Resources for Current Students
After the ECU Graduate School accepts a new MPH student, an academic advisor meets with the student to plan the 42-credit hour program. Every student receives one-on-one advising from a full-time faculty member of the Department of Public Health. The Program provides opportunities to participate in virtual webinars, such as monthly Lunch-and-Learn presentations and medical school and university-wide seminars. The student-led Public Health Organization (PHO) organizes specific service activities connect with the greater ECU community.
The sections below link to more information for current students.
MPH 42 credit hours program
In fall semester 2025, the MPH program implemented a 42-credit hour program. If you did not transfer to the Academic Year (AY) 2025-2026 Graduate Catalog, your program information is available at the link below.
Students completing the MPH in the Academic Year 2024-2025 curriculum or earlier
MPH Program Manual / Handbook
The MPH Program Handbook provides detailed information about the MPH program, admissions, enrollment, courses, graduation, and expectations of student conduct. Importantly, each concentration has a section within the handbook listing course requirements and recommended electives. View the MPH Student Handbook.
New Students, Onboarding, and Orientation
The MPH program holds a virtual MPH Orientation the first Monday of fall and spring semester at 9am. New MPH students will receive a TEAMS link for the 1.5 hour orientation. Please contact, Rhonda Onorato for additional information. In addition, the Graduate School, which administers the MPH program, provides Graduate School Orientation and other information for all new ECU graduate students
View the Code of Student Conduct.
Applied Practice Experience
The Applied Practice Experience (APE) is offered within each concentration. Students identify a preceptor and coordinate with the preceptor to identify 2 high-quality deliverables. In addition, students select five competencies, of which three must be foundational, to achieve by completing the deliverables. More on the APE can be found here: Applied Practice Experience.
For students following the AY 2024-2025 Graduate Catalog or earlier, use this link for APE information: Archived Applied Practicum Experience.
Integrative Learning Experience
A high-quality written product is required of all MPH students and serves as an Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) in which students demonstrate synthesis of CEPH foundational and CEPH-approved concentration competencies. For the ILE, a student will typically propose a research project, implement it, report findings in a high-quality written paper, and then present their ILE research virtually (or in-person). Requiring three competencies, students select at least one foundational and one concentration competency. See each concentration for more description.
Public Health Student Organization (PHO)
Public Health Student Organization (PHO) is the unified voice of the MPH graduate student body of East Carolina University. If funds permit, PHO aids in the advancement of students’ studies through sponsorship of educational trips at both regional and national conferences. The PHO facilitates camaraderie and unity among students through organized events.
Graduate Assistantships and Campus Employment
The ECU Graduate School provides state-supported Graduate Assistantship (GA) funding each Academic Year to the Department of Public Health.
Funds are available to faculty members to hire graduate students for up to 25 hours per week during fall and spring semesters. Faculty members may also hire GA’s using an investigator’s grant funding. With either funding stream, faculty will promote an opening in a variety of ways. For best opportunities, contact a faculty member that is conducting research that interests you.
GA positions may be in-person or virtual, depending on the needs of the faculty member.
In addition, many research and non-research employment opportunities exist on the ECU campus. Many student and temporary positions are listed on the ECU Jobs Page.