The Department of Health Science offers a Master’s of Public Health (MPH) degree program in Health Education & Promotion. The program is offered both on campus and through a distance education format (online). The 42-credit-hour MPH program provides a high quality, student-oriented, and health-equity-focused curriculum developed to deliver core public health competencies that emphasize the application of health education and promotion. Designed for eventual Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation, the curriculum offers education in the foundational areas of public health (health behavior, environmental health, epidemiology, biostatistics, and health services administration) and is tailored to train health promotion professionals to plan, implement, and evaluate programs to promote individual and population-based health. Upon program completion, students are eligible to take two national exams for professional certification: Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam and the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam.
Admissions
In addition to the minimum Graduate School admission requirements, to be considered for regular admission an application must include:
- At least 3 letters of recommendation.
- Applicants should seek out 3 recommenders who are familiar with their skills and abilities
- It is not ideal to have letters written by family or friends
- Quality letters of recommendation are typically at least one page in length
- Applicants should reach out to the MPH Program Director if more guidance on selecting recommenders is needed.
- A Résumé or Curriculum Vita (CV)
- A Statement of Purpose that details the following. Please be sure to proofread your statement before submitting.:
- Interests in the fields of Health Education, Health Promotion, and related fields
- Any skills, abilities, or experience applicants may have that would support enrollment in the selected program
- Professional goals and aspirations
- How the selected program aligns with the applicant's goals and aspirations
- Any other information applicants would like to share regarding their qualifications to study at the graduate level at UA
The Statement of Purpose should be approximately 2 pages in length, double-spaced, and the writing should be representative of a potential graduate student. Please be sure to proofread and edit your statement before submitting it with a completed application.
Please note that no academic credit, course waivers, or credit shall be granted for life experience or previous work experience. Also, a student cannot earn both the MA in Health Studies and the MPH degrees. Courses completed can only be used to earn one degree from the Department of Health Science.
All applicants who receive an offer of admission must accept that offer by submitting their intent to enroll. The link to accept an offer of admission is in the official notice of communication sent by the UA Graduate School. Once a student has accepted admission, they will be required to have an initial advising appointment with the MPH Program Director.
See the Admission Criteria section of this catalog for more information.
Curricular Requirements
| Health Education & Promotion, MPH | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| HHE 512 | Adv Foundations of Pub Hlth | 3 |
| HHE 515 | Adv Foundation Health Promot | 3 |
| HHE 520 | Theories of Health Behavior | 3 |
| HHE 530 | Health Promotion Techniques | 3 |
| HHE 565 | Planning Health Promotion Prog | 3 |
| HHE 566 | Program Eval In Hlth Promot | 3 |
| HHE 521 | Basic Epidemiology | 3 |
| HHE 526 | Biostatistics | 3 |
| HHE 586 | Environmental Health Promotion | 3 |
| HHE 587 | Health Disparities | 3 |
| HES 509 | Research Methods | 3 |
| *Applied Practice Experience | 3 | |
| Applied Practice Experience I | ||
| Applied Practice Experience II | ||
| Approved Electives | 6 | |
| Critics Iss in Global Hlth | ||
| Sex Ed: Theory & Practice | ||
| Women and Health | ||
| Cert Hlth Ed Specialist Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Culture, Mind, and Behavior | ||
| Culture Health & Healing | ||
| Probs In Anthropology | ||
| Neuroanthropology | ||
| Life Span Development (Offered Online) | ||
| Social Cult Basis Behavr (Offered Online) | ||
| Personality & Social Dev | ||
| Statistical Methods In Educ (Offered Online ) | ||
| Inqry As Interp: Qual I | ||
| Narrative Inquiry | ||
| Intro School Psychology | ||
| Communication & Diversity | ||
| Gender & Pol Com | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods in Communication | ||
| Conflict Resolution Workplace | ||
| Developing The Leader Within | ||
| Child Development | ||
| Adult Development | ||
| Advanced Nutrition Counseling | ||
| Maternal and Infant Nutrition | ||
| Childhood Obesity (Offered Online) | ||
| Nutr Prev Trtmt Chron Disease | ||
| Adv. Vitamins and Minerals | ||
| Social Welfare Policy | ||
| Human Behav Social Envir I | ||
| Other Elective Courses Available with Faculty Advisor Approval | ||
| Total Hours | 42 | |
*Under the guidance of a department faculty advisor, students will work with a preceptor in a practice-based setting (e.g., community or volunteer organization, health department, etc.) and produce two high-quality work products (e.g., needs assessments, tool kits, trainings) that benefit the organization and advance public health practice. The work products produced must demonstrate student attainment of at least five MPH competencies (3 foundational and 2 program). By the end of the Applied Practice Experience (APE), all students must produce a high-quality written report and deliver an oral presentation (e.g., PowerPoint or poster) to complete their Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) project.
Transfer Credit
Applicants interested in transferring graduate credit to the MPH program from an outside institution should reach out to an MPH Program Coordinator. Please note the Department of Health Science allows a maximum of 6 hours of transfer credit as approved by a Program Coordinator. All transfer credit must have been completed with a B or higher from a regionally accredited school within 6 years of the date of admission to the program. See also the UA Graduate School's information on Transfer Credit.
Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP)
Information on the AMP is listed in AMP section of this catalog
Specialized Degree Programs
The Department of Health Science offers some specialized degree programs with other academic programs.
Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) for current BSPH undergraduate students
MA in Anthropology/MPH
PhD in Anthropology/MPH
Dual Graduate Programs - MA in Anthropology/MPH and PhD in Anthropology/MPH
The dual degree programs blend excellent graduate training in biocultural medical anthropology with rigorous and applied preparation in public health education and promotion. The aim is to produce graduates versed in the assessment of and engagement with health as a biological, cultural and structural phenomenon, and trained to engage multiple levels of the social ecology of health.
Application and Admission - MA in Anthropology/MPH Program
Applicants must meet the admission criteria for each program
Applicants will indicate interest in the dual degree program in the notes section of the application and in their Statement of Purpose.
- Applicants will identify a departmental ‘home’ (anthropology or health science) in their Statement of Purpose.
- Departments will review applications separately. If the review decisions are the same (accept or reject):
- The ‘home’ department will notify applicants of their status
- If the review decisions are not the same, the departments will convene a meeting (virtual or in person) to review files of applicants whose status is in dispute.
- If the parties cannot agree on applicant status, the departments will notify applicants separately of their decisions.
- Departments will track the number of disputed applications and will use this tracking as a basis for periodic review of admissions decisions and student performance in the program.
PhD in Anthropology/MPH Program
Applicants must meet the admission criteria for each program
Each department’s admission committee will thoroughly review applicant transcripts to ensure that undergraduate course content and performance indicate the potential to pursue two advanced degrees successfully in a compressed time frame.
- Applicants will indicate interest in the dual degree program in the notes section of the application and in their Statement of Purpose. Students who develop an interest in the dual degree program after matriculation will need to formally apply and go through the admissions process for the second department.
- Applicants will identify a departmental ‘home’ (anthropology or health science) in their Statement of Purpose.
- Applicants will identify a faculty mentor, who must then agree to take the student on as a mentee.
- Departments will review applications separately. If the review decisions are the same (accept or reject):
- The ‘home’ department will notify the applicant of her/his status
- If the review decisions are not the same, the departments will convene a meeting (virtual or in person) to review the files of applicants whose status is in dispute
- If the parties cannot agree on applicant's status, the departments will notify the applicant separately of their decision.
- Departments will track the number of disputed applications and will use this tracking as a basis for periodic review of admissions decisions and subsequent student performance.
MA/MPH Dual-degree completion requirements:
Students enrolled in the dual degree program must complete the minimum required credit hours for both programs. After review of the curricula and syllabi, the partner departments have identified 12 hours of course work in anthropology that may count toward both degrees, given the equivalent content and rigor:
- ANT 600 Research Design (3 hr.) may substitute for HES 509 Research Methods (3 hr.).
- ANT 502 Health Inequities (3 hr.) may substitute for HHE 587 Health Disparities (3 hr.).
The Anthropology Department reciprocates this acceptance. The Health Science courses named above (HES 509 and HHE 587) may substitute for their identified anthropology counterparts (ANT 600 and ANT 502, respectively) in the curricular plans of public health students pursuing a master’s degree in anthropology. Additionally:
- Two of the following ANT Electives may substitute for two HHE Electives. These electives supply theoretical, methodological, or content expertise beneficial to either discipline. All have a health focus.
All courses are 3 credit hours.
Completion of the capstone experiences required by both degree programs must be met to receive the dual degrees.
PhD in Anthropology/MPH Dual-Degree Completion Requirements:
Students enrolled in the dual degree program must complete the minimum required credit hours for both programs. After review of the curricula and syllabi, the partner departments have identified 12 hours of course work in anthropology that may count toward both degrees, given their equivalent content and rigor:
- ANT 600 Research Design (3 hr.) may substitute for HES 509 Research Methods (3 hr.).
- ANT 502 Health Inequities (3 hr.) may substitute for HHE 587 Health Disparities (3 hr.).
The Anthropology Department reciprocates this acceptance. The Health Science courses named above (HES 509 and HHE 587) may substitute for their identified anthropology counterparts (ANT 600 and ANT 502, respectively) in the curricular plans of public health students pursuing a master’s degree in anthropology. Additionally:
- Two of the following ANT Electives may substitute for two HHE Electives. These electives supply theoretical, methodological, or content expertise beneficial to either discipline. All have a health focus.
All courses are 3 credit hours.
Successful completion of all coursework and a capstone experience for both programs must be met to receive the dual degrees.
Pursuit of dual degree paused (PhD/MPH):
If a student wishes to take a leave of absence from degree pursuit, three options are available:
- The student may request a leave of absence from both programs. Requests must be made via letter, attached to an email to the student’s doctoral advisor, the anthropology graduate director and the dual degree coordinators for both programs. Both programs must review the request and agree on the decision to grant or deny. The student must return and complete all remaining requirements in both programs within the degree completion time limit (within 9 years of enrollment in the PhD/MPH program), or both degrees will be forfeit.
- The student may request to continue with one program of study and take a leave from the other. Requests must be made via letter, attached to an email to the student’s doctoral advisor, the anthropology graduate director and the dual degree coordinators for both programs. Both programs must review the request and agree on the decision to grant or deny the request. Deadlines and benchmarks for the program from which the leave is taken may be suspended at that program’s discretion, but the overall degree time limit (9 years from enrollment in the dual degree program) will not change.
- The student may request to de-couple the two degrees, have the degree for which the requirements have been completed conferred, and request a leave of absence from the other program. Requests must be made via letter, attached to an email to the student’s doctoral advisor, the anthropology graduate director and the dual degree coordinators for both programs. Both programs must review the request and agree on the decision to grant or deny. If the programs agree to grant the request, the student will be considered to have withdrawn from the dual degree program and will forfeit the double-counting of credits for the program from which leave has been granted.
Pursuit of dual degree terminated:
For both dual degree programs (MA/MPH and PhD/MPH), if a student decides to discontinue work towards one degree but to continue pursuit of the other, he/she must meet all customary requirements for the continued program, with no double counting of courses, to receive a degree.
Capstone- Applied Practice Experience
All students in the MPH program must complete a capstone requirement in the form of an Applied Practice Experience or APE. The APE requires students to complete at least 90 hands-on hours at a health-related site under the guidance of a qualified Preceptor. The student must also complete two products for their site by the end of their experience - one of which must be a written Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) product, and complete a final presentation related to their experience.
The APE should be completed towards the end of a student’s degree program. Students are able to enroll in the Applied Practice Experience I and II courses after satisfactorily completing 18 hourse of course work with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The APE is two courses which will be taken consecutively. Students will enroll in HHE 580 Applied Practice Experience I (1 hr.) to locate and confirm the site of their experience. Students will then enroll in HHE 581 Applied Practice Experience II (2 hr.) in the subsequent semester to complete the experience.
Registration into HHE 580 Applied Practice Experience I (1 hr.) is by permit only and this course is a required pre-requisite for HHE 581 Applied Practice Experience II (2 hr.). Students should speak with their MPH Faculty Advisor regarding when they will be expected to enroll in the APE sequence.
Time Limits for Degree Completion Requirements
The MPH program adheres to the time limits set forth by the UA Graduate School. Students have six years or 18 semesters immediately preceding the date on which the degree is to be awarded to complete all degree requirements and graduate. For details, see Graduate School information on Time Limits.
Student Progress Requirement
All students will need to remain in good academic standing and make progress towards graduation by completing at least one course per semester. Students have six years or 18 semesters immediately preceding the date on which the degree is to be awarded to complete all degree requirements and graduate. Graduate students are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout their enrollment. Students whose cumulative GPA drops below a 3.0 will be placed on Academic Warning. Details about Academic Warning and other scholastic standing information is available at https://catalog.ua.edu/graduate/about/academic-policies/scholastic-requirements/.
The MPH program follows the criteria and guidelines set forth by the UA Graduate School for student progress.
Academic Misconduct Information
The MPH program follows the criteria and guidelines set forth by the Graduate School on Academic Misconduct.
Withdrawals and Leave of Absence Information
Students are encouraged to follow University policies and processes if seeking a withdrawal from a course, a withdrawal from all courses, or a leave of absence.
Academic Grievance Information
The MPH program adheres to the academic grievance procedures as outlined by the Graduate School.
Grades and Academic Standing
The MPH program adheres to the Grades and Academic Standing set forth by the Graduate School, except for the transfer credit limit for the program is set to 6 hours. All students will need to remain in good academic standing and make progress towards graduation by completing at least one course per semester. Students have six years or 18 semesters immediately preceding the date on which the degree is to be awarded to complete all degree requirements and graduate. Graduate students are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher throughout their enrollment. Students whose cumulative GPA drops below a 3.0 will be placed on Academic Warning.
Graduate School Deadlines Information
Information on Graduate School Deadlines.
Application for Graduation Information
Information about the application to graduate.