With over 30 post-secondary schools in Tennessee, healthcare students have many opportunities for advanced study, including master’s in public health programs in Tennessee. Being the 16th most populated in the United States, this state is composed of large cities like Nashville and Memphis, both of which are home to more than 600,000 people. However, outside of these metropolitan areas, more than 90% of the state is considered rural by the 2010 United States census.
Given the diversity of populations, public health professionals are necessary to help devise community programs to serve the needs of specific areas. A graduate degree in this field provides the skills needed to help identify problems, collect data, and implement solutions. In these programs, students also hone their analytical and critical thinking skills while learning advanced theory in public health.
See our ranking of the Top 50 Best MPH Degrees Online.
Argosy University
College of Health Sciences
With on-campus locations in 13 states as well as a robust online program, this proprietary university educates approximately 60,000 students each semester. The school officially opened in 2001 after a merger between the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, the Medical Institute of Minnesota, and the University of Sarasota. Each campus focuses on helping students combine their passions and talents into a professional career.
The Nashville campus is the only Argosy University location in Tennessee and offers degrees ranging from an associate’s to a doctorate in a variety of subject areas including business, liberal arts, IT, education, counseling, and public health. One of the primary attractions for these programs is the flexibility in class schedule as the courses are geared toward working adults.
Nashville Master of Public Health Degree in Public Health
Argosy’s program is open to any applicants with a bachelor’s degree and has different testing and prerequisite courses for students with lower GPAs. This Master’s of Public Health program in Tennessee graduates professionals who understand both the theory and research methods of public health as well how to practically use this information. Through 45 credit hours of classwork in the areas of policy, management, statistics, and communication, students take 13 core courses including Public Health Informatics, Accounting and Finance for Managers, and Performance Improvement Systems. Before graduating, each student also completes a field experience class as well as a capstone research project.
Accreditation
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission
Contact
100 Centerview Drive, Suite 225
Nashville, TN 37214
(866) 833-6598
materialsreview@argosy.edu
East Tennessee State University
College of Public Health
ETSU is home to almost 15,000 students each semester and is the fourth largest university in Tennessee. Located in Johnson City, a college town in the northeast part of the state, this school is made up of 11 different colleges with an emphasis on healthcare. In 2015, the College of Public Health was noted to have the 31st best public health graduate program in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report. Their programs range from undergraduate to doctoral and emphasize real-world applications in every class.
Master of Public Health
During the Johnson City Master’s in Public Health program in Tennessee, students spend time analyzing a problem in their communities and use the techniques and theories they learn in the classroom to suggest possible solutions. Each student will take six core classes as well four classes in their individual concentration, three electives, and a practicum. Concentrations include Biostatistics, Community Health, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, and Health Services Administration. Offering start dates each fall, students can opt for either part-time or full-time study and many take some or all of their classes online.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Council on Education for Public Health
Contact
College of Public Health
104 Lamb Hall, Box 70623
Johnson City, TN 37614
(423) 439-4243
storkj@etsu.edu
Meharry Medical College
Division of Public Health Practice in the School of Graduate Studies & Research
This is a private university in Nashville that only offers advanced professional degrees in the health sciences. Along with public health, their programs are geared to future doctors, dentists, physician assistants, researchers, and health policy advisers. Since opening in 1876, Meharry has been one of the primary historically African American medical schools in the country and the only one in the South. The School of Graduate Studies offers master’s and doctoral degrees in public health, biochemistry, neuroscience, and physiology among other subjects, focusing heavily on research.
Master of Science in Public Health
This is one of Tennessee’s master’s in public health programs that emphasizes analytics and evidence-based practice. Students have many opportunities to participate in faculty research projects and are required to take courses like Biostatistics and Research Design. These are included in the six core classes that all students take in addition to 21 hours of electives based on individual interest and career goals. In order to graduate, students must participate in a 400-hour internship and either write a thesis paper or pass a comprehensive examination.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Council on Education for Public Health
Contact
Graduate Studies & Research
1005 Dr. D. B. Todd, Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, Tennessee 37208
(615) 327-6533
mflima@mmc.edu
Tennessee State University
College of Health Sciences
With a history of being both a land-grant school as well as a historically African American university, Tennessee State University opened in 1912 with land given by the federal government to provide agricultural and engineering education. After merging with the University of Tennessee, also in Nashville, after a legal battle involving competing universities based on race, the school became a more comprehensive university. Today, there are two campuses in Nashville, and students can choose from over 45 different majors. The College of Health Sciences offers the only public, mid-Tennessee master’s in public health degree.
Master of Public Health
The TSU public health program focuses on applying concepts to specific populations and determining the best ways to educate communities. Every student enrolled in the program takes eight core classes including Cultural Competency and Epidemiology as well as a Capstone and a Public Health Field Placement before graduation. The remainder of the required 42 credit hours are chosen based on choice of concentration. The Behavioral Science and Health Education option focuses on big-picture program development, while the Cultural Competency concentration provides in-depth training on serving specific populations.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Council on Education for Public Health
Contact
Avon Williams Campus, Suite D-400
330 10th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 963-7217
aheaston@tnstate.edu
University of Tennessee Knoxville
College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
Opening in 1794, before Tennessee received official statehood, this is the oldest university west of the Appalachians. In 1869, the school became a land-grant institution which means it received federal land to provide quality science-based practical education. Today, it has expanded into a major research university and is the main campus of the University of Tennessee system, home to over 25,000 students each year. Overall, U.S. News and World Report has ranked UT – Knoxville #103 in National Universities, #104 in Best Value, and #46 in Top Public Schools. Many individual programs within the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences have also been highly ranked in 2017.
