MPH Program Revision: Concentration Courses

Three concentrations are offered in the ECU MPH Program.

• Community Health & Health Behavior (CHHB)
• Epidemiology (EPI)
• Health Policy, Administration & Leadership (HPAL)

Applicants select a concentration during the application process. The next sections describe the proposed curriculum by concentration.

Community Health & Health Behavior Concentration (CHHB)

CHHB concentration prepares students for careers in health promotion and community-based efforts to improve health. Eighteen SH are offered in the proposed curriculum compared to 15 SH in the existing. The proposed curriculum retains 3, 1-SH courses and combines program planning and evaluation into one advanced course. A research methods course (MPH 6027), once in MPH core, is required in the concentration.  The APE and ILE courses will have 2 and 1 SH, respectively.  Electives are ECU courses at 6000 level or higher, approved by the academic advisor and instructor (where required). The concentration coordinator is Nancy Winterbauer, PhD, winterbauern@ecu.edu.

Epidemiology Concentration

The Epidemiology Concentration prepares students for careers in public health departments, clinical research, and academia, with the goal to reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality in populations.  Twenty SH are offered in the proposed curriculum compared to 15 SH in the existing curriculum. The proposed curriculum retains 3, 3-SH courses in existing concentration. Among two courses formerly required, one must be selected. Among two new 2-SH courses, one must be selected, with 1 elective remaining.  A Research Methods course (MPH 6702), once in MPH core, is required in the concentration. The APE and ILE courses will have 2 SH, respectively. An elective group represents a group of courses from which to select a course. One course from two elective groups is required in EPI. Other courses in an elective group can serve as an elective. Electives are courses at 6000 level or higher, approved by the academic advisor and instructor (where required).  The concentration coordinator is Suzanne Lea, PhD, leac@ecu.edu.

Health Policy, Administration & Leadership (HPAL) Concentration

The HPAL concentration prepares students for careers in management and leadership in the healthcare sector. 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. Eighteen SH are offered in the proposed curriculum compared to 15 in the existing curriculum. The proposed curriculum retains 3, 3-SH courses and adds another, MPH 6700 Health Economics, with 1 elective remaining.  A research methods course (MPH 6020), formerly in MPH core, is required in the concentration. The APE and ILE courses will have 3 and 3 SH, respectively, which are unchanged from the existing courses. Electives are courses at 6000 level or higher, approved by the academic advisor and instructor (where required). The concentration coordinator is Huabin Luo, PhD, luoh@ecu.edu.