M.P.H. Competencies

Foundational Competencies

Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health

• Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice
• Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate
• Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice

Public Health & Health Care Systems

• Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings
• Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels

Planning & Management to Promote Health

• Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health
• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs
• Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention
• Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
• Select methods to evaluate public health programs

Policy in Public Health

• Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
• Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
• Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
• Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity

Leadership

• Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making
• Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges

Communication

• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
• Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content

Interprofessional Practice

Perform effectively on interprofessional teams

Systems Thinking

Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue

Health Management & Policy Specialization Competencies

• Design and appraise a health organization’s resource management plan
• Compare and contrast leadership strategies in public health
• Analyze multiple policy options in order to recommend a course of action to decision makers
• Evaluate and manage diverse stakeholder interests
• Develop health policies and implementation strategies

Indigenous Health Specialization Competencies

• Analyze the impact of colonial processes on Indigenous health outcomes
• Propose strategies to implement essential public health services in Indigenous communities
• Evaluate evidence-based practices for their impact on Indigenous populations
• Apply principles of health equity to Indigenous populations
• Design a health promotion strategy that values and incorporates Indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge

Population Health Research & Analytics Specialization Competencies

• Develop research questions and hypotheses
• Identify or develop data sets pertaining to research questions and hypotheses
• Apply study designs appropriate for research questions and hypotheses, and the corresponding analytic methodology
• Analyze data using appropriate statistical methods and interpret findings
• Translate and disseminate research results