Master of Public Health

Transcription

1 Master of Public Health

2 The College of Public Health (CPH) is home to four academic departments, three institutes, and one center: the Department of Environmental Health Science, the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, the Department of Health Policy and Management, the Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, the Institute for Disaster Management, the Institute of Gerontology, Institute for Evidence-Based Professions Education, and the Center for Global Health. Through our Master of Public Health (MPH) program, we are fulfilling UGA s mission as the state s land-grant university to train future leaders responsible for the public health and well-being of Georgians. CPH benefits materially from an interdisciplinary approach to research. Our faculty researchers understand that for many grant opportunities, the College can be the catalyst for projects involving multiple disciplines. In addition to the MPH, The College of Public Health also has certificate and other degree programs, including Master of Science (MS) and Doctor or Philosophy (Ph.D.) in various disciplines, and Doctor of Public Health (DrPH). In terms of curriculum development, CPH has also taken a collaborative, highly interdisciplinary approach by developing degree programs with other colleges at UGA. The College of Public Health now boasts six joint degree programs that were created via academic partnerships throughout The University of Georgia. Phillip Williams, Ph.D. Dean University of Georgia College of Public Health Mark Wilson, HSD As Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, I want to personally thank you for your interest in the Master of Public Health degree offered by the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia. I am delighted that you have considered us as an option for your graduate studies. The College is very proud of our diverse faculty, their expertise in research and teaching, and their commitment to the betterment of the health of human populations. Most of all, we are proud of the quality of our students, many of which go on to have a significant impact on the health of Georgians, the United States and throughout the world. We are eager to hear from you as you chart your plan for graduate study in public health. Check us out! I am confident you will be pleased with the many opportunities and resources available to our students. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Graduate Coordinator University of Georgia College of Public Health

3 The MPH degree was developed to address the critical need for highly trained public health professionals. Through coursework and field learning experiences, MPH students receive training to provide service and leadership in public health. In this 2-year program, students are admitted for the fall semester, and classes are offered on the UGA campuses in Athens. Students can choose one of the following concentrations: Biostatistics Disaster Management Environmental Health Science Epidemiology Gerontology Health Policy and Management Health Promotion and Behavior Admission Information All students must have a bachelor s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale and GRE scores at the 60th percentile rank or above are recommended for consideration during the admissions process. Information about the new scores and the concordance table can be found at APPLICATION UGA Graduate School application ( AND MPH application ( Information can also be found at COURSE WORK The MPH degree has a minimum requirement of 45 credit hours: The MPH core courses (15 hours); departmental requirements (12-15 hours); and electives (5-12 credits). All students are also required to complete a field experience, seminar, and Capstone paper to complete the degree program. CPH also offers certificate programs that can be obtained in conjunction with the MPH degree. They are: Gerontology, Global Health, and Disaster Management. MPH Program Coordinator Mumbi Okundaye mumbi@uga.edu Admissions Coordinator Lindsey Whittaker mph@uga.edu

