The 5 Best Master’s in Public Health Online

The University of Iowa’s online program consists of 42-45 credits that requires a practicum. There are two tracks available, one as a general list, and an additional for practicing veterinarians. Core courses include an introduction to public health, biostatistics, health promotion and disease prevention, epidemiology, the U.S. health care system, and global environmental health. For the practicum, students complete a hands-on 200-contact-hour project in a public health setting. According to students interests and field of study, advisors will help choose an appropriate setting for the project. This program is CEPH-accredited.

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• Tuition per credit is $381.

The University of Florida’s online MPH program consists of 48 credits – 15 core, 27 concentration, 1 seminar, and 5 for an internship. UF offers two concentration options, Public Health Practice and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The Public Health Practice concentration focuses on management and policy, epidemiology, environmental health, and social behavior sciences. The Social and Behavioral Science concentration focuses on planning and evaluation, theory, research, and community assessment and partnership track. The SBS track also includes an option for a general list, HIV, or Geriatric Care track. This program is CEPH-accredited.

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• Tuition per credit is $585.

The University of North Dakota offers an online MS in Advanced Public Health – Nurse Track that can be completed in just over 2 years. (Note that the school required a 2-3 visit on campus during the program’s first year.) Upon graduation, students will be able to educate individuals about health issues, improve healthy at the community level, and increase health care access within communities. In addition, after completion of the program, all graduates are eligible to to become certified through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as an Advanced Public Health Nurse. This program is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and all students pay in-state tuition rates.

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• Tuition per credit is $392.

Capella University consists of 48 credits, with up to 12 transferrable, which may accelerate the program. Typical graduation time for the MPH is 18 months, though optional accelerated course tracks can further decrease that timeframe. The curriculum, which follows national public health curriculum standards, focuses on environmental public health concepts; psychological, behavioral, and social factors that affect and exacerbate health disparities within communities; principles of epidemiology and biostatistics; public health administration systems and processes; and economics. Upon graduating from Capella’s School of Public Service, alumni 45% report career growth potential, 41% report increase in opportunities, 65% report increase in responsibilities, and 41% report an increase in salary and/or benefits.

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• Tuition per credit is $492.

The University of South Florida offers an online MPH that, depending upon specialization, consists of approximately 45 credit hours. Specializations include Public Health Practice, Public Health Administration, Global Disaster Management and Humanitarian Relief, Epidemiology, Health, Safety & Environment, Infection Control, and Social Marketing. Courses delivery is specially designed by the Office of Educational Technology and Assessment, in conjunction with faculty, and includes blogs, wikis, podcasting, discussion forums, web conferencing, and streaming media. For interested students USF also offers over 10 graduate certificates as well.

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• Tuition per credit is $525.