Epidemiology MPH

Learn more about the Master of Public Health in Epidemiology.

About the Program

The Master of Public Health in Epidemiology is a professional degree program for students who desire fundamental and applied training in the public health sciences with a focus on epidemiological study design, disease surveillance methods, population-based research, and core biostatistical methods. This practice-oriented program prepares students to successfully work in public health and applied epidemiology agencies, including conducting disease surveillance within government public health agencies; directing community demonstration and clinical trials research; and evaluating and running screening programs and other preventative health services in the broad areas of public health practice and health policy. The program is grounded in the core MPH competencies and disciplines of public health with an emphasis on epidemiological techniques. It covers the application of epidemiological research methods with an emphasis on developing research and methodological skills and critically evaluating current epidemiological studies.

Applicants to the MPH in Epidemiology can choose between our on-campus and online programs, both of which adhere to the same competency-based curriculum and content. Only the delivery formats differ:

The on-campus format is designed for students who prefer live interaction with instructors and fellow students, access to campus activities, and the opportunity to choose local Philadelphia fieldwork placements with the assistance of our fieldwork coordinator. Students can enroll full-time or part- time. While some courses may be offered online or in hybrid formats, most of the coursework is delivered in person over a full 16-week academic term during evening hours.
The online format is designed for working professionals interested in completing their degree remotely with courses that include both synchronous classes held via Zoom and asynchronous activities. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. A fieldwork coordinator works with students to find appropriate placement in their preferred geographic location.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years

Campus Location: Main for in-person instruction or Online

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: Students can complete the degree program through evening classes and online courses. Full-time students usually complete the program within two academic years. Part-time students usually take three to four years to complete their degree.

Interdisciplinary Study: Interdisciplinary MPH coursework, research and interactions with students and faculty in other departments are encouraged to give students as broad a perspective as possible to excel in the complex, diverse and dynamic state of public health. Through associations with the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Center for Women's Health, and others, students have access to over 100 faculty at Temple University and additional regional scholars who are actively involved in programs, research and teaching in public health. Further, as with other MPH degree programs offered by the College of Public Health, the MPH in Epidemiology can be undertaken as part of these dual MPH degree programs:

MS Health Informatics/MPH within the Temple University College of Public Health

For more information, visit https://www.temple.edu/academics/dual-degree-programs.

Affiliation(s): Locally, the program has long-standing research affiliations with Fox Chase Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), Temple University Health System. The program also has numerous other health systems and community health agencies and organizations inside and outside of Philadelphia. These partnerships allow us to offer students a wide range of fieldwork opportunities to translate skills learned in the classroom to actual practice in the community.

Study Abroad: Short-term, international travel experiences focused on public health are offered as part of the MPH program of study through the Public Health Beyond Borders (PHBB) group and elective course. Contact the PHBB faculty advisor for information about timing of travel.

Accreditation: The MPH is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Achieving accreditation in 1985, Temple's MPH program is one of the longest established accredited MPH programs in the country.

Areas of Specialization: The MPH degree program is offered in six specialty fields of study:

Applied Biostatistics (APBIO)
Environmental Health (EH)
Epidemiology (EPI)
Health Policy and Management (HPM)
Nutrition (NUTR)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS)

For questions about certificates, please contact your Academic Advisor or Graduate Program Director.

Job Prospects: Graduates with an MPH in Epidemiology have positions in a wide range of health-related settings, including state and local public health departments, community-based organizations, voluntary health agencies, health maintenance organizations, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, clinics, schools and other public health-related work sites. Graduates are employed as HIV/AIDS coordinators, infection control coordinators, project directors, program evaluation specialists, research directors, prevention specialists, environmental health specialists, protocol directors, senior health educators and consultants. Virtually all students are placed within three to six months of graduation.

Licensure/Certification: Students who complete an MPH at Temple University are eligible to sit for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam offered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners and the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) exam offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. (NCHEC). For more information about credentialing in public health, visit the NCHEC website.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students are required to speak with an advisor before registering for classes and to obtain the permission of the professor, whether the coursework is taken in the on-campus or online format. If accepted to the program, a maximum of three courses (9 credits) may be applied toward the degree program. Exceptions to this policy relate to formal certificate programs. For more information, contact the Senior Academic Advisor.

Financing Opportunities: Limited Teaching and Research Assistantships may be available in the Barnett College of Public Health and are assigned on a competitive basis among students who academically excel. Assistantships are awarded on a term or annual basis. Teaching Assistants (TAs) can work 5 to 20 hours per week in any combination of teaching assignments made by the department and must meet the English Language Proficiency standards set by the University and the College. Students who hold Teaching or Research Assistantships are not permitted to hold other employment without the written prior approval of their advisor, the Graduate Program Director, and the Graduate School. Applications for Teaching Assistantships will be sent to matriculated students. To be considered for a Teaching Assistantship in BCPH students must complete the online application. Applicants must be an incoming or current student in a graduate program to be considered. The online application link can be provided by your program director.
Please note: Completion of the application does not guarantee a teaching assistantship.

