Master of Public Health

The Master of Public Health program at Central Washington University is offered through the Department of Health Sciences. The public health profession focuses on preventing disease, addressing inequities and developing policies and programs that help communities achieve optimal health and wellbeing. Our program aims to educate and empower the emerging generation of public health leaders. As the most frequently awarded graduate degree in the public health profession, the MPH prepares students for applied public health practice and leadership in diverse environments such as local, state, and federal agencies, hospitals and clinics, community-based and non-profit organizations, research institutions and other agencies in both domestic and global settings. All students are required to complete a capstone portfolio, including either project-based or research theses.

The MPH program at Central Washington University is a 56-credit hour program that is designed to be completed in two years of full-time enrollment. Part-time, hybrid and distance-learning options are also available.

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants to the MPH program at CWU are required to submit the following materials by the admissions deadline:
2. Transcripts from a completed undergraduate degree program. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the event of a pending graduation date, and official transcripts must be received prior to matriculation.
3. Official GRE examination scores. The GRE must have been completed within the past 5 years. The GRE examination requirement will be waived for students who have completed the CWU Rural and Community Health Graduate Certificate.
4. Professional writing sample of 1,000 words or more. Examples may include: Peer reviewed manuscript, policy analysis, technical report, or white paper on which the applicant is the primary author.
5. Two (2) letters of recommendation. The admissions committee places preference on one letter from an academic reference and one from a professional or community reference.
6. Resume/CV
7. Cover Letter or Personal Statement of 1 page or less
8. Application fee to the CWU School of Graduate Studies and Research

Graduation Requirements

1. Complete the approved course of study with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, AND within the statute of time limitations designated by the Graduate School

2. Complete the required cumulative experience in public health, including both (a) portfolio collection of artifacts demonstrating mastery of approved core competencies, and (b) successful completion of graduate thesis or project under the guidance of a graduate committee.

Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Recognize and articulate the dynamic, systemic linkages between biological, environmental, behavioral and social determinants of both individual and population health
• Design, implement and evaluate strategies that improve health at the individual, community, and population level
• Apply principles of cultural competence, diversity, and equity to identify and develop solutions to address health disparities in a variety of unique and diverse settings
• Collect, manage, and organize data to inform different audiences in a variety of communication formats
• Identify basic structures, organization, financing and delivery of public health and health services in the United States and describe how they impact the health of its population
• Apply critical data collection, analysis, and interpretation techniques commonly used to summarize population health problems, evaluate health outcomes, and make evidence informed decisions in public health
• Demonstrate ethical decisions, leadership skills, and professional values implicit in the public health profession and be able to articulate the effect of such decisions on equity, social justice, and human rights
• Demonstrate skills in effective management of public health programs and collaborative partnership development for health improvements at the population level