Graduate Program

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Program Contact

Director: Suzanne Selig, PhD
810.762.3172
www.umflint.edu/pubhealth

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Why UM-Flint

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

FOCUS:
  • The UM-Flint Master of Public Health is grounded in the foundational partnerships we have in the city of Flint and the surrounding communities. UM-Flint’s MPH is “Public Health in the City.”
  • Choose from two concentrations: Health Education or Health Care Administration.
FLEXIBILITY:
  • The MPH requires a minimum of 42 credit hours and may be completed with a part-time or full-time schedule.
  • Courses in the MPH program can be taken completely through the Flint campus, providing a combination of online and on-campus courses, or can be taken in combination with the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Certificate in Foundations of Public Health (CFPH) program, which features all online courses.
RESOURCES:

You will have access to the extensive research resources at the multiple libraries through both the Flint and Ann Arbor campuses.

  • Small class sizes allow increased student/faculty interaction.
  • 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.   
  • Students choosing to enroll in the Ann Arbor CFPH program are exposed to University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) School of Public Health faculty, which is consistently ranked among the top 5 schools of public health nationwide. 
  • Online courses are offered through high-quality course management systems and are taught by the same expert faculty who teach on-campus courses.
RESULTS:
  • You will be prepared with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop broad-based and collaborative strategies that contribute successful resolutions to public health challenges.
  • For students choosing to complete the Ann Arbor CFPH courses, you will earn both the University of Michigan-Flint Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Certificate in the Foundations of Public Health (CFPH).
In-Depth:

The UM-Flint MPH degree can be earned in one of two pathways:

  1. All required courses taken through the Flint Campus OR
  2. A combination of online courses taken from the Ann Arbor CFPH program and coursework through the Flint campus.

Both options lead to the same Master of Public Health Degree awarded by the University of Michigan-Flint.

Admission

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institutionwith sufficient preparation in algebra to succeed in Biostatistics
  • Minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Completion of both prerequisite courses prior to enrolling in graduate courses. They may be taken at any accredited university.
    • BIO 104 or an equivalent course in anatomy and physiology
    • COM/THE 210 Introduction to Public Speaking, an equivalent course, or relevant experience

Note:  Applicants who have been admitted to 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.  Please note that the CFPH program requires:

  • Bachelor’s degree with sufficient preparation in algebra to succeed in the introductory Biostatistics course
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate study
  • Proficiency in basic computer skills

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* from individuals that can speak to your past academic performance and/or your potential for successfully completing the MPH program
  • Statement of Purpose* that addresses your understanding of and interest in public health and how you anticipate a Master of Public Health degree will help you in future professional settings
  • International students must submit additional documentation.  Visit the International Students page for details.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions with answers is provided to answer many of your 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 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.

Please note that students applying to UM-Ann Arbor’s CFPH program must adhere to the CFPH deadlines, which are different than those listed here.  Additional information is available at www.sph.umich.edu.

Courses

Public Health (Master in Public Health)

Requirements.   A minimum of 40 credits as follows.

  1. UM-Ann Arbor online Courses (16 credits required of all students).  
    BIOSTAT 503 - Introduction to Biostatistics
    EHS 500 - Principles of Environmental Health Sciences
    EPID 503 - Strategies and Uses of Epidemiology
    HBE/HED 600 - Psychological Factors in Health Related Behavior
    HMP 602 - Survey of the U.S. Health Care System
     
  2. UM-Flint core courses (6 credits).
    PHS 500 - Social Determinants of Health. 
    PHS 501 - Public Health Administration and Policy. 
  3. Health Education or Health Administration Concentration (15 credits).
    UM-Flint Health Education Concentration
    HED 541 - Program Planning and Program Design.  
    HED 543 - Community Assessment.   
    HED 545 - Health Communications. 
    HED 546 - Evaluation of Health Education and Promotion Programs. 
    One elective course.
    UM-Flint Health Administration Concentration
    HCR 577 - Financial Management in Health Care. 
    HCR 587 - Legal Issues in Health Care. 
    PHS 567 - Health Information Management. 
    Two elective courses. 
  4. Capstone Experience (3 credits).
    PHS 595 - Public Health Capstone.  
  5. Practicum (3-6 credits, may be waived for public health practitioners).
    PHS 590 - Internship.  

Health Education/Health Administration Electives (3 credits each).
One of the following, or another course selected with the advisor.
HED 503 - AIDS: A Public Health Crisis. 
HCR 506 - Research Methods. HCR 506 - Research Methods. 
HCR 561 - Mental Health Promotion.  
HED 562 - Cultural Competence in Health Care.   

Read More

  • The curriculum for the Master of Public Health will be changing effective Fall 2014.  A minimum of 42 credits will be required to complete the MPH.  A complete course listing will be available in May.  

Rachel Putnam-Farley, MPH

Hometown: Caro

As a student in the MPH program I will not only graduate with a master’s degree, but will also have a graduate certificate in the Foundations of Public Health from U of M’s School of Public Health. The flexibility of taking classes both online and on-campus allowed me to coordinate my studies around my hectic life. The internship/capstone project has also been exceptionally valuable. I feel very prepared to enter a career in a hospital setting, in part because of the experiences I have had through my internship and capstone project. I would eventually like to be the CEO of a safety net hospital or hospital system. I feel that my MPH degree has prepared me for the future in health care as we move away from the “sickness” model and towards keeping people healthy, which has always been the goal of public health.