There are a number of high-ranking universities and colleges that call the “Bay State” home, so it’s no wonder why there are a number of accredited master’s in public health degrees in Massachusetts.
As the country’s third most densely populated state, Massachusetts is home to 132 hospitals, including Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital. However, Massachusetts still has a need for public health practitioners who can help to stop the obesity epidemic, combat the high binge-drinking rate, lower health disparities and solve the number of preventable hospitalizations. If you’re looking to use your skills and knowledge to better the health of residents in Massachusetts, check out the following master’s in public health degrees.
Tufts University
School of Medicine
Tufts University, located in Medford, Massachusetts, was founded in 1852. In 2016, Forbes ranked Tufts 12th on its list of best research universities in the U.S., and the undergraduate school was ranked 18th among the top colleges in America. The School of Medicine at Tufts University aims to educate a diverse body of students while advancing medical knowledge in a collaborative and dynamic environment. The School seeks to foster the development of educators, public health professionals, scientists and clinicians who will have a sustained positive impact on the health of communities, families and individuals.
Master of Public Health
To earn the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, students are required to take 13 credits. The competency-based curriculum includes core courses in behavioral and social sciences, health services, environmental health, epidemiology and biostatistics. In addition, all students are required to take one credit each in research methods, organizational management and the Applied Learning Experience. Each concentration also includes specific courses as well. MPH students may earn their degree within five years, but full-time students may finish in as few as three semesters.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
136 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA
(617) 636-3630
med-phpd@tufts.edu
Bachelor/MPH
Those seeking a Bachelor/MPH degree will begin the MPH course of study in either the junior or senior year of the bachelor’s degree, depending on the date on which they applied to the program. Once accepted, dual degree candidates must complete four separate MPH-level courses as undergraduates, including Principles of Epidemiology and three other MPH-level courses picked after a consultation with an advisor. Two courses count toward both the bachelor’s and MPH degrees, while the remaining two only count towards the MPH degree. Students must complete all core requirements for the MPH, including the Applied Learning Experience, one course on healthcare management and budgeting, one research methods course and one course in each of the five core knowledge areas.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
136 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA
(617) 636-3630
med-phpd@tufts.edu
MS in Biomedical Sciences/MPH
To earn this dual degree, students must enroll in either a Principles of Biostatistics or Principles of Epidemiology course during the spring semester of their first year in the MBS program. MPH core requirements are completed during the second year, and students are required to choose a concentration in nutrition, health services management and policy, health communication or epidemiology/biostatistics. Students are required to complete an additional 13 credits in the MPH program to earn the dual degree, but those within the MBS-MPH program need only 11 additional credits beyond their MBS coursework. Career options include positions in research facilities, pharmaceutical or biotechnical companies, the government or research centers in healthcare organizations.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
136 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA
(617) 636-3630
med-phpd@tufts.edu
MS in Nutrition/MPH
Students may earn the MS and MPH degrees in two-and-a-half years with a full-time course load. Most students begin their MS in Nutrition degree and then transition to the MPH program after they have completed three semesters. However, students will take courses in both programs each semester, and courses required by the two degrees overlap by approximately 40 percent. Some of the more popular nutrition/MPH concentration combinations include health communication/biochemical and molecular nutrition, global health/food policy and applied nutrition, nutrition/agriculture, food and environment and nutrition communication/health services management and policy. Graduates are prepared for positions as health promotions project managers, community program managers, research associates and public policy analysts.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
136 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA
(617) 636-3630
med-phpd@tufts.edu
MA in Urban & Environmental Planning/MPH
Students may earn both an MPH and MA degree in six semesters, including summers, if they take courses on a full-time basis. The preferred sequence is for students to enroll in the UEP degree during their first and second semesters and enroll in the MPH program in their third and fourth semesters. Students will take coursework in both programs from the beginning of their education, and graduates are prepared for positions that involve environmental justice issues, health impact assessments, policy development and sustainability planning. Students work with an advisor to create a fully integrated course plan that ensures they will complete the core requirements for both degrees on time.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
136 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA
(617) 636-3630
med-phpd@tufts.edu
JD/MPH with Boston College Law School
A student may complete the JD/MPH dual degree in three-and-a-half years. If obtained separately, the degrees would take approximately five years to complete. The program includes a carefully sequenced curriculum that allows some law school courses to count for credit in both degrees. Graduates find jobs in state departments of public health, private law practices, healthcare advocacy centers, healthcare organizations, the government and a number of other organizations which value legal training and public health skills.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
136 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA
(617) 636-3630
med-phpd@tufts.edu
JD/MPH with Northeastern School of Law
Students may earn the dual JD/MPH degree in three-and-a-half years. In most cases, students first finish their initial year of law school and summer legal co-op before beginning their MPH work. Students then take a leave from Northeastern School of Law and enroll in the MPH program. The degree requires students to complete three-and-one-half credits at Northeastern and nine-and-one-half credits at Tufts. Graduates find employment in a number of fields, including private law, healthcare advocacy, government, departments of public health and other organizations in which public health skills and legal training are valued.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
