Public Health M.P.H. - Grand Valley State University

What is Public Health?

Public health is the science and practice of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, policy-making, and research for disease and injury prevention. Grand Valley's Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) program offers a comprehensive and collaborative approach to improving population health and healthcare. Accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, the program provides a unique online/hybrid format to accommodate diverse student needs. The curriculum emphasizes community-based education and research, preparing students to become leaders in public health practice and promoting social justice and excellence.

GVSU undergraduate students who want to learn more about public health are encouraged take PH 222 - Public Health Concepts (3 credits). PH 222 is offered every semester and taught by our MPH Faculty.

Learn the basics of public health and why it's important in the first episode of the "That's Public Health" web series from APHA and Complexly. Visit the American Public Health Association's YouTube channel for additional videos from the series, and more.

For more information, visit www.APHA.org.

Why Study Public Health at Grand Valley?

Accredited. The M.P.H. program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (www.ceph.org).
Relevant. A Master of Public Health degree from GVSU means acquired experience and skills vital for today's public health professional.
Experience based. Includes field experience in public health practice, optional global learning in public health, and practicum placements within the community. Didactic learning is paired with community-based experiences throughout the curriculum.
Connected. Proximity to, and articulation agreements with, a variety of public health-related organizations ensure more effective student learning.
Convenient & Online. Students complete their courses online, meeting on campus (Grand Rapids or Traverse City) only once, for a two-day summer intensive at the midpoint of their program. This format accommodates students with jobs, families, and other commitments, as well as those in distant locations.
Tuition savings. GVSU graduate school tuition is not based on residency - we do not charge out-of-state tuition rates.

Program Overview

Grand Valley State University's Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) graduate degree program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health and connected to the community with its experience-based mission. This program prepares students by enhancing career opportunities through the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative problem-solving research skills, service, and experiential learning. Public health professionals promote good health and prevent disease within communities. The M.P.H. provides graduate and community-based education and research grounded in social justice to help meet these goals.

The Public Health M.P.H. program has a minimum of 42 credits. Upon completion of the 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 Health (CPH) Exam.

Undergraduates accepted into the Allied Health Sciences (B.S.) + Public Health (M.P.H.) or Exercise Science (B.S.) + Public Health (M.P.H.) Combined Degree programs, or those using a Student-Initiated Combined Degree option, begin their M.P.H. courses in the fall of their senior year.

EMPHASES
All M.P.H. students choose from one of two emphasis areas:

Epidemiology
Health promotion

ONLINE + ON-LOCATION
Coursework for the M.P.H. graduate program is completed online (asynchronous).
Applicants choose from one of two campus cohorts:

Grand Rapids - Health campus
Traverse City - Northwestern Michigan College's Front Street campus

At the midpoint of the program (third semester), students meet in-person on their designated campus for a two-day, Public Health Intensive experience.

FIELDWORK
Students gain valuable field experience through practicum placements and optional global learning opportunities. The combination of didactic learning and community-based experiences ensures that graduates are well-prepared to address complex public health challenges. The program's online course format caters to working professionals, nontraditional students, and those with demanding family commitments.

WHERE CAN THIS DEGREE TAKE YOU?
Our M.P.H. alumni are impacting public health locally, across the country, and globally. View our MPH Alumni Directory to see where, and the many ways, some of our graduates are using their degree.

Admissions Process

APPLICATION DEADLINES

PRIORITY Admission:
NOVEMBER 1

REGULAR Admission:
MARCH 1

Applications for admission as a Combined-degree student should be submitted in the fall semester of Junior year
(after the completion of 55+ undergraduate credit hours).

Apply Now

Applications completed by November 1 will be reviewed, and candidates will receive a decision by early December.

Applications received after March 1 will be reviewed on a rolling basis, until all seats are filled.

ATTEND AN MPH Information Event

All prospective students should attend an MPH Information Event. Those who attend a virtual information session also receive a code to waive the application fee!