Master of Public Health

The Master of Public Health program at UMass Lowell provides students with knowledge essential to the practice of public health on a global scale.

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Graduates of the MPH program will:

Analyze public health literature and apply evidence-based practices to public health issues.
Identify, quantify and then promote reduction of the harmful impacts of current and emerging technologies on health.
Address current public health challenges through multidisciplinary approaches that apply the latest scientific knowledge, collaboration, and creative problem-solving skills.

BA or BS degree, or senior-year status, with an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
Grades of C or better in required, prerequisite college-level courses. These include a minimum one semester of statistics and one semester of either biology or anatomy and physiology. Applicants who are missing prerequisites may be admitted with the provision that they meet with their adviser before or during their first semester and develop a plan of study to complete the prerequisites during the first year.
GRE score. The GRE requirement may be waived with a prior graduate degree. Individuals who graduated from UMass Lowell in the past 5 years with a GPA of 3.5 or higher may be able to waive the GRE upon approval of the Graduate Coordinator.
For international applicants, TOEFL scores of at least 79 (internet-based) are required.
Applicants to the Nutrition specialization must have taken undergraduate courses in Human Nutrition.

Visit Graduate Admissions for more information, or apply to the Master of Public Health.

The MPH program is a 42-credit, post-BS program with five focus areas: Dietetics, Epidemiology, Nutrition, Population Health or Healthcare Management. The program has been developed to meet the requirements of the accrediting body, the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

For the most up to date information please visit the UMass Lowell Graduate Catalog.

All MPH students will take five core public health courses plus a two-semester, six-credit MPH practicum (21 credits total):

Introduction to Environmental Health
Introduction to Epidemiology
Health Policy and Management
Biostatistics for Health Data
Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health
MPH Practicum I
MPH Practicum II

For the most up to date information please visit the UMass Lowell Graduate Catalog.

Qualified UMass Lowell undergraduate junior or senior students may apply for admission to the Bachelor's to Master's public health accelerated option. This program is designed to facilitate admission from a bachelor's degree program to one of four master's degrees:

Students accepted into this option may take up to four graduate level Public Health Core courses (500 level) during their senior year that will be credited toward both the bachelor's and master's degrees upon approval by their undergraduate adviser. Prerequisites for the bachelor's/master's accelerated option include a semester of either biology or anatomy and physiology and a semester of statistics with a grade of C or better.

EXPANDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

It is an exciting time to pursue a master's degree in public health. You will not only make a difference in the world by improving human health, but you will also be in demand to fulfill much needed roles in the field. It is projected that more than 250,000 additional public health workers will be needed in the United States by 2020. Trends fueling the need include a greater public interest in health promotion and disease prevention, an aging population and an increase in the number of people retiring from public health jobs.

Advantages of this Option

Bachelor's/Master's students are not required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) for admission into the master's program.
Bachelor's/Master's students pay undergraduate tuition for graduate courses taken during the undergraduate program resulting in a cost savings in the graduate program.
Bachelor's/Master's students complete the graduate degree in an accelerated time frame, allowing them to pursue careers more quickly.
Students accepted in the accelerated Bachelor's/Master's option may waive the application fee for the master's program.

Requirements

Grade point average of a 3.0 or greater. (Must be maintained through completion of the baccalaureate degree).
Application to Graduate Admissions Bachelor's/Master's accelerated option in junior or senior year.

Contact

For more information about the Bachelor's/Master's option, please contact:

Leland Ackerson
978-934-3128
Leland_Ackerson@uml.edu

Why Study Public Health at UMass Lowell?

New Dietetics Focus Area

Our newest MPH focus area is an accredited Coordinated Program in Dietetics, the only one of its kind offered in New England. Other focus areas include Epidemiology, Healthcare Management, Population Health and Nutrition.

Well-Connected Faculty

Our faculty members have extensive contacts in the community, providing students with a network of sites for practicum and internship activities. These opportunities include those based in research and practice in government, non-profit and for-profit organizations.

Career Opportunities

As a graduate of the MPH program, you will be prepared to assume leadership positions in a range of careers in private industry, government, consulting, law, insurance, hospitals and the nonprofit sector. It is projected that more than 250,000 additional public health workers will be needed in the U.S. by 2020.

Delivering Real-World Experiences

Kelechi Adejumo

Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology

Kelechi Adejumo is looking for ways to improve health in the workplace and at home, combining her scholarly research into musculoskeletal injuries to nursing aides and her hands-on work for the Healthy Homes project.
Michelle Palladino

Nutritional Sciences & Public Health

Once Michelle Palladino started taking courses in nutrition as an undergraduate, she knew right away that she wanted a career in the field of nutrition and dietetics.
Daniel Howell

Public Health

When Daniel Howell interned at the City of Lowell Health Department, he helped run a forum addressing opioid abuse.