Where Passion Meets Purpose

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Online Master of Public Health

If you’re passionate about whole-person care, prevention, and making a meaningful difference in your community, the Master of Public Health (MPH) at St. Thomas is designed for you. This fully online, two-year program blends academic rigor with personalized faculty mentorship, preparing you to address today’s most urgent public health challenges — from chronic disease prevention to health policy leadership.

The priority deadline for Fall 2026 admission to the MPH program is March 15, 2026.

Student-Centered Learning in the MPH Program

The program is aligned with national public health program accreditation standards, ensuring industry-recognized foundational training. Learning from experienced faculty and hands-on experiences, graduates are prepared for careers in fields like health education, policy analysis, program evaluation, emergency preparedness, and health services management.

In our MPH program you'll experience:

The MPH program is fully online, with asynchronous coursework. However, more than 50% of the classes offer synchronous opportunities for live engagement with faculty and peers. The program is designed to offer a variety of student-centric learning opportunities which focus on the learner's needs and goals. Examples of learning activities include personal reflection, project-based learning, inquiry-based learning, and collaborative learning.

By fostering a sense of ownership and relevance, flexible and high-quality teaching aims to increase student engagement and motivation, leading to better academic outcomes.

The cohort model is designed to help you learn and work together. Our small class sizes promote a supportive, community-driven learning environment. Cohort-based, relationship-centered learning fosters ethically grounded, community-aware leadership development. When you are one of 15 to 20 students, the professors will know you, and you'll know each other.

Students will complete this program in just two years, with a typical course load of 6-9 credits per semester (fall, spring, and summer). This is enough coursework to keep you invested and engaged, while also allowing you to focus on your other responsibilities like family and work obligations.

Complete a community-focused capstone and choose electives such as Global Health, Chronic Disease Prevention, and Emergency Preparedness.

Public Health Courses Centered on Equity and Justice

The curriculum is designed with a core emphasis on health equity, social justice, and whole-person health, aligning with the Morrison Family College of Health mission. Every course centers on health equity, prevention, and justice—empowering graduates to address pressing local and global challenges.

With a community focused Capstone course and electives such as Injury Prevention, Global Health, and Chronic Disease Prevention, you can see how coursework transcends the classroom, bringing students into the world to promote equity in real time.

Who Is This Program For?

The St. Thomas MPH is ideal for:

Professionals in health care, policy, law, education, or social services looking to expand into public health.
Recent graduates from health, science, or related fields seeking advanced training.
Community leaders and changemakers committed to promoting equity and improving population health outcomes.

Application Requirements

Application requirements include a review of the applicant's academic record, resume, statement of purpose and two letters of recommendation. No GRE or prerequisite courses are required.

MPH Career Paths

You'll be prepared for a number of career paths:

Health Education Specialist
Program Planner
Data Analyst (Evaluator)
Health Policy Analysis & Advocacy
Research
Environmental Specialist
Health Program Manager/Supervisor
Health Service Manager
Health Behavior Specialist
Emergency Preparedness & Response