136 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA
(617) 636-3630
med-phpd@tufts.edu
MD/MPH
The MPH curriculum in the dual MD/MPH degree is integrated directly into the student’s MD program. MPH courses are taken during the first two years of education, and students are required to complete a 200-hour field experience between their first and second years. Elective courses and remaining required courses are completed in the third and fourth years. Students also have the option to study abroad or undertake independent research during a fifth year of study. The MD/MPH degree prepares public health practitioners with a foundation in the social and behavioral sciences, environmental and occupational health, public health law, bioethics, international health, planning and management, biostatistics and epidemiology.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
136 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA
(617) 636-3630
med-phpd@tufts.edu
DVM/MPH
Tufts University integrates the MPH curriculum directly into the DVM program so that students may earn both degrees within four years. Required and core courses are taken with students pursuing the sole MPH degree, and in the first two years, dual degree students take public health courses instead of the standard research, pre-clinical field or weekly electives taken by their fellow veterinary students. In addition, students are required to complete an in-depth practicum in public health as well as an eight-week summer field experience between their first year and their second year. DVM/MPH graduates use their degrees as health professionals, as population health veterinarians and in fields where animal health and human health intersect.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
136 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA
(617) 636-3630
med-phpd@tufts.edu
DMD/MPH
In addition to their DMD courses, students pursuing a dual degree in DMD/MPH must also complete 13 credits in the MPH program. Students may earn their degrees in four-and-a-half or five years, and they begin taking MPH courses in their junior year. A DMD/MPH graduate may work in three major areas including the workforce, education and all levels of the government. Possible career settings include insurance companies, government agencies, community-based practice, philanthropies, public and private research entities and dental education.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
136 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA
(617) 636-3630
med-phpd@tufts.edu
PA/MPH
The goal of the dual PA/MPH degree is to blend the clinical skills learned in physician assistant education with a solid foundational knowledge of public health concepts such as health education, community health needs, epidemiology and global health. Graduates are equipped to become clinicians with the public health foundational knowledge and analytical skills required to become faculty at health profession training programs, participate in community-based or clinical research, develop health education programs or assess the health needs of a community. The MPH degree offers graduates training that can help them stand out, allowing them to participate in the administration and planning of disease prevention and health promotion programs at international, national or local levels.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
136 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA
(617) 636-0935
med-phpd@tufts.edu
University of Massachusetts – Amherst
School of Public Health and Health Sciences
The School of Public Health and Health Sciences is accredited by the Council of Education for Public Health (CEPH). Offering bachelor’s master’s and doctoral degrees, the School is a national leader in finding ways to maximize the quality of life through solving public health issues. The award-winning faculty focus on a number of pressing health problems as well as issues such as autism spectrum disorders, aging and healthy living, global health, women’s health, diabetes prevention and obesity. The school offers on-campus and off-campus programs as well as a highly-rated online MPH that allows students worldwide to earn a graduate degree in public health.
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Biostatistics
The main focus of the MPH degree is to prepare students for undertaking service, research and teaching roles in the fields of public health and medicine. Graduates will be able to analyze and draw conclusions from the data, help in the planning and implementation of health-related studies and understand how statistics can help to identify and solve contemporary health problems. The 42-credit-hour program can be completed in three semesters of full-time study, including a 10-week practical experience. Students must complete five public health core courses, electives, four biostatistics courses, a practical experience and an MPH capstone course or project.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-0722
gradadm@grad.umass.edu
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Epidemiology
The Master of Public Health (MPH) in epidemiology degree helps to broaden students’ perspectives and expand their knowledge, allowing them to develop an epidemiological orientation to public health problems. The 42-credit-hour program can be completed within two years, including a 10-week practice experience. Students may also earn the degree in three academic semesters if they take a full-time course-load. MPH students take three epidemiology courses, a practice experience, electives, five public health core courses and a culminating experience of either a capstone course or a project based in the field of public health.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-0722
gradadm@grad.umass.edu
Accelerated 4+1 Master’s Degree Programs
Eligible undergraduates may pursue an accelerated 4+1 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree program via the School of Public Health and Sciences and the graduate epidemiology program. This demanding, rigorous program is designed for students who are seeking a fast path to a graduate degree. During the last year of undergraduate studies, students complete coursework that can be applied toward the graduate degree, and they finish the remaining requirements in the year following the bachelor’s degree. Students have the option of pursuing a Master of Science degree or a Master of Public Health degree by completing either an exit exam or a project as a culminating experience.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-0722
gradadm@grad.umass.edu
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Environmental Health Sciences