4 Dr. Stephen Rathbun Associate Department Head Biostatistics Biostatistics focuses on biostatistical methods and their application to public health problems. Training focuses on data quality control, presentation and interpretation of statistical results, statistical computing, design of public health surveys, experiments, and clinical trials, and statistical modeling of public health and biomedical data. Admissions prerequisite courses are differential and integral calculus, and those with quantitative backgrounds (computer science, mathematics or statistics) are preferred. All students complete the 5 MPH core courses. Departmental requirements include epidemiology, mathematical statistics, survival analysis, categorical data analysis, and clinical trials. Biostatistics also requires a minimum of 5 credit hour electives, CPH seminar, field experience, and capstone. Students who complete a Masters of Public Health with a concentration in Biostatistics have career opportunities in public, non-profit and private sectors. Biostatisticians may become involved in the design and analysis of clinical trials and public health survey data, total quality assurance, and may be employed as consultants and research-team members by the pharmaceutical industry, medical schools, government agencies, or insurance firms. Other Programs in Biostatistics include Master of Science (MS) in Biostatistics, and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biostatistics. Dr. Curtis Harris Associate Director of Georgia at the forefront of this much needed global effort. Disaster Management is a growing field, with programs appearing in many major universities across the country, with many appearing in colleges of public health. Every year, thousands of persons are impacted by disasters, often receiving aid only after considerable delay and suffering. Many die or are injured as a result of inadequate social preparation; many others as a result of inadequate, untrained, or ill-prepared leadership for disaster response activities. Specialized education is required to affect meaningful improvement in the global response to disasters and the human suffering that disasters entail. One need only scan the headlines of any major newspaper to observe the selfevident need for improved planning for and response to disasters around the world. In addition to a certificate, the institute now offers an MPH in disaster management. The Disaster Management concentration of the Masters of Public Health degree program will continue to place the University Employment opportunities are likewise growing in municipal, state, federal, and private institutions, which recognize the value of MPH programs. Improvement in training for disaster management has the potential to improve health outcomes and reduce property loss for a great number of persons in the U.S. and around the world. Thousands of people and billions of dollars of property are impacted by disasters worldwide each year.

5 Dr. Jia-Sheng Wang Department Head Environmental Health Science is the study of biological, chemical or physical agents in the environment and their effects on human health and ecological systems. Environmental health scientists serve the general welfare by predicting which agents may cause adverse health effects and how these adverse effects occur. They safeguard and improve the quality of our air, water, natural resources, food and shelter. Prerequisite courses include biology, chemistry I & II, and organic chemistry. All students complete the 5 MPH core courses. Departmental course requirements include environmental air quality, water pollution, oceans & human health, introductory & environmental toxicology. Environmental Health Science also requires a minimum of 12 credit hour electives, CPH seminar, field experience, and capstone. Individuals who complete a degree in environmental health science are employed as analysts, managers, toxicologists, industrial hygienists, auditors, risk assessors, teachers, researchers and health professionals. Other Programs in Environmental Health include Bachelor of Science (BS) in Environmental Health, Master of Science in Environmental Health (MSEH), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Environmental Health and Interdisciplinary Toxicology. Dr. Chris Whalen Interim Department Head Epidemiology students focus either in general epidemiology, global infectious diseases, or molecular epidemiology. Students will learn how to design, conduct and analyze clinical investigations and research studies in public health. Students with strong life science backgrounds (pre med studies, microbiology, molecular biology, and genetics) are preferred for this concentration. Courses include molecular epidemiology, epidemiology of chronic diseases and advanced biostatistical methods. All students complete the 5 MPH core courses. Departmental course requirements include biostatistics, current topics in epidemiology, and field epidemiology and surveillance. Epidemiology also requires a minimum of 9 credit hour electives, CPH seminar, field experience, and capstone. Students who complete a Masters of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology have career opportunities in public, non-profit and private sectors. Epidemiologists are involved in infectious disease surveillance, and assessment of risk factors for infectious and chronic disease for government agencies and healthcare organizations. Other programs in Epidemiology include the Doctor or Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Epidemiology and the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH).

