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Social and Behavioral Sciences - M.P.H.

Earn your M.P.H. in Social and Behavioral Sciences and gain the skills to design, implement and evaluate health programs that drive real change. Work on cutting-edge research, prepare for careers in health promotion and even pursue licensure as a chemical dependency counselor in Ohio.

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Program Information for Social and Behavioral Sciences - M.P.H.

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Public Health degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to improve health in populations across the life course. Students learn to apply theoretical principles to design, implement and evaluate effective programs that include behavioral and environmental approaches. Graduates are able to design and evaluate public health interventions intended to improve health for families, workplaces, communities and other settings.

The active research of the college’s faculty — particularly in the areas of childhood obesity, violence and injury prevention, substance abuse prevention and chronic disease prevention — provides students the opportunity to work on large-scale externally funded prevention research. Students are prepared for careers in health promotion; program design and evaluation; and prevention program development for state and local health departments, workplace health promotion programs, hospitals, international health agencies, mental health centers and non-profit organizations.

Students have the opportunity to declare the Addictions Counseling graduate certificate to become a licensed chemical dependency counselor in Ohio.

Admissions for Social and Behavioral Sciences - M.P.H.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale1
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • Résumé
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • English Language Proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:2
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

Students with less than a 3.000 GPA will be considered for conditional admission.

2

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester​
    • Priority deadline: March 15 (international student)
      All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.
    • Rolling admissions (domestic student)
  • Spring Semester​
    • Priority deadline: August 15 (international student)
      All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.
    • Rolling admissions (domestic student)
  • Summer Term
    • Rolling admissions (domestic student)

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health

  1. Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
  2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
  3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.
  4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.

Public Health and Health Care Systems

  1. Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
  2. Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels.

Planning and Management to Promote Health

  1. Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.
  2. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
  3. Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
  4. Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
  5. Select methods to evaluate public health programs.

Policy in Public Health

  1. Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
  2. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
  3. Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
  4. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.

Leadership

  1. Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making.
  2. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.

Communication

  1. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
  2. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
  3. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.

Interprofessional Practice

  1. Perform effectively on interprofessional teams.

Systems Thinking

  1. Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
BST 62019BIOSTATISTICS IN PUBLIC HEALTH 3
CES 67664THEORIES AND PRACTICES IN ADDICTIONS COUNSELING 13
or SBS 63030 SEMINAR IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOR SCIENCES
EHS 62018ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH 3
EPI 62017FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGY 3
HPM 62016PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 3
HPM 63007PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS: PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION 3
HPM 63020COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT 3
SBS 60002QUANTITATIVE METHODS IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 3
SBS 60021SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE THEORIES 3
SBS 63008GRANT WRITING IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 3
SBS 64634SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BEHAVIORS 3
Major Electives, choose from the following:6-9
Any Biostatistics (BST) Graduate course (50000 or 60000 level)
Any Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) Graduate course (50000 or 60000 level)
Any Epidemiology (EPI) Graduate course (50000 or 60000 level)
Any Health Policy and Management (HPM) Graduate course (50000 or 60000 level)
Any Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Graduate course (50000 or 60000 level)
Other courses with coordinator approval
Culminating Requirement
CES 67692PRACTICUM IN ADDICTIONS COUNSELING 13-6
or SBS 60392 APPLIED PRACTICE EXPERIENCE IN SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
PH 61199INTEGRATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE 1
Minimum Total Credit Hours:46
1

Students declared in the Addictions Counseling graduate certificate will take CES 67664 and CES 67692.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • Practicum placement at an approved public health agency under the guidance of a qualified preceptor (150 contact hours)
  • Final portfolio/report and a seminar presentation integrating theory and practice
  • Successful completion of PH 61199.
  • Participation in at least one approved interprofessional education event; event requires students to participate at a specific time/date to be determined in consultation with the student's advisor.
  • No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
  • Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.
Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Fully online
    • Mostly online
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Accreditation for Social and Behavioral Sciences - M.P.H.

Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Social and Behavioral Sciences - M.P.H.

Social scientists and related workers, all other

0.8%

little or no change

38,800

number of jobs

$87,260

potential earnings

Social science research assistants

5.8%

faster than the average

40,100

number of jobs

$49,210

potential earnings

Social and community service managers

17.0%

much faster than the average

175,500

number of jobs

$69,600

potential earnings

Community and social service specialists, all other

11.7%

much faster than the average

105,200

number of jobs

$46,770

potential earnings

Additional Careers
  • Health program coordinator
  • Behavioral health manager
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Health Policy and Management - M.P.H.