Master of Public Health
Admission to this MPH program is fairly competitive requiring GRE scores as well as at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. There is a part-time option available, and working professionals are encouraged to apply as the program largely focuses on industry practices. This master’s in public health in Tennessee involves six foundation classes followed by courses specific to one of three concentrations including Community Health Education, Health Policy and Management, and Veterinary Public Health.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Council on Education for Public Health
Contact
335 Claxton Complex
1122 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-3400
(865) 974-5041
cph@utk.edu
University of Memphis
School of Public Health
The University of Memphis is a public research university that enrolls over 20,000 students every semester into more than 250 undergraduate and 120 graduate programs. The school encourages interdisciplinary learning as well as the integration of technology in all areas. The School of Public Health is ranked #47 in the nation for their Master of Health Administration by the U.S. News and World Report.
Master of Public Health – Biostatistics Concentration
This track focuses on data collection and analysis in health sciences. Students learn general public health theories and then take specialized courses that emphasize mathematics and statistics including Applied Categorical Data Analysis and Mixed Model Regression Analysis. Graduates have a variety of opportunities in the fields of clinical trials, data science, and health policy.
Master of Public Health – Environmental Health Concentration
This degree is ideal for students interested in protecting the public from industrial spills and other toxins in the environment. After foundation classes like Health Policy and Organization of Health Services, they get training that focuses on how to evaluate the extent of an environmental catastrophe and the best ways to minimize ill effects on the public. These include science-based courses like Environmental Sampling and Analysis.
Master of Public Health – Epidemiology Concentration
This track focuses on studying particular medical conditions in order to discover underlying causes. After taking Epidemiology I as part of the core courses, students choosing this concentration continue with Epidemiology II and Epidemiologic Survey Method. Before graduation, they also select a case study course in an area like cancer research, infectious disease outbreaks, or pain management.
Master of Public Health – Generalist
This is most customizable master’s in public health in Tennessee. Students can choose any electives to make up the remainder of the necessary 42 hours after the required core. This allows them to tailor their education to their interests, even if these are not part of a concentration. Some available courses include Community Nutrition and Public Health Microbiology.
Master of Public Health – Health Systems and Policy Concentration
For students interested in entering politics and advocating for healthcare reform, this concentration provides the history of the United States healthcare system as well as context around today’s problems. Classes like Health Care Economics and Health Information Systems provide the skills needed by future professionals to develop viable solutions to these issues.
Master of Public Health – Social and Behavioral Sciences Concentration
This program focuses on the influence of society on social health in certain communities. Students take courses like Social Determinants of Health and Health Program Evaluation to learn to identify trends and attitudes in a community. Following this, through a series of practical courses, they learn how to change the behavior of individuals despite the overall societal outlook.
Master of Public Health – Professional Degree – 12 months
Students entering this program cannot carry on employment or have extensive outside commitments. These students take all 42 hours within a 1-year period to complete the same core and elective courses that most finish in 2 years. This professional degree is recommended for individuals who have worked in the field or have previously participated in writing and research-intensive programs.
JD/MPH
This program is one of the few master’s in public health programs in Tennessee that combines a law degree with an MPH. Admission is competitive because students must be accepted separately into each program. While the entire program takes four years, nine credits overlap, so this is less time than doing the programs separately. This dual expertise is especially valuable at the present time as issues of healthcare disparities are at the forefront of American politics.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Council on Education for Public Health
Contact
228 Robison Hall
Memphis, TN 38152
(901) 678-1696
vgnolan@memphis.edu
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Vanderbilt is a highly competitive private school in Nashville, Tennessee. Since its opening in 1873, the university has grown to include ten colleges offering degrees ranging from undergraduate to law, medical, and divinity. Both overall and for specific tracks, organizations like Forbes and U.S. News and World Report regularly rank the university highly, and in 2017, Reuters named it the 10th most innovative college. Their graduate public health program is offered by the School of Medicine which is ranked #17 out of all Research Medical Schools by the U.S. News and World Report.
Master of Public Health
The tracks at Vanderbilt focus on a more macro level than other master’s in public health in Tennessee. These include Health Policy, Global Health, and Epidemiology and each involves two years of dedicated study including a thesis project and practicum. All students take introductory courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, public policy, and program development. Then, they choose specific coursework that matches their desired area of emphasis such as Global Health Politics and Policy, Health Economics, or Grant Writing.
Accreditation
- Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Council on Education for Public Health
Contact
Vanderbilt MPH Program
1500 21st Avenue South, Suite 2600
Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 343-6338
annie.smart@vanderbilt.edu
Before entering graduate school, it is important for students to narrow down their interests because this can help them choose the best program for their career goals. From smaller private schools to large research universities, there are a variety of master’s in public health programs in Tennessee that each have particular areas of specialization.
