Program Overview

Professionals in the allied health/public health field work on health care teams to provide a range of services to promote good health, prevent disease within communities, and address multiple complex public health problems.

Qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the program and obtain a B.S. in allied health sciences and M.P.H. in public health within the accelerated time frame. Application requirements:

• Junior level standing.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Two completed and received letters of recommendation.
• Resume.
• A written two-part essay as required by the M.P.H. program.
• Choice of format: hybrid or in-seat.
• Choice of emphasis: health promotion or epidemiology.

Why Pursue Combined Degrees at Grand Valley?

• Students receive field experience in public health practice, along with optional service and global learning in public health and practicum placements in the community. Didactic learning is paired with community-based experiences throughout the curriculum.
• Classes, faculty offices, and public health labs are all offered at the new Raleigh J. Finklestein Hall building in downtown Grand Rapids on GVSU's health campus.
• Accelerate your career trajectory and complete your degrees one step ahead of the competition.
• Respond to emerging job markets.
• Meet the growing national need for more master's trained employees.
• Gain valuable internship and career opportunities through partnerships in the West Michigan area.

Accreditation

The Public Health program at GVSU is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. Visit CEPH's website to learn more: https://ceph.org

Location & Format

Classes for the program are a combination of online and in-seat on the GVSU Health Campus, near the Grand Rapids Medical Mile.

• Face To Face
• Hybrid

Coursework

Students who are accepted into the combined degree program will take courses in the AHS general emphasis and use up to a maximum of 12 M.P.H. credits as a substitution for the required minor. The students must complete the following M.P.H. courses in their senior year:

• PH 500 - Introduction to Public Health
• PH 505 - Social and Behavioral Public Health
• PH 510 - Public Health Epidemiology
• PH 530 - Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health
• PH 602 - Chronic Disease Epidemiology OR PH 622 - Health Behavior and Promotion
• STA 610 - Applied Statistics for Health Professions

Career Options

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that ten of the 20 fastest growing occupations are healthcare related. They also predict 3.2 million new wage and salary healthcare jobs between 2018 and 2028. Graduates can be found the fields of global and environmental health, health management and education, epidemiology, research, government agencies, advocacy, and public policy.

Skills Employers Want

The Master of Public Health degree at GVSU will develop the skills you need to land the job you want. Whether the skills are advanced or general, you will build a resume of qualifications that are sure to attract employers. The following skills correlate with those pulled from actual job postings.

• Strategic Planning
• Performance Improvement
• Health Administration
• Program Development
• Budgeting
• Behavioral Health
• Quality Management
• Managed Care

Source: Emsi 2022

Admission Requirements

Visit the online catalog for more information about admission requirements for the combined bachelor of science in allied health science and master of public health.

Helpful Links

• Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Tuition & Fees
• The Graduate School
• Athletic Training Programs
• Exercise Science Programs

For More Information

500 Lafayette Ave. NE, Suite 204
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 331-5570

Ranelle Brew, Ed.D. 
(616) 331-5570