Advanced Professional M.P.H. Program

Mayur M. Desai, M.P.H., Ph.D., Director

The eleven-month Advanced Professional M.P.H. Program provides rigorous public health training to:

  1. individuals with a doctoral-level (or international equivalent) degree in a field related to public health (e.g., physicians, dentists, veterinarians, attorneys, and those with a doctorate in the biological, behavioral, or social sciences);
  2. individuals with a master’s degree and at least two years of relevant work experience;
  3. individuals with a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of relevant work experience; and
  4. students who have completed their third year in an accredited medical, dental, or podiatric school in the United States.

The program is designed for mature individuals with clear goals in public health.

Students can enter the program to gain skills in the public health sciences and to prepare for careers in a variety of settings, including academia; local, national, or international public health agencies; industry; and nonprofit foundations and research organizations. Physicians in preventive medicine, occupational and environmental medicine, and aerospace medicine residency programs can enter the program to complete their M.P.H. degree requirement.

Students concentrate in one of six tracks: Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Health Policy, Global Health, Preventive Medicine, or Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The program begins with an intensive seven-week summer session (July–August), followed by two full-time terms of study. After completing the seven-week summer session, students may choose to complete the remainder of the program on a part-time basis; however, all requirements must be completed within three years of the date of matriculation.

All tracks—with the exception of Occupational and Environmental Medicine for Yale OEM Fellows—require documentation of an integrated learning experience component with guidance from the program director. To complete this requirement, students take one of the following courses and complete the Integrated Learning Experience Form to document their experience, available on the myYSPH website at https://ysph.yale.edu/myysph/students/mph/forms-and-systems: HPM 597, SBS 574, CDE 617, EPH 608, or EPH 557.

Curriculum

Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology Track

Core Requirements

BIS 515Accelerated Biostatistics2
CDE 515Accelerated Epidemiology1
EPH 510Health Policy and Health Care Systems1
EPH 513Major Health Threats: Ethics and Practice1
SBS 505Accelerated Social and Behavioral Foundations of Health1
One of the following:
EMD/SBS 584Advanced Global Health Justice Practicum: Fieldwork1
EMD/SBS 588Health Justice Practicum1
EPH 500Public Health Practicum1
EPH 555Clinic in Climate Justice and Public Health1
HPM 555Health Policy or Health Care Management Practicum1
HPM 556Advanced Health Policy Practicum1

Track Requirements

CDE 534Applied Analytic Methods in Epidemiology1
Two of the following:
AMTH 361Data Analysis1
BIS 540Fundamentals of Clinical Trials1
BIS 560Introduction to Health Informatics1
BIS 621Regression Models for Public Health1
or BIS 623 Advanced Regression Models
BIS 628Longitudinal and Multilevel Data Analysis1
BIS 630Applied Survival Analysis1
BIS 633Population and Public Health Informatics1
EHS 568Introduction to GIS for Public Health1
EHS 569Advanced GIS Workshop1
EMD 553Transmission Dynamic Models for Understanding Infectious Diseases1
ENAS 523Data and Clinical Decision-Making1
PLSC 349Visualization of Political and Social Data0
S&DS 530/ENV 757Data Exploration and Analysis1
S&DS 563Multivariate Statistical Methods for the Social Sciences 11
One of the following capstone courses:
CDE 617Developing a Research Proposal1
EPH 557Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Global Health1
HPM 597Capstone Course in Health Policy1
SBS 574Developing a Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Intervention1
Two additional biostatistics and/or epidemiology courses2
Three elective courses3

Social and Behavioral Sciences Track

Core Requirements

BIS 515Accelerated Biostatistics2
CDE 515Accelerated Epidemiology1
EPH 510Health Policy and Health Care Systems1
EPH 513Major Health Threats: Ethics and Practice1
SBS 505Accelerated Social and Behavioral Foundations of Health1
One of the following:
EMD/SBS 584Advanced Global Health Justice Practicum: Fieldwork1
EMD/SBS 588Health Justice Practicum1
EPH 500Public Health Practicum1
EPH 555Clinic in Climate Justice and Public Health1
HPM 555Health Policy or Health Care Management Practicum1
HPM 556Advanced Health Policy Practicum1

