Purdue University’s online public health classes are designed to meet the stringent standards of CEPH accreditation. This means you gain a comprehensive understanding of public health functions, challenges, and processes, as well as the skills to create and implement effective programs.
MPH Competencies
The Purdue Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is designed to prepare you for leadership in the public health field. Below you will find information about the core and concentration competencies we believe are crucial for your success. The competencies are aligned with the Council in Education for Public Health (CEPH) professional standards of academic, operational integrity and quality for accredited public health programs.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health
- Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
- Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for given public health context.
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.
- Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.
Public Health & Health Care Systems
- Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
- Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels.
Planning & Management to Promote Health
- Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities' health.
- Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
- Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
- Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
- Select methods to evaluate public health programs.
Policy in Public Health
- Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
- Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
- Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
- Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
Leadership
- Apply principles of leadership, governance and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision making.
- Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
Communication
- Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
- Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and thorough oral presentation.
- Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.
Inter-Professional Practice
- Perform effectively on interprofessional teams.
Systems Thinking
- Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue.
Family and Community Health Competencies
- Critically evaluate the social, biological, political, legal, economic and environmental factors affecting the health of families and communities.
- Evaluate health programs and policies through the application of appropriate quantitative methods, models and best practices.
- Prioritize community needs, concerns, and resources when addressing family and community health issues.
- Critically evaluate the factors that create, perpetuate and ultimately eliminate health disparities.
- Demonstrate communication skills and strategies for promotion of family and community health.