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Master of Public Health
Master's

What is a Master of Public Health?

Earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree offers great personal fulfillment as you move into a career helping to prevent disease, prolong life and promote healthy behaviors. You’ll use all you learn to improve the overall health and well-being of communities around the world and close to home. 

If you want to make a real difference in the world, especially in underserved communities, this MPH program is the path to take. Our Master of Public Health program is ranked #5 in Michigan in the U.S. News & World Report list of the best graduate programs in America for 2025.

AT A GLANCE

Degree Type
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Format
On Campus
Online
Credit Hours
48 Credit Hours
Go To Why This Program Program HighlightsAccelerated Program Careers & Outcomes

Why choose our Master of Public Health program?

You'll be on the front line of today's most challenging health issues as you become a disease investigator, research analyst, epidemic preventer and problem solver. Learn by doing in this Master of Public Health program filled with in-depth, skills-based education and field experiences.

Become a public health advocate

  • Organize community efforts to improve wellness.
  • Apply systematic and analytic reasoning to evaluate the cause of diseases and illness within a society.

Specialize in rural health and underserved communities

Our MPH degree is one of the few programs in the country with an emphasis on rural health and underserved communities. You'll be prepared to lead public health organizations and design culturally responsive behavioral and social interventions to address health challenges affecting populations across the state, the country and the world.

Benefit from faculty mentorship

Our expert Master of Public Health faculty care about preparing you as the next generation of public health professionals. They take mentorship seriously, and you benefit from their years of public health experience.

Discover an affordable option

We help make this degree affordable for you. Each year the MPH program awards a limited number of graduate assistantships to qualified students on a competitive basis. Graduate assistants receive a tuition waiver and a stipend as compensation.

Check out the Master of Public Health admission requirements for full information on admission, retention and transfer credit requirements.

Icon indicating that Central Michigan University's bachelor's and master's programs are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

Courses What Will Transfer MPH Program Details

Highlights of our Master of Public Health degree

  • Flexible learning options: Take classes on-campus or online. If you’re already working, we can help you fit our MPH program into your busy schedule.
  • Leadership credentials: Earn the degree you need to hold leadership positions in hospitals, district health departments, research institutions and federal, multilateral and voluntary organizations.
  • CEPH accredited: Graduate from a Council on Education for Public Health accredited program recognized as the flagship degree in public health.
  • Comprehensive understanding: Better understand the major social, behavioral, cultural, political, environmental and regulatory factors that affect community health.
  • Hands-on experience: Work alongside your instructors with hands-on opportunities to apply new and innovative techniques to address health challenges in rural and underserved communities.

Check out our Master of Public Health Student Handbook to learn more about our accelerated 4+1 public health degree and dual Doctor of Medicine and MPH degree.

Concentrations

Filter Concentrations by Location:

As a Health Systems Administration student, you’ll: 

  • Build health systems administration expertise: Study real-world topics like health policy and management, health economics and finance, strategic planning and leadership, organizational behavior, and human resources.
  • Enjoy flexible learning options: With classes offered on campus or online, you can more easily fit your continuing education around your work and family obligations.
  • Start dates: Fall and Spring Semesters
  • Possible careers and outcomes: Health Care Analyst; Health Education Specialist; Health Educator; Community Health Worker; and more! 

As a Public Health Practice student, you’ll: 

  • Build public health practice expertise: Study real-world topics like public health and aging, public health communication and informatics, substance abuse services, and maternal and child health. 

  • Enjoy flexible learning options: With classes offered on campus or online, you can more easily fit your continuing education around your work and family obligations. 

  • Start dates: Fall and Spring Semesters. 

  • Possible careers and outcomes: Health Care Analyst; Health Education Specialist; Health Educator; Community Health Worker; and more! 


Public health 4+1 program

Earn credits toward your master’s degree while finishing your bachelor’s through the accelerated graduated degree in public health. In this 4+1 program, you may be able to double-count 18 credits, which saves you time AND money.

By double-counting all 18 credits, domestic students save up to $4,986 and international students save up to $1,874.

    • Minimum GPA at time of application: 3.0
    • Requirements to maintain eligibility: average of 3.0 and no E's in double-counted courses 

    If your GPA is lower than a 3.0 or you have fewer than 15 credits at CMU, you can still be considered for admission if you demonstrate why you are prepared to be successful in graduate coursework.

    You must have a minimum of 60 undergraduate credit hours completed before starting coursework in the accelerated master's in public health. To take full advantage of the program, make sure you apply for admission before taking any of the double-counted courses listed below.

    • Up to 18 credits of the following courses can be double-counted:
      • MPH 640, MPH 642, MPH 646, MPH 648, MPH 652, MPH 655 
    • You'll select your double-counted courses with an advisor. Then, you'll count them towards both your undergraduate degree and your graduate degree – either for your major or as electives.

    The Master of Public Health requires 30 credits. You may double-count 18 credits before finishing your bachelor's degree, leaving 12 credits remaining to complete your master's degree. If you don't complete all 18 double-counted credits before you finish your bachelor's degree, you'll need to take more than 12 credits to reach the 30 credits required for the MPH.

    Careers with a Master of Public Health

    According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for health educators and community health workers is projected to grow at a rate of 21 percent through 2024. That's faster than the average for all occupations.

    Career Projected Salary
    Health Care Analyst $67,310
    Health Education Specialist $63,000
    Health Educator $63,000
    Community Health Worker $51,030
    Hospital administrator speaks with a doctor and a nurse.
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    CMU dedicates resources to rural health equity

    The Master of Public Health program at CMU has a special focus on meeting the challenges of rural health care. The CMU Rural Health Equity Institute works with underserved communities in Michigan to improve access to services and expand data solutions and tools to respond to local needs.

    Explore the REHI

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