Foundational Public Health Knowledge and Competencies
MPH student Rebecca Hammett surveying for ticks with a local health department.
In-depth Public Health Knowledge
Foundational MPH courses give you knowledge and skills expected by public health employers, and essential for public health leaders of tomorrow.
- Explain public health history, philosophy and values (EEH530 Introduction to Health Care Organization; EEH590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
- Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 essential services (CHB507 Public Health Teams and Practice; EEH590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health)
- Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health (EEH500 Introduction to Epidemiology or EEH501 Principles of Epidemiology; CHB507 Public Health Interprofessional Teams and Practice)
- List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the US (EEH500 Introduction to Epidemiology or EEH501 Principles of Epidemiology)
- Discuss the science of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc. (CHB501 Study of Health Behavior; EEH500 Introduction to Epidemiology or EEH501 Principles of Epidemiology)
- Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge (EEH500 Introduction to Epidemiology or EEH501 Principles of Epidemiology; EEH530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- Explain effects of environmental factors on a population's health (EEH550 Environmental Health)
- Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population's health (EEH550 Environmental Health)
- Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population's health (CHB501 Study of Health Behavior)
- Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population and health inequities (CHB501 Study of Health Behavior; EEH530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease (EEH590 Contemporary Issues in Public Health; CHB507 Public Health Teams and Practice)
- Explain the ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health and ecosystem health (eg, One Health) (EEH550 Environmental Health)
Foundational and Concentration-specific MPH Competencies
All MPH students gain foundational public health competencies that employers prioritize as essential skills for public health practice. Students also gain concentration competencies that are specific to their MPH program.
- Apply epidemiological methods to settings and situations in public health practice (EEH 500 Introduction to Epidemiology or EEH 501 Principles of Epidemiology)
- Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context (EEH 500 Introduction to Epidemiology or EEH 501 Principles of Epidemiology, CHB 507 Public Health Teams and Practice)
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate (STA 503 Introduction to Applied Biostatistics I and STA 504 Introduction to Applied Biostatistics II, or STA 527 Statistical Analysis I, CHB 507 Public Health Teams and Practice)
- Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice (STA 503 Introduction to Applied Biostatistics I and STA 504 Introduction to Applied Biostatistics II, or STA 527 Statistical Analysis I)
- Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings (EEH 530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and systemic levels (EEH 550 Environmental Health)
- Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities' health (CHB 501 Study of Health Behavior)
- Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs (CHB 501 Study of Health Behavior)
- Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention (CHB 501 Study of Health Behavior)
- Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management (EEH 530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- Select methods to evaluate public health programs (EEH 530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- Discuss the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence (EEH 530 Introduction to Health Care Organization)
- Propose strategies to identify relevant communities and individuals and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes (EEH 590 Leadership, Collaboration and Negotiation in Public Health)
- Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations (CHB 501 Study of Health Behavior)
- Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity (EEH 550 Environmental Health)
- Apply leadership and/or management principles to address a relevant issue (EEH 590 Leadership, Collaboration and Negotiation in Public Health)
- Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges (EEH 590 Leadership, Collaboration and Negotiation in Public Health)
- Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors (EEH 550 Environmental Health)
- Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation to a non-academic, non-peer audience with attention to factors such as literacy and health literacy (CHB 501 Study of Health Behavior)
- Describe the importance of cultural humility in communicating public health content (CHB 507 Public Health Teams and Practice)
- Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health (CHB 507 Public Health Teams and Practice, EEH 590 Leadership, Collaboration and Negotiation in Public Health)
- Apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative (EEH 550 Environmental Health)
Requirement for CHB, EEH and STA 630 Culminating Project
We prepare graduates to address the most critical public health issues our world faces. Essential skills in addressing health disparities are the ability to work with diverse populations; understand issues of equity; recognize and appreciate cultural values; and improve health communication, advocacy and policy making. Applying these skills can help to mitigate health inequities.
Students must address at least one diversity-related foundational competency from the list as one of the three foundational competencies addressed in their culminating project, which is the final requirement to earn the MPH degree:
- #6 Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels.
- #8 Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
- #14 Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
- #15 Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
- #20 Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.
Public Health Code of Ethics for MPH Students
Ethical practice in the field of public health is essential. Public health professionals are charged and entrusted with preventing disease and protecting the public’s health. To do so, we must engage in ethical practice. These principles (link the attached to “These principles”) will guide your ethical decision-making, actions and implementation and serve as your roadmap to guide ethical public health practice throughout your time in the MPH.