Master of Public Health (MPH) Degree

A Flexible Degree for Your Future

The MPH degree is well suited for individuals from a variety of academic and experience backgrounds seeking a career in public health. The two-year program consists of twenty course units over four semesters and a summer internship. Students study within one of our six academic departments or the Health Care Management program and have the option to add one of our six concentrations or tracks. The program ensures a solid grounding in the basic and applied sciences, provides specificity in a functional area of public health work, while allowing the flexibility to tailor courses to your interests.

Departments and Programs

Each student applies to one of our six departments or the Healthcare Management Program. These courses of study may be further customized by the addition of one of our concentrations or tracks (see below).

Biostatistics

YSPH's Department of Biostatistics offers dynamic, cutting edge faculty whose methodological and analytic work is shaping the future of public health research and practice of public health. The MPH in biostatistics emphasizes training in the application of these statistical principles and methods to problems in health sciences, medicine and biology, including valid study designs, data management and analysis for careers in research, healthcare delivery, pharmaceuticals, regulatory affairs and industry.

Chronic Disease Epidemiology

The Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology advances the health of the public by promoting a research-based approach to the prevention and management of chronic diseases while educating future leaders of the field. The faculty's interdisciplinary research emphasizes the fields of cancer, cardiovascular disease, perinatal and reproductive epidemiology, psychosocial epidemiology, HIV/AIDS, aging and genetic epidemiology and its collaboration with the Yale Cancer Center and other schools and institutes give students unparalled access to leading experts throughout the medical school and Yale New Haven Hospital.

Environmental Health Sciences

YSPH's Department of Environmental Sciences prepares its students to examine the complex factors that impact human health from a variety of cutting-edge interdisciplinary approaches, including developmental origins of health and disease, environmental justice and disparities, metabolomics and more while maintaining important ties to local communities. YSPH students are partake in many opportunities to collaborate with faculty and peers in public health, the Yale School of the Environment and more.

Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases

The MPH curriculum in Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases is designed to train students to understand the epidemiology of the major infectious agents, the diseases they cause and the host response to those diseases. The interaction of the agent (parasite, bacterium or virus) with the host and the influence of the environment are studied. The curriculum considers the role of immunological response, genetics, natural history of vectors, geographic distribution and transmission and transport of agents. The School has interdisciplinary strengths in HIV/AIDS, vaccine development and disease modeling and is a leader in the international response to the COVID-19 pandemic. EMD is also known for its etiological research in vector-borne diseases, neglected tropical diseases and global health and students have opportunities to work with faculty in research and field work both locally and internationally.

Healthcare Management Program

The Healthcare Management Program is singular in that it combines courses at the renowned Yale School of Management (SOM) with courses at the School of Public Health. This longstanding, unique partnership between YSPH and SOM that embeds students in both schools develops exemplary expertise in both public health and management, building a strong suite of skills to transform the healthcare sector.

Health Policy

Designed to fuel passion for change with the skills to influence and develop policy across public health and healthcare sectors, YSPH quite simply trains leaders who can be effective agents for change. Health Policy students apply through the Department of Healthcare Policy and Management.

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) teaches students about the social and structural factors that interact with behavioral and biological factors to influence health, illness and recovery. SBS faculty offer innovative approaches to social and structural factors (e.g., stigma, housing, poverty, social relationships, norms) in epidemiology and public health, both as risk factors for adverse health outcomes and in strategies to promote health and prevent disease. Students focus on developing skills to improve health equity and social justice including how to evaluate and develop multilevel interventions that eliminate barriers to health, from infancy to old age. The department's ties with the thought leaders in Psychiatry, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology departments, as well as the Law School allow limitless opportunities for students to engage with research and practice at Yale, in New Haven and beyond.

Concentrations and Tracks

The following concentrations and tracks are available for students to customize their elective course in the MPH program. They are 3-5 courses each and are added once students have begun the MPH program. Concentrations offer the opportunity for students to direct their internship experiences whereas tracks are exclusively course based.

Climate Change and Health Concentration

Climate Change and Health has emerged as one of the most pressing public health issues of the century. Students in any MPH program may pursue the Climate Change and Health Concentration to add depth and perspective to their public health specialization.

Global Health Concentration

Here at YSPH, we believe that Global Health is Public Health. This means that it is not just a one department of study but rather an important theme that is woven throughout the program. Students in any department may also participate in the Global Health Concentration.

Maternal Child Health Promotion Track

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Promotion track is a cutting-edge promotion-education program that takes a multidisciplinary approach to implementing evidence-based practices to improve outcomes. This track trains students on the importance and application of implementation science to maternal-child health promotion.

Public Health Modeling Concentration

YSPH is on the cutting edge of developing and assessing public health through mathematical modeling. Students in any department may also pursue the modeling concentration.

US Health and Justice Concentration

Vast, persistent and avoidable health inequalities by race, geography, class, gender identity and sexual orientation are well documented. Addressing these inequalities is both a critical challenge and critical objective for public health researchers and practitioners. This concentration is for students who want to not only research and understand health inequities, but to be agents of change for a new generation.

Curriculum

The MPH curriculum, designed to give our students the breadth of skills and perspectives essential to careers in public health, is comprised of:

20 course units (two years)
The MPH core curriculum
The Professional Skills Seminar
Departmental courses
Electives and/or concentrations and tracks
The applied practice experience and the summer internship
Master's thesis or capstone course

Core Curriculum

The core curriculum for the MPH program consists of 5 courses as well as the Professional Skills Seminar. Our foundational classes in biostatistics, epidemiology, social and structural determinants of health inequities, and health policy and health care systems ground students with the breadth of skill sets and perspectives essential to careers in public health. "Major Health Threats" is an interdisciplinary, team-taught course that uses a combination of lectures, case studies and vignette approaches. Students learn to actively apply concepts, hone data interpretation skills, and frame research and health solution projects.

EPH 505a - Biostatistics in Public Health (not required for BIS)
EPH 507a - Social Justice and Health Equity
EPH 513b - Major Health Threats: Determinants and Solutions
EPH 508a - Foundations of Epidemiology and Public health
EPH 510a - Health Policy and Health Care Systems

Public Health in Action

Public health research and practice are critical parts of the educational experience for Yale School of Public Health students, opening the door to a wide variety of public health careers. Our MPH students have practice and applied learning opportunities that include the intensive summer internship and practice-based courses. In addition, all students complete a capstone course or master's thesis within their department.