6 Dr. Anne Glass Associate Director Gerontology is the scientific study of aging and older adults from a biological, psychological, and social perspective. This interdisciplinary field of study is extremely important as we will be challenged to meet the needs of an increasingly growing number of older adults in the coming years, as people are living longer. In fact, the fastest growing age group are those aged 85 and over. While gerontology can be described as either the study of aging or the scientific study of old age, a more complete definition includes all of the following: Scientific studies of processes associated with aging; Studies of the social and psychological context of aging and older adults; Applications of knowledge for the benefit of mature and older adults; Studies from the perspective of the humanities The diversity of the older population also continues to increase. With the growth in this population, many states predict dramatic workforce shortages in industries that provide services to our aging population. Therefore, the demand for professionals with expertise in aging is growing rapidly, and career opportunities in gerontology and geriatrics are numerous and varied. Dr. Neale Chumbler Department Head Health Policy and Management is an interdisciplinary course of study with a focus either in health systems management or health policy. A health management focus emphasizes finance, accounting and personnel management. A health policy focus emphasizes policy analysis, implementation and evaluation. Graduates will typically work in healthcare organizations such as hospitals, clinics, HMOs, insurance companies, and biotech and pharmaceutical companies. All students complete the 5 MPH core courses. Departmental course requirements in policy include policy analysis, policy evaluation, health economics, and public health law or ethics. Departmental requirements in management include healthcare finance, management of public health organizations, leadership in public health, and strategic management. The Health Policy and Management concentration also requires a minimum of 9 credit hour electives, CPH seminar, field experience, and capstone. Individuals who complete a degree in the policy track will typically work in a government or non-profit health care agency and hold positions as policy analysts, evaluators, or health services researchers. Individuals who complete a degree in the management track will typically work in public or private healthcare organizations as healthcare consultants, administrators, or managers.

7 Dr. Nathan Hansen Department Head Health Promotion and Behavior seeks to educate public health professionals in the social and behavioral aspects of public health and in the prevention of health-related problems and conditions. Our students study the underlying factors influencing health and learn to create multilevel interventions that positively impact the health and well-being at individual, group, organizational, and community levels. All students complete the 5 MPH core courses. Departmental course requirements include resource development & program implementation, social marketing of health, program evaluation, cultural competence & ethics, and health behavior. Health Promotion and Behavior also requires a minimum of 5 credit hours of electives, CPH seminar, field experience, and capstone. Individuals who complete a degree in health promotion and behavior have career opportunities in settings such as: health departments; local, state, and federal government agencies; medical centers; colleges and universities; non-profit organizations; international organizations; and commercial and consulting firms. Other programs in Health Promotion and Behavior include the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Promotion, Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), as well as the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Health Promotion. Dual Degrees: MBA/MPH. B.S./MPH Dual Degrees The combined bachelor s/master s degree program is sponsored by the UGA Honors Program in conjunction with the Graduate School. The Honors Program assists potential candidates throughout the process. Advisors direct them to participating departments, guide them through the requirements of the involved schools, and help departments and deans monitor each candidate s progress. Applicants must be currently enrolled UGA undergraduate students in the Honors College and must have a grade point average of 3.5 or above. Interested students must first speak with their honors program advisor and should then contact Mumbi Okundaye, MPH (mumbi@uga.edu) for information on the MPH program of study. Pharm.D./MPH Students matriculate via both the Master of Public Health and the professional pharmacy (Pharm.D.) programs and fulfill all course requirements for each degree. The Pharm.D. courses that will be taken for MPH credit will entail additional course assignments over and above the requirements for traditional Pharm.D. students. For information on this program, please contact Trina von Waldner, Pharm.D. (tvonwald@uga.edu).