Track Requirements

CDE 534Applied Analytic Methods in Epidemiology1
SBS 529Foundations of Behavior Change1
One of the following:
SBS/BIS 640User-Centered Design of Digital Health Tools1
SBS 676Questionnaire Development1
Two of the following (or permission of academic adviser to substitute):
CDE 545Health Disparities by Race and Social Class: Application to Chronic Disease Epidemiology1
CDE 572Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle Interventions1
HPM 545Health Disparities1
SBS 531Health and Aging1
SBS 537Social and Interpersonal Influences on Health1
SBS 560Sexual and Reproductive Health1
SBS 562Inclusive Design for the Built Environment: Participatory Design1
SBS 570LGBTQ Population Health1
SBS 573Social and Cultural Factors in Mental Health and Illness1
SBS 577Health Communication and the Media1
SBS 581Stigma and Health1
SBS 585Sexuality, Gender, Health, and Human Rights1
SBS 594Maternal-Child Public Health Nutrition1
Three elective courses3
One of the following capstone courses:
CDE 617Developing a Research Proposal1
EPH 557Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Global Health1
HPM 597Capstone Course in Health Policy1
SBS 574Developing a Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Intervention1

Health Policy Track

Core Requirements

BIS 515Accelerated Biostatistics2
CDE 515Accelerated Epidemiology1
EPH 510Health Policy and Health Care Systems1
EPH 513Major Health Threats: Ethics and Practice1
SBS 505Accelerated Social and Behavioral Foundations of Health1
One of the following:
EMD/SBS 584Advanced Global Health Justice Practicum: Fieldwork1
EMD/SBS 588Health Justice Practicum1
EPH 500Public Health Practicum1
EPH 555Clinic in Climate Justice and Public Health1
HPM 555Health Policy or Health Care Management Practicum1
HPM 556Advanced Health Policy Practicum1

Track Requirements

HPM 514Health Politics, Governance, and Policy1
HPM 570Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and Decision-Making1
HPM 583Methods in Health Services Research1
HPM 586Microeconomics for Health Policy and Health Management1
One additional Health Policy and Management course1
Three elective courses3
One of the following capstone courses:
CDE 617Developing a Research Proposal1
EPH 557Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Global Health1
HPM 597Capstone Course in Health Policy1
SBS 574Developing a Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Intervention1

Global Health Track

Core Requirements

BIS 515Accelerated Biostatistics2
CDE 515Accelerated Epidemiology1
EPH 510Health Policy and Health Care Systems1
EPH 513Major Health Threats: Ethics and Practice1
SBS 505Accelerated Social and Behavioral Foundations of Health1
One of the following:
EMD/SBS 584Advanced Global Health Justice Practicum: Fieldwork1
EMD/SBS 588Health Justice Practicum1
EPH 500Public Health Practicum1
EPH 555Clinic in Climate Justice and Public Health1
HPM 555Health Policy or Health Care Management Practicum1
HPM 556Advanced Health Policy Practicum1

Track Requirements

EPH 557Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Global Health1
EPH 591Global Health Seminar0
EPH 595Global Health Foundations: Principles and Applications1
One of the following:
CDE 534Applied Analytic Methods in Epidemiology1
HPM 583Methods in Health Services Research1
Three Global Health courses from at least two of the perspectives on public health (list of courses published each fall)3
Three elective courses3

Preventive Medicine Track

Core Requirements

BIS 515Accelerated Biostatistics2
CDE 515Accelerated Epidemiology1
EPH 510Health Policy and Health Care Systems1
EPH 513Major Health Threats: Ethics and Practice1
SBS 505Accelerated Social and Behavioral Foundations of Health1
One of the following:
EMD/SBS 584Advanced Global Health Justice Practicum: Fieldwork1
EMD/SBS 588Health Justice Practicum1
EPH 500Public Health Practicum1
EPH 555Clinic in Climate Justice and Public Health1
HPM 555Health Policy or Health Care Management Practicum1
HPM 556Advanced Health Policy Practicum1

