Let’s finish our trek across the “Peach State” with seven more accredited schools offering sweet Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Georgia to improve societal health.
Located in the Southeast, Georgia has 10.31 million lives to protect from harmful diseases like Zika virus, HIV, tuberculosis, diabetes, and many more. The Georgia Department of Public Health currently operates 159 county health entities across 18 public health districts. MPH graduates are working hard because Georgia is ranked the 10th least healthy U.S. state with the fourth highest lack of health insurance. The BLS reports that Georgia employs 3,190 health educators, 1,040 community health workers, and 4,320 healthcare social workers.
After you’ve finished reading our listing of Master’s in Public Health Degrees in Georgia (A-E), find your strength helping people thrive at one of these public health graduate schools in Georgia.
Fort Valley State University
School of Graduate Studies and Extended Education
Occupying 1,365 acres in Peach County just 27 miles southwest of Macon, Fort Valley State University is a public, historically black TMCF member founded in 1895 that’s now educating 2,227 Wildcats and employing 400 administrative staff under President Paul Jones. Ranked the 31st best HBCU by the U.S. News, FVSU is named America’s 222nd hardest college to get into with the 192nd best college dorms on Niche. The School of Graduate Studies and Extended Education delivers one of the Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Georgia with an admission rate of 24 percent.
Master of Public Health: Environmental Health
Chaired by Dr. Oreta Samples, FVSU’s Master of Public Health presently bills $181 for Georgians and $672 for non-residents per credit to study the effects of global ecological conditions on diverse human populations. Offering access to the Healthy People 2020 database, the 45-credit, EHAC-accredited degree mixes traditional courses in Fort Valley with online learning. MPH students select from two concentrations in Environmental Health or Agricultural Epidemiology. Post-grads also choose a master’s thesis or non-thesis field experience with partners like the Department of Interior.
Accreditation
• Environmental Health Accreditation Council (EHAC)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1005 State University Dr.
Fort Valley, GA 31030
(478) 825-6904
sampleso@fvsu.edu
Georgia Southern University
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
Belonging to the Sun Belt Conference, Georgia Southern University is a public, doctoral-level USG constituent with land-grant status and a $46.2 million endowment to educate 20,673 Eagles from 86 nations upon its 920-acre Statesboro campus within the Magnolia Midlands Region. Crowned America’s 83rd best big college on Niche, GSU is ranked the 212th top public university and 216th best research institute by Forbes. The Jiann-Ping Hsu College also placed within the USNWR’s top 50 nationally for one of the Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Georgia.
Master of Public Health
Reaccredited by the CEPH in January 2016, Georgia Southern’s Master of Public Health uses a 21:1 student-faculty ratio to provide terminal, practice-oriented education for graduates who will inform people about community health problems for disease prevention. Requiring a 2.75 GPA on the SOPHAS application, the 45-credit degree has five concentrations: Epidemiology, Environmental Health, Biostatistics, Health Services Administration, and Community Health Education. Unique opportunities include researching in the Karl E. Peace Center, joining Eta Sigma Gamma, traveling to Kenya, and earning the Reeves Biostatistics Scholarship.
Accreditation
• Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1332 Southern Dr.
P.O. Box 8015
Statesboro, GA 30460
(912) 478-2674
jphcoph@georgiasouthern.edu
Georgia State University
School of Public Health/College of Law
Led by President Mark P. Becker, Georgia State University is a public, co-educational RU/VH research powerhouse within the USG system that’s open to 50,972 Panthers in 250+ academic programs based upon its 518-acre metropolitan campus in Atlanta, Forbes’ ninth best place for careers. Ranked within the top 500 globally by Times Higher Education, GSU is named America’s 182nd best public university with the 136th best student life on Niche. The U.S. News also recognized the ABA-accredited College of Law for the seventh best healthcare law degree.
Master of Public Health
Accepting applications until March 15th or October 1st yearly, GSU’s Master of Public Health has admitted post-grads from 40+ countries with a minimum 2.75 GPA since 2007 for CEPH-accredited education that focuses on addressing health concerns affecting urban dwellers. The 42-credit degree integrates 240 practicum hours into concentrated coursework for Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Health, Health Promotion & Behavior, or Health Management and Policy. Students could benefit from working with AID Atlanta, spending Maymester in Brazil, or conducting thesis research in the Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science.
Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health Dual Degree
College of Law hopefuls wanting to save time on Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Georgia should consider the JD/MPH Dual Degree, which transfers 12 credits toward their 90-credit legal program. After passing the LSAT, students concurrently study legislative procedures and regulations while mastering multifaceted public health practice. Coordinated by Stacie Kershner, JD, the curriculum takes four years full-time with in-house clinics and externships at the Centers for Disease Control, Georgia Hospital Association, Atlanta Legal Aid Society, and more.
Accreditation
• Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• American Bar Association (ABA)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Urban Life Building 848
140 Decatur Street
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 413-1452
publichealthadvising@gsu.edu
Mercer University
College of Health Professions
Featured on the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, Mercer University is the oldest private, nonprofit NAICU member statewide that’s endowed for $265 million under President William D. Underwood to enlighten 8,500 Bears at two main campuses in Atlanta and Macon. Deemed America’s 188th best Common App college and 89th most conservative university, Mercer is ranked the 105th top Southern institution by Forbes. The College of Health Professions excels on the USNWR survey with the 47th best pharmacy, 79th best physical therapy, and 57th top PA degrees.
MPH Program
Launched in 1998, the Mercer MPH Program maintains CEPH approval and a beneficial 13:1 student-faculty ratio to produce advanced generalists who confront health threats to promote wellness in multicultural communities. Starting each Fall at the Macon Campus for $965 per credit, the 42-credit curriculum delves into social determinants of health, disease prevention, rural health, and epidemiology. Post-grads can also intern with the NIH, engage in Public Health Association activities, join the CHP Student Leadership Group, and contribute to the South Georgia Farmworker Project.
DPT/MPH Program
Priced at $10,200 per full-time semester, the DPT/MPH stands out among Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Georgia by pairing a Doctor of Physical Therapy for Mercer post-grads to promote community well-being with exercises that restore movement after illness or injury. Approved by the CAPTE, the four-year degree requires 135 credits, including a 12-week clinical internship, with courses from minority health to gross anatomy and clinical examination. There’s also the Post-Doctoral Residency in Neurologic Physical Therapy or Fellowship in Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy.
PharmD/MPH Program
Since becoming the Southeast’s first Doctor of Pharmacy school in 1981, Mercer began the PharmD/MPH Program for dual majors with 120+ college credits who seek the ACPE-accredited training to ethically dispense medications and solve public health issues via therapy management. Estimated to cost $143,324 total before aid, the five-year program blends courses like infectious disease and pharmaceutics with eight advanced practice experiences. Students may also pursue the Diabetes Care Certificate, research in the Center for Drug Delivery, and take Global Medical Missions abroad.
MMSc/MPH Program
Emphasizing rural medicine, Mercer’s MMSc/MPH Program adds the Master of Medical Science for public health practitioners to dually prepare for becoming physician assistants and supporting patient care decisions. Usually taking 3.5 years for $10,992 per full-time term, the 128-credit degree includes courses like women’s health, diagnostic interpretation, and medical nutrition at the Atlanta Campus. Boasting an average PANCE pass rate of 96 percent, the degree requires clinical preceptorships at settings like WellStar Atlanta, Grady Memorial Hospital, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Northside Hospital.
Accreditation
• Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
• Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)
• Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Davis Building, Suite 200
3001 Mercer University Dr.
Atlanta, GA 30341
(678) 547-6492
turner_nc@mercer.edu
Newton Hall, 1st Floor
1501 Mercer University Dr.
Macon, GA 31207
(478) 301-5478
chen_h@mercer.edu
Morehouse School of Medicine
Community Health & Preventative Medicine Department
Established by Morehouse College’s President Hugh M. Gloster in 1975 before gaining independence in 1981, Morehouse School of Medicine is a private, co-educational health sciences institution that’s endowed for $56.1 million to enroll students with an average MCAT score of 27. Situated in West End Atlanta near Spelman, Morehouse is currently ranked the 121st best medical school by StartClass. The Community Health & Preventative Medicine Department offers one of the Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Georgia with 90 percent career placement.