8 DVM/MPH Administered by the College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Public Health, this dual degree is a five-year concurrent Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Master of Public Health program. Those interested must first be accepted into UGA s DVM program before applying to become part of the MPH dual degree. For more information about the DVM/MPH, please contact Cara Simmons at vetgrad@uga.edu or Trina Salm Ward MSW/MPH Coordinator MBA/MPH MSW/MPH The Master of Public Health and Master of Social Work dual degree program of study integrates coursework and field placements over 7 consecutive semesters. Graduates earn both an MPH and a MSW in 2 1/2 years. Students can apply to one program at a time, but are encouraged to apply for the MPH and MSW concurrently. Currently the dual degree program is only offered to students pursuing the Health Promotion and Behavior concentration. Expansion of the program to the Gerontology concentration is being pursued, but has not been approved yet. To learn more about the program, contact the Dual Degree Program Coordinator Trina Salm Ward, PhD, MSW; salmward@uga.edu or This program is a collaboration between the MPH program at the UGA College of Public Health and the full-time Master of Business Administration program at the UGA Terry College of Business. For programmatic or admissions inquiries, please contact Adair Duke at hpam@uga.edu. Nina Cleveland Practice Coordinator MPH FIELD EXPERIENCE The professional field experience is one phase of the MPH program. The course of study and the field experience are designed to contribute to the basic objective of providing opportunities for the student to develop the competencies necessary to assume professional responsibilities in the public health field. Field experiences will consist of a total of 300 contact hours in a variety of settings such as local, state, and federal public health agencies as well as private sector and non-governmental agencies. Students will be assisted in finding a field placement site that will contribute to their goals for professional growth. CENTERS AND INSTITUTES The Center for Global Health seeks to identify global best practices of health care, to support their dissemination, adaption, and then their adoption throughout the world, in order to improve health care for all. The center conducts research in global health systems and supports research of others in the college and throughout the university. The center offers a graduate certificate program in global health. In pursuing the certificate students are required to complete a field experience that is internationally focused, to apply their knowledge outside of the classroom. Contact ghcertif@uga.edu for additional information. Dr. Richard Schuster Director

9 Dr. Toni Miles Director The Institute of Gerontology is the hub for coordinating and conducting The University of Georgia s education, research, and outreach services associated with the study of aging and the aged. The institute offers a graduate certificate of gerontology. Undergraduate students in the Honors Program are also eligible to obtain the graduate certificate. There are opportunities for students to have practical or hands-on expriences with older adults in the form of community service or course practica. Contact gerontology@uga.edu for additional information. Institute for Disaster Management consists of a team of internationally recognized experts in fields such as emergency management, weapons of mass destruction, disaster modeling, and public health. The mission is to reduce the casualties and social disruption from natural disasters and man-made events through engagement in planning, mitigation, risk analysis, professional training, and the development of response capabilities and infrastructure. The institute offers a graduate certificate in disaster management. The training includes emergency management approaches, first aid skills, triage techniques, first responder protocols, and national certifications through the American Medical Association and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Contact cdallas@ihmd.uga.edu for additional information. Dr. Cham Dallas Director Dr. Mark Ebell Co-director Institute for Evidence-Based Health Professions Education was founded in May 2010 with collaborations by UGA s College of Public Health and College of Education, with a mission of creating an institute that would find better ways to educate health care providers. The Institute for Evidence-Based Health Professions Education has brought in other colleges from across UGA and continued to develop point of care education practices that go beyond just the doctor s office. The Institute held its first conference in March 2012, and will hold one in the spring of each year. Contact ebell@uga.edu for additional information. The Office of Outreach and Engagement is the unit responsible for bridging academia and practice. To fulfill that responsibility, the office hosts an annual State of Public Health Conference that convenes thought-leaders, academics, practitioners and students for a relevant, grounded discussion about public health in Georgia. Additionally, the Georgia Public Health Traineeship program is administered by Outreach and Engagement and provides stipends to MPH students in the areas of Environmental Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics. There are also opportunities for students interested in public health practice to connect with local communities throughout the state. Dr. Marsha Davis Director

10 The Program Students in the MPH program complete five core courses related to the five areas of public health, courses in their area of concentration, plus a number of elective courses. Core courses are Social and Behavioral Foundations, Introduction to Epidemiology, Introduction to Biostatistics, Fundamentals of Environmental Health and Introduction to Health Policy and Management. All students must also complete a 300 hour internship in a public health-related organization supervised by a public health professional. Students must also pass a culminating experience in their last semester to graduate from the program. Career Opportunities The MPH program prepares students for employment in a variety of local, state and national settings. Potential employers include local and state health departments, community health centers, not-for-profit organizations, for profit corporations, federal and national public health agencies, just to name a few.

11 College of Public Health Class of