Transform your career with a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management. This program equips you with the skills to tackle public health challenges, drive policy solutions and manage health services. Graduates are prepared for roles at hospitals, health departments, policy analysis and more. Start making a difference in public health today.

Contact Us

Apply Now
Request Information
Schedule a Visit
Find All Majors

Program Information for Health Policy and Management - M.P.H.

Program Description

Full Description

The Master of Public Health degree in Health Policy and Management is designed to help students develop real world knowledge and skills needed to pursue success in the public health industry. The program prepares students to address public health risks and develop effective health services delivery models, and incorporates health services research, health policy analysis and health care planning and management. Given the active research of the college’s faculty in identifying service gaps and developing evidence-based practices and policy analysis, students emerge with strong skills in health services management, alternative models of service financing and strategies for improving services.

Career opportunities for graduates include administrative and management positions in hospitals, clinics, state and local health departments, nursing homes and mental health facilities; policy analyst positions in health planning organizations and governmental agencies; and planning and management positions in health maintenance organizations and health insurance companies.

The M.P.H. degree in Health Policy and Management can be paired with the Healthcare Compliance graduate certificate. Students may double count 12 credit hours toward both programs. Graduates are eligible to apply to sit for the Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) examination through the Compliance Certification Board (CCB).

Students have the opportunity to complete a dual degree program with the Master of Business Administration degree. A separate application must be submitted for each program.

Admissions for Health Policy and Management - M.P.H.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale1
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • Résumé
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • English Language Proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:2
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

Students with less than a 3.000 GPA will be considered for conditional admission.

2

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester​
    • Priority deadline: March 15 (international student)
      All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.
    • Rolling admissions (domestic student)
  • Spring Semester​
    • Priority deadline: August 15 (international student)
      All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.
    • Rolling admissions (domestic student)
  • Summer Term
    • Rolling admissions (domestic student)

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

Evidence-Based Approaches to Public Health

  1. Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
  2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
  3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.
  4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.

Public Health and Health Care Systems

  1. Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
  2. Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels.

Planning and Management to Promote Health

  1. Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.
  2. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
  3. Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
  4. Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
  5. Select methods to evaluate public health programs.

Policy in Public Health

  1. Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
  2. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
  3. Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
  4. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.

Leadership

  1. Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making.
  2. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.

Communication

  1. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
  2. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
  3. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.

Interprofessional Practice

  1. Perform effectively on interprofessional teams.

Systems Thinking

  1. Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
BST 62019BIOSTATISTICS IN PUBLIC HEALTH 3
EHS 62018ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CONCEPTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH 3
EPI 62017FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGY 3
HPM 62016PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION 3
HPM 63003HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS 3
HPM 63004PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY, LAW AND ETHICS 3
HPM 63005FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS 3
HPM 63006COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS IN PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS 3
HPM 63007PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS: PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION 3
HPM 63020COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT 3
PH 61199INTEGRATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE 1
SBS 64634SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH BEHAVIORS 3
Major Electives, choose from the following:6-9
Any Biostatistics (BST) Graduate course (50000 or 60000 level)
Any Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) Graduate course (50000 or 60000 level)
Any Epidemiology (EPI) Graduate course (50000 or 60000 level)
Any Health Policy and Management (HPM) Graduate course (50000 or 60000 level)
Any Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Graduate course (50000 or 60000 level)
Culminating Requirement
HPM 60392APPLIED PRACTICE EXPERIENCE IN HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT 13-6
Minimum Total Credit Hours:46
1

It is expected that students enrolled in HPM 60392 who do not complete the course in one term will continuously register for HPM 60492 each semester, until all requirements have been met. Credit hours for HPM 60492 do not apply toward the minimum 46 credit hours for the degree.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • Practicum placement at an approved public health agency under the guidance of a qualified preceptor (150 or 300 contact hours)
  • Final portfolio/report and a seminar presentation integrating theory and practice
  • Participation in at least one approved interprofessional education event; event requires students to participate at a specific time/date to be determined in consultation with the student's advisor
  • No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
  • Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.
Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Fully online
    • Mostly online
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Accreditation for Health Policy and Management - M.P.H.

The M.P.H. degree in Health Policy and Management is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Health Policy and Management - M.P.H.

Medical and health services managers

31.5%

much faster than the average

422,300

number of jobs

$104,280

potential earnings

Additional Careers
  • Health policy analyst
  • Regulatory affairs specialist
  • Health insurance program manager
  • Healthcare consultant
  • Long-term care administration
  • Pharmaceutical/medical device sales
  • Non-profit management
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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