Master of Public Health

Program Directors

Keisha T. Robinson, YSU Program Coordinator
1080 Cushwa Hall
(330) 941-1901
ktrobinson@ysu.edu

Amy Lee, CEOMPH Program Director
Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health
NEOMED
(330) 325-6179
afl@neomed.edu

Program Description

The Master of Public Health program at Youngstown State University is part of Consor­tium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health (CEOMPH). CEOMPH is a multidisciplinary, interdepartmental, and interinstitutional program that provides opportunities for graduate stud­ies in public health. It is housed in the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services. Although the M.P.H. degree is awarded by Youngstown State University, the M.P.H. program is consor­tium-based. It draws its faculty from several departments at The University of Akron, Cleveland State University, the Northeastern Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), Ohio University, and Youngstown State University.

The mission of the Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health program is to provide accredited public health education designed for the working professional. It does this through a collaborative learning community, drawing on the collective resources of its five member institutions and partnering community agencies. The program strives to produce respected and competent professionals able to improve public health practice, especially in eastern Ohio. Other unique features of the program include the use of distance learning and Saturday course offerings, which accommodate the typical professional student’s work schedule.

The program is structured as a weekend college program with core courses scheduled on Sat­urdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Alternate scheduling will be considered to accommodate stu­dents with special circumstances. Students take core courses at any one of the distance learning sites on the participating campuses. Electives are taken at The University of Akron, Cleveland State University, NEOMED, Ohio University, or YSU. Electives are tak­en on the campus where they are being offered and may be taken anytime during the program.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the minimum College of Graduate Studies admission require­ments, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Applicants must have successfully completed a college-level mathematics or statistics course, and a college social science or natural science course, and have acceptable GRE scores within the last five years.

GRE scores may be waived if the applicant has a professional degree (master’s or doctorate) in a relevant area.  Official results from other equivalent standardized tests used for graduate admissions, also taken within the last five years, may be substituted. These accepted tests are the following: DAT, GMAT, MCAT, and PCAT. Please use institution code #1903 in the designated area of your GRE application form. TOEFL is required from applicants from countries where English is not the language of instruction; the minimum score must be 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) or 79-80 with read/speak/listen=17, write=14 (Internet-based). Please use the institution code #1903 in the designated area on your TOEFL application form.

Two years of work experience in a relevant field is highly recommended. The applicant must provide three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic or professional background. If the applicant has not been involved in an academic institution for two years or more, he or she may submit letters of recommendation by supervisors from his or her place of employment. The letters should include an assessment of the applicant’s current work quality and ability to successfully complete graduate training. Letters are to be mailed to the fol­lowing address:

M.P.H. Admissions Committee
Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health
NEOMED
4209 State Route 44
PO Box 95
Rootstown, Ohio 44272

The curriculum consists of eight core courses, directed elective, required capstone project, and electives. In addition, a portfolio, and an exit presen­tation are required. Students should plan on taking the core courses as a cohort. Core courses will be offered on Saturdays, one course in the morning and one in the afternoon. Students may take core courses in any one of the distance learning classrooms at the partner universities. Dis­tance learning will involve interactive electronic technology and web-based learning. Students may take electives at any time in the program, and may select an elective from any of the partner universities from a list of approved electives.

If the student is interested in an elective that is not on the approved list, an Elective Approval form must be submitted, along with the course syllabus, for review and approval by the CEOMPH Curriculum Committee:

CEOMPH Curriculum Committee
Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health
NEOMED
4209 State Route 44
PO Box 95
Rootstown, Ohio 44272

Students will be assigned an advisor upon entering the program. The advisor will offer guid­ance on choosing electives appropriate to student career goals and interest. Students must main­tain a minimum GPA of 3.0. The program requires 42 semester hours to com­ply with accreditation criteria.

Core Competencies

Use basic techniques and statistical software to access, evaluate, and interpret health data.

Apply analytic reasoning and methods.

Interpret scientific and statistical results, including the strengths and limitations of scientific articles.

Explain characteristics, strengths and limitations of epidemiological study design types.

Apply behavioral health theories/models in developing community health promotion and intervention programs, and applications for research funding.

Apply principles of strategic planning to public health, including continuous quality improvement, leadership, teamwork, systems thinking, and social marketing.

Assess associations found between environmental hazards and health outcomes to influence environmental policies designed to protect populations.

Apply principles of program planning, development, implementation, management, and evaluation in organizational and community initiatives.

Use collaborative strategies in the design of policies, interventions, and programs.

Communicate public health information to lay and professional audiences, using appropriate channels and technologies and with linguistic and cultural proficiency.

Demonstrate ability to use credible evidence and rationale to guide well-reasoned decisions, proposals, and attitudes.

Use individual, team and organizational learning opportunities for personal and professional development.

Generalist Competencies

Prepare proposals for funding from external sources.

Demonstrate the ability to design, implement and execute a research protocol.

Consider the role of cultural and social factors in the planning and delivery of public health services and interventions.

Demonstrate critical evaluation of ethical values, theories, and principles that guide public health inquiry and decision-making.

Analyze the public health information infrastructure used to collect, process, maintain, and disseminate data in order to allow for decision-making at an administrative level.

Apply theory and strategy-based communication principles adapted to different contexts.

Explain how biological, chemical, and physical agents affect human health.