MPH Program: Three Concentrations
Three concentrations are offered in the ECU MPH Program. Prospective students select a concentration during the application process. All concentration courses are assessed through an accreditation competency.
- Community Health & Health Behavior (CHHB)
- Epidemiology (EPI)
- Health Policy, Administration & Leadership (HPAL)
For a listing of courses in the MPH program, see the ECU Graduate Catalog.
Community Health & Health Behavior (CHHB)
Community Health & Health Behavior concentration prepares students for careers in health promotion and community-based efforts to improve health. CHHB concentration-specific coursework requires 18 semester hours (SH), of which 9 are elective. Program implementation and evaluation, non-profit grant writing, and quality improvement methods are examples of concentration courses. Elective courses on maternal and child health and community nutrition are offered. The APE and ILE are three-credit, two course sequences, respectively, over two semesters totaling 6 SH. Electives are ECU courses at 6000 level or higher approved by the academic advisor and instructor (where required). The concentration coordinator is Stephanie Pitts, PhD, jilcotts@ecu.edu.
CHHB Concentration
Capstone
| Course Number | Semester Hours | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
| MPH 6904 | 1 | Introduction to Applied Practice Experience |
| MPH 6906 | 2 | Applied Practice Experience for CHHB |
| MPH 6991 | 1 | Integrative Learning Experience Proposal |
| MPH 6992 | 2 | Integrative Learning Experience Implementation |
Concentration
| Course Number | Semester Hours | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
| MPH 6500 | 1 | Quality Improvement in Public Health |
| MPH 6501 | 1 | Grant Writing in Public Health |
| MPH 6502 | 1 | Public Health Project Management |
| MPH 6027 | 3 | Mixed Methods Research |
| MPH 6750 | 3 | Advanced Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation |
| Elective – Select 3 | 9 | ex. MPH 6620 Community Nutrition |
Total Concentration Semester Hours: 24
CHHB Concentration Competencies
| Competency | Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
| Design a quality improvement plan for a public health program. | MPH 6500 | Quality Improvement in Public Health |
| Prepare a grant or funding proposal that supports health promotion and/or disease prevention initiatives. | MPH 6501 | Grant Writing in Public Health |
| Design an implementation plan for a public health program. | MPH 6502 | Public Health Project Management |
| Apply mixed methods analyses to evaluate public health issues, programmatic needs, or intervention outcomes. | MPH 6027 | Mixed-Methods Research |
| Apply Intervention Mapping to public health program planning, implementation, or evaluation. | MPH 6750 | Advanced Public Health Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation |
Epidemiology (EPI)
The Epidemiology Concentration prepares students for careers in federal, state, and local public health agencies, clinical research, and private and non-profit health-related research activities, with emphasis on analyzing data. EPI-concentration specific coursework requires 20 SH, of which eight SH are electives. Electives are courses at 6000 level or higher, approved by the academic advisor and instructor (where required). The concentration coordinator is Aaron Kipp, PhD, KippA19@ecu.edu.
The APE, formerly known as the ‘internship’, is a one semester course completing at least 120 hours with the agency. The APE is conducted toward the final semester in the EPI Concentration. The APE process includes developing 2 high quality deliverables for a preceptor who is a professional in the field of public health (defined broadly).
The ILE, formerly known as ‘professional paper’, is completed in one semester. Epidemiology students conduct data analysis for the ILE. The student may choose among two options: 1) to develop a research question and identify a dataset (academic track) or 2) the student may be provided a research question for analysis using a data set provided by the instructor (professional track). See the APE and ILE pages for more details.
EPI Concentration
Capstone
| Course Number | Semester Hours | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
| MPH 6907 | 2 | Applied Practice Experience for Epidemiology |
| MPH 6993 | 2 | Combined Integrative Learning Experience |
Concentration
| Course Number | Semester Hours | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
| MPH 7100 | 3 | Methods in Analytic Epidemiology |
| MPH 7201 | 3 | Introduction to Survey Methodology |
| MPH 7202 | 3 | Public Health Data Analysis |
| MPH 6702 | 3 | Epidemiology Research Process |
Electives
| Course Number | Semester Hours | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
| MPH 6021 or MPH 6022 | 3 | Epid of Chronic Disease or Epid of Infectious Disease |
| MPH 7200 or MPH 7150 | 2 | Fundamentals of Public Health Surveillance or Intro to Clinical Research |
| Additional elective | 3 | 6000 or 7000 level course approved by advisor |
Total Concentration Semester Hours: 24
EPI Concentration Competencies
| Competency | Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
| Critique an epidemiology study for its validity. | MPH 7100 | Methods in Analytic Epidemiology |
| Justify epidemiologic study designs appropriate for examining a public health problem. | MPH 7100 | Methods in Analytic Epidemiology |
| Evaluate and utilize secondary sources of data. | MPH 7201 | Introduction to Survey Methodology |
| Generate a survey for primary data collection tools. | MPH 6702 | Epidemiology Research Process |
| Perform multivariable analysis of epidemiologic data. | MPH 7202 | Public Health Data Analysis |
Health Policy, Administration & Leadership (HPAL)
The Health Policy, Administration & Leadership concentration prepares students for careers in management and leadership in the healthcare sector. The HPAL Concentration requires 18 SH, with one elective. Electives are courses at 6000 level or higher, approved by the academic advisor and instructor (where required). Both the APE and ILE are three-credit, two course sequences, respectively, over two semesters totaling 6 SH.
The MPH HPAL concentration offers a sub-specialty in Long-Term Care Administration, which facilitates federal and state licensure as a long-term care administrator. ECU offers a scholarship to support MPH HPAL students interested in a career as a licensed long term care administrator. The concentration coordinator is Rashmita Basu, PhD, basur19@ecu.edu.
HPAL Concentration
Capstone
| Course Number | Semester Hours | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
| MPH 6904 | 1 | Introduction to Applied Practice Experience |
| MPH 6905 | 2 | Applied Practice Experience for HPAL |
| MPH 6991 | 1 | Integrative Learning Experience Proposal |
| MPH 6992 | 2 | Integrative Learning Experience Implementation |
Concentration
| Course Number | Semester Hours | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
| MPH 6020 | 3 | Research Methods |
| MPH 6700 | 3 | Health Economics |
| MPH 6800 | 3 | Health Policy and Politics |
| MPH 6810 | 3 | Strategic and Financial Management of Healthcare Organizations |
| MPH 7010 | 3 | Human Resource Management and Leadership for Health Administration |
| Elective – Select 1 | 3 |
Total Concentration Semester Hours: 24
HPAL Concentration Competencies
| Competency | Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluate how health policy impacts access to care, health outcomes, and reduces health disparities in the US. | MPH 6800 | Health Policy and Politics |
| Cultivate leadership skills in strategic planning/management with a focus on reducing disparities in disadvantaged populations. | MPH 6810 | Strategic and Financial Management of Healthcare Organizations |
| Perform financial analysis and evaluate its implications for healthcare and policy decision-making | MPH 6810 | Strategic and Financial Management of Healthcare Organizations |
| Develop and apply human resources leadership skills for effective management of public health organizations. | MPH 7010 | Human Resource Management and Leadership for Health Administration |
| Perform essential (quantitative) data analyses using statistical methods related to healthcare use and management. | MPH 6020 | Research Methods |