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Master of Public Health (MPH)

Program Location
Orange County Campus - Online
Program Credits
42 Credits
Program Length
3 Semesters, 48 Instructional Weeks 
Time to Complete
12 Months

A total of 42 trimester credits are required to earn the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. 

Program Mission: We seek to cultivate academic and healthcare leaders who create and apply evidence-based knowledge through learning, discovery, and communication to enhance the health of individuals and communities.

Program Philosophy: The Public Health program intends to prepare graduates who will protect and improve the health and well-being of communities as an important part of building a safer and healthier world.  This program is designed to provide a broad perspective on the science and practice of community-based approaches to promoting health and preventing diseases.  Courses focus on health promotion, environmental health, epidemiologic research methods, health leadership, and health policy, culminating in a capstone project intended to integrate essential concepts, attitudes, and behaviors.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, MPH graduates will possess the knowledge, skills and aptitude to:

  1. Assess the elements to improve health outcomes and systems through planning, implementation and evaluation of health programs for individuals and populations.
  2. Analyze essential services that public health programs provide to protect and improve the health of populations.
  3. Apply research tools and analytical methods to critically analyze, monitor and assess the health status of populations, utilizing qualitative and quantitative research methodology.
  4. Determine the impact of policies and legislation on individual and population health; while navigating the legal, regulatory and organizational impact they have on the health care system.
  5. Construct public health, cross-cultural community-based programs, using behavioral science and health promotion methods.
  6. Create communication approaches for lay and interprofessional audiences using epidemiologic methods to analyze patterns of disease and injury.
  7. Justify the relationship between environmental factors and community health; and plan solutions for environmental health problems.  
  8. Assemble a network of professional alliances to address social determinants of health and health disparities.  

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the Master of Public Health Program must:

  1. Have a baccalaureate degree from an institution that is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education with a 2.7 cumulative GPA or higher/  
  2. Students with an undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.5-2.69 may be admitted on a conditional basis.  Individuals admitted under this clause are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in their coursework for the first trimester in order to be moved to a regular status.  If the student does not achieve the expected 3.0 GPA, he or she will be dismissed from the program.  
  3. Provide official transcripts verifying baccalaureate degree, prior to the first day of the first term.  
  4. Proficiency in English is mandatory.  All applicants whose first language is not English will be required to either complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language ((TOEFL) http://www.toefl.org), or meet one of the criteria shown below:  
    1. A minimum TOEFL score of 66 (internet based).
    2. Graduation from an accredited high school program where English is the language of instruction and examination, achieving a minimum GPA of 3.0 in a minimum of three (3) English courses.  
    3. Within the last five (5) years, successfully completed at least three (3) years of instruction from an accredited high school where English is the language of instruction and examination, including three (3) years of English (not ESL) courses with a grade of "B" or higher.  
    4. Within the last three (3) years, successfully completed at least two (2) years of full-time coursework at the post-secondary level (accredited college or University) where English is the language of instruction and examination, including two (2) English courses (one course must be a 200 level course or higher) with a grade of "B" or higher.  
    5. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination (academic modules) taken within the last twelve (12) months, results must be sent by paper to the University campus Registrar office, with a score of 6.5 or better.  
Master of Public Health Transfer Credit Evaluation

Only graduate level courses in which a grade of "B" (3.0) or better was received, taken in a program similar to West Coast University's Master's in Public Health will be evaluated for transfer credit.  A maximum of 6 credit hours will be considered for transfer, and must reflect the same content and course credit as the course for which transfer credit is being requested.  

Public Health Curriculum

Master of Public Health Curriculum

PH 500Foundations of Public Health

3.0
MHA 530Managerial Epidemiology

3.0
MHA 500Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Care Management

3.0
PH 510Health Promotions and Social and Behavioral Health Sciences

4.0
PH 515Cultural Diversity and Health Disparities in Public Health

3.0
PH 520Biostastics

4.0
MHA 535Research Methods in Health Care Management

3.0
PH 535Environmental and Occupational Health

4.0
PH 545Leadership Principles and Policies in Public Health

4.0
PH 550Global Family Health

4.0
PH 560Infectious Diseases

3.0
PH 565Public Health Capstone

4.0
Total Credit Hours:42.0

MPH Program Costs

For program costs, please see the Graduate Tuition and Fees section.