Three MCPHS students in a classroom looking at a laptop.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Location: Boston, Online | Start Term: Fall, Spring, Summer

Advance your knowledge of public health practice, policy, and research to employ evidence-based strategies to address complex challenges.

Improve the Health of Communities Around the World

Learn to design, implement, and lead public health programs and interventions with a Master of Public Health (MPH). This is a flexible and customizable program with options to study full-time or part-time, in-person or online. Students will build knowledge and skills to address complex public health challenges through data, research, policy, community engagement, and evidence-based practice. Complete a Public Health Practice Experience at a professional organization of your choice to prepare to work across public health disciplines.

An Academic Home for Aspiring Health Leaders

The MCPHS Community shares a vision to make the world a healthier, more equitable place. This program provides the support, resources, and education to make that vision a reality.

1:1

Faculty Mentorship

Build close relationships with our expert faculty members to guide your studies and help prepare for career success.

95%+

Employment Rate

Most MPH graduates are employed or pursuing advanced education.

2

Years of OPT

The in-person MPH program on the Boston campus is STEM-Designated, qualifying international students for additional training in the U.S.

Experience the MPH Program

Hear from students, faculty, and alumni about how the Master of Public Health (MPH) program provides the opportunities to build expertise and succeed in the workforce.

An Applied, Practice-Focused Program

In this program, you’ll explore public health disciplines, research methods, and modern data and visualization tools, including AI, to support decision-making. You’ll also complete a Public Health Practice Experience, applying your knowledge in a professional setting.

A Flexible and Accessible Degree

Earn a master’s degree in a way that fits your schedule. Choose to study on a full-time or part-time schedule. This program is also offered in-person in Boston or online. Contact your Admissions counselor to learn more and explore your options.

Career Outcomes: MPH Alumni Making Their Mark

Graduates from our master’s program are working across all public health disciplines, including government, non-profit, academia, healthcare, and industry.
  • Epidemiologist

    Boston Public Health Commission

  • Senior Analyst

    Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security

  • Clinical Trial Associate

    Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

  • Senior Program Manager, Emergency Preparedness

    Mass General Brigham

  • Assistant Professor of Health Sciences

    MCPHS

  • Associate Studio Manager

    Boston Congress of Public Health

  • Public Health Inspector

    Town of Reading

  • Health Management Consultant

    Blue Cross/Blue Shield

  • Public Health Specialist

    Florida Department of Health in Orlando County

Additional Program Information

Tuition is calculated at a cost-per-credit rate based on the program you choose and the number of credits for which you register. Learn more about tuition and fees.

The Master of Public Health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and public health programs outside schools of public health.

Foundational Competencies

Evidence-Based Approaches to Public Health

  • Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice
  • Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context
  • Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate
  • Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice

Public Health & Health Care Systems

  • Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings
  • Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels

Planning & Management to Promote Health

  • Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities' health
  • Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs
  • Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention
  • Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
  • Select methods to evaluate public health programs

Policy in Public Health

  • Discuss the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
  • Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
  • Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
  • Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity

Leadership

  • Apply leadership and/or management principles to address a relevant issue
  • Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges

Communication

  • Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
  • Communicate audience-appropriate (i.e., non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
  • Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content

Interprofessional Practice

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

Systems Thinking

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

Community Health Competencies

  • Apply theories, concepts, models, and frameworks of health education, health promotion, and health literacy to address a public health problem, considering the cultural values, beliefs, and traditions of a community
  • Demonstrate risk assessment and risk communication approaches in managing occupational and environmental exposures
  • Assess human and ecological effects of environmental agents and climate change, based on: (1) factors in the physical environment, (2) factors in the social environment, and (3) issues of environmental justice and equity
  • Use the principles of community-based participatory research to develop a strategy to learn about community-identified issues, build equitable partnerships, and formalize a process to apply research to both practice and policy
  • Prepare a funding proposal that demonstrates knowledge of funding sources, measurable goals and objectives, and budgets
Carly Levy

What is Public Health?

The public health field is vast. In this episode of the MCPHS podcast, The Secret to Living to 200, Dr. Carly Levy, Associate Professor of Public Health, discusses examples of public health in action, threats to society, and how anyone can improve the health of their community.
Carly Levy
Two students talking in front of a laptop.

Begin Your Journey with a Graduate Certificate

For an introduction to public health without the commitment of a degree program, consider starting with our Graduate Certificate of Public Health. This 12-credit, online program explores the foundations of public health. Credits earned can later be applied to the Master of Public Health (MPH) program.

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