Graduate Education in Public Health (MPH)
Offering electives at ARCHE partners like Emory and Georgia State, Morehouse’s Graduate Education in Public Health (MPH) is an advanced, generalist program chaired by Stephanie Miles-Richardson, DVM, to produce practitioners for underserved communities. Integrating service learning in the Atlanta Promise Neighborhood, the 48-credti curriculum spans two years full-time with courses from global health systems to behavioral health. Majors could also join MPH Learning Communities, research in the Cancer Health Equity Institute, study abroad in Ghana, and intern at the Atlanta VA Medical Center.
Accreditation
• Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
• Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
720 Westview Dr. SW
Atlanta, GA 30310
(404) 752-1946
smiles-richardson@msm.edu
South University
College of Nursing and Public Health
Owned by Education Management Corporation like Argosy, South University is a private, for-profit higher learning school governed under Chancellor John T. South III to educate 18,370 students from the associate to doctoral level at 11 campuses and online from its Savannah headquarters. Recognized for America’s 480th best professors on Niche, South is ranked in the top 15 percent for health professions by College Factual. Tracing back to 1899, the College of Nursing and Public Health is a CCNE-accredited division that’s delivering 15 degrees, including another of the Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Georgia that costs $562 per credit.
Master of Public Health
Accessible 24/7 online or on-site for Georgians in Savannah, the Master of Public Health at South University can take just 17 months full-time for graduates to learn strategies for promoting community welfare from an ecological approach. The 56-credit degree prepares for the capstone practicum with courses like biostatistical methods, health informatics, occupational health, policy planning, and grant writing. Specializations are offered for Public Health Practice or Health Management and Policy. Alumni have excelled with Sistercare, Carl Vinson VA Medical Center, McLeod Hospital, and others.
Accreditation
• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
709 Mall Blvd.
Savannah, GA 31406
(800) 688-0932
materialsreview@southuniversity.edu
The University of Georgia
College of Public Health
Budgeting $1.37 billion annually, the University of Georgia is a mega public, sun-grant RU/VH powerhouse headed by President Jere Morehead to educate 36,130 Bulldogs and employ 2,999 academic staff on its multiple campuses in Athens, Gwinnett, Athens, Forston, Eatonton, and Tybee Island. Declared the 221st top U.S. college by Times Higher Education, UGA is recognized for America’s third best student life and seventh best campus on Niche. The College of Public Health also ranks 31st for its high-quality MPH education on the U.S. News report.
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Coordinated by Director Lindsey Whittaker, the Master of Public Health (MPH) at the UGA Health Sciences Campus accepts post-grads with GRE scores in the top 60th percentile for learning to improve community health outcomes globally. The 44-credit, 24-month degree offers concentrations for Biostatistics, Disaster Management, Gerontology, Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Behavior, Health Policy and Management, or Environmental Health Science. There’s also an Honors B.S./MPH, MSW/MPH, or MBA/MPH. Students can also conduct practicum at the CDC, study abroad in Croatia, and join Epsilon Nu Eta.
MD/MPH Dual Program
Through the Medical Partnership with Augusta University, UGA delivers the MD/MPH as another of the concurrent Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Georgia for aspiring physicians to finish LCME-accredited education with knowledge of population-based issues. Offering a $24,000 stipend annually, the five-year program directed by Dr. W. Scott Richardson integrates courses from palliative care to emergency medicine with clinical rotations. Medical Doctor students can also earn Alpha Upsilon Phi Honors, practice in the Student-Run Clinic, join the Surgery Interest Group, or attend the AU/UGA Student Research Symposium.
Accreditation
• Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
• Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Rhodes Hall, Room 105N
105 Spear Rd.
Athens, GA 30602
(706) 583-0885
mph@uga.edu
Attending an accredited college for an MPH guarantees Georgians that their learning will meet the industry standards expected by healthcare employers. For a $385 fee, graduates will also qualify for the NBPHE exam to become Certified in Public Health. Investing in public health courses pays off with average salaries of $31,222 to $124,701 according to PayScale. Whether you want to become a health and safety engineer, environmental scientist, or biostatistician, these Master’s in Public Health degree programs in Georgia can take you there.
