Master of Public Health
Change the world with your MPH degree
Why are some communities more susceptible to heart disease than others? What role does climate change play in public health? How do we make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and equitable?
Valparaiso University’s master of public health equips you with the necessary tools to address the world’s greatest health challenges. From scientific research to community outreach to legislative action, your work will directly — and positively — impact the lives of others.
Our diverse, inter-professional faculty has extensive experience working across industries and academic disciplines. Learn directly from experts in a comprehensive MPH degree curriculum designed to enhance public health competence to promote health and prevent disease in families, communities, and populations.
Are you ready to make a difference with your MPH degree?
Why Pursue a Master of Public Health at Valpo?
Earning your public health degree with Valpo is a transformative experience — personally and professionally. Our flexible and affordable program prepares you to apply the principles of public health to diverse populations in the United States and around the world.
Immerse yourself in our MPH program with a specialized focus on epidemiology, the foundational discipline that forms the bedrock of comprehending and managing diseases within populations. This field delivers crucial data and insights essential for shaping impactful public health strategies. Throughout your journey in our program, you’ll cultivate not only service-minded leadership but also scientific competencies, empowering you to influence public health and propel your career to new heights.
What makes Valpo’s public health degree different? During your public health courses, you can expect to gain:
Experiential Service Learning
Interact with public health professionals in hospitals, healthcare facilities, and public health agencies around the world and strengthen your cross-cultural communication skills. We offer an abundant array of service-learning trips to countries such as Costa Rica, Thailand, and China, among several others.
Personal Mentorship and Career Guidance
Experience a diverse and interdisciplinary faculty team, including epidemiologists, researchers, health administrators, data scientists, physicians, and public health practitioners. Build meaningful connections with accomplished faculty and industry experts who are eager to share their insight and advice. Smaller public health class sizes allow you to regularly engage with your professors.
A Flexible and Affordable MPH Degree
Earn your master of public health at a pace that suits you – whether attending in person or online, and opting for full-time or part-time enrollment. Valpo offers an affordable tuition rate, ensuring cost savings as you pursue your academic aspirations.
Traditional On-Campus or Online Program Delivery Models
We understand that every student’s journey is unique. That’s why you can choose to take your MPH program in a 100% online format or traditionally, on campus.
What does Public Health at Valpo look like?
At Valpo, you’ll take advanced courses in public health theory, education, research, and practice that will train you to see the world through the lens of a public health professional. Other public health courses you’ll take include:
- Biostatistics
- Environmental Health for a Sustainable Future
- Epidemiology
- Social, Behavioral, and Cultural Factors in Health
- Public Health Policy, Leadership, and Administration
- Public Health Program Planning, Management, and Evaluation
Enriching your educational experience, our master of public health program includes two essential courses: the Applied Practice Experience and the Integrative Learning Experience. Guided by experienced faculty, these hands-on components provide opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios. By actively participating in these experiences, you’ll not only deepen your understanding of public health but also graduate with the practical skills essential for making a meaningful impact in your future public health career.
What can you do with your Master of Public Health?
Demand for public health professionals has never been higher. The healthcare industry will add more jobs — roughly 2.6 million — than any other field over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Meanwhile, salaries continue to rise. Median pay for public health specialists is about $77,000. Public health administrators earn over $100,000 annually, on average.
Benefit from Valpo’s remarkable job placement rate for public health degree students. You will be well-prepared to tackle new challenges and enhance your earning potential.
Hear from our public health students
“I don’t think I ever would’ve guessed that I’d be in this position this soon after graduation, but I am incredibly grateful for everything [Dr. Amy Buckenmeyer] taught me during my time at Valpo! You prepared me well to take on all these challenges head-on, so thank you.”
— Kayle ’22 MPH
Public Health Equity Prevention Manager, Gila County Health and Emergency Management
Get started on your Master of Public Health
Take the next step toward earning your MPH degree. We have the resources to answer all your questions and help you get started.
Ready for a leap in your career or keen on boosting your qualifications?
Explore our offerings in public health certificate and epidemiology certificate. These specialized certificates offer valuable credentials without the extensive time and financial commitments typically associated with pursuing a full-fledged master’s degree.
CONTACT
Zheng Li, Ph.D., MPH, CPH
Program Director for Public Health and Master of Public Health
Associate Professor Health Science
Email: zheng.li@valpo.edu
Phone: 219.464.5289