Requirements and Curriculum

Your program will consist of online courses addressing foundational knowledge and competency areas basic to public health, online concentration and elective courses in your area of interest, and a field training experience and a culminating project that you can complete off campus.

The Online Individualized MPH program is 44 credits.

Up to 6 credits may be waived and up to 9 credits may be transferred based on graduate coursework you have previously taken. Regardless of any waivers/substitutions, you must complete a minimum of 43 MPH credits. 

You can complete the program in four semesters of full-time attendance or up to eight semesters of part-time attendance.

On this page:

Advisement

You will be assigned a faculty advisor who will assist you in planning your academic coursework and other program requirements. Learn more about advisement.

MPH Curricula

When enrolled as an online individualized MPH student, you are given the opportunity to pursue a curriculum of choice to tailor your educational journey to your interests and career objectives.

In addition to the fully individualized option traditionally offered, other focus areas are available. Taking courses specific to the desired focus area will provide students with a more in-depth understanding of concepts and practical skills related to their field of study. Our current focus area offerings include Health Equity; and Addictions. Once you select a focus area, you will take the courses identified in the pathways below.

  • Part-time students taking courses over multiple years should register for courses in order. For example, if you take 2 courses per semester, in your first Fall Semester take the first 2 courses under Year 1 Fall, and in your next Fall Semester take the next 2 courses.
  • One-year accelerated students combine Fall Semester years 1 and 2 for your Fall schedule, and Spring Semester years 1 and 2 for your spring schedule.

Online Electives--6 credits

Select 2 electives that align with your interests:

Other elective course options including seated options for local students may be selected from:

Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPCP)

Interprofessional collaborative practice, or the ability to work effectively on teams with professionals across many health or health-related disciplines, is an important competency for public health professionals.

MPH students, you can earn three interprofessional collaborative practice digital badges and an IPCP micro-credential through your required coursework:

IPCP Foundations Digital Badge by completing:

  • One spring Interprofessional Forum and IPCP Foundational Online Module Series in CHB 507 Public Health Teams and Practice
  • One fall Interprofessional Forum in EEH 590 Leadership, Collaboration and Negotiation in Public Health

IPCP Communication and Teamwork Digital Badge by completing IPCP Innovation Sprint with Pharmacy students in CHB 507 Public Health Teams and Practice.

IPCP Healthcare Practice Digital Badge by completing CHB/EEH/STA 544 MPH Field Training.

Earn the full IPCP micro-credential by completing all three digital badges.

All digital badges and the micro-credential are awarded to you upon completion of the activities. Current students can learn more about IPCP activities, digital badges, and the micro-credential in your courses, and by visiting the MPH Student Resources Portal.

Online students can participate in the forums online.

Forms and Documentation

You will complete a series of field training forms before and during your field training experience. You will also complete and submit a field training set of slides about your experience to your advisor. Find more information about the forms in the MPH Student Resource Portal in UB Learns.

All students must also apply for graduation:

  • Students preparing to graduate must log into My Academics in their student HUB record, click on "Apply for Graduation" and select the MPH program and anticipated graduation semester before the appropriate deadline. (MPH students no longer complete an ATC or M-form.)
    • See details about applying to graduate in HUB.
  • Contact sphhp-chhb-mph@buffalo.edu for more information.
Graduation Term Apply to Graduate, in HUB by Conferral Date
Spring February 22 June 1
Summer July 15 September 1
Fall October 15 February 1
Graduation Requirements

To ensure you complete all of the necessary forms, review the MPH program timeline and graduation requirements.

Questions? Contact Us