• Note: For certain locations, program enrollment is onsite with online instruction.

  • This program is offered online.

  • Master of Public Health

    The Master of Public Health degree is a widely recognized professional credential for those seeking leadership and managerial positions in governmental, nonprofit, and private organizations in the public health industry. Kaplan University’s Master of Public Health could help you develop the administrative, ethical, and professional skills needed to apply public health principles to health education and communication programs.

    Master of Public Health Program Highlights

    Kaplan University’s Master of Public Health program is designed to help you:

    • Demonstrate an evidence-based approach to public health practice. 
    • Leverage fundamental epidemiological concepts in addressing population health problems.
    • Appraise current and relevant health issues and policy.
    • Implement leadership, administrative, and communication skills through planning, organization, administration, and evaluation of public health programs and processes.
    • Evaluate concepts and methods of social and behavioral sciences relevant to the identification and solution of public health problems.

    Gain Real-World Experience

    Prior to graduation, you will be required to complete an externship to help you gain valuable on-the-job experience. You will work closely with a site preceptor, faculty advisor, and supportive staff in completion of this requirement.

    What are the Career Opportunities?

    With a Master of Public Health from Kaplan University, you could be prepared to pursue a wide range of industry positions including health care consultant, epidemiologist, program coordinator, and program manager.* You may also have a solid foundation for further academic pursuits.† 

  • Kaplan University offers multiple start dates, giving you greater flexibility with your education, life, and work schedules.

    Jul 31

    Online Start Date
    Jul 31, 2013

    Oct 16

    Online Start Date
    Oct 16, 2013

    View the Academic Calendar

  • Curriculum: All Tracks

    Core

    PU 500: FOUNDATIONS IN PUBLIC HEALTH (4 Credits)

    This course examines the field of public health from a holistic perspective. Students are introduced to the fundamental tools and skills needed to be a successful public health practitioner. Students will complete an in-depth assessment of a current public health issue and hone analytical skills necessary for the Master of Public Health program.

    Total Core Credits: 44
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 505: HEALTH BEHAVIOR (4 Credits)

    This course provides a conceptual grounding in theoretical approaches to health and health behav­ior, emphasizing the use of psychosocial theories and models of health behavior for effective public health practice and research. Students apply the theories and models of health behavior to real-world scenarios encountered in public health. The course focuses on the various factors that influ­ence health behavior, the impact on health and disease of populations, and the implications for health programming.

    Total Core Credits: 44
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 510: PRINCIPLES OF BIOSTATISTICS I (4 Credits)

    Public health professionals collect and analyze data in order to solve health-based problems. Biostatistics is the application of such quantitative methods. In this course, students will study the general concepts and techniques in biostatistics including measurement, frequency distributions, central tendency, variability, and probability. Statistical inference, hypothesis testing, and confidence intervals will be introduced.

    Prerequisites Required:

    PU 500

    Total Core Credits: 44
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 511: PRINCIPLES OF BIOSTATISTICS II (4 Credits)

    This course is an extension of Principles of Biostatistics I. In this course students will continue building skills in biostatistics, focusing on quantitative and categorical response variables. Topics covered include the t-test, ANOVA, sample size estimation, correlation, regression, inference about a proportion, and contingency tables.

    Prerequisites Required:

    PU 510

    Total Core Credits: 44
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 520: PRINCIPLES OF EPIDEMIOLOGY (4 Credits)

    This course introduces the epidemiologic methods, concepts, and issues that are critical for the assessment, analysis, and interpretation of health-related data. Students study advanced epidemiologic methods used in surveillance, outbreak investigation, screening, and epidemiologic measures, and apply these methods to relevant public health issues.

    Total Core Credits: 44
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 530: OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (4 Credits)

    This course presents an overview of the basic concepts of environmental health sciences. The relationships between exposure to workplace contaminants and ergonomics and health are explored. Major areas of focus include indus­trial hygiene, toxicology studies, environmental microbiology, and clinical occupational medi­cine. Applicable risk assessment and prevention methods based on monitoring chemical and biologic agents and biomarkers are reviewed and discussed. Current environmental health regula­tions and the efficacy of enforcement (as public health prevention) by government agencies at the local, state, national, and international levels are also discussed.

