The School of Nursing at the University of San Francisco is set to launch a Master of
Public Health degree beginning in fall 2011.
The degree, designed for recent graduates and professionals
interested in careers in fields such as health promotion, community organizing,
and healthy lifestyle leadership, will prepare students as public health
generalists while allowing them to choose an area of emphasis in community
health, global health, or health promotion education.
Students will study epidemiology, biostatistics, public
health care leadership and administration, social science applications to
behavioral health, and environmental health considerations.
MPH Electives
- Community Health: Prepares graduates for leadership positions in public health
organizations and programs at the local, state, and federal levels
- Global Health: Prepares graduates to become community health generalists
and public health leaders for positions within the global community and
international organizations
- Health Promotion/Health Education: Prepares graduates to focus on the leadership, management,
and development of public health promotion and education programs
“We want to provide an advanced degree option to those who
are interested in the health care field but do not want to seek a licensed
degree,” said Kia James, program director and assistant professor of nursing at
USF.
As the U.S. moves to rein in health care costs and deliver
health care to more people through preventative medicine, the School of
Nursing’s MPH degree will prepare students to move into this expanding field,
working closely with communities.
MPH students will gain experience by taking part in
fieldwork and internships, through USF’s many contacts with nonprofits, public
education, and public health agencies. Such experience will position graduates
to make a difference by addressing community health care disparities, promoting
healthy behaviors, and detecting public health issues.
“Never before has there been a time of such opportunity in
public health,” said Judith Karshmer, USF School of Nursing dean, speaking of
the country’s ongoing effort to reform health care and provide better health
care outcomes.
The two-year MPH degree will offer courses on topics such as
environmental and occupational public health issues, emerging global public
health threats, public health law and social justice, teaching and learning in
pubic health, and organizing communities for better health. The MPH program was
recently approved to begin the accreditation process with the Council on
Education for Public Health.
The program is appropriate for recent graduates and
full-time working adults, classes meet once a week with additional online
coursework.
