The KU-MPH program has concentrations in Epidemiology, Social and Behavioral Health and Public Health Management. Course descriptions under each concentration can be viewed here.
The 42-credit-hour degree program culminates with an internship and capstone experience. The curriculum assists students to attain fundamental public health knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviors. The KU-MPH program provides opportunities for students to master 24 core competencies in addition to concentration specific competencies. Each KU-MPH student is required to create an e-portfolio throughout his/her program of study, allowing the documentation of student achievements of the MPH core and concentration competencies. Students' artifacts such as papers, presentations, and homework that demonstrate achievement of each competency, along with a résumé and other reflection statements complete the e-portfolio which students may then share with future employers.
The minimum requirements for graduation are:
The KU-MPH internship is a 192 hour service-learning experience in a community setting (12 hours/week for the 16 week semester) during PRVM 891 Public Health Internship. The internship is designed to enhance and extend the student's academic experience through the application of public health concepts and skills in a supervised field experience. The internship will provide the student with an opportunity to engage in actual public health practice through an individualized experience with a host organization or a community-focused enterprise.
The goals of the internship are:
The Departments of Preventive Medicine in Kansas City and Wichita have memoranda of understanding with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, several local health departments in the region, and other public health organizations. These agencies will serve as placement sites for MPH students.
The KU-MPH capstone is a 192 hour culminating experience that requires students to synthesize and integrate knowledge and/or apply theories and principles learned to and area of public health. The capstone is meant to be completed at the end of the student's degree program and is designed to give the student an opportunity to apply skills to a variety of problems or issues in public health.
Each capstone will differ by concentration. It is up to the student's capstone committee to determine which projects are suitable for the concentration. Students are encouraged to be creative in proposing capstones, especially if the proposed product would meet a need in the community or the setting in which the student completed his/her internship.
The goals of the capstone are: