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Public Health, M.P.H.

SLU’s nationally ranked Master of Public Health program has a vast alumni network as it is the oldest school of public health in this region. Many public health professionals in the greater St. Louis area who serve as adjunct faculty, provide internships, part-time jobs and post-graduate employment are SLU alumni and community partners.

Saint Louis University's College for Public Health and Social Justice is committed to social justice and the Jesuit mission as the only accredited Catholic, Jesuit school of public health in the nation. Students who graduate from SLU's Master of Public Health program pass the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam at higher rates than the national average.

Program Highlights

Graduate-level public health classes are taught by faculty members who are internationally recognized as leaders in public health research and practice and have diverse research interests. Staff, faculty and students accumulate over 10,000 hours per year partnering with local public health agencies on everything from training staff to providing policy guidance to civic leaders.

In addition to traditional classroom-based learning, students gain experience through applied learning opportunities with community partners.  

STEM OPT-Eligible Options

Behavioral science and health equity, biostatistics and epidemiology concentrations are designated as STEM OPT-3 eligible programs for international students.

Choose from Five Concentrations

Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in a biomedical or social science is preferred, but other majors will certainly be considered. Professional experience in a health-related field is highly valued.

Application Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until classes are full. Apply using the centralized application service SOPHAS

Review Process

All applicants are considered using a holistic application review process, including an in-person, phone or Zoom interview with the graduate admissions director.

Application Requirements

  • Application form and fee
  • Transcript(s)
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Résumé/curriculum vitae
  • Professional goal statement

Apply using the centralized application service SOPHAS.

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students. International students must also meet the following additional requirements:

  • Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
  • Financial documents are required to complete an application for admission and be reviewed for admission and merit scholarships. 
  • Proof of financial support that must include:
    • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the student's time at Saint Louis University
    • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of the student's study at the University
  • Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:
    • Courses taken and/or lectures attended
    • Practical laboratory work
    • The maximum and minimum grades attainable
    • The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations
    • Any honors or degrees received.

WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Tuition

Tuition Cost Per Credit
Graduate Tuition $1,370

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The College for Public Health and Social Justice offers several ways to help finance graduate education.  Opportunities include a limited number of merit-based scholarships and graduate research assistantships.  Awards are made to applicants with the highest combinations of GPAs and test scores who complete their applications by the priority deadlines.

For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.

Accreditation

Saint Louis University's College for Public Health and Social Justice is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). To see our most recent accreditation documentation, please visit the College for Public Health and Social Justice website.

CEPH-Seal

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

  1. Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
  2. 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 and Management to Promote Health

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

Policy in Public Health

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

Leadership

  1. Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making.
  2.  Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community.

Communication

  1. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
  2. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
  3. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.

Interprofessional Practice

  1. Perform effectively on interprofessional teams.

Systems Thinking

  1. Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.
Required Courses
PUBH 5010Mission and Practice of Global Public Health2
PUBH 5020Ethical Issues in Public Health (Students with the HMP or PHP concentrations will take HMP 5390 instead)3
PUBH 5030Methodological Approaches to Understanding Population Health3
PUBH 5040Generating Evidence from Public Health Data3
PUBH 5050Health Care Across the Life Course: From Policy to Practice3
PUBH 5060Environmental and Biological Determinants of Health3
PUBH 5070Translating Evidence and Theory for Community Practice3
PUBH 5910Practice Experience in Public Health1
PUBH 5950Special Study for Examinations0
PUBH 5960Capstone in Public Health Practice3
Concentration18
Choose one:
Total Credits42
 

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Students must earn a B- or better in all required courses. Elective courses may be passed with a C or better. 

Behavioral Science and Health Equity Concentration

BSH 5000Behavioral Science and Public Health3
BSH 5310Health Communication3
BSH 5400Assessment, Intervention Development, and Evaluation I3
BSH 5410Assessment, Intervention Development, and Evaluation II3
Electives6
Total Credits18

Biostatistics Concentration

BST 5020Theory of Biostatistics3
BST 5100Introduction to General Linear Modeling3
BST 5400Applied Data Management3
BST 5450Data Visualization3
Electives6
Total Credits18

Epidemiology Concentration

BST 5100Introduction to General Linear Modeling3
EPI 5020Epidemiology Methods II3
EPI 5230Applied Epidemiology3
EPI 5XXX Elective3
Electives6
Total Credits18

Health Management & Policy Concentration

HMP 5000Health Care Organization3
HMP 5200Health Economics3
HMP 5300Management of Health Care Organizations3
HMP 5390Ethical Leadership in Health Management and Policy (This course is taken instead of PUBH 5020)3
HMP 5500Health Policy3
Electives6
Total Credits18

Public Health Practice Concentration

BSH 5320Public Health Advocacy3
BSH 5400Assessment, Intervention Development, and Evaluation I3
BST 5400Applied Data Management3
HMP 5300Management of Health Care Organizations3
Courses with the "MPH Electives - Public Health Practice" attribute6
Total Credits18

