Purdue University Online Master of Public Health - Family and Community Health Concentration

Purdue University offers an online Master of Public Health (MPH) program with a concentration in Family and Community Health through the College of Health and Human Sciences. Coursework is primarily online, with no campus visits required. MPH students complete a work experience practicum and a culminating project.

The MPH curriculum covers epidemiological methods in public health, disease trends, health informatics, biostatistics, and computer programming. Students learn to analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative data to identify and create public health solutions.

The Family and Community Health concentration addresses the health needs of diverse groups and communities and the existing health disparities, examining these through a biological, ethical, social, legal, and cultural perspective. Students study family and community health topics such as healthcare communication, international health systems, public health nutrition and programs, public health policies, health promotion and disease prevention, and caregiving in the family context.

The online Master of Public Health program comprises 42 credits and includes a 200-hour practicum, which can be tailored to the career aspirations of the individual student. The online coursework takes approximately two years to complete. Sequentially, students complete the practicum and the culminating project, which includes experiential learning in developing grants for nonprofit organizations. Students partner with a local organization to meet a need through a grant proposal. One-on-one faculty mentor support is provided during the culminating project, and students finish the course having created written and oral presentations.

Graduates may be prepared to take the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam through the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE). Career pursuits may include biostatistics, emergency management, environmental science, epidemiology, environmental science, medical and health services, and health education.

Core MPH courses include Theoretical Foundations of Health Behavior; Fundamentals of Epidemiology; Introduction to Quantitative Methods of Public Health; Introduction to Environmental Health; Public Health Administration; and Design and Analysis of Public Health Interventions. Family and Community Health courses include Healthcare Communication; International Health Systems: A Comparative Approach; Public Health Program and Policy Evaluation; Families and Health; and Public Health Nutrition. Experiential courses include Public Health Practicum and Culminating Experience.

Purdue University is regionally accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The online MPH is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).