Dec 10, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Public Health


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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 a project-based or research thesis, an applied learning experience, and interprofessional education competencies.

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. Completion of a college-level statistics course with a grade of B- or higher as evidenced on the applicant’s official transcript(s).
  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

Department-Approved Electives Credits: 8


Select from the following pre-approved courses:

  • ENST 460 - Environmental Law Credits: (5)
  • ENST 461 - Environmental Policy Credits: (4)
  • FCL 434 - Diversity in Families Credits: (4)
  • FCL 438 - Attachment Theory and Practice Credits: (4)
  • NUTR 447 - Community Nutrition Credits: (3)
  • PSY 415 - Behavioral Medicine and Health Psychology Credits: (4)
  • PSY 438 - Substance Abuse and Dependence Credits: (5)
  • PSY 447 - Psychology of Adolescence Credits: (4)
  • PSY 452 - Adult Development and Aging Credits: (4)
  • PSY 456 - Industrial and Organizational Psychology Credits: (4)
  • PUBH 411 - Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Management Credits: (4)
  • PUBH 460 - Public Health Ethics Credits: (3)
  • PUBH 470 - Public Health Programming Credits: (4)
  • PUBH 475 - Community Health Administration Credits: (3)
  • PUBH 485 Applied Maternal and Child Health Research, Leadership, and Practice Credits: (2)
  • PUBH 489 Academic Service Learning in Public Health Credits: (1-12)
  • PUBH 499 Seminar Credits: (1-5)
  • SHM 471 - Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene Credits: (4)
  • SHM 477 - Environmental Management Credits: (4)

Total Credits: 56


College and Department Information


Health Sciences Department  
College of Education and Professional Studies  

Program Codes
​Major plan code: PUHEG

Online Availability
The program does not have a designated online only option.

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