Partner content
Leading the way in public health education
Public health professionals have been at an all-time high demand since COVID-19. We need leaders equipped to be at the helm, guiding us through future pandemics and health scares. The mission at Kent State University’s College of Public Health is to get you ready to promote sustainable public health innovations and be the public health leader we need.
Graduate programmes at this Ohio institution do just that. “Our academic programmes exemplify the best of what colleges have to offer,” says Dean of the college, Dr. Sonia Alemagno. Faculty members are engaged in community-based and relevant research. Not only will you learn from these industry experts, but you will also engage with online programmes that are award-winning and highly ranked. These programmes include participating in research projects within your home communities.
Kent State University’s graduate programmes in public health aim to change the world
The college has its own initiatives that work towards making a difference. For instance, the Mobile Flashes Wellness Unit. Made possible with a grant from Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation, this initiative features a blue and gold SUV tasked with transporting students, faculty and staff as they provide public health services throughout the region. “There is nothing better than getting out in the community and continuing to improve these issues with first-hand experiences,” says Christian Richardson, a first-year doctoral student.
To be part of initiatives such as these, you can apply to the college’s selection of graduate programmes.
“This year, we are planning programmes and events to celebrate the achievements of the College of Public Health for our 15th Anniversary Year,” adds Alemagno.
Kent State University’s graduate programmes in public health aim to change the world
300+
Community partners
2,800+
Alumni worldwide
28%
Underrepresented students
The Master of Public Health degree is designed to help students prepare for careers as epidemiologists, health specialities teachers, postsecondary medical and health services managers, social and community service managers, clinical laboratory technologists and technicians. It’s accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), making it easier for graduates to apply for fellowships and roles in US public agencies, as well as sit for the Certified in Public Health exam and obtain the CPH credential.
There are three programmes to choose from — MPH in Biostatistics, MPH in Epidemiology, and an MPH with concentrations in Social and Behavioural Sciences and Health Policy and Management.
Master of Public Health
The quantitative science of health data collection, storage, retrieval, analysis, and interpretation is a fascinating area to explore. You’ll learn how to apply statistical methods to design and examine health-related surveys and experiments to improve health. Faculty members offer more insights derived from their research experience applying biostatistical analysis to understand critical health problems such as adolescent substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Biostatistics
Ideal for those whose interests skew towards analysing the distribution and determinants of disease, disabilities and death in populations. This concentration focuses on the quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate disease outbreaks, determine causal relationships between environmental and biological factors and conduct studies to project population health trends.
Epidemiology
Health Policy and Management
Spanning health services research, health policy analysis, and health care planning and management, this interdisciplinary concentration will train you to address public health risks and develop effective health service delivery models. You’ll develop strong skills in healthcare organisation management, alternative models of service financing, and strategies for improving services.
Social and Behavioural Sciences
This concentration focuses on the theoretical basis of health behaviour in populations across the life course. You’ll merge several disciplines to gain an understanding and apply theoretical principles to design, implement, and evaluate effective health behaviour programmes.
Health Policy and Management & Social and Behavioural Sciences
In Fall 2024, the college launched two new MPH degrees: Epidemiology and Biostatistics. These replace the former MPH concentrations. Both are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) designated, making international graduates on an F-1 visa eligible to apply for an additional two years of work authorisation after the initial 12-month period of Post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the US if they meet the required criteria.
Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology
The Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology is a STEM-designated degree. With this qualification, you can apply for roles such as research scientist, data scientist, clinical research coordinator/manager, clinical trial manager, research associate or epidemiologist. It’s a degree that sets you up to improve patient outcomes by informing public health policy and advancing medical knowledge via research that helps to identify new treatments and interventions for various health conditions.
In other words, this MS empowers you to make an impact in the world of clinical research. The skills you will gain are many and varied — some of these include carrying out patient-oriented research to determine and modify health outcomes, designing and implementing epidemiological studies, examining clinical data, and communicating the sources, strengths, and limitations of patient data.
PhD in Public Health
The PhD in Public Health is for you if you seek to create new knowledge. Whether you’re aiming for a career in academia, industry or public service agencies, there’s no better preparation than completing the programme’s comprehensive exam, oral prospective defence and final written dissertation with presentation and defence.
Several concentrations are available. The PhD in Epidemiology lets you dive deep into the distribution and determinants of diseases in populations. In the Health Policy and Management concentration, you benefit from your faculty’s extensive work in health systems research, occupational health and safety, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, access to health care, health literacy, substance abuse prevention and community-based programming. Finally, the PhD in Prevention Science is a great opportunity to conduct research that promotes healthy behaviours in populations across the life course.
