WVU Home
Search:DepartmentHealth Sciences CenterWVU  Go
West Virginia University, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center A-Z WVU Site Index Campus Map WVU Directory Contact Us WVU Home School of Medicine
 
Department of Community Medicine

On-Campus MPH Program

Curriculum with Specialty Tracks
  1. The MPH On-Campus degree requires 42 hours.
     
  2. Upon matriculation, students will be asked to provisionally select a track. There are 5 Specialty Tracks to choose from. This will enable provisional advisors to be assigned to mentor students through the first semester.
     
  3. Students are required to select a track after 9 credit hours have been completed. If necessary, new advisors will be assigned.
     
  4. Six core 3-credit hour courses, one 8-hour Practicum, and one 1-credit-hour seminar - total of 27 hours required.
     
  5. Students are required to take 3 track-specific courses - total of 9 hours required.
     
  6. Electives can be selected from a list of suggested courses for the track or from the general list of electives approved by the MPH program - total of 6 hours required.
Required Core Courses for MPH (27 credit hours):

CHPR 612 - Social and Behavioral Theory - 3 Hrs.
PUBH 611 - Applied Biostatistics for Health - 3 Hrs.
PUBH 630 - Policy and the Health System - 3 Hrs.
PUBH 650 - Environmental Health - 3 Hrs.
PUBH 660 - Public Health Epidemiology - 3 Hrs.
PUBH 687, 688, 689 - Practicum - 8 Hrs.
PUBH 691 - Seminar - 1 Hr.
PUBH 691E - Survey Methods - 3 Hrs.
Or CHPR 634 - Health Promotions Research Methods - 3 Hrs.

Required hours: 27
Listing of Tracks

Click on a track's name for more details.



Social and Behavioral Sciences Track

The MPH Track in Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health address the behavioral, social and cultural factors related to individual and population health and health disparities over the life course. Research and practice in this track contributes to the development, administration and evaluation of programs and policies in public health and health services to promote and sustain healthy environments and healthy lives for individuals and populations.

Social and Behavioral Sciences Track advisors: Dr. Kimberly Horn, Dr. Ruth Kershner, Dr. William Reger-Nash and Dr. Kenneth Simon 

Social and Behavioral Sciences Track Requirements:

Required Core MPH Courses - 27 hours

CHPR 634 - Health Promotion Research Methods - 3 Hrs.
(If taken as a required course, student may take an additional 3 credit hours of electives)
CHPR 638 - Community Health Assessment and Evaluation - 3 Hrs.
CHPR 648 - Intervention Design - 3 Hrs.

Required Hours: 9
Elective Hours: 6

Total Hours to Complete: 42

Should students wish to take the optional and additional concentrations under the Social and Behavioral Sciences Track, the following is required:

Wellness Concentration Requirements:

CHPR 633 - Foundations of Wellness - 3 Hrs.
PUBH 580 - Prevention through Resilience - 3 Hrs.
PUBH 691 - Worksite Wellness - 3 Hrs.

Total Hours: 9

Women’s Health Concentration Requirements:

PUBH 620 - Women in Violence - 3 Hrs.
PUBH 621 - Issues in Women’s Health - 3 Hrs
Choose One of the Following:
HN&F 610 - Nutrition and Fitness - 3 Hrs.
HN&F 612 - Maternal & Child Health Nutrition - 3 Hrs.

Total Hours: 9



Epidemiology and Biostatistics Track

The MPH Track in Epidemiology and Biostatistics is designed for the study of patterns of disease and injury in human populations and for the development and application of statistical reasoning and methods in addressing, analyzing, and solving problems in public health care. This track is designed for students who have good analytical skills and a strong science background. It is best suited for students who have already worked in a substantive area and have identified specific research questions. In order to maintain your status in this track you must receive A’s in PUBH 611 Applied Biostatistics for Health and PUBH 660 Public Health Epidemiology.

Biostatistics and Epidemiology Track advisors: Dr. George Kelly, Dr. Priscah Mujuru, Dr. Anoop Shankhar, and Dr. Sarah Knox

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Track Requirements:

Required Core MPH Courses - 27 hours

PUBH 661 - Advanced Epidemiology - 3 Hrs.
STAT 512 - Statistical Methods - 3 Hrs.
STAT 555 - Categorical Data Analysis II - 3 Hrs.

Required Hours: 9
Elective Hours: 6

Total Hours to Complete: 42



Health Policy and Management Track

The MPH Track in Health policy and management is a multidisciplinary field of inquiry and practice concerned with the delivery, quality and costs of health care for individuals and populations. The track focuses on health policy analysis and formulation, budgeting, organization, and effective planning, managing and oversight of health systems. Through their course work, students acquire a solid foundation in policy analysis, an understanding of key health policy issues from a comparative perspective and substantive knowledge of healthcare systems and public policies and programs in the US.

Health Policy and Management Track advisors: Dr. Mary Carter, Dr. Geri Dino, and Dr. Michael Hendryx

Health Policy Management Track Requirements:

Required Core MPH Courses - 27 hours

CHPR 635 - Management for Community and Public Health - 3 Hrs.
PUBA 670 - Health Systems - 3 Hrs.
Students may select one from the following:
PUBA 620 - Public Financial Management - 3 Hrs.
PUBA 611 - Public Planning - 3 Hrs.
PUBA 645 - Public Administration and Policy Development - 3 Hrs.

Required Hours: 9
Elective Hours: 6

Total Hours to Complete: 42



Environmental Health Science Track

The MPH Track in Environmental Health Sciences focuses on the environmental factors including biological, physical and chemical factors that affect the health of individuals and communities. The coursework aims at describing the environmental processes, understanding their effects on humankind, and aids in the development for assessing the consequences of human health of the environment through development of alternative action and policies. Because of the importance of workplace environmental risks in this region of the US and internationally, advanced coursework includes a substantive evaluation of the work environment.

