College of Education and Health Services

Department of Public Health

Benedictine University offers:

• generalist Master of Public Health (MPH) degree
• certificates in Disaster Management, Health Education and Promotion, Epidemiology, Health Management and Policy
• dual master’s degrees with Nutrition, Business Administration, Organizational Behavior, and Information Systems.

Accommodating your schedule:

Courses are offered evenings, weekends, and online. Full-time students can complete the degree program in less than two years. Certificates require four courses and may be applied to a degree.

Master of Public Health (MPH) Overview

Click on the hyperlink above for an overview of the Master of Public Health Program here at Benedictine University.

Why an MPH degree?

The master of public health degree is the most universally recognized credential for professionals in population health. The multidisciplinary curriculum offers a broad set of skills that can be applied in a variety of settings. Health systems are much more than illness treatment. There is an increasing need for basic management skills to organize integrated systems; research skills to find new solutions to health problems; communication and leadership skills to prevent illness and injury.  Public and private agencies need health professionals who can produce a significant impact on health outcomes at the community and population level. Clinicians with MPH training learn to integrate prevention into their practices and understand how the delivery system works.

Where are MPH professionals employed?

MPH professionals work in local and state health departments, hospitals and clinics, nonprofit health organizations, international health agencies, health insurance plans, and government agencies.

What distinguishes the Benedictine MPH?

Benedictine University has been a leader in higher education for 125 years. Helping people is a key value shared by the field of public health and the University. The Benedictine MPH combines the traditions of face to face learning with innovative on line technology.

The MPH program  prepares students to practice real world – real time public health within a global context. Students learn to apply public health skills in locations all over the world from northern Illinois to rural Bangladesh.

The faculty includes experienced practitioners who take a personal interest in each student and create a professional learning environment in small interactive classes, community service activities, and research projects.

What academic background do I need?

Students come from a wide variety of undergraduate preparations, from psychology to computer science, and many have professional degrees in medicine, nutrition, or nursing. Many students earn the MPH degree before applying to schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and other health professions. For others, the MPH is a path to changing careers from business or education.

Admissions requirements for domestic and international students are in the MPH Student Handbook

What are the graduation requirements for the MPH degree?

MPH students take 66 quarter credit hours (15 four-credit courses plus a six credit internship) to graduate. All students take the 12 core courses covering basic public health competencies. Students individualize their programs in their selection of three electives. All students demonstrate their ability to synthesize and integrate all acquired competencies in a major study project and an internship in an actual public health setting. Read more in MPH Student Overview.

What do MPH students learn?

The overall approach:

• Apply a public health systems approach to solve population health problems.

Using the scientific method:

• Apply basic statistical methods to address, analyze and solve problems in public health.
• Analyze patterns of disease and injury in populations to prevent and control health problems.
• Apply fundamental research principles and methods to improve population health.

Based on concepts, skills and values:

• Apply biological principles to disease management, prevention, and control.
• Apply management skills to public health practice.
• Apply culturally competent approaches to public health practice, research, policy development, and health disparities.
• Apply ethical principles to public health research, practice, and policy.
  

Producing assessments, plans, programs, and policies:

• Develop and evaluate public health interventions based on knowledge of social and behavioral theory.
• Develop, analyze, and evaluate policies as a tool to improve population health.
• Analyze and address community health problems through a structured approach synthesizing core public health competencies.
• Apply systematic methods to assess, prevent and control environmental hazards.

Integrating and synthesizing knowledge and skills:

• Demonstrate mastery of public health competencies and course learning in a professional setting.

The Master of Public Health program at Benedictine University is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

The self-study report and the final accreditation report are available upon request. To obtain a copies of the reports please contact Susan Cheng, PhD at scheng@ben.edu or 630-829-6181.