Program Requirements

The MPH program requires completion of 42 credit hours and includes the following:

PBH Core Courses Credit Hours: 30

• PBH 720 - Epidemiology
• PBH 730 - Statistics for the Health Professions
• PBH 740 - Health Behavior
• PBH 745 - Environmental Health
• PBH 775 - Principles and Skills of Public Health Administration
• PBH 735 - Software Applications and Data Sources in Public Health
• PBH 756 - Introduction to Public Health
• PBH 760 - Research Methods for the Health Professions
• PBH 783 - International Health and Infectious Disease
• MGT 701 - Health Services Organization

Elective Courses Credit Hours: 6

Field and Capstone Experience Credit Hours: 6

• PBH 798 - Public Health Field Experience
• PBH 799 - Capstone Project in Public Health

After satisfactory completion of PBH 720 , PBH 730 , PBH 740 , PBH 745  and PBH 775 , all students are required to pass a written examination. 

Field Experience

All students are required to complete a practical experience in an approved public health setting under the mentorship of a faculty member and the supervision of an on-site public health professional.

In order to qualify for the Public Health Field Experience, students must have successfully passed the core examination.  The Field Experience must be approved.  The only curricular practical training that will be approved is the PBH 798 course. No external research at other institutions will be approved for curricular practical training during the completion of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program.

Capstone Project

If a student chooses to complete 3 credits of field experience and 3 credits of a capstone project, the capstone project will be completed with the mentorship of an MPH faculty member.

Retention and Readmission to the Program

Admission to the Master of Public Health (MPH) program is through a competitive admissions process with only a limited number of students admitted each year. Students who leave the program will be required to apply for readmission. Applications for readmission will be reviewed by the MPH faculty.  International students must comply with program and International Services policies. Students have a maximum of eight years to complete the program. Students who exceed this time period must seek an extension. All other retention policies are defined by the Graduate College.

Students can obtain dual degrees in health administration and public health at Missouri State University. A total of 12 hours of coursework can be applied to both programs, reducing the time required to obtain both degrees separately.  See graduate advisor for more information.