Emphasis areas
The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is a 45-credit-hour program. You will select from one of two emphasis areas: Health Promotion and Policy or Veterinary Public Health.
Health Promotion and Policy
Combine a thorough knowledge of behavior change theory and program planning and evaluation with valuable knowledge of how policy decisions are influenced and made. This program may be completed in person or online.
Veterinary Public Health
Obtain training in zoonotic disease prevention, food safety and other emerging issues in animal and human health. This program is the first fully online program of its kind in the United States.
Internships
Each MPH student is required to complete a 150-hour internship in a public health agency under the supervision of an experienced public health professional. Internship opportunities arise from networking with faculty, other students, and community partners. During an internship, each student works under the supervision of a qualified preceptor and is engaged in a concrete and challenging public health project.
Below is a sampling of the places where current and former Master of Public Health students have found internships.
- The Office of Medicaid and Medicare in Washington, DC
- The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
- The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services
- The Institute for Advanced Policy Solutions at Emory University, Atlanta, GA
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Jefferson City, MO
- The City of Detroit Health Department, Detroit, MI
- University of Missouri Hospitals and Clinics
- The MU Sexual Health Advocate Peer Education (SHAPE) program
Many MPH students choose to fulfill their requirement in an international setting.
Global health experiences provide an exciting opportunity for you to impact positive change in public health around the world. You’ll learn to view complex social issues from multiple viewpoints, communicate effectively and respectively across cultures, and develop an understanding of the international components of health.
Students interested in international internships can either seek out their own opportunities (pending program approval) or work with the program to identify an international internship in global public health.
Recent international internships
- Conducted a community needs assessment using Photovoice in Guatemala
- Implemented a series of health education and promotion activities in Bolivia
- Worked with a health promotion and environmental sanitation NGO in Ghana
- Studied the health implications of the human-camel interaction in Kenya
Study abroad
The MPH program regularly offers study abroad opportunities for students. Our faculty-led study abroad opportunities typically take place during a two-week period in the summer semester. Recent study abroad sites include Greece and South Africa.
Peace Corps/Coverdell fellowship
The Coverdell Fellows program provides graduate students who are returned Peace Corps volunteers an opportunity to utilize and build upon their overseas experience.
Advising
Upon admission to one of our graduate public health programs, you will be assigned an academic advisor based on your program of study. You will receive information about your adviser when you receive your admissions decision from the department.
You will need to work with your academic advisor to complete multiple items. First, check out a sample plan of study.
Work with your advisor to approve and file a plan of study for completing your graduate coursework. You will also need to get permissions to enroll in public health coursework. You should check in with your advisor before the beginning of each semester if you have any changes to your plan of study or if you have any questions about enrolling in the upcoming semester. The best way to contact your advisor is to email them, include your 8-digit MU student number, and include the courses you are interested in registering for.
If you are in the Master of Public Health program or in a graduate certification program, your academic advisor is Graham Greer.
Admission and application
Find important deadlines, admissions criteria and application instructions.