About the Master of Public Health Program
The M.P.H. Program at the University of North Dakota is located in the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, which offers eight health care degree programs. It is the only medical school in the state and has been since 1905. UND, founded in 1883 in Grand Forks, is the state’s oldest and largest university. This environment is rich in resources that support excellence in public health research, service, and education.
Our educational priority is preparing students to respond to the growing demand for public health professionals who can transform data into information for decision-making. The size of health data is growing exponentially, and the skills to ‘mine’ big data are exceptionally valued by public and private health agencies, as well as healthcare provider and payer organizations. Therefore, all three M.P.H. specializations – Population Health Research & Analytics, Health Management & Policy, and Indigenous Health – emphasize analytics. The program’s Center for Comparative Effectiveness provides a laboratory for training in analytics.
Special features include an emphasis on faculty-student research collaboration; application of system dynamics to public health; inter-professional education; and opportunities for experiential learning with UND’s nationally recognized wellness initiative and Grand Fork’s many public and private organizations working collaboratively to improve health in the community. Residents of states in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Region receive in-state tuition.
The M.P.H. program is 42 or 43 credits in length, depending on the chosen specialization, and can be completed full-time in one and a half or two years or part-time in three to seven years. Because of the diversity of our students, the program is designed for full and part-time study, as well as distance education through live broadcast of all classes. M.P.H. core courses and the Health Management & Policy and Indigenous Health specializations are offered in an asynchronous, online format. M.P.H. students specializing in Population Health Research & Analytics can take their courses on campus or off-campus via live broadcast. Distance learning is well established at UND and an integral part of the M.P.H. program.
The M.P.H. Program has three specializations – Population Health Research & Analytics, Health Management & Policy, and Indigenous Health. Each prepares students for the work of population health improvement in the diverse communities of the Northern Plains and similar regions. In addition to providing specialization-specific training, each specialization stresses the development of excellent critical thinking, problems solving, and communication skills.
The curriculum for the specialization in Population Health Research & Analytics prepares students to produce convincing and scientifically sound information to answer questions about population health, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and provide basis for improving health policies and programs. The faculty and staff at the University of North Dakota work to create an intellectually challenging and socially engaging experience that provides students with the motivation, skills, and knowledge to improve health in communities and populations.
The curriculum for the specialization in Health Management & Policy is offered in partnership with the Department of Political Science and Public Administration in the College of Business & Public Administration (CoBPA). This partnership adds depth to the faculty expertise and course offerings available to M.P.H. students in the specialization. This specialization prepares students for the current environment. They gain skills needed to manage health care delivery systems effectively and efficiently, analyze health policies, and communicate successfully to effect improvements in the system.
The curriculum for the specialization in Indigenous Health is designed to provide students with a critical understanding of determinants of Indigenous health and solutions to health disparities. Students will examine Indigenous populations, histories, cultures, societies, traditional healing systems, food sources, patterns and impact of colonization, and health inequity. Students will also evaluate the impact of historical and ongoing traumas associated with colonization and colonialism, explore Indigenous concepts of health and healing, and will synthesize new approaches of moving toward health equity in a culturally relevant manner.
The Practicum is a 240-hour practical public health experience in an organization that provides public health services. Practicum affiliation agreements have been developed with local, national, and global public health sites. Students can also request a Practicum site without an existing affiliation agreement, but this must be done a minimum of six months in advance of the Practicum start date to ensure that a working agreement can be established. The student's faculty advisor must approve the location, as well. The Practicum 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 M.P.H. program also offers a 13 credit graduate certificate in two areas of emphasis: Population Health Research & Analytics and General Public Health. The certificate is designed for people who desire formal training in an aspect of public health, without the M.P.H. degree. All credits from a certificate program can be transferred into the M.P.H. program.
The M.P.H. program encourages students to complete graduate certificate programs in one of the following UND programs: Geographic Information Science (GISc), Policy Analysis, or Social Entrepreneurship. These programs will enhance skills and expand job opportunities for M.P.H. students.
Application to the M.P.H. Program is made on-line through SOPHAS, the centralized application service for schools and programs of public health. Applications to the M.P.H. Program are reviewed on a rolling basis. The Program admits students for fall, spring and summer matriculation. Applications are reviewed until the class is full.
All admission decisions are based upon full review of all information in the application in order to ensure fairness and to balance the limitation of any single indicator. Strong preference for admission will be given to applicants with at least one year of public health-related work experience, either paid or unpaid.
The cost of the M.P.H. degree is approximately $29,500, not including student fees and books, for in-state residents and those eligible for the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education’s (WICHE) Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). Visit UND Admissions to view current tuition rates, fees, and payment options.
Visit our Financial Aid page for information regarding financial support.
The M.P.H. Program at the University of North Dakota (UND) is located within the School of Medicine & Health Sciences (SMHS). The SMHS includes one of the nation's most respected community-based medical schools and is a leader in rural medicine. It has developed a full complement of programs to assist researchers, educators, policymakers, health care providers and, most importantly, rural residents to address changing rural environments by identifying and researching rural health issues, analyzing health policy, strengthening local capabilities, developing community-based alternatives, and advocating for rural concerns. The M.P.H. program has ties to all facets of the Center, including the indigenous programs directed by Dr. Jacque Gray: the Seven Generations Center of Excellence in Native Behavioral Health (SGCoE), the National Indigenous Elder Justice Initiative (NIEJI), and the Native Research Health Team.
Very few state universities in the entire United States can pride themselves on a forty-year history of American Indian programming and commitment to American Indian educational achievement like the University of North Dakota. For more information on American Indian Related Programs at the University of North Dakota, please visit https://und.edu/student-life/diversity/multicultural/indian-related-programs/
The Master of Public Health program collaborates with the Indians Into Medicine Program (INMED) at the University of North Dakota. INMED is a comprehensive program designed to assist American Indian students who aspire to be health professionals to meet the needs of our tribal communities. The INMED Program provides the following services: student support and advising, Learning Resource Center, financial aid advisement, tutoring, INMED Student Organization, conferences, field experiences, student loan fund, and research.
INMED's student advisors assist participating students in planning class schedules and registering for each semester. The counselors' assistance can ensure adequate and timely preparation to enter professional degree programs. INMED's academic retention services support students throughout their health career pathways.
INMED staff can also help students work through the University system and inform them of the wide variety of services, including health care, which are available to University of North Dakota students. INMED staff also offer advocacy services to participating students and assist in their interactions with University faculty and staff.
For more information on INMED, please visit http://www.med.und.edu/indians-into-medicine/
The two state research universities – the University of North Dakota (UND) and North Dakota State University (NDSU) – offer the North Dakota Master of Public Health (NDMPH). Students apply to and complete their degree at one campus only - either UND or NDSU. Students choose UND or NDSU based on the M.P.H. specializations offered at that campus, which are unique to that school. Although each M.P.H. program is distinct and offers unique specializations, the two programs work together on common matters such as developing Practicum sites and offering public health events during Public Health Week. By working together, the M.P.H. programs at UND and NDSU provide comprehensive public health training and service to North Dakota and the Northern Plains.