Master of Public Health (MPH) Graduate Program

All MPH students, regardless of concentration, will complete six core courses during their program. These courses cover the five traditional areas of public health as well as a course on interventions. The interventions course provides students with the opportunity to apply knowledge/skills gained in the classroom in a real-world setting. Course descriptions of the six core courses are below.

PUBH 60100 (INTRO TO QUANTITATIVE METHODS OF PUBLIC HEALTH)

Acquaints students with the basic concepts and methods of statistics, the applications and their interpretation as used in public health. Students learn basic terminology and its meaning, how to calculate various statistical measures and indices, how to quantify health relationships and how to compute and interpret inferential statistical techniques. Students will acquire the ability to utilize statistical software as a tool to facilitate the processing, editing, storing, displaying, analysis and interpretation of health research-related data.

PUBH 60200 (THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HEALTH BEHAVIOR)

Examines the theoretical foundations of health behavior. Emphasizes the development of a conceptual framework for understanding and facilitating behavior enhancement, elimination and/or maintenance in health promotion and education. Focuses on current theories regarding health-related behaviors.

HSCI 54700 (FUNDAMENTALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY)

This course is an introduction to epidemiology, which is the study of the patterns, causes and impact of disease in populations. Epidemiology is increasingly important for public health and clinical medicine research and policy. This course will discuss the basic principles and methods of epidemiology, including measurements of disease occurrence and association, study designs and determination of causality. Contemporary examples will be used to illustrate the application of these concepts, with an emphasis on environmental causes of disease.

PUBH 60400 (PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION)

An introduction to the principals of management as applied to public health organizations, particularly local health departments. Topics include the organization of the U.S. public health system, legal and ethical obligations of public health administrators, the public health workforce and human resource issues, public health budgeting and finance, and leadership in the public health agency. The course is designed to introduce master’s level students in public health to the management skills necessary to successfully implement a public health program.

PUBH 60600 (DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC HEALTH INTERVENTIONS)

Professional competencies in design, implementation, evaluation and diffusion of health interventions in community settings. Program planning paradigms, determinants of health behavior and behavior change strategies serve as a basis for analyzing health interventions. In this hands-on course, students work with a community partner to develop and implement a strategy for addressing a health concern within their population.

HSCI 57500 (INTRODUCTION IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH)

An introduction to chemical, physical and biological factors in the environment that affect the health of the community. This course examines health issues, scientific understanding of causes and approaches to the control of major environmental health problems in industrialized and developed countries.

All Master of Public Health (MPH) students complete six credits of experiential learning. This includes a three-credit practicum course and a three-credit culminating experience. The practicum is designed as a 200-hour internship where you will gain hands-on experience in a community setting under the mentorship of an organization. You will receive guidance on selecting a practicum site that best aligns with your career goals and interests. The culminating experience is the MPH capstone experience. Through this course, you will work independently under the mentorship of a faculty member to develop a solution to a community problem.

Description 

All Master of Public Health (MPH) students are required to complete a 200-hour internship experience worth three credits. You will register for PUBH 60700 (Public Health Practicum) after completion of all six core courses and pre-practicum paperwork with an approved agency. The internship experience enhances your networking and job opportunities while also allowing you to grow your skills in a practical setting. 

Students complete a master’s level project to show mastery of selected program competencies, individual career goals and practicum site needs. The practicum is often completed during the summer between the first and second year of the program or when it best fits with a student’s plan of study.

Placements 

You will complete your internship experience in a variety of locations — local health departments, healthcare settings, global organizations, environmental protection agencies, nonprofits and private organizations. Due to Purdue’s global presence, we are equipped to help you develop international or domestic experiences.

The department provides faculty and staff support for finding the right placement for your career interests. This is done through a professional development seminar, internship fairs, networking sessions, alumni connections and established community partnerships. 