Track Requirements

CDE 534Applied Analytic Methods in Epidemiology1
EHS 575Introduction to Occupational and Environmental Medicine1
HPM 570Cost-Effectiveness Analysis and Decision-Making1
One of the following:
CDE 551Global Noncommunicable Disease1
CDE 562Nutrition and Chronic Disease1
CDE 572Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle Interventions1
SBS 594Maternal-Child Public Health Nutrition1
One of the following:
BIS 540Fundamentals of Clinical Trials1
CDE 650Introduction to Evidence-Based Medicine and Health Care1
EMD 533Implementation Science1
SBS 580Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health1
SBS 676Questionnaire Development1
One of the following:
EHS 503Public Health Toxicology1
EHS 508Environmental and Occupational Exposure Science1
EHS 511Principles of Risk Assessment1
EHS 573Epidemiological Issues in Occupational and Environmental Medicine1
Two elective courses2
One of the following capstone courses:
CDE 617Developing a Research Proposal1
EPH 557Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Global Health1
HPM 597Capstone Course in Health Policy1
SBS 574Developing a Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Intervention1

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Track (Yale OEM Fellows)

Core Requirements

EPH 505Biostatistics in Public Health1
EPH 507Social Justice and Health Equity1
EPH 508Foundations of Epidemiology and Public Health1
EPH 510Health Policy and Health Care Systems1
EPH 513Major Health Threats: Ethics and Practice1
One of the following:
EMD/SBS 584Advanced Global Health Justice Practicum: Fieldwork1
EMD/SBS 588Health Justice Practicum1
EPH 500Public Health Practicum1
EPH 555Clinic in Climate Justice and Public Health1
HPM 555Health Policy or Health Care Management Practicum1
HPM 556Advanced Health Policy Practicum1

Track Requirements

CDE 534Applied Analytic Methods in Epidemiology1
EHS 508Environmental and Occupational Exposure Science1
EHS 573Epidemiological Issues in Occupational and Environmental Medicine1
EHS 575Introduction to Occupational and Environmental Medicine1
EPH 525Thesis2
Four elective courses4

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Track (Eleven-Month Students)

Core Requirements

BIS 515Accelerated Biostatistics2
CDE 515Accelerated Epidemiology1
EPH 510Health Policy and Health Care Systems1
EPH 513Major Health Threats: Ethics and Practice1
SBS 505Accelerated Social and Behavioral Foundations of Health1
One of the following:
EMD/SBS 584Advanced Global Health Justice Practicum: Fieldwork1
EMD/SBS 588Health Justice Practicum1
EPH 500Public Health Practicum1
EPH 555Clinic in Climate Justice and Public Health1
HPM 555Health Policy or Health Care Management Practicum1
HPM 556Advanced Health Policy Practicum1

Track Requirements

CDE 534Applied Analytic Methods in Epidemiology1
EHS 508Environmental and Occupational Exposure Science1
EHS 573Epidemiological Issues in Occupational and Environmental Medicine1
EHS 575Introduction to Occupational and Environmental Medicine1
Four elective courses4
One of the following capstone courses:
CDE 617Developing a Research Proposal1
EPH 557Evidence-Based Decision-Making in Global Health1
HPM 597Capstone Course in Health Policy1
SBS 574Developing a Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Intervention1

Competencies

Core Curriculum

The core curriculum of the M.P.H. program focuses on competencies in evidence-based approaches to public health (1–4), public health and health care systems (5–6), planning and management to promote health (7–11), policy in public health (12–15), leadership (16–17), communication (18–20), interprofessional practice (21), and systems thinking (22). Upon completing the core curriculum, the student will be able to:

  1. Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice
  2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context
  3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate
  4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy, or practice
  5. Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings
  6. 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
  7. Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ health
  8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs
  9. Design a population-based policy, program, project, or intervention
  10. Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
  11. Select methods to evaluate public health programs
  12. Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
  13. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
  14. Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
  15. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity
  16. Apply principles of leadership, governance, and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration, and guiding decision-making
  17. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges
  18. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
  19. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
  20. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content
  21. Perform effectively on interprofessional teams
  22. Apply systems-thinking tools to a public health issue

Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology Track

Upon receiving an M.P.H. degree in the Advanced Professional M.P.H. Program, with a concentration in Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology, the student will be able to:

  • Create and manipulate data sets and variables to evaluate epidemiologic associations

  • Conduct and interpret a multivariable linear regression analysis to evaluate epidemiologic associations

  • Conduct and interpret a multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate epidemiologic associations

  • Conduct and interpret a multivariable survival analysis to evaluate epidemiologic associations

  • Conduct and interpret a multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis to evaluate epidemiologic associations

Social and Behavioral Sciences Track

Upon receiving an M.P.H. degree in the Advanced Professional M.P.H. Program, with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Sciences, the student will be able to:

  • Create and manipulate data sets and variables to evaluate epidemiologic associations

  • Conduct and interpret a multivariable linear regression analysis to evaluate epidemiologic associations

  • Conduct and interpret a multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate epidemiologic associations

  • Evaluate health promotion interventions

  • Apply ethical principles to the collection of social and behavioral health data

Health Policy Track

Upon receiving an M.P.H. degree in the Advanced Professional M.P.H. Program, with a concentration in Health Policy, the student will be able to:

  • Identify the presence and drivers of key market failures affecting health and health care and propose concrete policy changes or market mechanisms to counteract resulting inefficiencies

  • Critique empirical research intended to evaluate the causal impact of health policies and health system reforms

  • Develop reform proposals for enhancing the delivery of health services that are politically sustainable and that recognize the relative strengths and weaknesses of market-based vs. regulatory or legal interventions

  • Identify questions in public health policy and practice that may be amenable to model-based approaches

  • Apply stochastic and deterministic modeling approaches, including computational methods for simulation and data analysis

Global Health Track

Upon receiving an M.P.H. degree in the Advanced Professional M.P.H. Program, with a concentration in Global Health, the student will be able to:

  • Describe global burden of disease patterns across world regions and population characteristics

  • Analyze the roles, relationships and resources influencing the United States role in global heath governance and infrastructure

  • Propose sustainable, evidence-based solutions to address key global health challenges

  • Apply ethical approaches in global health research and practice

  • Apply monitoring and evaluation techniques to global health programs, policies or outcomes

  • Display skills in applying research to global health policy and practice

Preventive Medicine Track

Upon receiving an M.P.H. degree in the Advanced Professional M.P.H. Program, with a concentration in Preventive Medicine, the student will be able to:

  • Create and manipulate data sets and variables to evaluate epidemiologic associations

  • Conduct and interpret a multivariable linear regression analysis to evaluate epidemiologic associations

  • Conduct and interpret a multivariable logistic regression analysis to evaluate epidemiologic associations

  • Identify questions in public health policy and practice that may be amenable to model-based approaches

  • Apply stochastic and deterministic modeling approaches, including computational methods for simulation and data analysis

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Track

Upon receiving an M.P.H. degree in the Advanced Professional M.P.H. Program, with a concentration in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the student will be able to:

  • Describe the occupational and environmental contributions to disease and injury, and apply safety and prevention methodology to identified hazards

  • Identify the principal study designs in OEM epidemiology and critically interpret and apply the literature to clinical scenarios

  • Evaluate the appropriate method of testing an exposure and interpret both environmental exposure and biomonitoring data to assess environmental exposures

  • Create and manipulate data sets and variables to evaluate epidemiologic associations

  • Conduct and interpret a multivariable linear regression analysis to evaluate epidemiologic associations