Progression and Probation Policies and Procedures

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The following academic progress and probation policies will be enforced in the MPH program:

  1. Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress and good academic standing. A student is placed on probation if the cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 for any term. After being placed on probation, a student must attain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 within the next two terms or be dismissed from the graduate program.
  2. No more than two grades of C can be earned in any of the MPH courses. A course in which a D was obtained must be repeated to obtain a grade of C or better. Students with more than two grades of C will be terminated from the MPH program.
  3. Student cannot obtain more than six credit hours of course work with a grade of D or F, whether the grade is part of the MPH program or not. Where a student has two or more grades of I outstanding, the student should be reviewed for probationary status. When a student has a grade of D or F, he/she will be put on probation and must repeat the course and obtain a C grade or better.

Program Objectives

Following completion of the Master of Public Health program, the graduates will be able to:

  • Apply knowledge theoretical constructs from related social and behavioral sciences needed to plan and implement acceptable evidence-based intervention strategies for preventive health practices.

  • Demonstrate skills and competencies needed to define the human health effects of exposure to hazardous and toxic substances and to integrate these results with engineering, social, economic and political concerns to reach decisions.

  • Demonstrate educational instructions in the recognition of community health indicators and evaluation of factors in the home and workplace that may cause disease, dysfunction, human suffering and premature death.

  • Demonstrate skills and competencies needed to distinguish the relative effectiveness of different public health interventions utilizing appropriate principles and methods from health, the social and behavioral sciences.

  • Demonstrate skills and capacity to effectively plan, manage, implement, and evaluate health promotion and disease prevention programs as well as advocacy related to behavioral, social, environmental and cultural factors that affect health and health-related behaviors.

  • Apply instructional and research skills in the technical and scientific disciplines that have direct or indirect impact on the prevention of disease and the promotion of health and wellness through the control of environment.

Graduation Requirements

To be awarded an MPH degree, students must successfully complete all academic work by the semester they wish to graduate. Capstone fieldwork experience or a thesis must also be completed. Specific requirements to be fulfilled by the graduating students include:

  1. Academic Performance: Cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a four point scale in all required and elective courses.
  2. Following completion of the core courses, the students will be required to take a comprehensive written (essay) examination to demonstrate competency in MPH education. The passing expectation for the comprehensive examination is a “B” grade. Students will be allowed to retake the examination
    three times and if not successful after the third retake the student will be administratively withdraw from the program.
  3. Practicum: Six credits of field work (practicum) to develop the skills and competencies through service experience in a health profession or health-related organization ---applying concepts and theories learned in the classroom. The practicum will be arranged in two blocks spanning over two semesters and must be successfully completed. Prior to the experience, the practicum coordinator will discuss with each student their career interest, needs and geographic constraints to determine the placement site.
  4. Final Submission of a Thesis: Students on the research option track will submit their thesis to the faculty advisor and a copy must be submitted to the chairperson two weeks before defense date. The student must successfully defend the thesis.
  5. Presentation of Project: Each student must successfully complete their capstone fieldwork experience and thesis and present it at the School of Graduate and Professional Studies Research Forum.
  6. Grade Format: Letter (A-F) grades are awarded in theory courses. “Satisfactory” or “Unsatisfactory” grades are awarded only for the capstone thesis and practicum experiences