The Barnett College of Public Health has a limited number of scholarship opportunities available for MPH students. Students may also be eligible for financial support through the Office of Student Financial Services.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: March 1

All applicants to the MPH program must apply via the Centralized Application Service for Public Health (SOPHAS). The system can be accessed at the SOPHAS website.

Applicants should check their application status on the SOPHAS portal often and inquire directly of SOPHAS about receipt of materials. For other questions, please contact the CPH Office of Admissions at cph@temple.edu or 215-204-5200.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation, which are completed electronically through the SOPHAS system, should be obtained from college/university faculty members familiar with the applicant's academic competence. If the applicant has been out of school for more than 5 years, ensure that letters are provided by professional colleagues who can discuss your relevant academic skills, including quantitative and analytical skills, critical thinking, research and writing.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Applicants' files are reviewed for undergraduate coursework in mathematics and/or statistics, social sciences and writing.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of an accredited baccalaureate degree. The minimum acceptable undergraduate GPA is 3.0. No prerequisites must be met to apply to the MPH program at Temple University, but applicants with a GPA of 3.25 or greater in mathematics/statistics courses and strong grades in writing are preferred.

A WES evaluation is required for applicants who completed their bachelor's degree outside of the United States. This can be requested at the WES website and submitted through SOPHAS.

Statement of Goals: Write a well-considered 500- to 1,000-word statement of purpose that articulates your interests in public health and our program in particular. Craft your statement to specifically address the following questions:

Why are you pursuing the MPH in Epidemiology, and what are your particular areas of interest in public health?
How does the MPH in Epidemiology best fit your public health interests?
What are your career goals, and how will this degree help you to achieve these goals?
What are your plans in the first few years after graduation?

Standardized Test Scores:

GRE: Optional. While the program takes a portfolio approach to admissions, standardized tests provide important insight into quantitative and verbal abilities. If submitted, scores above the 50th percentile on both the verbal and quantitative sections of the test are desired. Official GRE scores should be sent to SOPHAS using code 0151. If GRE scores are not submitted, it is recommended that the applicant’s GPA is 3.25 or greater in mathematics and statistics courses. This provides important information on the applicant's quantitative abilities required for the program. Applications that do not include GRE scores and do not meet the mathematics/statistics GPA must provide some evidence of quantitative abilities either through prior experiences, the personal statement and/or letters of recommendation.

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

TOEFL iBT: 4.5 (send officially to SOPHAS using the SOPHAS-specific TOEFL code 5688)
IELTS Academic: 6.5
PTE Academic: 53
Duolingo: 110

Resume: Current resume or CV required.

Laptop: Laptops are integrated into the Barnett College of Public Health curricula, and all students are required to have a laptop for full participation in class activities; online class sessions; online exam proctoring; and the use of special software, which is used to reinforce the learning objectives and program student learning competencies in certain classes. A laptop that meets the minimum device specifications described here IS REQUIRED for all undergraduate and graduate students in the Barnett College of Public Health.

Transfer Credit: Graduate credits from an MPH program accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) may be transferred into the MPH. The credits must be equivalent to coursework offered at Temple, and the grade must be a "B" or better in order to transfer. The Graduate Program Director approves the transfer of credits based on a review of course materials provided by the student. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 9.

Clearances:

Students attending Temple University Barnett College of Public Health are required to submit to Temple University Student Health Services proof of immunizations and immunity. See Student Health Services for requirements and costs:

Prematriculation Requirements | Student Health Services | Student Health Services

Students who are in fully online programs with no in-person class or practicum experience can request a waiver for the above health requirements.  Students can contact their Department’s Graduate Program Director for more information.

All MPH programs require that students complete an Applied Practice Experience (APE). All students who attend programs, which have a clinical / practicum / field education experience, including the APE for the MPH programs, will be required to purchase access to EXXAT APPROVE compliance module ($35).  This module is to order, store, and maintain compliance documents – it is required for participation in the learning experience at an affiliate site. 

All students who attend BCPH programs that have a clinical / practicum / field education experience, which are completed at affiliate sites both on and off the Temple University campus, are required to comply with minimum standard compliance metrics and any APE site-specific standards. The compliance items include the above health requirements and may require additional items including, but not limited to, a national criminal background check, Act 33/34 clearances in the state of Pennsylvania, FBI fingerprinting through DHS or DoE. FBI fingerprints is a national check, which can be performed through any of the 50 states. The total cost to complete the compliance items will vary depending on APE site-specific requirements, but may range from $120-180.