Examples of Previous Placements and Projects

Amador County Public Health Department	Community-based education presentations for youth on e-cigarette use and impact on oral health
Penn Medicine — Pennsylvania Hospital	Development of a postpartum diabetes prevention program for women with a recent history of gestational diabetes delivering at Penn Medicine’s Pennsylvania Hospital
Columbus Regional Hospital: Healthy Communities Initiative	“Active Communities” analysis to identify barriers to participation rates in school and community events among specific populations in Bartholomew County
NAMI West Central Indiana	Analyzing of NAMI programs for financial and program effectiveness
Saint Joseph Health Systems	Community health needs assessment
Purdue Polytechnic High School Broad Ripple	“Reproductive Health for Black Women” presentation tailored to high school students’ knowledge levels
Haikou Centers for Disease Control and Prevention	Eat Well: A Community Health Initiative — promoting healthy dietary habits, including reducing added salt, sugar and oil intake, to prevent non-communicable diseases.
Universidad Central Del Ecuador — Faculty of Disability Sciences, Prehospital Care and Disasters	“Building Community Health Literacy (Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices) and Engagement for Disease Prevention in Quito-Ecuador” project to improve community health literacy and active engagement in preventive healthcare practices, with a focus on chronic disease prevention in Ecuador.
Steuben County Health Department	Evaluation of the Steuben County Health Department vaccination program, using the Logic Model to improve vaccination adherence by engaging young pregnant women (considered to be high risk pregnancies) and adequately address barriers such as fears, culture, faith and concerns on the safety of vaccines.
Center for Rural and Migrant Health, Purdue University	Development of two separate community health worker training modules that covers prediabetes and colorectal cancer
Caterpillar	Evaluation of new hire orientation programs at Caterpillar Large Power Systems Division facilities
Franciscan Health Community Education Center	Development of educational materials for Franciscan Project Swaddle (PS) and Prenatal Assistance Program (PAP)
SPIRITT Family Services	Evaluation of Relative Support Service Demonstration Project Program

Description 

This is a zero-credit seminar that meets monthly each semester. The seminar is designed to meet the professional development needs of MPH students. You will be trained in networking techniques and receive career mentorship from community leaders, alumni and faculty. In addition, you will review best practices for building a professional portfolio and managing the interview and negotiation phases of the career search. The seminar includes community and alumni panels as well as other events that aid in internship and job placements.  

Career Support Resources 

Center for Career Opportunities 

Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Professional Development 

MPH students gain mastery of required competencies through faculty-instructed courses, hands-on engagement with community-partners, and a culminating project. Because Purdue’s MPH program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), we ensure training on all core competencies in addition to five concentration competencies developed by Purdue faculty.

Core Competencies

Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health

1. Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.

2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.

3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.

4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.

Public Health and Health Care Systems

5. Compare the organization, structure and function of healthcare, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.

6. Discuss how 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 Health

7. Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect the health of communities.

8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.

9. Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.

10. Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management. 11.  Select methods to evaluate public health programs.

Policy in Public Health

12.  Discuss multiple dimensions of the policymaking process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.

13.  Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.

14.  Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.

15.  Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.

Leadership

16.  Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision-making.

17.  Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.

Communication

18.  Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.

19.  Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.

20.  Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.

Inter-professional Practice

21.  Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health.

Systems Thinking

22.  Apply a systems-thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than a standard narrative.

Concentration Competencies

Family and Community Health

1. Critically evaluate the social determinants of health and how they affect families and communities.

2. Evaluate health programs and policies through the application of appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods, models, theories and best practices.

3. Prioritize community needs, concerns and resources when addressing family and community health issues.

4. Critically evaluate the factors that create, perpetuate and ultimately eliminate health disparities.

5. Demonstrate communication skills and strategies for promotion of family and community health.

Biostatistics

1. Demonstrate the ability to properly design variables, validate, manipulate, store and maintain public health data sets.

2. Demonstrate mastery of at least one statistical software package commonly used to assess public health issues.

3. Select and apply the most appropriate statistical approaches to address public health issues.

4. Evaluate the limitations of statistical evidence (e.g., validity, reliability, sample size, bias, generalizability).

5. Communicate data and quantitative information to professionals and the public using a variety of approaches.

Purdue’s Department of Public Health knows that to create meaningful change, communities need professionals skilled in data analysis and disease investigation. Advances in data acquisition and storage have led to the availability of vast quantities of data. This data can provide the basis for sound decision-making and policy development, but this requires knowledge in the theory and practice of statistical analyses. Further, there is an increasing demand for professionals equipped to manage and interpret large databases and to advance information technology. 

In addition to supporting a Statistical Bioinformatics Center, Purdue faculty contribute expertise to projects at many centers on campus, including the Bindley Bioscience Center, the Center for the Environment, the Discovery Learning Research Center, the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering and the Center for Rural and Migrant Health. Such venues provide strong training opportunities in applied statistical decision-making to promote population health.

You can choose to pursue the family and community health or the biostatistics concentration in your second year. Fifteen credits are chosen from an approved list. All students pursuing training in statistics will complete four required courses. These courses provide advanced training in the areas of regression, statistical programming and data management, evaluation techniques, and randomized trials. You will complete your concentration training through faculty-led research or by choosing from an approved selectives list that includes additional training options in geographic information systems, epidemiology and statistics.  