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Behavioral Science and Health Equity Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
BSH 5000 Behavioral Science and Public Health 3
BSH 5400 Assessment, Intervention Development, and Evaluation I (AIDE I) 3
PUBH 5010 Mission and Practice of Global Public Health 2
PUBH 5020 Ethical Issues in Public Health 3
 Credits11
Spring
BSH 5310 Health Communication 3
BSH 5410 Assessment, Intervention Development, and Evaluation II (AIDE II) 3
PUBH 5030 Methodological Approaches to Understanding Population Health 3
PUBH 5040 Generating Evidence from Public Health Data 3
 Credits12
Year Two
Fall
BSHE Elective 3
PUBH 5050 Health Care Across the Life Course: From Policy to Practice 3
PUBH 5060 Environmental and Biological Determinants of Health 3
 Credits9
Spring
PUBH 5950 Special Study for Examinations 0
PUBH 5070 Translating Evidence and Theory for Community Practice 3
PUBH 5960 Capstone in Public Health Practice 3
BSHE Elective 3
 Credits9
Summer
PUBH 5910 Practice Experience in Public Health 1
 Credits1
 Total Credits42

Biostatistics Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
BST 5020 Theory of Biostatistics 3
BST 5100 Introduction to General Linear Modeling 3
PUBH 5010 Mission and Practice of Global Public Health 2
PUBH 5020 Ethical Issues in Public Health 3
 Credits11
Spring
BST 5400 Applied Data Management 3
BST 5450 Data Visualization 3
PUBH 5030 Methodological Approaches to Understanding Population Health 3
PUBH 5040 Generating Evidence from Public Health Data 3
 Credits12
Year Two
Fall
BST Elective 3
PUBH 5050 Health Care Across the Life Course: From Policy to Practice 3
PUBH 5060 Environmental and Biological Determinants of Health 3
PUBH 5070 Translating Evidence and Theory for Community Practice 3
 Credits12
Spring
PUBH 5950 Special Study for Examinations 0
BST Elective 3
PUBH 5960 Capstone in Public Health Practice 3
PUBH 5910 Practice Experience in Public Health 1
 Credits7
 Total Credits42

Epidemiology Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
BST 5100 Introduction to General Linear Modeling 3
EPI 5020 Epidemiology Methods II 3
PUBH 5010 Mission and Practice of Global Public Health 2
PUBH 5020 Ethical Issues in Public Health 3
 Credits11
Spring
EPI 5230 Applied Epidemiology 3
EPI 5XXX Elective 3
PUBH 5030 Methodological Approaches to Understanding Population Health 3
PUBH 5040 Generating Evidence from Public Health Data 3
 Credits12
Year Two
Fall
Epidemiology Elective 3
PUBH 5050 Health Care Across the Life Course: From Policy to Practice 3
PUBH 5060 Environmental and Biological Determinants of Health 3
PUBH 5070 Translating Evidence and Theory for Community Practice 3
 Credits12
Spring
Epidemiology Elective 3
PUBH 5950 Special Study for Examinations 0
PUBH 5960 Capstone in Public Health Practice 3
 Credits6
Summer
PUBH 5910 Practice Experience in Public Health 1
 Credits1
 Total Credits42

Health Management and Policy Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
HMP 5000 Health Care Organization 3
HMP 5300 Management of Health Care Organizations 3
PUBH 5010 Mission and Practice of Global Public Health 2
PUBH 5040 Generating Evidence from Public Health Data 3
 Credits11
Spring
HMP 5200 Health Economics 3
HMP 5500 Health Policy 3
PUBH 5030 Methodological Approaches to Understanding Population Health 3
PUBH 5050 Health Care Across the Life Course: From Policy to Practice 3
 Credits12
Summer
PUBH 5910 Practice Experience in Public Health 1
 Credits1
Year Two
Fall
HMP 5390 Ethical Leadership in Health Management and Policy 3
PUBH 5060 Environmental and Biological Determinants of Health 3
Electives 3
 Credits9
Spring
PUBH 5070 Translating Evidence and Theory for Community Practice 3
Elective 3
PUBH 5960 Capstone in Public Health Practice 3
PUBH 5950 Special Study for Examinations 0
 Credits9
 Total Credits42

Public Health Practice Concentration

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
PUBH 5010 Mission and Practice of Global Public Health 2
HMP 5390 Ethical Leadership in Health Management and Policy 3
BSH 5320 Public Health Advocacy 3
BSH 5400 Assessment, Intervention Development, and Evaluation I 3
 Credits11
Spring
BST 5400 Applied Data Management 3
HMP 5300 Management of Health Care Organizations 3
PUBH 5030 Methodological Approaches to Understanding Population Health 3
PUBH 5040 Generating Evidence from Public Health Data 3
 Credits12
Year Two
Fall
PUBH 5050 Health Care Across the Life Course: From Policy to Practice 3
PUBH 5060 Environmental and Biological Determinants of Health 3
PUBH 5070 Translating Evidence and Theory for Community Practice 3
PHP Elective 3
 Credits12
Spring
PHP Elective 3
PUBH 5960 Capstone in Public Health Practice 3
PUBH 5950 Special Study for Examinations 0
 Credits6
Summer
PUBH 5910 Practice Experience in Public Health 1
 Credits1
 Total Credits42

Apply for Admission

For additional admission questions, please contact:
Bernie Backer
Director of graduate recruitment and admissions 
bernard.backer@slu.edu 
314-977-8144