Public Health, MPH

Mission

In support of the South College mission, the mission of the Master of Public Health program is designed to develop essential knowledge and skills to address multifarious public health issues at local, state, national, and international levels.  The program emphasizes teaching excellence and application of skills that contribute to student development and lifelong learning.

Overview

The Master of Public Health (MPH) requires successful completion of 45 quarter credit hours of course work. Of the 45 quarter hours of course work, practicum coursework comprises 4 credits of the curriculum including 120 hours of placement in field. The Master’s program is designed to be delivered in 4 consecutive quarters (12 months) full-time.  Part-time options are available and will require a longer time period.  The MPH curriculum explores the foundational concepts, core competencies, essential services, and engages the student in both the practical and research applications of public health. Public health professionals work to assure conditions in which people can be healthy on a local, organizational, and governmental scale. The program is designed for students from a variety of professional backgrounds.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Master of Public Health program will accomplish the following outcomes:

1. Apply critical thinking skills and knowledge to the research and practice of public health.
2. Develop communication approaches to advocate and educate diverse populations on factors that impact health outcomes.
3. Differentiate between the use of qualitative and quantitative research methods in epidemiology to develop appropriate solutions pertaining to diverse public health issues.
4. Examine the effects of environmental and occupational factors on the health of the population to create effective solutions.
5. Assess the social determinants of health to develop policies and programs that address health disparities, health inequities, and health inequalities in diverse populations.
6. Analyze trends and patterns of disease in diverse populations using biostatistical and epidemiological methods.

Admission Requirements

Applicants interested in this program are required to meet individually, either in person or via telephone, with an admissions representative and program faculty to discuss the program and all requirements. Applicants must provide a completed South College application for admission and application to the program. Those selected for admission will provide the following:

• Evidence completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education in public health, health science, or a closely related discipline approved by the faculty.
• Completion of an undergraduate course in statistics with grade of B or better or completion of South College’s MAT 2501 .
• Evidence of a cumulative 3.0 undergraduate grade point average for admittance OR Evidence of a cumulative 2.50 undergraduate grade point average for conditional admittance.

Students accepted for conditional admittance are permitted to take three courses in the MPH program. If they maintain a 3.0 graduate grade point average in the three courses, they are granted admittance.

Transfer of Credit

No more than three (3) graduate level courses will be accepted for transfer credit towards the MPH program. In order to be considered for transfer credit, a course syllabus, an unofficial transcript with the course grade, and a written request must be submitted to the Department Chair of the Department of Health Science. Official credit will be awarded for those approved once the official transcript is received by the Registrar’s office.

Program Design

The MPH program will be completed primarily via an asynchronous online format using the learning management system Canvas in order to provide flexibility and to accommodate the schedules of working professionals. The curriculum is tailored to provide a balance of theoretical, practical, and analytical instruction to prepare students for the unique challenges in the 21st century.

An online introduction to the program includes an orientation, a review of students’ roles and responsibilities in an online instructional environment, important information about accessing South College email and Student Portal accounts, and a discussion and review of South College learning resources and student services.

Course materials and assignments emphasize collaboration, critical thinking, research, and student accountability. The program cumulates with a capstone course which provides a unique opportunity for a thorough investigation of a public health issue. 

Students will be enrolled in the MPH 5090 practicum after the successful completion of, or current enrollment in, all other MPH courses to coincide with their final quarter. Successful completion of the practicum requires the submission and approval of a project proposal to be completed in 120 hours of work at a public health site culminating in a presentation to a live audience of faculty and peers via video conferencing. Students are responsible for locating their own practicum organization and preceptor. Preceptors and organizations must be approved.

Academic Standards, Student Progress, and Grading

Upon entering the Master of Public Health program, students are required to confer with the Program Director to map out their course curriculum and requirements for degree completion. Students are also required to meet each quarter with assigned advisor for an academic progress review and registration approval for the next quarter. If a student voluntarily withdraws from the program, a formal application for reentry is required, and program requirements in effect at that time must be met. The student will be required to meet with the Program Director for approval to reenter the program. Students will only be allowed to be readmitted to the Master of Public Health program once unless in the case of mitigating circumstances.