Environmental Health Track advisors: Dr. Rachel Abraham, Dr. Alan Ducatman, and Dr. Chris Martin

Environmental Health Track Requirements:

Required Core MPH Courses - 27 hours

IENG 561 - Industrial Hygiene (with lab) - 4 Hrs.
PCOL 562 - Occupational Toxicology - 3 Hrs.
Students may choose one of the following:
PUBH 665 - Worksite Evaluation - 2 Hrs.
Or
SAFM 794 - Occupational Injury Prevention - 3 Hrs

Required Hours: 9 or 10
Elective Hours: 5 or 6

Total Hours to Complete: 42



MPH Generalist Track (On-Campus)

The MPH Generalist Track gives students a thorough understanding of public health and application in the core areas of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Health, Health Policy, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The program is designed to provide students with a broad view of public health and to personalize their degree through the completion of 15 credit hours of competency-based electives.

Generalist Track advisors: Dr. Pete Shaffron, Dr. Ian Rockett, and Dr. Turner Goins

Generalist Track (On Campus) Required Core Courses:

CHPR 612 - Social and Behavioral Theory - 3 Hrs.
PUBH 611 - Applied Biostatistics for Health - 3 Hrs.
PUBH 630 - Policy and the Health System - 3 Hrs.
CHPR 634 - Health Promotions Research Methods - 3 Hrs.
PUBH 660 - Public Health Epidemiology - 3 Hrs.
PUBH 687, 688, 689 - Practicum - 8 Hrs.
PUBH 679 - Seminar - 1 Hr.
PUBH 629 - Survey Methods - 3 Hrs
Or
CHPR 634 - Health Promotions Research Methods - 3Hrs.

Required Hours: 27
Elective Hours: 15

Total Hours to Complete: 42



Approved Electives for MPH Students

Electives in Competency-based Groups

MPH Generalist Track

Note:  Those in red are offered online.  Those with * fall into 2 or more categories.

Course Course # Course Course #

Core: Social and Behavioral Theory

Health Promotion Research Methods * CHPR 634 Introduction to Health Promotion CHPR 655
Community Health Assessment & Evaluation * CHPR 638 Grant Writing for Public Health Research * CHPR 642
Community-based Participatory Research in Health PUBH 691 Survey Methods * PUBH 679
Program Evaluation * PUBH 691 Foundations of Wellness CHPR 633
Public Mental Health * PUBH 586 Worksite Evaluation * PUBH 665
Worksite Wellness * PUBH 536 Community Health * CHPR 671
Intervention Design * CHPR 648 Human Sexuality CHPR 507
Health Outcomes Research Methods PUBH 691 Drug Education CHPR 509
Women and Violence* PUBH 620 Issues in Women's Health * PUBH 621
Issues in Men's Health* PUBH 619 Culture and Health * PUBH 693

Core: Health Policy and Management

Core: Biostatistics

Health Systems * PUBA 670 Statistical Methods 2 STAT 512
Health Care Organization and Operations * PUBA 671 Categorical Data Analysis STAT 555
Healthcare Finance PUBA 672 Injury Prevention and Control * CHPR 614
Ethical and Legal Issues in Public Health * PUBH 617    
Injury Prevention and Control CHPR 614

Core: Environmental Health Sciences

Worksite Evaluation * PUBH 665 Medical Aspects of Environmental Health CMED 712
Management for Community & Public Health * CHPR 635 Industrial Hygiene and Lab IENG 561
    Occupational Toxicology PCOL 562

Core: Epidemiology

Worksite Evaluation * PUBH 665
Cardiovascular Epidemiology PUBH 691 Injury Prevention and Control * CHPR 614
Public Mental Health * PUBH 586    
Advanced Epidemiology PUBH 661

Professionalism

Bioinformatics and Personalized Medicine PUBH 691 Prevention through Resilience * PUBH 580
Epigenetics & Systems Biology * PUBH 791A Health-based Leadership * PUBH 680
Introduction to International Public Health * PUBH 605 Grant Writing for Public Health Research * CHPR 642
       

Communication and Informatics

Systems Thinking

Survey Methods * PUBH 679 Management for Comm & Public Health * CHPR 635
Issues in Women's Health * PUBH 621 Health Outcomes Research Methods * PUBH 691
Women and Violence * PUBH 620 Health Systems * PUBA 670
Issues in Men's Health* PUBH 619 Health Care Organization and Operations * PUBA 671
Bioinformatics PUBH 691

Program Planning

    Prevention through Resilience * PUBH 580
    Program Evaluation * PUBH 691

Diversity and Culture

Worksite Wellness * PUBH 536
Ethical and Legal Issues in Public Health * PUBH 617 Intervention Design * CHPR 648
Culture and Health * PUBH 693 Health Promotion Research Methods * CHPR 634
Community-based Participatory Research in Health * PUBH 691 Community Health Assessment & Evaluation * CHPR 638
Introduction to International Public Health * PUBH 605    

Leadership

Public Health Biology

Health-based Leadership * PUBH 680 Epigenetics & Systems Biology * PUBH 791A
Grant Writing for Public Health Research * CHPR 642 Introduction to International Public Health * PUBH 605
Community Health * CHPR 671 Nutrition & Fitness HN&F 610

 

These not placed:

Introduction to Public Health PUBH 601
Independent Study PUBH 695
Certified Health Education Specialist CHPR 613
School Health Concepts CHPR 680