Public Health Advanced Graduate Certificate
“We need to better understand health care disparities and the social determinants of health because those are the things that will actually improve our health outcomes for the better.” --Kenyani Davis, Health Services Administration MPH
The Advanced Graduate Certificate in Public Health allows you to learn foundational public health skills in as little as one year. This certificate can be completed online or on campus.
About the program
The certificate program is designed for individuals who want to gain foundational public health knowledge. It can be completed fully online, or on campus through seated courses on a full-time or part-time basis.
If you find that public health is your passion, and you wish to complete the full master of public health (MPH) degree, certificate courses can seamlessly transfer into UB’s MPH program.
UB's courses attract a diverse student body. You will learn in a collaborative environment that includes public health professionals as well as individuals from across the health care landscape. Courses are taught by faculty who are experts in their field.
The program is designed for:
- People who wish to take a few courses before enrolling in an MPH program
- Working professionals who want to gain practical public health skills
- Current UB students interested in the bigger picture of health care in the U.S.
- People who want to transition into or advance in the field of public health
- Students who need the flexibility of online courses or in-person options
The School of Public Health and Health Professions is a CEPH-accredited school of public health.
Apply for Admission
July 15 for the Fall
Dec. 15 for the Spring
Our Students
Is online learning right for me?
We realize online learning may be a different learning environment for many people. To help you make the adjustment, we’ve put together this page to introduce you to online learning and answer some common questions you may have.
We first want to highlight the advantages of enrolling in our online program. Here are just a few:
- Our online courses have an enrollment cap. Small class sizes allow you to establish relationships with your fellow students and professors. You’ll collaborate in a diverse classroom with practitioners from across the public health landscape.
- Online course content is similar to on-campus courses. You will learn the same content and skills from the faculty who teach in the program. The only difference is the mode of delivery and course interaction.
- We know you’re busy, and our part-time program provides you the flexibility to further your education without giving up other commitments.
Am I ready for online courses?
Take the State University of New York (SUNY) Online Readiness Success Inventory (SOSSI) to determine how ready you are for fully online coursework.
- We strongly recommend that you complete the SOSSI if you are new to online courses.
- After you complete the assessment, you will receive a report indicating your level of readiness.
Consider your level of readiness
The following is a self assessment to help you determine if you are ready for online education. If you answered "Yes" to the majority of these statements, then you are ready! If you answered "No," consider how you might change your circumstances or approach and set yourself up for success in an online graduate degree environment.
- I am a self-motivated learner
- I have strong time-management skills
- I am capable of self-discipline and will finish tasks even when I may not feel like it
- I have strong reading comprehension skills
- I am goal directed–if I set my sights on an end result, I usually achieve it
- I am confident in my academic abilities
- I do not give up easily, even when confronted with obstacles
- I believe I am responsible for my own education–what I learn is ultimately my responsibility
- My schedule will easily allow for time spent on coursework
- I do not have conflicts with work, athletics, child care or school schedules
- I have consistent and reliable access to a computer
- I have consistent and reliable access to a strong internet connection
- I am willing to try something new, especially an educational format I may not have used before
- I am willing and able to work in a non-structured environment
- I am willing to express my opinion in writing
- I am willing to actively participate in the learning process by doing tasks and projects, as required
Adapted from the Open SUNY Readiness Assessment.
Technical computing requirements
As a student you are required to have routine access to an up-to-date computer running Windows 8 or higher. Review the official UB computing requirements.
Some of our courses may have synchronous class sessions or online office hours delivered via webinar tools such as Blackboard Collaborate, Zoom, Skype for Business or Google+ Hangouts. We recommend that you have a headset with a microphone or a webcam to participate in these sessions. Make sure to test your computer with the webinar tool before the scheduled synchronous session.
Some of your coursework requires applications that are not currently supported on tablets or mobile (Android, iOS) devices. While you can use mobile devices for some course elements, you may not be able to successfully complete courses only using a mobile device.
Internet access
Online courses require that students have routine access to a computer with high-speed Internet access. This is needed to efficiently stream video content and conduct research for your courses. Dial-up internet access will not support the coursework.
Learning Management System (LMS)
Our university uses UB Learns as a LMS. This system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Software
UB students have access to the latest academic and productivity software, including Microsoft Office and anti-virus programs. Please review these software offerings before considering any software purchases for coursework.
Web browsers
Students can use multiple web browsers when completing coursework within UB Learns: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or Google Chrome.