The Program Director will review each student’s scholastic achievement record at the end of each quarter. The academic standards that must be met by each student are outlined in the Academic Participation section. If a student fails to meet academic standards, the Program Director will meet with the student in question. Depending on the nature of the academic deficiency, the Program Director will determine the status of the student’s academic standing, which may include probation or dismissal from the program. The Categories of Academic Standing are:

• Good Standing: Status of a student who has met course requirements in a satisfactory manner and has demonstrated good professional behavior.
• Probation: Status of a student whose performance in the program has fallen below the minimum stated standards, or who has exhibited unacceptable professional behavior.
• Dismissal: Action whereby a student will be dismissed from the Master of Public Health program due to failure to adhere to academic standards. Dismissal will occur after review of the student’s academic or professional deficiency by the Program Director.

Professional Behavior: For the purposes of this policy, unacceptable professional behavior shall be defined as inappropriate interpersonal communications (either written or verbal) directed towards South College faculty, staff, or fellow students, or actions and demeanor deemed inappropriate by the Program Director.

The causes of and consequences for receiving Probation or Dismissal are:

Probation

A student will be placed on probation if his/her cumulative GPA falls below a 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.

Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.00.
A student with a cumulative GPA below 3.00 at the end of any quarter will receive notification from the Program Director that he/she is on Probation. If the student fails to raise his/her cumulative GPA to a 3.00 at the end of the next quarter, he/she will be dismissed from the program. If the student raises his/her cumulative GPA to a 3.00 or higher at the end of the next quarter, he/she will be removed from Probation. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below a 3.00 a second time, he/she will be dismissed from the Master of Public Health program.

Dismissal

Action whereby a student will be dismissed from the Master of Public Health program due to failure to adhere to academic and program requirements.

1. A student has a cumulative GPA of less than 3.00 at the end of any quarter and then fails to raise his/her cumulative GPA to a 3.00 or higher at the end of the next quarter;
2. A student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 for a second time;
3. A student’s professional conduct violates the performance standards set forth in the South College Academic Honor Code, the South College Standards of Student Conduct, or for unprofessional behavior or criminal activity.

South College reserves the right to dismiss at any time a student who, in its judgment, is undesirable and whose continued enrollment is detrimental to him/herself or his/her fellow students or whose presence is disruptive to the learning environment, or the orderly operation of the College.

Following dismissal, a student may appeal the dismissal by providing the Program Director a written letter of appeal. The appeal will be considered by the Program Director. If the appeal is approved, the student will be allowed to return to the program for the designed period in a probationary status. All stipulations of the approved appeal must be met in order for the student to be returned to Good Standing. Failure to meet appeal stipulations will result in program dismissal.

Graduation Requirements

For a student to graduate from the Master of Public Health program, the student must be in a good academic and professional standing, have had satisfactory progress in all quarters of the academic program, and satisfactorily complete the following:

1. Successfully complete the required quarter credit hours of academic course work.
2. Evidence a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or above for the required coursework.
3. Achieve a letter grade of “B” or better in all academic courses with at most one “C” in the program.
4. Complete all required South College and Program documents in preparation for graduation.
5. Honor all professional and financial obligations to South College.

South College reserves the right, and the student, by the act of matriculation, concedes to give South College the right to require withdrawal at any time the college deems it necessary to safeguard the standards of scholarship, conduct, and compliance with regulations, or for such other reasons deemed appropriate by South College as set forth in the South College Student Handbook and/or the South College Catalog.

Additional Requirements

South College provides computer and Internet access to staff, faculty, and students while on-campus. Online students are required to secure their own access in their personal environments. Developing computer skills is critical to the success of students in the program and in practice. Though not a requirement for admission, students are expected to possess computer skills prior to matriculation. Please see the South College website for information regarding minimum computer requirements.

The Master of Public Health program is currently offered Online.