Careers

Graduates with this specialization have received advanced training in program evaluation, experimental design, epidemiological investigation and statistical methods for enhancement and development of impactful population-based interventions. Alumni engage in careers that allow them to impact community health initiatives and policy through data-driven decision-making. Many graduates take on roles as epidemiologists within government settings, data analysts in the private sector and clinical research directors in pharmaceutical companies. Graduates of this area also pursue higher education in a plethora of health fields or continue onto doctoral training. The MPH degree is an excellent complimentary degree to medical school or other professional degree programs and can enhance your application to these competitive options.

Examples of Concentration Courses

ASM 54000 (GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM APPLICATION)

Fundamentals of GIS analysis applied to environmental, agricultural and engineering-related problems. Topics include data sources, spatial analysis; projections; creating data and metadata, and conceptualizing and solving spatial problems using GIS.

PUBH 52600 (RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIALS IN PUBLIC HEALTH)

Randomized trials provide solid evidence on whether interventions and programs “work” to improve health outcomes. In this course, students will learn how to design a randomized study, handle practical issues that arise in data collection, analyze data using appropriate methods and good statistical practice, identify limitations to statistical evidence and interpret and communicate findings in an audience-appropriate way. This is a hands-on course in which students will work with data and build skills using SAS statistical software in preparation for careers as biostatisticians, data scientists and researchers.

PUBH 59000 (APPLIED REGRESSION)

This course has two primary goals:

1. Provide students with foundational knowledge related to regression statistical analyses

2. Provide students with the opportunity to practice writing, interpreting and presenting regression analyses for the purposes of dissemination

PUBH 59000 (INTERMEDIATE STATISTICAL METHODS FOR HEALTH SCIENCE)

This course will introduce students to a range of statistical methods used in the health sciences from a statistical learning and data science perspective.  Topics will include advanced regression methods, classification and categorical data analysis, resampling (e.g., cross-validation, bootstrap, permutation testing), and unsupervised multivariate methods (e.g., principal components analysis, clustering)

NUR 69200 (APPLIED STATISTICS IN HEALTHCARE RESEARCH)

This course advances knowledge and skills in statistical approaches for analyzing complex healthcare data. It focuses on statistical analysis in contexts such as evidence-based practice, quality improvement, evaluation and behavioral and population health. Topics include probability and descriptive statistics, nonparametric statistics, risk and odds ratios, sensitivity and specificity, logistic and multinomial regression, multiple linear regression, general linear models, survival and time-to-event analysis, and mixed effect modeling. The course will provide hands-on experience in statistical analysis of healthcare data. Prerequisites: Introductory course in statistics or biostatistics at the advanced undergraduate or graduate level.

STAT 50600 (STATISTICAL PROGRAMMING AND DATA MANAGEMENT)

Use of the SAS software system for managing statistical data. How to write programs to access, explore, prepare and analyze data. Using the DATA step and procedures to access, transform and summarize data. Introduction to the SAS macro language. Prepares students for the base SAS certification exam.

Epidemiology is a cornerstone of public health, involving the scientific study of the distribution of disease and determinants of health in populations. It provides the evidence base for informed policy decisions, effective health interventions, and targeted strategies to enhance population health. With growing global recognition of pressing health challenges, epidemiology plays a vital role in examining a broad spectrum of health outcomes—from chronic and infectious diseases to mental health, injury, and violence—as well as investigating a diverse set of health determinants, with increasing emphasis on social and structural factors across diverse communities and contexts.

This concentration is designed to produce graduates capable of filling epidemiological roles in local to global settings. You will gain a solid foundation in study design, data analysis, surveillance, and critical thinking, with a strong emphasis on understanding the role of social determinants of health on the spread of infectious and chronic diseases across populations.  

You will complete 16 credits of concentration coursework that are a mixture of 13 required credits and three selective credits. Many students opt into epidemiological research for their selective while others choose a course from our many options.  

Careers

Graduates with this specialization are qualified for epidemiology positions within local, state, and federal positions as well as working within private and non-profit research entities. Epidemiologists conduct public health surveillance of infectious disease spread across populations and investigate outbreaks. Epidemiologists from our program also take on a variety of roles examining the causes of the opioid epidemic, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions.

