The MPH program is designed so that MPH students will achieve the competencies listed below by the time of graduation. These competencies cross public health domains. Competencies are limited in their focus to occur as a result of completing core courses, field and capstone experiences, and other activities that are required of all MPH students. Competencies for the MPH degree within each academic division provide further specialized objectives appropriate to students in each division.

 

• Evidence-Based Approaches to Public Health

  Graduates should be able to:

  • Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
  • Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for the given public health context.
  • Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software.
  • Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.
• Public Health & Healthcare Systems

  Graduates should be able to:

  • Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
  • 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.
• Planning and Management to Promote Public Health

  Graduates should be able to:

  • Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.
  • Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
  • Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
  • Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
  • Select methods to evaluate public health programs.
• Policy in Public Health

  Graduates should be able to:

  • Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
  • Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
  • Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
  • Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
• Leadership

  Graduates should be able to:

  • Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making.
  • Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
• Communication

  Graduates should be able to:

  • Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
  • Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
  • Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.
• Interprofessional Practice & Systems Thinking

  Graduates should be able to:

  • Perform effectively on interprofessional teams. Interprofessional refers to engagement with professionals outside of public health, rather than engagement with individuals from other health disciplines (e.g. nutritionists, psychologists, veterinarians, physicians, and etc.). 
• Systems Thinking

  Graduates should be able to:

  • Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.