School of Medicine & Health Sciences

Student Resources

These resources can help to enrich your experience as an M.P.H. student, keep you connected and involved, and jump-start your career.

The APEx is a 135-hour practical public health experience in an organization that provides public health services. The APEx is required for the M.P.H. degree, and it may be completed any semester during the year or span up to three semesters. The course is PH 594: Applied Practice Experience. 

Want to learn more? Check out the APEx Manual Above or investigate the Practicum Page to see what practice sites are available.

The ILE (PH 995) is a required, 2-credit course for students in the MPH degree program. It is one component of the MPH Culminating Experience, and enrollment is concurrent with PH 590: MPH Seminar. The ILE provides an opportunity for students to work independently on a public health project related to their specialization.

The ILE begins with the development of a Topic Proposal, which is submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. The Topic Proposal is developed during enrollment in either PH 550: Population Health Research Methods or PH 583: American Indian Health Policy.

Want to learn more about the ILE process? Check out the ILE Manual above.

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews and physical examinations.

National Health Interview Survey

The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is the principal source of information on the health of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States and is one of the major data collection programs of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

National Vital Statistics System

The National Vital Statistics System is the oldest and most successful example of inter-governmental data sharing in Public Health and the shared relationships, standards, and procedures form the mechanism by which NCHS collects and disseminates the Nation’s official vital statistics.

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the nation’s premier system of health-related telephone surveys that collect state data about U.S. residents regarding their health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services.

UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences Office of the Dean

UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Room E481
1301 North Columbia Rd
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037

UND Office of Extended Learning: The University of North Dakota offers a wide variety of non-academic courses for personal and professional development. All courses are available online.

UND Career Services: All UND students and alumni, regardless of location, can use Career Services.

UND School of Graduate Studies

UND International Center: Supporting international education, facilitating study abroad opportunities, supporting UND's international population including students, faculty, scholars and dependents, and promoting opportunities for international cultural awareness.

UND Housing

UND Counseling Center: A fully accredited facility providing services to the greater University of North Dakota Community.

UND Writing Center: The Writing Center is a place for students, faculty, and staff to talk about their work in progress with a writing consultant.

American Public Health Association
The American Public Health Association is the oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world and has been working to improve health since 1872.

Center for Rural Health
"We connect resources and knowledge to strengthen the health of people in rural and tribal communities. Our programs serve people within the state, region, and nation. Established in 1980, we are the federally designated State Office of Rural Health for North Dakota. We are a department within the School of Medicine & Health Sciences at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota."

Rural Health Information Hub
"The Rural Health Information Hub, formerly the Rural Assistance Center, is funded by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy to be a national clearinghouse on rural health issues. We are committed to supporting healthcare and population health in rural communities."

Council on Education for Public Health
"The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and public health programs offered in settings other than schools of public health. These schools and programs prepare students for entry into careers in public health. The primary professional degree is the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) but other master’s and doctoral degrees are offered as well."

North Dakota Public Health Association
The mission of NDPHA is to improve, promote, and protect health for residents of North Dakota through leadership in policy, partnerships, and best practices. Student membership is FREE for the first year.

Grand Forks Public Health Department
The Grand Forks Health Department serves as a key health agency responsible for health promotion and disease prevention services for the City and County of Grand Forks, North Dakota.

North Dakota Department of Health
The North Dakota Department of Health provides many resources, including an Health Indicator Dashboard, health alerts, news releases and job postings.

North Dakota Rural Health Association
The North Dakota Rural Health Association brings together diverse interests and provide a unified voice to promote and enhance the quality of rural health through leadership, advocacy, coalition building, education and communication.

Public Health Foundation
"The Public Health Foundation (PHF), [...]improves public health and population health practice to support healthier communities. Since 1970, PHF has developed effective resources, tools, information, and training for health agencies, organizations, and individuals to help improve performance and community health outcomes."

Society for Public Health Education
"SOPHE is a 501 (c)(3) professional organization founded in 1950 to provide global leadership to the profession of health education and health promotion and to promote the health of all people by: stimulating research on the theory and practice of health education; supporting high quality performance standards for the practice of health education and health promotion; advocating policy and legislation affecting health education and health promotion; and developing and promoting standards for professional preparation of health education professionals."

Online Masters in Public Health
An online directory and educational resource for masters in public health students.

M.P.H. Programs List
The largest student public health education website featuring scholarships, internships, training, jobs and careers, interviews and more.

100 Things you Can Do with a Masters in Public Health
Read about the varied career options in public health as well as compare careers and salaries.

Career Development Resources

The Public Health Mentor Network connects public health students to alumni/public health professionals to help with career and professional development. Mentoring relationships benefit both the mentor and mentee. For mentees, the program can have a key impact on future career choices. For mentors, helping the next generation of public health leaders can be rewarding and impactful. We hope that these relationships will advance real-world understanding, promote alumni engagement, and enhance student discourse surrounding public health issues. With just a few hours per month, you will create lasting relationships that will enrich your academic and professional life, even after the program ends. 

Description

The purpose of the Public Health Mentor Network is to facilitate active relationships between current students and alumni/public health professionals across various disciplines that encompass the Public Health Program at UND.

Mentors

Incentives

Alumni/public health professionals will be able to connect with UND students seeking a role model in the public health field. The Mentor Network will provide an opportunity to make professional contacts. Mentors will be invited to connect with each other as well as with students, if they so choose. Additionally, the mentors can potentially recruit promising students to their respective fields of work and increase the presence of their business or institution on campus.

Responsibilities

  • Commit to regular communication with your mentee and maintain your commitment throughout the program
  • Set goals and expectations using the Mentoring Agreement
  • Use the provided Mentor Network Guide as a structure for mentorship

Mentees

Incentives

Students will be encouraged to act as leaders and take initiative in their academic pursuits with enthusiasm, dedication, and confidence in their abilities. Through understanding the “big picture” of a public health education, they will see the connection between academic and professional life while planning ahead for post-graduate opportunities. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions, understand the modern workplace, learn about a specific company or field, determine the relevant skills necessary to a job in their desired field, and receive honest feedback regarding the practicality of their goals.

Responsibilities

  • Commit to regular communication with your mentor and maintain your commitment throughout the program. Aim for 1-2 hours per month as a combination of speaking with your mentor, prepping for conversations, setting goals, researching, etc.
  • Set goals and expectations for the relationship using the Mentoring Agreement - be thoughtful in goal setting and reflect on what you truly desire out of your undergraduate experience and what you want professionally.
  • Plan ahead for meetings with your mentor. Determine what questions you have your mentor so you maximally utilize their time and insights to grow and develop your career goals.
  • It is your responsibility to drive this program forward!

Job Search Sites

Become certified in Public Health

Students and alumni of the UND M.P.H. Program are eligible to sit for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) Exam. Read about why you should get certified, the exam, and how to study at nbphe.org.

Benefits of Being CPH

  • Stay current on best practices and education through the user-friendly maintenance of certification program
  • Assure the community which you serve/protect that you've met and maintain a national, professional standard
  • Increase recognition of the public health professions
  • Demonstrate commitment to public health beyond your academic training
  • Show public health expertise by evidencing mastery of the core sciences of public health
  • Protect the public by staying current in public health
  • Distinguish yourself from others
  • Advance cohesiveness and collaboration with your professional peers by starting from a common foundation
  • Raise the visibility of public health

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