The MPH in Environmental Health Sciences degree provides graduate education for individuals who have relevant environmental health-related experience. It is also designed for students who wish enter the environmental health sciences field and who need to further their knowledge and experience in order to seek a position. The program covers three broad concentrations, including environmental toxicology, environmental monitoring and exposure science and environmental and molecular epidemiology. Students must complete a final MPH project, a practicum, nine to 15 credits in electives, three core environmental health sciences courses and five public health core courses in order to earn the 42-credit degree.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-0722
gradadm@grad.umass.edu
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Health Policy and Management
This MPH program provides students with state-of-the-science, comprehensive training for professional careers as policy makers and managers in the healthcare system. The curriculum emphasizes an ethical yet aggressive approach to institutional leadership, and students gain an understanding of how policy formation works on the institutional, local and national levels. For the first three to four semesters, students take courses that augment their professional background. During the 42-credit program, students are encouraged to focus on their individual interest areas that may include quality assurance, policy formation, programming planning and evaluation and financial management. Students may complete the degree in three semesters and one summer if pursued full-time.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-0722
gradadm@grad.umass.edu
4+1 B.S./M.P.H. in Health Policy and Management
The health policy and management program is offered in conjunction with the undergraduate public health sciences degree. This option is available to undergraduates and delivers a demanding, rigorous curriculum designed to offer students a faster path to a graduate degree. Students must take a total of 162 credits, and they will graduate with both Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Health degrees. An MPH practicum experience is also required prior to graduation.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-0722
gradadm@grad.umass.edu
Master of Public Policy & Administration/Master of Public Health Dual Degree Program
Students may take a dual degree to earn a Master of Public Policy & Administration (MPPA) and Master of Public Health (MPH). The program prepares students with the skills necessary to understand organizational processes within the health sector, translate complex public health policies for a lay audience, develop policy-based approaches to address issues of public health importance and to conduct effective health policy analysis. Students may start the degree in either program, but they are encouraged to finish one degree before beginning the other.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-0722
gradadm@grad.umass.edu
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Community Health Education
The MPH in Community Health Education prepares experienced health workers to earn a professional degree. Students broaden their perspective on public health problems, extend and sharpen their professional skills, expand their knowledge base in public health and prepare to assume more professional responsibilities. The 42-credit-hour program consists of academic work, a culminating experience and a practice experience. If enrolled full-time, students may earn the degree in three semesters with one summer or in three years if enrolled part-time.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-0722
gradadm@grad.umass.edu
4+1 B.S./M.P.H. in Community Health Education
Eligible undergraduates may pursue a 4+1 Bachelor of Science/Master of Public Health degree. This rigorous, demanding program offers an accelerated path to a graduate degree. Students are required to complete a total of 162 credits, and upon graduation, they will be awarded with both a BS and an MPH degree. Students are also required to complete a practicum experience as well as the required core MPH coursework and the school’s general education requirements prior to earning the degree.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-0722
gradadm@grad.umass.edu
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) in Nutrition
The MPH in Nutrition program provides advanced training in public health nutrition to health and nutrition practitioners. The program is designed for students with a master’s or doctoral degree and who have previous work experience. Applicants must either be a registered dietitian, have an advanced degree in a health-related field or have three to five years of proven post-bachelor’s work experience with two completed nutrition courses. Students can complete the 44-credit program in three academic semesters if taking courses on a full-time basis. Students must complete a practice experience, an MPH project or capstone course, electives and 17 credits in nutrition courses.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
– Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
140 Hicks Way
Amherst, MA 01003
(413) 545-0722
gradadm@grad.umass.edu
University of Massachusetts – Lowell
Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences
The University of Massachusetts, Lowell was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the 152nd best national university in 2016. USNWR also named UMass Lowell second among public universities in Massachusetts and 78th in the top public universities. The school is known for having one of the highest returns on investment for its graduates out of all of the universities in the country. The Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences prepares students for rewarding careers through close collaboration with faculty, real-world research and hands-on learning. The College is comprised of four departments and educates 2,140 undergraduates and 409 graduate students per year.
Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health from UMass Lowell is a 42-credit degree that focuses on five core areas, including healthcare management, population health, nutrition, epidemiology and dietetics. The program meets the requirements of the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Students will tackle core courses in social and behavioral determinants of health, biostatistics, health policy and management, epidemiology and environmental health. Graduates of the program will be able to apply evidence-based public health practices to important issues and address current public health challenges by using approaches that apply creative problem-solving skills, collaboration and scientific knowledge.
Accreditation
– New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
Contact
1 University Ave.
Lowell, MA 01854
(800) 656-GRAD
graduate_admissions@uml.edu
Earning a master’s degree in public health can be a sound option for graduate students who wish to pursue a career where they can improve access to health education programs, supportive health policies and affordable healthcare. If you’re looking to fulfill your potential for changing health outcomes, begin your education at one of these accredited master’s in public health degrees in Massachusetts.
See also: Master’s in Public Health Degrees in Massachusetts (A-N)