The results of these requirements may limit and potentially eliminate placement options for the student. Failure to complete these requirements will result in students being unable to register for their capstone courses (i.e., HPM/EPBI/SBS 9088, 9089), which may delay anticipated graduation for a minimum of one year.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 42

Required Courses:

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
College Core Course
HRPR 5001	Current and Emerging Issues in Public Health and Health Professions	0
Public Health Core Courses
ENVH 5004	Environmental Health	1.5
EPBI 5006	Biostatistics and Applied Analysis of Health	4.5
EPBI 5201	Epidemiological Research Methods I	3
HPM 5006	Political and Economic Aspects of Health	3
SBS 5001	Fundamentals of Public Health	3
SBS 5002	Program Planning, Theory, and Practice	3
Epidemiology Core Courses
EPBI 8012	Multivariable Biostatistics	3
EPBI 8202	Epidemiological Research Methods II	3
EPBI 8205	Chronic Disease Epidemiology	3
or EPBI 8206	Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Epidemiology Elective ¹
Select one from the following:		3
ENVH 8207	Environmental Epidemiology
EPBI 5205	Surveillance, Epidemics and Outbreaks
EPBI 8011	Social Epidemiology
EPBI 8207	Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology
EPBI 8209	Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS
EPBI 8213	Cancer Epidemiology
Electives ^{1, 2}
Select two from the following:		6
EPBI 5003	Spatial Analysis in Public Health
EPBI 5204	Mental Health Epidemiology
EPBI 5387	Public Health Beyond Borders International Action Project
EPBI 5500	Seminar in Current Issues in Public Health ³
EPBI 8301	Clinical Research Methods in Public Health
EPBI 8303	Behavioral Epidemiology
EPBI 8307	Systematic Reviews
MPH Capstone Experience
EPBI 9087	MPH Capstone I	1.5
EPBI 9088	MPH Capstone II	3
EPBI 9188	MPH Capstone III	1.5
Total Credit Hours		42

¹: Other electives may be taken with approval.
²: Courses not taken to fulfill the Epidemiology elective above may be selected to fulfill one or both of these general electives.
³: Approval required.

Repeating a course in the curriculum may result in delayed progression and/or delayed graduation. Students who are out of sequence due to unsuccessful completion or withdrawal must consult with their academic advisor or program director to develop a remediation plan, including a revised plan of study.

Minimum Grade to be Earned for All Required Courses: B-

Culminating Events:
Capstone Practicum:
Students are required to synthesize and integrate the knowledge acquired in coursework and other learning experiences and to apply theory and principles in a situation that approximates some aspect of professional practice through an internship or practicum experience with a public health agency, health services organization, or under the supervision of a faculty preceptor. The MPH fieldwork experience serves as the Applied Practice Experience (APE) as required by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the accrediting body for schools and programs of public health, for completion of the Master of Public Health degree. In addition, this APE provides the student with the opportunity to develop expertise in a topic area and to contribute original and independent observations to a body of knowledge.

Proposal:
To find a site with appropriate capstone activities and identify a feasible project that will become the evaluative paper, students must prepare a proposal that is approved by the Department.

Evaluative Paper:
The MPH programs utilize the capstone courses (EPBI 9087, 9088, and 9089) to fulfill the Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) requirement. For the ILE, students produce a comprehensive, analytical practice-based or scholarly product that is grounded in evidence and demonstrates professional and/or academic writing. Students must demonstrate their proficiency and the application of theory and principles in the evaluative paper as their culminating project for the capstone courses.

Accelerated Programs

Undergraduate students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The accelerated pathway for the Epidemiology MPH is available to students pursuing the Public Health BS.

Cohort Code: XMPHEPI

Minimum Cumulative GPA: 3.50

Graduate Courses Approved to Count for Both Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
EPBI 5201	Epidemiological Research Methods I ¹	3
HPM 5006	Political and Economic Aspects of Health ²	3
SBS 5001	Fundamentals of Public Health ³	3
SBS 5002	Program Planning, Theory, and Practice ⁴	3

¹: EPBI 5201 fulfills the EPBI 3102 requirement for the Public Health BS.
²: HPM 5006 fulfills the HPM 2214 requirement for the Public Health BS.
³: SBS 5001 fulfills a Public Health elective for the Public Health BS.
⁴: SBS 5002 fulfills a Public Health elective for the Public Health BS.

Suggested Academic Plan

Plan of Study Grid
Year 3
Fall		Credit Hours
SBS 5001	Fundamentals of Public Health	3
	Credit Hours	3
Spring
HPM 5006	Political and Economic Aspects of Health	3
	Credit Hours	3
Year 4
Fall
EPBI 5201	Epidemiological Research Methods I	3
	Credit Hours	3
Spring
SBS 5002	Program Planning, Theory, and Practice	3
	Credit Hours	3
	Total Credit Hours	12

Admissions Criteria

Candidates for the +1 program must:

be a declared Public Health major.
must take 12 graduate credits.
must earn a B or better in graduate courses.
take no more than 18 credits per term once starting the +1 program.
if a junior status entrant, be able to complete their undergraduate degree within two years of program entry; if a senior status entrant, be able to complete their undergraduate degree within one year of program entry.
complete the graduate degree in one additional year including one summer term.