Curriculum – 42-credit minimum
Students may complete the Executive Program in Public Health Practice (EPHP) in as little as 16 months of full-time study. An average student completes the program in three years. Students have up to seven years to finish the degree.
The EPPHP Curriculum can be divided into 4 sections:
Section 1 – Basic curriculum (15.5 credits)
The basic curriculum courses are offered online and in person. The EPPHP program is geared for students to complete the online courses to accommodate their professional lives.
- PubH 6299 Public Health as a Team Sport: the Power of Collaboration (1.5)*
- PubH 6020 Fundamentals of Social and Behavioral Science (3)
- PubH 6102 Issues in Environmental and Occupational Health (2)
- PubH 6320 Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3)
- PubH 6414 Biostatistical Methods I (3)
- PubH 6741 Ethics in Public Health: Professional Practice and Policy (1)
- PubH 6751 Principles of Management in Health Services Org (2)
*This course is offered the weekend prior to the start of the Public Health Institute.
Substitutions with courses that meet M.P.H. requirements in public health core areas may be considered only with prior approval of the student’s advisor.
Section 2 – Field experience (4 cr)
This is an opportunity for students to learn first-hand about the organizations, operations, and special activities of selected agencies, institutions, and industries concerned with public health practice.
Students may complete their field experience at any agency as long as the agencies’ goal is to enhance the health of the public.
The EPPHP requires 4 credits of field experience (1cr =45 hours) and to learn more, go to Master’s Project/Field Experience.
Section 3 – MPH Project (4 cr)
The MPH project provides a culminating experience for students that allows them to demonstrate the use of public health principles and competencies. There are five MPH project options available:
- Certified in Public Health Exam (CPH)
If you entered the EPPHP with a Public Health Core Concept Certificate you are required to take the CPH instead of completing a MPH project. EPPHP students who take the non-credit bearing CPH exam to satisfy this requirement will substitute additional 4 credits elective courses. - Research paper – the research paper will focus on pertinent questions or issues in public health practice.
- Systematic literature review – the literature review will focus on pertinent questions or issues in public health practice.
- Consultation report – the consultative report offers students the opportunity to address a real problem faced by a public health agency (public or private) and produce a product for a real client.
- Grant proposal – learning how to write a successful grant application is a very important skill to possess in the practice of public health.
To learn more, go to Master’s Project/Field Experience.
Section 4 – Focus Area Curriculum (18.5 credit minimum)
The SPH offers a wide range of elective coursework. EPPHP students have the opportunity to choose their elective courses based on their career goals and interests. Students may choose to complete an established interdisciplinary concentration, focus on one or two topics, or take a variety of electives.
Students are required to choose at least one class from each of the four goals incorporating public health practice domains as established by the APHA Council on Linkages.
The four goals are:
- public policy development using a systems framework;
- interventions based on the dimensions of community and culture;
- assessment and application of basic public health sciences;
- program management and communications principles.
Courses offered at the Public Health Institute (PHI) will fulfill these domains. The Coordinator can assist students to ensure that these domains are easily fulfilled.
Some EPPHP students complete electives courses by taking online courses offered during the fall or spring terms, but the majority of EPPHP students complete the elective courses at the Public Health Institute (PHI), which is offered during the University of Minnesota’s three week May session in the last week in May and first weeks in June. The PHI offers course topics that are timely and current to public health and are taught in a non-traditional format.
For example a course will be offered in the morning or afternoon for four days/week, for one credit. This format allows students to complete 6 credits in three weeks, if they choose.
To view the 2012 Public Health Institute courses and course descriptions, please go to: http://www.sph.umn.edu/ce/institute/, click “Institute courses” located below the orange cup or to view the course titlse click 2012 PHI courses.
Examples of possible focus or concentrations areas are:
- Cultural Competency
- Food Protection
- Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
- Public Health Leadership
- Global Health*
- Health Disparities*
- Public Health Policy*
- Complementary & Alternative Medicine*
*These are established interdisciplinary concentrations and the name of the concentration will be listed on your transcript. You must complete and submit a proposal form, please refer the web site for full information.
Download a list of elective courses
Interdisciplinary Concentrations and Dual Degree
Interdisciplinary Concentrations are available to students pursuing an MPH in the standard or MCH epidemiology emphasis programs. Typically, the concentration consists of an additional 12 credits, with two required courses and electives. Currently, students may complete the following concentrations:
Dual degrees are available with law and social work. Students interested in a dual degree need to apply to and be accepted by each program individually. Once admitted into both programs, the student will work jointly with both programs to determine an enrollment plan.
Sample Schedule
SUMMER 1 (12.5 credits)
May/June, 8.5 credits
- PubH 6299 Public Health is a Team Sport: The Power of Collaboration, 1.5 cr (a weekend during the Public Health Institute); and
- Focus Area courses, 7 cr
Regular Summer Term, 4 credits
- PubH 6102 Issues in Environmental & Occupation Health, 2 cr
- PubH 6751 Principles of Management in Health Services Org, 2 cr
note: both of these courses are online and run from mid-June through mid-August.
FALL TERM (5.5-6.5 credits)
- PubH 6414 Biostatistical Methods, 3 cr
- PubH 6741 Ethics in PH: Professional Practice & Policy, 1 cr
- PubH 7280 PH Advocacy through Professional Organizations, .5 cr
- PubH 7291 Independent Study in Leadership, 1-2 cr
notes: PubH 6414 and PubH 6741 are online and run September through mid-December. PubH 7280 and 7291 are electives and are completed independently with pre-approval of and in consultation with faculty member; no on-campus meetings required.
SPRING TERM (7-9 credits)
- PubH 6320 Fundamentals of Epidemiology, 3 cr
- PubH 6020 Fundamentals of Social & Behavioral Science, 3 cr
- Online elective, 1-3 cr.
notes: PubH 6320 and PubH 6020 are online and run from mid-January through mid-May.
SUMMER 2 (15 credits)
May/June, 7 credits
- Focus Area courses, 7 cr
Regular Summer Term, 8 credits
- PubH 7294 Master’s Project: Public Health Practice, 4 cr
- PubH 7296 Field Experience: Public Health Practice, 4 cr
note: courses are completed independently with pre-approval of faculty member; no in-person meetings required.