Overview of the Program

The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is a professional degree offered by Eastern Virginia Medical School in collaboration with Old Dominion University. The Program provides graduates with an understanding of the public health sciences and with knowledge and skills that can be utilized in healthcare management, population-based research and the community practice of public health.

The Program focuses upon three specialized tracks of Health Management, Epidemiology, Environmental Health; and an additional Health Promotion track in preparation. Students complete both didactic and experience-based courses. A community practicum and internship expose students to community organizations that support public health.

The MPH degree will be granted jointly by the two sponsoring institutions. Classes are taught in three Terms each year. Students are expected to take six to eight credits hours per Term. With this schedule, the required 46 credit hours can be completed in two years.

The Program will benefit health professionals who are or will be working in private, government or community organizations with the following responsibilities: assessing health status or needs in populations, designing and implementing programs, managing administrative functions, conducting program evaluation and outcomes research, developing coalitions to meet community needs, marketing health services, analyzing the epidemiology of specific diseases and measuring or assuring the quality of healthcare and public health services and products.

Curriculum

The educational program includes 46 total credit hours. Core courses consist of 18 credit hours in Principles of Epidemiology, Health Education & Behavioral Science, Ethics in Public Health Practice, Introduction to Biostatistics, Health Administration and Organization and Environmental Health.

In addition to the core courses, students concentrate on courses in Epidemiology, Health Management, Health Promotions or Environmental Health for an additional 18-21 credit hours. The remaining credit hours are earned through Selectives, an Internship (may be waived at the discretion of the Program Director), Community Practicum and a Capstone Seminar.

Sponsoring Institution

Eastern Virginia Medical School is an academic institution dedicated to medical and health education, biomedical research and the enhancement of healthcare in eastern Virginia. Old Dominion University is a publicly funded university, established as an independent college in 1962 and as a university in 1969. EVMS and ODU have a long history of collaboration that includes several joint degree programs.

Classes are held on weekday evenings and/or on Saturdays on the EVMS and ODU campuses in Norfolk, Virginia. Courses are taught by faculty from both institutions.

Accreditation

The program has been fully accredited since 2000 by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). This accreditation was renewed in 2005 for seven years. The State Council on Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) approved the program in 1999. View the EVMS MPH Program 2004 Accreditation Self-Study Document.

MD/MPH Dual Degree Program

EVMS offers an MD/MPH Dual Degree Program leading to both Doctorate of Medicine and Master of Public Health degrees. View more information about the Dual Degree Program.

Application to the Program

For details about Admission Requirements and additional information about application to the MPH Program, click here. For additional questions, contact either of the following: