MSU SCHP Public Health Program Chapter 4 MPH Curriculum Rev. 714(1) Jan. 2016 | Page 2

Introduction
The MPH Student Plan is the document that both advisors and students will use to guide the student during
graduate studies in the School of Community Health and Policy’s Public Health Program. The plan should
reflect the review and results of a self- assessment by the student regarding professional goals, knowledge,
skills, strengths and areas that require improvement. Every student must have an approved plan.
When the advisor and student have reached clarity about the professional goals of the student, a set of
measurable objectives should be developed along with a timeline. The advisor and student are now ready to
develop the student plan. The student plan will consist of documentation of the following: 1) number of credits
to be taken; 2) coursework to be taken; 3) Core Competency Examination timeline; 4) focus area of study and 5)
internship plan, and 6) capstone.
To assist in developing the student plan, the following information regarding the MPH Program and its
requirements are provided in the following pages:
The Masters of Public Health (MPH) program prepares students to be public health professionals who draw on
the knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines to define and assess urban public health problems.
Morgan State University Public Health graduates will have a foundation in public health that enables them to be
advocates, researchers, and policy developers focusing on urban public health problems.
Credit Requirements
Student will work with an advisor to develop the number of credits portion of MPH Student Plan during the first
semester.
1. Total minimum program credits required for the MPH degree = 48 credits.

MPH Program of Study
The core curriculum, designed to provide fundamental knowledge of major areas of public health, is required of
all MPH degree students. The core courses cover the areas of environmental health, health policy and
management, epidemiology, social and behavioral science, and biostatistics in public health as well as other
fundamental knowledge and skills. A total of 20 credit hours of graduate courses are designated for the MPH
degree core area of study. In addition, an additional 4 *required credit hours are added to insure that students
have a clear understanding of Public Health, Health Disparities and Biology. All of the aforementioned courses
are as follows:
Required Courses
HEGIS/Course No. Course Name
PUBH 500
Epidemiological Methods in Public Health I*
PUBH 501
Statistical Methods in Public Health I*
PUBH 502
Introduction to the Behavioral Science of Public Health*
PUBH 503
Policy and Health Services Planning and Management I*
PUBH 504
Public Health and Health Disparities
PUBH 506
Environmental Health Sciences*
PUBH 512
Biological Basis of Public Health
PUBH 623
Public Health Community Needs Solutions I
PUBH 610
Public Health Research Methods and Systems Thinking
PUBH 743
Public Health Community Needs Solutions II
* Signifies the five core courses required before sitting for the Core Competency Examination
Total Credit Hours

MSU School of Community Health and Policy
Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook- MPH Curriculum

Credit Hours
4
4
4
4
3
4
1
3
3
2
32

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