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Public Health, M.P.H.

The Council on Education for Public Health-accredited Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) program provides a collaborative and integrated approach to improving population health and healthcare. The MPH program uses collaborative partnerships to meet diverse community health needs through educating future leaders, and promoting social justice and excellence in practice.

Visit the program website for more information.

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Program Overview

Public health professionals promote good health, prevent disease within communities, and address multiple complex public health problems. The M.P.H. provides graduate level community-based education and research, in two formats: traditional in-seat and online/hybrid.

Why Study Public Health 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.
  • Classes are flexible and convenient for working professionals. Two delivery formats to meet student demand. Traditional in-seat option (with classes at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.), or an online/hybrid option (meeting one weekend per semester on campus with coursework online).
  • Grand Valley offers the same graduate tuition rate for in- and out-of-state students.
  • Accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (www.ceph.org).

Career Insights

This tool shows an overview of potential career opportunities for this major. Actual salaries, employment opportunities, and job titles may change over time.

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: 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.

Formats:

Coursework

Students choose one of two emphasis areas: epidemiology or health promotion. Electives offered in policy, environmental health, and health disparities.

Upon completion of the 48-51 hour, five semester M.P.H. program, graduates will be qualified to earn voluntary professional certification by taking the National Board of Public Health Examiners Certified in Public Heath (CPH) and/or the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exams.

Application Deadline

Early admission application deadline is November 1; regular admission deadline March 1; rolling admissions accepted until all seats are filled. The $30 nonrefundable application fee is waived if the applicant has previously applied to GVSU.

Admission Requirements

Students will be chosen for acceptance into the M.P.H. program based on the following program requirements:

  • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate coursework is required. A bachelor's degree is required, in a health-related field is preferred.
  • Written recommendations from at least two individuals who are in positions to attest to the applicant's successful completion of the program. An academic reference as well as a health care professional reference is preferred.
  • Resume
  • Personal Essay. A written statement that addresses the following questions: What would make you an excellent candidate for the Grand Valley State University M.P.H. program? What are your expectations for a future career in public health?

Considerations

  • The Application Review Committee reserves the right to require additional information it deems appropriate, including GRE test scores.

The following university requirements must also be met:

  • A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education; a transcript must be submitted.
  • GVSU Graduate Application.
  • Thirty-dollar application fee. Note: Students who have previously paid an undergraduate or graduate application fee to GVSU do not need to pay this fee again.
  • Official copies of transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended, sent directly from those institutions to the GVSU Admissions Office. Note: We do not require official transcripts from Grand Valley.
  • Test scores from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), or IELTS (International English Language Assessment Battery) for applicants whose native language is not English. Only original score reports will be accepted.
College of Health Professions
School of Interdisciplinary Health
Public Health

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

American Public Health Association: apha.org
Michigan Public Health Association: mipha.org
Society of Public Health Education: sophe.org
Council on Education for Public Health: ceph.org

Graduate Admissions and Recruitment Office

gvsu.edu/gradapply

Program Director

Ranelle Brew, Ed.D. 
(616) 331-5570

 

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