Public Health

Nichole Quick, M.D., M.P.H., Director of M.P.H. Program; Public Health Practice
https://publichealth.uci.edu/degrees-programs/graduate-programs/master-of-public-health/

The distinctive mission of the UCI M.P.H. program is to create a motivated cadre of public health professionals who are prepared to implement effective strategies for reducing the burden of disease and disability in culturally diverse communities, and who are primed to draw from their broad training in the global dimensions of public health principles to lead and work collaboratively on precise assessments of health-risk factors and on the management of evidence-based prevention strategies.

In addition to meeting all the training requirements in the core competency subjects recommended by the Association of Schools and Programs in Public Health (ASPPH), students enrolled in the UCI M.P.H. program will have the opportunity for in-depth pursuit of one of six concentrations: Biostatistics, Community Health and Health Equity, Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology, Global Health, or Health Systems and Policy. The M.P.H. with concentrations in Community Health and Health Equity, Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology, Global Health, and Health Systems and Policy are 64-unit programs. The M.P.H. with a concentration in Biostatistics is a 63-unit program. A full-time student must enroll in at least 12 units per quarter. Part-time enrollment is also allowed upon approval from the department and UCI Graduate Division. To maintain residency, part-time students must enroll in four to eight units per quarter. All students are required to complete 180 hours of fieldwork at an approved public health practicum site after advancing to candidacy with UCI Graduate Division. The Program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

Further information may be obtained from the Public Health website, by calling 949-824-1374, or by sending an email to phgo@uci.edu.

Admission

The M.P.H. program accepts students for the fall quarter only. Students are encouraged to begin the application process early to facilitate the timely submission of the application. The deadline for receipt of all application materials for the M.P.H. program is December 15. There are no specific course prerequisites needed to enroll, and the program is open to students with bachelor’s degrees in a variety of disciplines. Individuals from diverse cultural, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

To be eligible to apply for the M.P.H. program, applicants must meet certain minimum academic requirements. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited academic institution, have earned a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B average) in undergraduate course work, and possess strong verbal and quantitative skills as reflected by their prior academic record. Evaluations of applicant files for admission to the M.P.H. program will consist of an assessment of transcripts of previous academic work, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and other relevant qualifications. Applicants must choose one of the concentrations at the time of application.

Applicants must submit both the UCI Application for Graduate Admission and the School of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) application to be considered for admission. For more information on admissions, visit the Public Health website or contact phgo@uci.edu.

Requirements

Program Requirements

The M.P.H. with concentrations in Biostatistics, Community Health and Health Equity, Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology, Global Health, or Health Systems and Policy is a degree program usually taken over five to six quarters. Six courses must be taken by all students. In addition, students take at least six additional courses in their concentration and some additional elective courses, with the number of elective units varying depending on the concentration. All courses required for the M.P.H. must be taken for a letter grade (except for the capstone course). Only grades of B or better represent satisfactory scholarship.

Concentration Courses: Upon applying, students choose a concentration for their M.P.H. degree. At least six concentration courses are required for each concentration.

1. Taken at least twice, and students are encouraged to attend the seminars throughout the residence period of their degree program.

Elective List

Students in all M.P.H. Concentrations

Comprehensive Examination - The comprehensive exam for the M.P.H. program is the national Certified In Public Health (CPH) examination administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. The CPH exam covers the areas of knowledge relevant to contemporary public health and general principles. To be eligible to sit for the exam, students must pass the following M.P.H. courses: PUBHLTH 200; PUBHLTH 206A or EPIDEM 200A; PUBHLTH 222A; PUBHLTH 264; PUBHLTH 253; at least one course in the PUBHLTH 291 series, and at least one degree-required statistics course.

Students following one of the recommended two-year study plans are generally eligible to take the comprehensive exam after successfully completing the first year of the program. Students following alternate study plans are advised of appropriate exam completion timelines.

All M.P.H. students are required to pass the comprehensive exam to advance to candidacy for the degree. All graduate students must advance to candidacy at least one quarter prior to the quarter they intend to graduate.

Practicum and Culminating Experience. Students are required to complete a supervised internship of 180 hours while registered in the Graduate Practicum and Culminating Experience in Public Health (PUBHLTH 295). The practicum experience follows the completion of all core competency courses, the comprehensive exam, and advancement to candidacy. A compendium of approved practicum sites is available online to enrolled M.P.H. students. The student’s work at the practicum site culminates with a presentation at the annual MPH Poster Symposium at the end of the Spring quarter.

Integrated Learning Experience. The Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) is the required, summative academic requirement of the MPH program and demonstrates students' ability to synthesize and apply learning across CEPH foundational and concentration-specific competencies. All students complete an ILE integrating at least three competencies, including foundational and concentration-specific competencies. The ILE results in a substantial, practice-oriented written product that reflects integration of coursework, practicum experience, and applied public health skills. Acceptable formats include applied data analyses, program evaluations, policy analyses, grant proposals, and intervention or training plans. Students complete the ILE through a structured, faculty-guided proposal and development process while enrolled in the Graduate Practicum and Culminating Experience in Public Health (PUBHLTH 295A and PUBHLTH 295B).

For students enrolled full-time, the normative time for completion of the M.P.H. degree is six quarters, and the maximum time permitted is nine quarters. For students enrolled part-time, the normative time is nine quarters, and the maximum is 15 quarters. Upon special petition, students admitted with advanced standing due to prior graduate-level training may receive credit for up to one-fifth of the total units required toward the M.P.H. degree. Students must be able to demonstrate competency associated with those courses. Such credits are not applicable to the graduate practicum and graduate seminar.

Law and Graduate Studies

Program in Law and Graduate Studies (J.D./Ph.D./M.P.H.)

Highly qualified students interested in combining the study of law with graduate qualifications in Public Health are invited to undertake concurrent degree study under the auspices of UC Irvine's Program in Law and Graduate Studies (PLGS). Students in this program pursue a coordinated curriculum leading to a J.D. from the School of Law in conjunction with a Master's or Ph.D. in Public Health.

Additional information is available from the PLGS Program Director's Office at 949-824-4158, or by email at plgs@law.uci.edu. A full description of the program, with links to all relevant application information, can be found in the Law School section of the Catalogue.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the UC Irvine M.P.H. program will find employment in both public and private agencies committed to preventing disease and promoting health and wellness in all aspects of society. Earning a graduate degree gives new professionals a competitive edge over students who complete their education at the bachelor’s degree level. In particular, the curriculum of the M.P.H. degree at UCI is designed to create students who can combine knowledge of the core disciplines in public health with leadership, communication, and problem-solving inter-professional skills to meet the needs of culturally diverse communities locally and globally. Earning an M.P.H. will allow graduates to pursue supervisory positions and career advancement opportunities that may be unattainable without an advanced degree. Students may also wish to combine an M.P.H. with a medical or law degree to increase opportunities for employment.

Coursework and practicum experiences in the M.P.H. program can also prepare a student to pursue doctoral programs in public health. The Ph.D. is a research-based degree that prepares the candidate for research and teaching positions in institutions of higher education. The Dr.P.H. is a professional degree that prepares candidates for careers as practitioners in high-level administration or teaching. UC Irvine Wen Public Health offers a Ph.D. in Public Health, a Ph.D. in Epidemiology, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences, and a Ph.D. in Health, Society, and Behavior. More information about careers and graduate school in public health can be obtained through the ASPPH and the Council on Education for Public Health.