School of Public Health Division of Epidemiology & Community Health

MPH “I've had a really great experience with everyone I've met here at the U of MN. I've had fantastic faculty, all the classes have been wonderful and I've really had a lot of opportunities to be involved with the school and with the community.” - Kate Levinson Awsumb, graduate

The Community Health Promotion MPH program at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health trains students to work with populations to improve health outcomes. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of using research to inform practice and, through elective credits, provides flexibility for students to tailor the program to meet their individual needs. Our program faculty focus on multiple public health issues including: obesity, tobacco/alcohol, infectious disease, LGBT health, global health, and public health policy. This program will prepare you to:  Influence policy and public opinion on health

issues.  Work with communities, health departments,

and nonprofit organizations and policymakers to create healthy living and working environments.  Design, advocate for and evaluate efforts to

promote healthy behaviors and social conditions for specific populations.

Program Curriculum The basic two-year, full-time program requires 48 credits to complete. Students may pursue their MPH on a full-time or part-time basis. The majority of the courses are offered during the day, but public health core courses are also available online. Course topic examples:  Theory  Core public health courses  Health behavior and policy interventions  Assessment methods  Critical issues related to specific population

Field Experience Every student must complete a field experience and/or master’s project. This allows our students the opportunity to be active in the public health community through field placements and employment at local, state and national and international public and private organizations. Examples:  Breast Care International in Kumasi, Ghana  MAP International in Bolivia  Minneapolis Urban League  Rural Health Resource Center

FOR MORE INFORMATION Web: sph.umn.edu/programs/che Phone: 612-626-8802 Email: [email protected]

©2015 Regents of the University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

What do CHP Professionals do? Put simply, health promotion involves activities to improve community health and prevent disease. Health promotion activities offer solutions to many of the health problems facing society through developing skills and knowledge, community action, supportive environments, healthy public policy and reorienting health services. Health promotion works towards improving people’s health through community change.

CHP Graduates The professional field of Community Health Promotion once was practiced mainly in classrooms and health care facilities. Now, community health educators work in a variety of settings, including all levels of government, voluntary and social service agencies, medical care organizations, workplaces, schools, and advocacy organizations. There are opportunities for our graduates internationally as well.

Interdisciplinary Concentrations and Minors Interdisciplinary concentrations are optional secondary areas of study to further enrich the MPH degree. Students have the option of concentrating their studies in these areas:  Health Disparities  Public Health Policy  Over 30 graduate level minors are available for MPH students.

Dual/Joint Degrees This MPH is a good path for students planning for a career as a public health practitioner or to pursue a PhD degree in social and behavioral epidemiology, which is available in the School of Public Health. Sample employers of our graduates:  American Refugee Committee  Spectrum Community Mental Health  WellShare International  Hennepin County Human Services  State of Wisconsin – Dept. of Health  March of Dimes  Minnesota Aids Project

The School of Public Health offers numerous joint and dual degree options in collaboration with schools and colleges across the University.  Community Health Promotion MPH / JD in Law  Community Health Promotion MPH / MSW in Social Work

Admission Qualifications Applicants are admitted from a wide variety of academic backgrounds, including social and behavioral sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology), the humanities, basic sciences (e.g., biology, nursing), and mathematics. There is no single appropriate undergraduate major, but applicants should meet prerequisites by the time of admission. Prerequisites  Baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited college or university  College-level courses in the following areas:  Social and behavioral sciences (at least 3 courses)

 Introductory statistics (1 course)  One year of paid or volunteer experience in a public health, social service, or community setting Preferred Performance Levels:  GPA of 3.00  GRE score of 300 (verbal and quantitative combined), with a 3.5 on the AWA  TOEFL score of 600/250/100 (international students) Application deadlines are available online at:

http://sph.umn.edu/programs/che

A Great Place to Live A diverse metropolitan area, Minneapolis/ St. Paul is known for its outstanding quality of life. There are sparkling and accessible lakes, miles of bike trails, and four seasons of activities. The campus lies in the heart of nationally recognized arts, theater, and music venues. Community and cultural celebrations, professional sports, and top restaurants add to a dynamic and vibrant scene.