    Total Core Credits: 44
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 535: PUBLIC HEALTH BIOLOGY (4 Credits)

    The impact of biological processes in disease, as related to the mechanisms of causation, disease transmission, host risk factors, and host vulner­abilities, is presented. The pathophysiologic mechanisms are studied in order to plan control strategies and effective interventions to improve the health of the public.

    Total Core Credits: 44
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 550: PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION (4 Credits)

    In this course, students will study the delivery, quality, and costs of health care for individuals and populations. Managerial and administrative constructs are introduced. Students will study the structure, process, and outcomes of health services including the costs, financing, organization, outcomes, and accessibility of care. Students will learn to champion solutions to organizational and community challenges while energizing commitment to goals.

    Prerequisites Required:

    PU 520 and PU 505

    Total Core Credits: 44
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 680: PRACTICAL SKILLS IN PUBLIC HEALTH I (4 Credits)

    Students will demonstrate public health knowledge and skills by working within a health organization. Through this onsite learning experience, students will engage with other public health professionals and train for the public health workforce. An onsite preceptor and Kaplan University faculty member will evaluate student performance.

    Prerequisites Required:

    PU 550 and permission from the Clinical Placement Team

    Total Core Credits: 44
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 690: PRACTICAL SKILLS IN PUBLIC HEALTH II (4 Credits)

    In a continuation of Practical Skills in Public Health I, students will further develop practical skills related to working in the public health workforce. Through this onsite learning experience, students will engage with other public health professionals and train for the public health workforce. An onsite preceptor and Kaplan University faculty member will evaluate student performance. Students will prepare and deliver a professional presentation on their learning experiences within Practical Skills in Public Health I and II.

    Prerequisites Required:

    PU 680 and permission from the Clinical Placement Team

    Total Core Credits: 44
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 699: MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH CAPSTONE (4 Credits)

    The capstone course is the culminating experience for Master of Public Health candidates. Students will build upon their skills and knowledge obtained throughout the Master of Public Health program through the completion of a project. The project entails analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing public health constructs within a real-world issue or scenario without the use of human research participants. In addition, Master of Public Health candidates will be assessed on their mastery of fundamental public health knowledge through completion of a comprehensive exam.

    Prerequisites Required:

    Completion of all core and elective courses in the Master of Public Health

    Total Core Credits: 44
    Total Program Credits: 60

    Electives/Choose 4 Courses

    HA 525: HEALTH LAW (4 Credits)

    This course provides analysis of law, the legal system, and current legal problems as they relate to the financing and delivery of health care services. This course covers interrelated legal topics pertinent to health care organizations including contracts, medical malpractice, legal and ethical obligations to provide health care, privileging, medical decision making, tax exemption, antitrust, fraud, and health information management. Students are encouraged to discuss how the law supports or hinders current efforts to improve health care delivery systems.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    HA 560: COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT (4 Credits)

    This course provides students with the skills needed to enhance (assess) the health of a community. Students focus on health behaviors, environmental influences, health policy, and economic and health care system issues in health promotion and disease prevention.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 515: PRINCIPLES OF BIOSTATISTICS (4 Credits)

    Public health professionals collect and analyze data in order to solve health-based problems. Biostatistics is the application of such quantitative methods. In this course, students will study the use of probability, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and nonparametric tests as they pertain to health research. Students will study the fundamental concepts of biostatistics as it applies to peer-reviewed, public health publications.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 540: HEALTH POLICY AND ETHICS IN PUBLIC HEALTH (4 Credits)

    Fundamental ethical issues in public health research, practice, and policy are the focus of this course. Analysis of the health policy formula­tion process and the ethical basis of public health policies and programs are included, as well as the impact of health policies on individual and population health.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 545: DISASTER MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (4 Credits)

    This course examines incident preparedness and response from a variety of public health dimen­sions including: acute and chronic health care delivery, impact on vulnerable populations, delivery of basic human services, epidemiologic response, and effective collaborations in public health preparedness planning. Students learn how to prepare for and address disruptions of public health systems arising from disasters.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 610: PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT (4 Credits)

    Students are introduced to the principles of program development and evaluation in public health. Topics include methods of design, develop­ment, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs to improve individual and com­munity health.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 615: GRANT AND CONTRACT WRITING (4 Credits)

