Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences/Master of Urban and Regional Planning

The program requires a minimum of 60 quarter-credit units of graduate and upper division coursework. Candidates with a prior doctoral degree or advanced preparation in a related field may waive certain requirements for the MPH degree, but only after formal consideration and approval by the department's faculty.

1. Course Requirements in Community Health Sciences

Department Core Courses

• CHS 210: Community Health Sciences  
• CHS 211A, B: Program Planning, Research and Evaluation in Community Health Sciences 
• CHS 400: Field Studies in Public Health (400 hours of fieldwork)
• In addition to CHS 400, students are required to take one more 400-level course in the CHS Department.

Department Required Courses

Students are required to select one course from each of the three curricular areas of:

1. Public Health Practice
2. Populations
3. Individual and Structural Influences

The MPH Curricular Areas lists courses in each category (found in Masters Handbook).

Students are also required to take at least one additional course (4 units) within CHS. An additional course that includes elements of program planning or evaluation, similar to CHS 211 A&B, is strongly recommended for students in the second year of the program.

2. Core Course Requirements in Public Health

• PH 200A and B: Foundations in Public Health
• PH 401: Public Health as a Profession

3. Electives

At least 32 units must be taken in the department. A maximum of 8 elective units from outside of the department may count towards the 60 graduate or upper-division units. Students have the option to focus their studies in areas such as social and behavioral sciences, health education/promotion, international health, child and family health, public health nutrition, health policy, disaster planning and relief, aging and life course, women’s health, and population health.

4. Field Training

All students are required to complete a practical fieldwork experience, which requires a minimum of 400 hours in the field. Fieldwork takes place in a health agency or organization in the community, under the supervision of a qualified public health professional. Most students arrange to do their fieldwork experience in the summer between the two years of study, but other arrangements are possible.

5. Comprehensive Examination

MPH students must successfully pass the Department of Community Health Science's Comprehensive Exam.

The MPH degree is typically obtained after two years of full-time study (six academic quarters), including the 400-hour field training experience.

View a list of faculty in the Department of Community Health Sciences.

Graduates generally assume positions in the planning, administration, and evaluation of public health programs and policies in the U.S. and abroad that have as their objective the maintenance and improvement of the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations.

Examples of positions held by graduates include:

• Program Manager
• Health Educator
• Monitoring/Evaluation Analyst
• Health Promotion Specialist
• Program or Community Outreach Coordinator
• Nutritionist
• Communications Associate
• Research Associate

For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the registrar's office.

Please see the cost and aid section of our website for information on awards, scholarships, training opportunities, employment, summer internship funding, and need-based aid. Please note that opportunities listed under 'Summer Internship Funding' are only applicable to MPH students.

Desired Qualifications

In addition to meeting the University’s minimum requirements, prior work experience in community health or health education is strongly considered in the evaluation of applicants for admission. 

Admissions Process

Visit the application guide to learn about our admissions process.