Public Health

The Department of Public Health will have an accreditation site visit October 6-7, 2008 with The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).  CEPH is an independent agency, recognized by the US Department of Education (USDE), to accredit schools of public health and programs in public health, which are located in administrative settings other than schools of public health.  Written third-party comments may be submitted directly to:  CEPH, 800 Eye Street NW, Suite 202, Washington, DC 20001-3701

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The Master of Public Health

Temple University's Master of Public Health (MPH) was one of the first fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in the Delaware Valley – and has over 20 years of experience in training public health professionals. Temple's MPH provides a credential that indicates competency in social, environmental, and behavioral aspects of health, the analytic sciences of epidemiology and biostatistics, and principles of health service management, including program planning, evidence-based practice, and evaluation.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is a terminal, professional master's degree awarded for studies in areas related to public health. Public health carries out its mission through organized, interdisciplinary efforts that address prevention and the physical, mental, social, environmental, and global health concerns of communities and populations at risk for disease and injury. Temple University’s Department of Public Health offers four MPH degree concentrations:

• Social and Behavioral Science (SBS)
• Environmental Health (EH)
• Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EBS)
• Global Health (GH)

The MPH curriculum includes core courses in the broad disciplines of public health: Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Health Science, Health Policy and Management, Public Health Practice, and Social and Behavioral Sciences; as well as cross-cutting competencies such as cultural competency, leadership, and public health biology. 

Our MPH degree program can be completed within 2 years, and the total credit hour requirement for each of the MPH degree concentrations is 45, including:

The MPH culminating experience, during the final year of the program, requires a student to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in coursework and other learning experiences and to apply theory and principles in professional practice—through an internship or independent project.

MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences
This MPH program has a strong focus on addressing the behavioral, social and cultural factors related to individual and population health and the social and behavioral aspects of community health, health communication, program implementation and evaluation, and health education.

MPH in Environmental Health
MPH in Environmental Health is designed to prepare graduates for practice-oriented careers in environmental health and management, with an emphasis on examining environmental factors and environmental policy that affect the health and sustainable environments of communities.

MPH in Epidemiology & Biostatistics
The MPH in Epidemiology & Biostatistics is a terminal, professional degree for those students who desire to receive fundamental training in the public health sciences, epidemiological study design, chronic and infectious disease surveillance, and core biostatistical methods.

MPH in Global Health

This program is intended for students interested in exploring how globalization is affecting determinants of health, the health status of populations, health policy and the capacity of nation states to deal with health and disease. Temple University is an international institution with a global focus—with Temple campuses in China, Japan, Rome, and London.  This concentration builds upon departmental faculty strengths in global health training and research programs in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Culminating Experience:  MPH Fieldwork

Students have the opportunity to select an appropriate fieldwork experience to apply theory and skills in the classroom to public health practice.  Fieldwork sites are selected based on individual student interest, competency requirements within the declared MPH program (SBS, EH, EBS, or GH), and advisement from the MPH program faculty.  Six hours of fieldwork coursework (a 2 course sequence) during the final year of the program enables students to reinforce guidelines for ethics, professionalism, skills development, and linkages between the domains and cross-cutting competencies of public health to essential service areas in public health practice. Find Out What Recent Temple MPH Students Have Accomplished Through Their Fieldwork By Clicking Here: Fieldwork

Particular skills targeted include: reviewing and critiquing research literature, managing background data, selecting appropriate interventions based on theory and previous evaluation activities, planning and implementation of a formal project, developing tools and systems necessary for project completion, collecting and analyzing data, time management, and interpersonal skills. International fieldwork opportunities are available in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

Transfer Credit
A maximum of 6 semester hours completed at other institutions may be applied toward the MPH degree program with the approval of the MPH Advisor. Written requests for transfer credit will not be considered until a student has matriculated into the MPH program.

Advanced Standing
MPH candidates with a B.S. in Public Health from Temple University who have successfully completed PH 321 Public Health Program Planning and HM 101 Healthcare Management with a grade of B or better will be allowed to substitute elective courses for PH 5111 Introduction to Program Planning and HM 5102 Health Care Organization and Management in the MPH program. The additional electives will be chosen with the help of the MPH advisor. Students who have graduated with a B.A. or B.S. in Public Health from any CEPH accredited school or program can make a written request to their advisor to substitute electives for PH 5111and HM 5102. They must demonstrate with a syllabus and transcript that they have taken courses equivalent to PH 321 and HM 101 with a grade of B or better.

Credit For Course Work Taken Prior To Matriculation
A maximum of 9 semester hours of course work taken as a non-matriculated student at Temple University may be credited toward a degree. Students wishing to take classes as a non-matriculated student must seek specific academic advising from the graduate faculty within the program of interest. Certain courses may require departmental permission in order to complete the registration process.

Dual-degree Programs Offered in Public Health

The public health perspective is increasingly relevant to clinical fields, where population-based research and health behavior models assist in the application of preventive health services. Clinically trained professionals are discovering that the MPH degree opens new career options and enhances their mobility within their chosen fields.

Dual degrees with the MPH are now available in collaboration with the Temple University School of Medicine (MD-MPH), and the School of Podiatric Medicine (DPM-MPH), and the School of Social Administration (MSW-MPH).  A dual DO-MPH program is available through the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Students must apply separately to each degree program, and admission into the MPH program for a dual degree is contingent upon admission into the professional schools. For more information on admissions procedures, please go to Apply online (graduate).

DO/MPH (click on link for more information)

MD/MPH (click on link for more information)

MSW/MPH (click on link for more information)