Courses of study leading to the master of public health (MPH) are designed to provide individuals with a broad background for professional practice in the field of public health at state, national and international levels.

The Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS) currently offers the MPH degree specializing in epidemiology, health policy and management, Native Hawaiian and Indigenous health, and social and behavioral health sciences. A brief overview of the MPH degree requirements is provided below. For detailed information, please refer to the OPHS Student Handbook.

Credit Hour Requirements
The required number of credits for completion of the MPH degree (Non-Thesis) is 42. A minimum of 18 credits must be earned in courses numbered 600-798, including at least one graduate seminar in public health or a related field. No more than 9 credits of PH 699 (directed reading/research) may be applied to meet degree requirements.

Interprofessional Education
All MPH students are responsible for meeting the CEPH competency related to interprofessional education, which will be met by having all MPH students involved in three interprofessional activities using a “portfolio” strategy. See the OPHS Student Handbook for details.

Capstone Experience
The student’s public health knowledge, attitude and skills are evaluated based on the completion of key public health competencies. These competencies are taught and learned throughout the coursework and other activities of the MPH program. The culminating experience for MPH students consists of three capstone components: the practicum, the final paper, and the final oral examination. 

Practicum Overview
The practicum is a planned, approved, supervised and evaluated practical experience and one of the distinguishing features of the MPH curriculum. The purpose of the practicum is to provide students with the opportunity to apply academic knowledge in partnership with community organizations and other agencies, to learn practical skills in a public health-related setting, and to develop problem-solving skills in a supervised practicum experience. All practicum placements must be approved with signatures in advance by the student’s program committee, practicum preceptor, and OPHS Field Education Coordinator in order to receive credit for the practicum experience.

Final Paper and Oral Examination
An MPH degree candidate is required to complete a final scholarly paper and oral examination. The final oral presentation should demonstrate a summary of the final paper and the student’s understanding of his/her major area of emphasis as well as the scope and nature of the field of public health.