculum transitions to the application of public health principles to real-world situations. Students develop cultural competency, ethical, and communication skills, preparing them for leadership opportunities.

Towards the end of the program, students utilize acquired public health concepts, principles, and methods to complete fieldwork and a capstone project during which students analyze, evaluate, and synthesize public health constructs using real-life scenarios.

Mission

Saint Mary’s University prepares public health leaders who understand persistent and emerging public health issues and advocate for systemic solutions for improvement of public health and health equity in all communities.

Vision

Saint Mary’s University students, graduates, and faculty will have positive impacts on local, regional, and national health; disease prevention; and health equity.  Through ethical and socially responsive learning experiences and community engagement activities, the impacts of these actions will help all communities, especially those underserved, achieve effective long-lasting improvements.

Program Structure and Delivery

Courses are delivered fully online.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Public Health, graduates are expected to be able to do the following:

Program Outcomes related to university mission and vision

1. Collaborate with the community in the practice of public health and healthcare systems and incorporate interprofessional practice.
   1. Compare the organization, structure and function of healthcare, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
   2. 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.
   3. Perform effectively on interprofessional teams.
2. Promote health equity through culturally competent community-level communication and engagement plans.
   1. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies, or programs.
   2. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.
3. Integrate public health behavior change theories, interventions, planning and management strategies that promote health.
   1. Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ health.
   2. Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
   3. Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
   4. Select methods to evaluate public health programs.
4. Select public health practices based on scientific evidence.
   1. Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
   2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
   3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, and computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.
   4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.
5. Incorporate public health planning, management, policy development and evaluation practices that ensure inclusive policies and practices for optimal health for all.
   1. Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
   2. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
   3. Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
   4. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
6. Communicate in public health settings and apply ethical public health leadership and system thinking skills to promote inclusive and respectful collaboration with communities.
   1. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
   2. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
   3. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
   4. Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration, and guiding decision making.
   5. Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.