Health promotion is the process of applying social and behavioral science principles to education and environmental change that empowers individuals and groups to take control of and improve their own health. MPH specialists combine knowledge of social and behavioral sciences to create and carry out successful public health interventions to promote population health. The goal of this specialization is to educate practitioners who have a broad foundation of the fundamental principles of public health with a focus on program planning and evaluation.

The Population Health specialization of the MPH program will prepare graduates to:

• Find, understand, and apply relevant public health literature;
• Design and implement programs that improve public health by fostering change in individual behaviors, environmental conditions, and social policy;
• Evaluate public health programs through data collection and analysis
• Engage individuals and communities in discussion and decision-making to clarify shared public health goals

The 6-credit MPH practicum will provide students focusing on population health with applied experience in health promotion and disease prevention. Examples include collaborations in planning, implementing, and evaluating public health campaigns at Federal Agencies, state and local health departments, hospital settings, community health centers, social service agencies, and non-profit public health organizations.