Examples of Concentration Courses

PUBH 52600 (RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIALS IN PUBLIC HEALTH)

Randomized trials provide solid evidence on whether interventions and programs “work” to improve health outcomes. In this course, students will learn how to design a randomized study, handle practical issues that arise in data collection, analyze data using appropriate methods and good statistical practice, identify limitations to statistical evidence and interpret and communicate findings in an audience-appropriate way. This is a hands-on course in which students will work with data and build skills using SAS statistical software in preparation for careers as biostatisticians, data scientists and researchers.

PUBH 59000 (APPLIED REGRESSION)

This course has two primary goals:

1. Provide students with foundational knowledge related to regression statistical analyses

2. Provide students with the opportunity to practice writing, interpreting and presenting regression analyses for the purposes of dissemination

PUBH 59000 (PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE)

Surveillance is a vital public health tool and a crucial source of health information. It involves the “continuous, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health-related data needed for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice” (WHO). This course will introduce students to the processes and procedures used to monitor communicable and chronic diseases utilizing national, local, and state-specific examples. There will also be a special focus on global disease monitoring, challenges faced in resource-limited settings, and during and post-disaster surveillance

PUBH 59000 (SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL EPIDEMIOLOGY)

Social and behavioral epidemiology explores how social factors and individual behaviors influence health and outcomes in populations. This course will prepare students to understand the contribution of social and behavioral factors to disease etiology, course, and the distribution of states of health in populations. We will review the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of social epidemiology and the influence of social context on behavior. Students will learn how the social determinants of health influence behavior by shaping norms, reinforcing social control, and providing environmental opportunity and coping strategies. The course will examine health disparities, the social gradient in health, and the impact of behaviors (e.g. smoking or diet) on disease development. They will understand how interventions and policies can promote health equity, address social determinants of health, and modify risk behaviors to improve population health.

CPB 62600 (DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES)

This course will provide students with hands-on training on the analysis of the data derived from epidemiologic studies using contingency table analysis, logistic regression, Poisson/negative binomial regression, and survival analysis. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of integrating causal thinking in study design, data analysis, and result interpretation. Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to define the key feature for different epidemiologic study designs, analyze data using the introduced statistical methods, and interpret results by critically appraising effect size, precision, bias, confounding, and effect modification.

PUBH 54500 (HEALTHCARE POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION)

This course will provide the opportunity to examine and analyze the financing, organization and delivery of health care in the U.S. and how these core elements are shaped and influenced by health care policy and decision-making. Additionally, we will examine the landmark health care reform, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010 and legislation since it’s passing to study the transformation of healthcare to present time.

PUBH 50100 (INTRO TO HEALTH EQUITY)

This course introduces the participants to graduate level research in health disparities and the various theoretical and analytical skills needed to be a good health disparities researcher. It will take course participants through the axiological, ontological and epistemological questions that we are confronted with in social scientific research. This course will walk the participants through the various research paradigms and the critical debates associated with it so that they can reflect and possibly make an informed choice about their own research priorities. Permission of department required. 

NUTR 54100 (FOOD POLICY)

We will explore the nature of contemporary United States food policy and key events throughout history that have shaped what it is today. We will investigate and discuss the roles individuals, corporations and federal, state and other government agencies play in creating food policy, and how these stakeholders as well as complex sociological and economic factors influence the way Americans eat. These questions will lead us to consider the future of food and food policy in the United States. Can Americans develop food policy that supports the agricultural economy AND promotes the consumption of healthy foods? Could our agricultural system support this? We will learn about and explore these questions with class discussions, debate, research, guest lectures, relevant documentary films and thought-provoking readings that present a variety of viewpoints. You will explore current, real-life problems and have an opportunity to develop potential solutions. The course culminates in an optional trip to Washington, D.C., to present white papers to policymakers.

PUBH 59000 (QUALITATIVE METHODS)

The PUBH 59000 (Qualitative Methods) course aims to provide students with an understanding of qualitative research approaches. It will explore the theories that underpin qualitative research designs to consider which qualitative methodologies are appropriate for the research and cover the basic techniques for collecting, interpreting and analyzing qualitative data.

In Purdue’s persistent pursuit of a healthier world, we are driven to train transformative public health leaders capable of creating extraordinary teams for system-wide solutions to our most pressing public health issues. Racial and economic disparities are challenging governments, health systems, schools and other institutions that serve our communities. These changes and the challenges they entail present opportunities to address important population health issues. Pursuing the family and community health concentration will allow you to gain an understanding of the dynamics of these institutions and settings, approaches to assess them, methods to promote health, and skills to evaluate programs.

This concentration is designed to produce graduates capable of filling a variety of health positions in local to global settings. You will be prepared for these roles through specialized training in program evaluation, health communication and the social determinants of health. You will delve into discussions on factors that perpetuate health disparities and the innovative approaches to dismantling those barriers.

You will complete 15 credits of concentration coursework that are a mixture of 12 required credits and three selective credits. Many students opt into research for their selective while others choose a course from our many options.  

Careers

Graduates with this specialization often fulfill career positions that allow them to direct community health initiatives, manage health coalitions, design widespread campaigns for the improvement of health outcomes as well as work in health advocacy and policy. Graduates of this area also pursue higher education in a plethora of health related fields or continue on to doctoral training. The Family and Community Health concentration is an excellent option for students applying to medical school or other professional degree programs as they are exposed to advanced coursework focused on complex U,S, healthcare system.

Examples of Concentration Courses

COM 57600 (HEALTH COMMUNICATION)

Survey of health communication theory and research. Examines issues such as patient-provider and everyday communication, broader community-societal discourse and organizational and mass health communication. Prepares participants for subsequent more specialized seminars and enriched study in allied specialties.

PUBH 54700 (PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM AND POLICY EVALUATION)

This course provides an overview of the methods required to evaluate the effectiveness of public health intervention or prevention programs and policies. The course introduces a range of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research designs, and the process for applying and tailoring these designs to program and policy evaluations. In addition, we will focus on the process of engaging communities and stakeholders in program evaluation efforts.

PUBH 59000 (HEALTH COUNSELING)

This is a skills-based course focused on various counseling techniques for use in various health contexts. This graduate public health course examines methods used by public health professionals to effectively facilitate healthy behavior change in individuals and selected populations. Among the topics presented in this course are health risk appraisal, effective communication techniques, behavioral monitoring and change assessment. Students will examine contemporary research and case studies using motivational interviewing and cognitive behavior interventions

PUBH 51100 (FOUNDATIONS OF GLOBAL HEALTH)

Global disparities in the health and wellbeing of diverse populations, across and within borders, have never been greater. Profound and rapid changes in demographics, from population growth to urbanization, along with unprecedented shifts in patterns of disease and risks, are coupled with game-changing advances in knowledge, technology and innovation. This course will introduce students to current challenges and efforts at solutions in global health, within a focus on low- and middle-income countries. It will provide an interdisciplinary overview of topics that include measures of health and disease, communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, women’s health, maternal and child health, food systems and nutrition, health systems and health care delivery. In addition to lectures, the course will include interactive discussions of case studies and specific country examples, aimed at immersing students in debates and challenges facing global health leaders and decision makers.

PUBH 54500 (HEALTHCARE POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION)

This course will provide the opportunity to examine and analyze the financing, organization and delivery of health care in the U.S. and how these core elements are shaped and influenced by health care policy and decision-making. Additionally, we will examine the landmark health care reform, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010 and legislation since it’s passing to study the transformation of healthcare to present time.

PUBH 50100 (INTRO TO HEALTH EQUITY)

This course introduces the participants to graduate level research in health disparities and the various theoretical and analytical skills needed to be a good health disparities researcher. It will take course participants through the axiological, ontological and epistemological questions that we are confronted with in social scientific research. This course will walk the participants through the various research paradigms and the critical debates associated with it so that they can reflect and possibly make an informed choice about their own research priorities. Permission of department required. 

NUTR 54100 (FOOD POLICY)

We will explore the nature of contemporary United States food policy and key events throughout history that have shaped what it is today. We will investigate and discuss the roles individuals, corporations and federal, state and other government agencies play in creating food policy, and how these stakeholders as well as complex sociological and economic factors influence the way Americans eat. These questions will lead us to consider the future of food and food policy in the United States. Can Americans develop food policy that supports the agricultural economy AND promotes the consumption of healthy foods? Could our agricultural system support this? We will learn about and explore these questions with class discussions, debate, research, guest lectures, relevant documentary films and thought-provoking readings that present a variety of viewpoints. You will explore current, real-life problems and have an opportunity to develop potential solutions. The course culminates in an optional trip to Washington, D.C., to present white papers to policymakers.

PUBH 59000 (QUALITATIVE METHODS)

The PUBH 59000 (Qualitative Methods) course aims to provide students with an understanding of qualitative research approaches. It will explore the theories that underpin qualitative research designs to consider which qualitative methodologies are appropriate for the research and cover the basic techniques for collecting, interpreting and analyzing qualitative data.