Graduate Programs in Public Health at UNE Online: An Overview

There is a critical need for professionals with public health degrees today. The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) estimates that by the year 2020, the United States will be facing a shortfall of at least 250,000 public health workers.

If you’re interested in improving the lives of others through building one-on-one relationships, conducting research or analyzing numbers, public health may be the field for you. Public health students are diverse and dedicated people who demonstrate a passion for improving public health.

Public health graduates can find employment in the public or private sector, within non-profit organizations, or in health departments at the local, state, and federal levels.

The University of New England offers two fully articulated online graduate programs in public health. Working adults and post-baccalaureate students can now earn a Master of Public Health degree (MPH) or a Graduate Certificate in Public Health (GCPH) full or part-time, with all of the courses offered 100% online.

These convenient, flexible programs, which are focused on public health practice and management, provide students with the knowledge, skills and values to gain employment or get promoted in the burgeoning field of public health.

The Graduate Programs in Public Health are globally-accessible programs committed to improving the health and well-being of communities through education, research, and service in a learning environment that values communication, collaboration, and diversity.

What will you learn?

You will gain a strong understanding of all aspects of public health while developing professional public health skills. The curriculum focuses on attaining mastery of public health competencies, which include foundational public health competencies identified by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), and competencies specific to the UNE MPH online program. The foundational competencies are based in the core public health knowledge areas of biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, policy and administration, and environmental health, as well as emerging public health areas. The UNE MPH competencies are designed to build on this knowledge and address areas identified as key public health workforce skills. These program-level competencies are taught in the nine required courses and reinforced in the electives as well as the applied practice experience and in the integrative learning experience.  

Skills and competencies gained

As a Public Health student at UNE, you will gain the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become a successful public health practitioner. You will also collaborate and advocate for the improvement of local and global community well-being, as well as learn from practical learning opportunities that allow the honing of research skills and generation of new knowledge. You can find an extensive list of public health competencies and how these competencies map to UNE’s CEPH accreditation on the Public Health Competencies page of the UNE Online website.

What does a public health degree do for you?

A Public Health degree will provide you with a solid foundation in issues that impact population health and healthcare systems, including environmental health, disease prevention, health informatics, global health, ethics, and behavioral and cultural issues.

What does an MPH prepare you to do?

The MPH program at UNE Online prepares public health leaders with the knowledge and skills to prevent disease and injury and promote the health of individuals and communities.

Public health careers

Earning your Master of Public Health opens doors in the field of public health. The MPH at UNE is a generalist degree, meaning that you will be prepared to enter the workforce in any number of areas including education, administration and management, policy, community practice, and research. You may also choose to select your electives based on your intended career path in order to bolster your knowledge in a particular subject area or field of work. Interested in seeing the fields and jobs in which our alumni are employed? See the Public Health Alumni Survey Results for a snapshot.

Public Health certifications

After graduation, you may choose to pursue a specific certification in public health. See what certification is appropriate for you whether you go into public health education, public health administration, or if you’re just looking for a general public health certification. Here are seven common certifications held by public health practitioners, and examples of types of jobs that may require certification after graduation: Public Health Credentialing: Seven Public Health Certifications.

Programs in public health course structure

The course structure for the graduate programs in public health consist of three semesters per year, and two eight-week classes per semester.

What is considered a full-time student?

One eight-week class at a time ensures you full-time student status at UNE, which is important for many students when considering eligibility for financial aid.

CEPH accreditation attests to the quality of UNE’s education

The Master of Public Health and Graduate Certificate in Public Health programs at the University of New England are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and public health programs offered in settings other than schools of public health.

• For graduates, it promotes professional mobility and enhances employment opportunities in positions that base eligibility upon graduation from an accredited school or program.
• For prospective students and their parents, accreditation serves a consumer protection purpose. It provides assurance that the school or program has been evaluated and has met accepted standards established by and with the profession.
• For prospective employers, it provides assurance that the curriculum covers essential skills and knowledge needed for today’s jobs.
• For public health workers, it involves practitioners in the establishment of standards and assures that educational requirements reflect the current training needs of the profession.
• For the profession, it advances the field by promoting standards of practice and advocating rigorous preparation.

For more in-depth information on UNE’s CEPH accreditation and the accreditation CEPH Accreditation in UNE Online Public Health Programs.

Regionally accredited

Regional accreditation is the gold standard in education, and the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE, formerly known as the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education for NEASC) is the regional accrediting agency for more than 200 colleges and universities across New England, including UNE. Our dedication to accreditation affirms UNE’s culture of continuous reflection and assessment in our learning community as well as helping UNE set and pursue its strategic goals. For more information on UNE’s NECHE accreditation and accreditation process, see the posts:

• Inside the accreditation process – with Dr. Jayne Pelletier
• Why should I go to an accredited school?

Rigorous assessment process

Assessment ensures that the curriculum that UNE designs and delivers gives you the skills and the knowledge that you will need to succeed. Assessment guarantees that UNE is able to make good on the promise of a quality education. Program competencies are established at the outset of your educational journey. Assessment is the method by which you can be sure that your education at UNE be such that when you have successfully completed the program, you will be able to meet or exceed these competencies. For a more in-depth review of the role of assessment at UNE Online, see the posts:

• Assessing Students to Guarantee a High-Quality Education
• Assessing Online Courses is Key to a High-Quality Learning Experience
• How Assessment Guarantees Return on Investment

Student involvement

There are several opportunities to get involved in the public health community at UNE. One example is the Gamma Chi Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. Delta Omega is a national honorary society comprised of CEPH-accredited programs and schools of public health and exists to encourage research and scholarship among graduate students of public health and to recognize attainment and achievement in the field of public health. Student inductions into Gamma Chi will occur annually in the month of May, prior to UNE’s Commencement Ceremony. The Gamma Chi chapter is comprised of the top 10% of MPH students, based on grade point average. More information about induction criteria can be found on the Delta Omega page of the UNE Online website. Another student organization is the UNE American Public Health Association – Student Assembly, APHA-SA. This is an interdisciplinary organization welcoming student members from all health programs at the university who have an interest in public health. The chapter within UNE is part of the broader APHA-SA, a student-led organization within the American Public Health Association. Participation in UNE APHA-SA is free and flexible, and events are held online so you can participate remotely.  

 If you are interested in more information about the Graduate Programs in Public Health please reach out to an Enrollment Counselor at 1(855) 325-0895 or via email at publichealth@une.edu. Or, if you’re ready to apply, fill out your online application at go.une.edu/apply. Additional Public Health program information: