Public Health (MPH)

Why UM-Flint

What Sets UM-Flint Public Health (MPH) Program Apart?

The UM-Flint Master of Public Health is grounded in the foundational partnerships we have in the City of Flint and the application of these principles of authentic partnerships globally. When you add the talent of University of Michigan-Flint faculty, the deep sense of community throughout the Flint area, and the resources of the entire University of Michigan system, it’s easy to see why UM-Flint is a top choice for those pursing an advanced degree in public health.

TWO CONCENTRATIONS AVAILABLE

UM-Flint’s Master of Public Health program has two concentrations available for graduate students: Health Education and Health Care Administration.

REAL-LIFE RIGOR ON YOUR RESUME

UM-Flint faculty work closely with you through your internship and capstone, allowing you to develop a portfolio product that addresses a current public health challenge.

Research Assistantships

At the University of Michigan-Flint, we want you to focus on starting your university experience strong. That’s why we offer research assistantships to new Master of Public Health (MPH) students. Learn more here.

FLEXIBILITY THAT FITS YOUR LIFE

The MPH program at the University of Michigan-Flint requires a minimum of 42 credits and can be completed either on a part-time or full-time basis. Some MPH courses are offered online. These courses are offered through high-quality course management systems and are taught by the same expert faculty who teach on-campus courses.

STUDENT TESTIMONIAL

Listen to what one our students has to say about the MPH program:

U-M RESEARCH RESOURCE

UM-Flint is a part of the world-renowned University of Michigan system, enabling students to tap into additional resources at the Dearborn and Ann Arbor campuses.

CLOSE FACULTY/CLASSMATE CONNECTIONS

The MPH program’s small class sizes allow increased student/faculty interaction and personalized attention.

GETTING RESULTS

Graduates of the MPH program possess the knowledge and skills necessary to develop broad-based, collaborative strategies for creating successful resolutions to public health challenges.

MISSION

We are “Public Health in the City.” Our diverse faculty offer a dynamic, community engaged educational experience to prepare public health leaders to work to reduce health inequities in underserved populations.

VISION

We will be known for our learning environment which is informed by the knowledge and experiences of our diverse student, faculty and community partners, who together develop achievable and innovative solutions to public health challenges within our city and beyond. Our solutions will be characterized by the synergy between multicultural local and global perspectives.

VALUES

Diversity: Our diverse faculty and students bring their highly varied ideas, beliefs, and cultures to classroom interactions, scholarly activities, and community partnerships.
Social Justice: Our students and faculty engage in professional activities to reduce social disparities and health inequities in our communities.
Ethical Practice: Uphold high standards of honesty, integrity, and fairness in public health research, teaching, and service
Professionalism: Model the duties and responsibilities of public health consistent with the code of conduct for the field.
Community/Partnerships: Engaging in mutually beneficial community collaborations built on respect, trust, and personal commitment to improve the public health status of local and global communities.
Global: Create an educational synergy among domestic and international students, faculty, and communities that foster learning and practice opportunities that improve public health across cultures.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Biostatistics: Identify and analyze appropriate data sets for a specific public health issue.
Epidemiology: Apply appropriate descriptive and inferential techniques to represent data.
Social Determinants of Health: Critique and disseminate current knowledge of public health issues.
Health Services Administration: Apply legal and ethical principles to identify solutions to public health issues.
Professionalism: Participate effectively on a team in a public health setting.
Environmental Health: Develop policies and/or plans that support individual and community environmental public health efforts.
Diversity and Social Justice: Appreciate cultural diversity through dialogue and the exploration of social justice.
Program Planning: Develop a population-based project or program for an agency in a surrounding community.
Social and Behavioral Sciences: Apply theoretical constructs in the development of intervention strategies specific to health issues.
Health Services Administration: Analyze the effects of political, social, and economic policies on public health systems at the local, state, national and international levels.

