In 2007, MU’s master’s in public health (MPH) program was established, initially structured as an interdisciplinary graduate program that drew on faculty from multiple colleges and departments. In 2010, the program first received CEPH accreditation. In 2017, the Bachelor of Health Science in Public Health (BHS-PH) degree was formed. In 2019, the Department of Public Health was created to serve as the home for the BHS-PH and MPH degrees.

Today, our programs continue to engage faculty from across campus, and the MU College of Veterinary Medicine remains a close collaborator on the MPH veterinary public health concentration. The Department of Public Health resides within the College of Health Sciences alongside seven other departments/schools: Social Work; Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences; Health Psychology; Health Sciences; Occupational Therapy; and Physical Therapy.

From infant health and safety to the concerns of a rapidly aging population, public health issues are among the most immediate, relevant and growing throughout the world. International travel and commerce, climate change, antibiotic resistance and even geopolitical threats such as terrorism are on the radar of public health professionals no matter where they live. A degree in public health allows you to make a real and lasting impact on the world around you.