Accelerated Public Health Degree Requirements

Required 120 credits (36 credits numbered 300 or above and 30 credits from UND) including:

I. Essential Studies Requirements, 39 credits. The program includes the 39 credits that all students are required to complete in order to meet Essential Studies requirements (see University ES listing).

II. Health-Related Core Requirements, 15 credits, including:

III. One of the following options:

A. Public Health Education (42 credits)

Additional requirement for public health education option includes:

          1. A minor OR 24 credits of courses, related to public health education.

B. School Health Education:

Students seeking certification to teach health education must be admitted to the Teacher Education program which requires a minimum of 2.75 GPA, adequate test scores, and at least 30 credits before applying for admission to Teacher Education. Students must also complete the PHE prerequisites and core requirements (listed above) plus additional courses specific to the preparation for teaching in health education, including the following courses:

Additional requirements for the teacher education/certification option include:

1. Admission to the Teacher Education program (see details under the College of Education and Human Development or on the Teacher Education website.) Note that many upper division courses are not open to students until they gain TE admission.

This page contains admission and application requirements for traditional MPH applicants, MPH/JD applicants, and accelerated Bachelor's/Master's applicants. Please scroll to the appropriate section for more information.

MPH Admission Requirements

1. Completion of the SOPHAS online application (traditional applicants only), UND School of Graduate Studies application, and payment of the application fee(s).
2. A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or equivalent.
3. An undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00.
4. Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies' English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

MPH Application Requirements (all applicants)

1. A written statement that describes the applicant’s professional goals and motivation for seeking a degree in public health. In addition, applicants should comment on any personal qualities, characteristics, and abilities they believe will enable them to be successful in achieving their career goals (limit 2 pages).
2. Applicants to the Population Health Research & Analytics specialization are also required to submit evidence of analytic/quantitative abilities by presenting at least one of the following:
   • Academic background in health, public health, or natural sciences with a math/science GPA of 3.0 or better;
   • Written product from a professional experience demonstrating analytic/quantitative skill; or
   • Letter(s) of recommendation that gives specific examples of applicant’s analytic/quantitative abilities.
3. Resume listing work experience, including voluntary, and relevant accomplishments, awards, and honors.
4. Official post-secondary academic transcripts from all institutions attended.
5. Three (3) letters of recommendation from academic and professional sources who the applicant feels are most qualified to evaluate their academic potential and leadership potential in public health. At least one of the three letters must come from an academic source. The applicant may submit more than three letters of recommendation.

Students applying to the traditional MPH degree program will submit all required materials through the SOPHAS application. A supplemental application through the UND School of Graduate Studies is also required.

Students applying to the Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's or Joint MPH/JD program will submit all required materials to the UND School of Graduate Studies admissions application. They do not need to complete the SOPHAS application.

The Admissions Committee may request an in-person or Zoom interview with an applicant to assist in the decision process. A background check will be completed on each student before admission is final.

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) Admission Requirements

The Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (ABM) 4+1 program allows exceptional undergraduate students at UND an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees at an accelerated pace. All requirements for both degrees must be met, and these students may double count up to 12 graduate-level credits towards the requirements for both their Bachelor in Public Health Education and their Master of Public Health degree requirements. ABM students must obtain their Master of Public Health degree within 12 months of completing the Bachelor of Public Health Education degree, provided that the degree requirements can be completed in that timeframe.

Admission is a competitive process. The following are minimum eligibility requirements:    

1. Students may apply upon completion of a minimum of 60 credits, including credits earned from advanced placement and dual credit. Students must apply before completion of the undergraduate degree.
2. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 at the time of admission into the ABM program.

3. Current enrollment in or completion of Introduction to Public Health (PHE 101), Epidemiology in Public Health (PHE 102), Introduction to Global Health (PHE 103), and Community Health (PHE 302), with a minimum grade of B in each course.

4. In addition to the standard application requirements, ABM program applicants must submit a detailed Program of Study that describes the 12 credits of double-counted courses, the courses that will be taken after being accepted into the MPH program, the courses that will be taken before graduation from the Bachelor of Public Health Education program, and the expected graduation date for each degree. The submitted program of study must be signed by the student, the student's undergraduate advisor, and the Public Health Graduate Director.

Joint MPH/JD Admission Requirements

The joint MPH/JD degree program will enable a student to receive the two degrees upon completion of 81 law credit hours and 36 MPH credit hours. The School of Law thus accepts 9 credit hours of MPH coursework that will be applicable toward the J.D. degree, and the MPH Program accepts 6 credit hours of J.D. courses toward the MPH degree.