Courses

Requirements

Grades of B- (2.7) or higher in all required courses. A minimum or 45 credits as follows:

A. Core Courses (24 Credits)

HCR 500 - Epidemiology (4)
HED 540 - Health Behavior Theory for Public Health (3)
HED 547 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals (4)
HED 562 - Cultural Competence in Health Care (3)
PHS 500 - Social Determinants of Health (3)
PHS 501 - Public Health Administration and Policy (3)
PHS 503 - Welcome to Public Health (1)
PHS 520 - Environmental Health (3)

B. Concentration of Choice (12 Credits)

Health Education Concentration

HED 541 - Program Planning and Program Design (3)
HED 543 - Community Assessment (3)
HED 545 - Health Communications (3)
HED 546 - Evaluation of Health Education and Promotion Programs (3)

Health Administration Concentration

HCR 577 - Financial Management in Health Care (3)
HCR 578 - Healthcare Quality Management (3)
HCR 587 - Legal Issues in Health Care (3)
PHS 567 - Health Information Management (3)

C. Elective (3 credits)

HCR 505 - Health Policy (3)
HCR 506 - Research Methods (3)
HCR 511 - Economic Applications in Health Administration (3)
HCR 561 - Mental Health Promotion (3)
HED 542 - Administration and Management of Health Education Programs (3)
PHS 504 - Ethical Issues in Public Health (3)
PHS 531 - Global Health (3)
or
Another course chosen with approval of the advisor.

D. Applied Practice Experience (3 credits)

PHS 590 - Public Health Applied Practice Experience (3)

E. Integrative Learning Experience (3 credits)

PHS 595 - Public Health Integrative Learning Experience (3)

F. Additional Requirements

MPH exit interview

Additional information on the The Master of Public Health (MPH) program including course descriptions can be found in the catalog.

Admission

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with sufficient preparation in algebra to succeed in Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
Minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Completion of BIO 104 or an equivalent course in anatomy and physiology prior to enrolling in graduate courses. This may be taken at any regionally accredited university.

Note: Applicants who have been previously been admitted to or graduated from UM-Ann Arbor’s Certificate in the Foundations of Public Health (CFPH) program qualify for automatic admission to the UM-Flint MPH program upon application and will have prerequisite course requirements waived. The CFPH program is no longer accepting new students.

Applying

To be considered for admission, submit the following to the Office of Graduate Programs, 251 Thompson Library:

Application for Graduate Admission
$55 application fee (non-refundable)
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Three letters of recommendation* that can speak to your past academic performance and/or your potential for successfully completing the MPH program. At least one letter must be an academic reference.
Statement of Purpose* should be a typewritten document of 500 words or less that includes:
- Your understanding of and interest in public health
- How you anticipate a Master of Public Health degree will help you in future professional settings
- The concentration you wish to pursue (Health Education or Health Care Administration) and how you plan to use your concentration area in your career
- Why you want to attend UM-Flint
- Any special circumstances applicable to your application
International students must submit additional documentation. Visit the International Students page for details.
Interview: an interview may be required at the discretion of the faculty admissions committee.

Note to CFPH applicants/students/graduates: Ann Arbor’s CFPH Program is no longer accepting new students. If you have already started or completed the CFPH program through the Ann Arbor campus, consult the list of Frequently Asked Questions with answers to common questions about applying to the UM-Flint MPH program.

*Letters of recommendation and a Statement of Purpose are not required for students admitted to or graduated from the Ann Arbor CFPH program. If you have already completed CFPH coursework, your U-M transcript is sufficient to exempt you from these documents. If you have not completed coursework, a copy of your admission email from the School of Public Health is appropriate to exempt you from these requirements.

Application Deadlines

The program has rolling admissions and reviews completed applications each month. Application deadlines are as follows:

Fall (early deadline*) – May 1
Fall (final deadline) – August 1
Winter – November 15
Spring – March 15

*You must apply for admission by the early deadline to be eligible for scholarships, grants, and research assistantships.

International students are required to apply earlier than the deadlines posted here. The final deadlines for international students are May 1 for the fall semester, September 1 for the winter semester, and January 1 for the spring term.

MPH Testimonials

We highlight four MPH students in this testimonial piece.

Shan Parker, PhD, MPH

Dr. Shan Parker is the director of the MPH program. Learn more about her education and research interests.

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