    This course provides a general overview of the grant-seeking process. Students study types of projects that generally receive funding, sources that can be used to identify prospective funders, and the essential components of a well-written grant. Students design a grant application using a real-life scenario needs statement, develop a proj­ect that will address that need, write clear goals and objectives for that project, develop a budget, and identify an evaluation tool that could be used to measure outcomes for the project. All phases of the contract formulation process are addressed, and students learn how to write a statement of work document for commonly used contracts in public health administration.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 620: HEALTH CARE SAFETY (4 Credits)

    This course explains how to manage the unique safety requirements of health care organizations within the framework provided by OSHA regula­tions and voluntary accreditation organizations. Topics include infection control, bloodborne pathogens, patient safety, ergonomics, construc­tion safety, respiratory protection, fire protection, and emergency response. Students apply these studies to real-life scenarios affecting a variety of health care institutions.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 630: HEALTH EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION (4 Credits)

    This course focuses on the role of health education and communication in the practice of health education and public health. The coursework will include the principles of successful health education, its basis in health behavioral theories, and methods of health education. The student will design a health education campaign using the modern and traditional methods of communication to deliver culturally appropriate, effective health education of public health importance.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 640: CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN PUBLIC HEALTH (4 Credits)

    This course provides an in-depth understanding of cultural forces that impact practice of public health. Cultural, sociopolitical, and behavioral fac­tors that impact public health practice in culturally diverse populations are studied. In addition, students learn to evaluate the cultural competence in public health.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 645: DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY (4 Credits)

    This course familiarizes students with basic health data management concepts, principles, and methods. Students learn how to design a simple database for research in health sciences and conduct basic descriptive epidemiological analyses using a data management and analysis program.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 650: INFECTIOUS DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY (4 Credits)

    Students are introduced to the scope and practice of infectious disease epidemiology. Topics include historical aspects, definitions and nomenclature, outbreak investigations, disease surveillance, case-control studies, cohort studies, laboratory diagnosis, molecular epidemiology, dynamics of transmission, and assessment of vaccine field ef­fectiveness. Students explore the global aspects of infectious diseases in the modern world.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 655: CHRONIC DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY (4 Credits)

    The role of public health in selected chronic diseases and the application of various epide­miologic methods to epidemiological studies on chronic diseases are studied. This course includes an overview of the burden of chronic diseases and interventions to prevent and control their burden. Students explore the impact of various risk factors for chronic diseases, prevention strategies, and outcomes.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    PU 660: INTERNATIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGY AND GLOBAL HEALTH (4 Credits)

    This course introduces students to recent trends in global health and current problems of health from an international perspective, and examines the influence of economic, population, and socio­political trends on health and living conditions in different countries. Students apply the basics of descriptive and analytical epidemiology to global health and key health indicators used in international epidemiology, and analyze the main transnational factors that influence the transfer of risks to health across the globe.

    Total Electives/Choose 4 Courses Credits: 16
    Total Program Credits: 60

    Tuition & Fees: All Tracks

    The 25% tuition reduction applies only to international students living outside of the United States. This discount does not apply to military students. Please check with your advisor to see if you are eligible. 

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    Tuition and Fees

    Some programs have additional associated fees that are not included in the price of tuition. Click here or check with an Admissions Advisor for more information. 

    Learn More about Kaplan University Tuition and Fees  

    Notice to Learning Center Students

    Kaplan University Learning Center students will only complete a portion of this program on site. You will need to complete at least 50% of the program requirements online, or through transfer credit awarded via prior learning assessment. If you have any questions about these requirements, please speak with an admissions advisor.

    Scholarships and Grants

    Learn more about grants and Kaplan University Scholarships and that may help reduce the cost of your education.

    Kaplan University tuition reductions (including active-duty, spouse, and veterans military tuition rates; scholarships; grants; vouchers; and alumni and alliance reductions) cannot be combined. 

    Tuition Rates for Military Students and Spouses

    Kaplan University has significantly reduced many of our tuition rates and fees for active-duty servicemembers, their spouses, and veterans. Click here for more information.
     

  • * Kaplan University cannot guarantee employment or career advancement.

    † While many of Kaplan University's degree programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue continued bachelor-, graduate- or doctorate-level education, the University cannot guarantee that students will be granted admission to any programs. 

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