Admission is a competitive process. The following are minimum eligibility requirements:

1. Students are required to apply to both the Law School and the School of Graduate Studies. Admission recommendations will be made to the School of Graduate Studies by the Director of the Public Health Program and approved by the Graduate Dean. The Law School Admissions Committee will determine admission into the Law School.
2. Students pursuing a J.D. degree and wishing to add the MPH degree must do so no later than the third semester of the J.D. program.
3. Admission requirements of each program will remain the same in the joint admission process as is currently required to be admitted into each program separately.

MPH Program Requirements

The MPH degree requires the successful completion of at least 42 credits of coursework. The MPH core curriculum covers all competencies and areas of foundational knowledge required for public health programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The MPH degree also requires completion of a 13 credit specialization in Population Health Research & Analytics or 12 credit specialization in Indigenous Health or Health Management & Policy; a 3 credit Applied Practice Experience; and a 2 credit Integrative Learning Experience. The core curriculum and the specialization curricula in Indigenous Health and Health Management & Policy are available on-campus and online, and the specialization curriculum in Population Health Research & Analytics is available on-campus and through distance education/interactive video network. 

Degree Requirements

Students seeking the Master of Public Health degree at the University of North Dakota must satisfy all general requirements set forth by the School of Graduate Studies as well as particular requirements set forth by the Public Health Program.

Coursework

Required MPH Core Coursework (18 credits):

MPH Practice Experience

PH 594 Applied Practice Experience, 3 credits

The Applied Practice Experience (APEx) is a planned, supervised, and evaluated practice experience. It provides an opportunity to apply basic public health competencies acquired through coursework. The APEx is designed to meet student goals, specialization criteria, and the needs of the APEx organization. An approved proposal is required prior to enrollment in this course.

MPH Culminating Experience 

The MPH core courses must be completed before beginning the Culminating Experience.

PH 995 Integrative Learning Experience, 2 credits

The Integrative Learning Experience is one component of the MPH Culminating Experience. Students complete a project that demonstrates synthesis and application of knowledge acquired through coursework and other public health learning experiences.

PH 590 MPH Seminar, 1 credit

The MPH Seminar is one component of the MPH Culminating Experience. The course addresses current issues in public health. Presentations and discussions focus on dissemination, synthesis, and application of knowledge acquired through coursework and other public health learning experiences.

Specializations

The three MPH specializations - Health Management & Policy, Population Health Research & Analytics, and Indigenous Health - provide integrative and practical learning experiences that are designed to foster intellectual growth, critical thinking, and essential problem-solving and communication skills. Graduates are prepared to work in many regional, national, and international settings including public health and other government agencies, health care delivery organizations, health plans, non-governmental health organizations, and academic institutions. Each specialization consists of 12-13 credits.

Health Management & Policy Specialization

The specialization in Health Management & Policy provides students with skills needed to manage health care and public health systems effectively and efficiently, analyze and evaluate health policies, and communicate successfully to effect improvements in the health care and public health systems. The curriculum for the specialization is offered in partnership with the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration, which adds depth to the faculty expertise and course offerings available to MPH students.

REQUIRED COURSES = 12 credits

ELECTIVE COURSES = 6 credits      

With advisor approval, other courses may be substituted.

Indigenous Health Specialization

The specialization in Indigenous Health is unique nationally in that students will develop the skillsets required to effectively promote public health in Indigenous populations both in the United States and internationally. The curriculum includes analysis of the impact of colonization on health as well as current-day social, policy, environmental, and ecological determinants of health in Indigenous populations. Strategies and best practices in developing and implementing public health programs in Indigenous populations is also covered. 

REQUIRED COURSES = 12 credits

ELECTIVE COURSES = 6 credits

With advisor approval, other courses may be substituted.

Population Health Research & Analytics Specialization

The specialization in Population Health Research & Analytics provides students with skills needed to produce convincing and scientifically sound information about population health, evaluate the effectiveness of population health interventions, and provide the basis for improving health policies and programs. The course of study includes training in research methods, biostatistics, informatics, and communication of scientific results. Students learn how to design outcomes and comparative effectiveness studies, collect and analyze population health data, and communicate results.

REQUIRED COURSES = 13 credits

ELECTIVE COURSES = 6 credits                                                                                                

With advisor approval, other courses may be substituted.