MPH Core Course Competency Information

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredits the ECU Masters of Public Health (MPH) program. CEPH outlines 22 foundational competencies that must be assessed in required core coursework that MPH students complete.  The 22 competencies are grouped into categories aligned with key activities within public health. The Table below lists the 22 foundational competencies by category.  Next to the competency is the existing core courses and the proposed new core coursework.

Assessment of Competencies for MPH (all concentrations)
CEPH CompetencyExisting course number and nameProposed course number and name*
Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health
1. Apply epidemiological methods to settings and situations in public health practiceMPH 6011: Introduction to EpidemiologyMPH 6XXX: Principles of Epidemiology
2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health contextMPH 6020: Research Methods

MPH 6027: Mixed Methods Research

MPH: 6702: Epidemiology Methods		MPH 6XXX: Principles of Epidemiology
3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as appropriateMPH 6020: Research Methods

MPH 6027: Mixed Methods Research		BIOS 7021: Biostatistics for Health Professionals 1 (quant)

MPH 6043: Public Health Planning and Evaluation (qual)
4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practiceMPH 6011: Introduction to Epidemiology
BIOS 7021: Biostatistics for Health Professionals 1
Public Health & Health Care Systems
5. Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settingsMPH 6000: Public Health Practice
MPH 6042: Public Health Organization and Practice
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 systemic levelsMPH 6000: Public Health Practice
MPH 6XXX: Topics in Rural Health (tentative name)
Planning & Management to Promote Health
7. Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ healthMPH 6000: Public Health Practice
MPH 6043: Public Health Planning and Evaluation
8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs MPH 6013: Principles of Health BehaviorMPH 6043: Public Health Planning and Evaluation
9. Design a population-based policy, program, project, or interventionMPH 6010: Fundamentals of Environmental HealthMPH 6043: Public Health Planning and Evaluation
10. Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management1MPH 6000: Public Health Practice
MPH 6042: Public Health Organization and Practice
11. Select methods to evaluate public health programsMPH 6011: Introduction to EpidemiologyMPH 6043: Public Health Planning and Evaluation
Policy in Public Health
12. Discuss the policy-making process,2 including the roles of ethics and evidence MPH 6002: Ethics and Law in Public Health
MPH 6044: Principles of Public Policy
13. Propose strategies to identify relevant communities and individuals and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomesMPH 6035: Interdisciplinary Rural Health
MPH 6044: Principles of Public Policy
14. Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations3MPH 6035: Interdisciplinary Rural Health
MPH 6044: Principles of Public Policy
15. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equityMPH 6010: Fundamentals of Public HealthMPH 6044: Principles of Public Policy
Leadership
16. Apply leadership and/or management principles to address a relevant issue4MPH 6000: Public Health Practice
MPH 6042: Public Health Organization and Practice
17. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges5MPH 6000: Public Health Practice
MPH 6042: Public Health Organization and Practice
Communication
18. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors MPH 6002: Ethics and Law in Public Health
MPH 6045: Strategies for Public Health Communication
19. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation to a non-academic, non-peer audience with attention to factors such as literacy and health literacyMPH 6013: Principles of Health BehaviorMPH 6045: Strategies for Public Health Communication
20. Describe the importance of cultural humility6 in communicating public health contentMPH 6013: Principles of Health BehaviorMPH 6045: Strategies for Public Health Communication
Interprofessional Practice
21. Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health7MPH 6035: Interdisciplinary Rural Health
MPH 6045: Strategies for Public Health Communication
Systems Thinking
22. Apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative8MPH 6000: Public Health Practice
MPH 6046: Environmental Public Health

*Pending University Approval

  1. “Resource management” refers to stewardship (planning, monitoring, etc.) of resources throughout a project, not simply preparing a budget statement that projects what resources will be required.
  2. This competency refers to technical aspects of how public policies are created and adopted, including legislative and/or regulatory roles and processes, ethics in public policy making, and the role of evidence in creating policy.
  3. This competency refers to the ability to influence policy and/or decision making, such as through stakeholder mobilization or educating policy makers.
  4. Such principles may include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration, and guiding decision making.
  5. “Negotiation and mediation,” in this competency, refers to the set of skills needed when a common solution is required among parties with conflicting interests and/or different desired outcomes.
  6. See CEPH 2024 criteria document Definitions section or Criterion G1 for definition.
  7. This competency requires direct engagement (in-person or online) between the student and an individual(s) in a profession or sector other than public health.
  8. Systems thinking tools depict or map complex relationships, demonstrating, for example, how component parts of a system interact with and influence one another.