Public health jobs range from advocates who work behind the scenes to professionals who work directly with clients, but many of those working in this field got their start in one of the top Master’s in Public Health programs in Virginia. Nicknamed the Mother of All States, Virginia is home to more than 8.7 million residents. As the number of residents reaching retirement age rises, the need for MPH holders and college graduates who can work in the healthcare field will grow. Students can enroll in programs that take place online as well as more traditional public health programs.
See our ranking of the Top 20 Cheapest MPH Degrees Online.
Argosy University
Online
Argosy University provides students with multiple ways to learn and earn their degrees. As a distance education school, it offers both traditional and online classes. Students can look for campuses in their own cities and states and then check out the classes available online. Those who live a significant distance from one of its campuses can earn their degrees entirely online without ever once visiting one of the campuses. Argosy specializes in professional programs that prepare students for specific types of careers. Its MPH program allows students to learn about healthcare operations and management as well as health policies.
Master of Public Health
The Argosy University Master of Public Health program features 13 courses that are worth 39 credits. Those classes include Epidemiology and Risk Management, Health Communications and Social Marketing and Accounting and Finance for Managers. The university allows students to transfer credits from other schools into the program too. Students must also do two fieldwork experiences that are worth a combined three credits. They can work in the same organizations or different ones during each session. The last course that students take is a capstone class called Writing a Public Health Grant that allows students to write their own grant proposals.
Accreditation
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
2233 W. Dunlap Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85021
(855) 245-3424
Eastern Virginia Medical School
School of Health Professionals
Eastern Virginia Medical School is the main medical school in Virginia that does not have a connection with a separate college or university. Called EVMS for short, it has its own School of Health Professions that allows students to enroll in degree programs and study healthcare topics outside of medicine. Those entering this program must have an undergrad GPA of 2.5 or higher and take and submit their GRE scores. The school also asks for three letters of recommendation and a personal essay. EVMS accepts those who maintained a higher GPA over the last few semesters of work too.
Master of Public Health, MPH
EVMS offers more concentration options than other Master’s in Public Health programs in Virginia do. Students can choose concentrations in global environmental health, epidemiology, health management and policy, or health promotion and education. The school also offers a joint program that allows students to work on an MPH and an MD at the same time. Four different certificate programs are also available for students who do not have time to complete a full degree. Grad students can also earn a certificate while working on their degrees or transfer credits earned from a certificate program into the degree program.
Accreditation
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
PO Box 1980
Norfolk, VA 23501
(754) 446-6120
George Mason University
Department of Global and Community Health
George Mason University, also known as George Mason and GMU, offers multiple MPH programs that it designed to meet the busy schedules of modern grad students. Its public health practice concentration is an online program that allows students to work online and off. They will do practicums or internships anywhere in the country and take all their classes online. Students can also choose from six different concentrations. GMU offers one of the only MPH programs in the nation with a concentration in food security and nutrition. Other concentrations are available in epidemiology, global health, community health promotion, public health communication and health policy.
Public Health, MPH
GMU wants its MPH graduates to be competent in several key areas, which is why it requires that students take core classes. Some of these classes are similar to those available in other Master’s in Public Health programs in Virginia. The public health core features classes such as Introduction to Biostatistics, Introduction to Epidemiology, Environmental Health and US and Global Public Health Systems. Students will also take 21 credits of concentration classes. The main feature of this program is the practicum that a student does. The university requires that students spend 200 hours working in the field.
Accreditation
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 993-1000
Liberty University
School of Health Sciences
Liberty University gives students the option of enrolling in two of the top Master’s in Public Health programs in Virginia. One of those programs is offered online, while the second program requires that students take classes on its Lynchburg campus. Both programs are available through the University’s School of Health Sciences. Incoming students must have a bachelor’s degree in a health or science field and an undergrad GPA of 2.5 or higher. Liberty encourages traditional students to visit its campus and attend one of its open house events. Online students can talk with counselors online before they enroll to learn about the program.
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
One of the to MPH programs that Liberty offers is a traditional program. Also called a residential program, it features specializations in health promotion, global health, nutrition, and epidemiology. Though students will take some concentration courses, they will also take some required core classes, including Principles of Epidemiology, Principles of Environmental Health, Research Methods in Public Health and Social and Behavioral Theory Applications in Public Health. The program also features a practicum that requires students to do 120 hours of fieldwork. Liberty University has partnerships with organizations and agencies across the state that offer practicum experiences for MPH grad students.
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) – Global Health
The university designed a Master of Public Health online degree program for students who want to study global health. Designed for those who have less time in their schedules, it features 42 credits of classes and allows students to complete their studies in around 18 months. Unlike other programs that feature longer courses, this program features classes that run for only eight weeks. This allows students to take more classes in less time. Online students will still do practicums, but they can turn to the university for help finding and securing those placements. Liberty offers tuition discounts for all military students.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
(434) 582-2000
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) – Global Health
Lynchburg College
Graduate
Though Lynchburg College is a small school, it offers an MPH program that many students find worthwhile. The college gives students the option of enrolling on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time students graduate in just one year, while part-time students usually graduate within two years. To ensure that students understand what the program entails and what they need to do, the college offers information sessions and open houses on its campus every year. Students can go online and register for one of these events. They can then talk with the professors in the program and even meet with other incoming students.
Master of Public Health
As one of the top Master’s in Public Health programs in Virginia, the Lynchburg College program requires that students complete at least 30 credits of work at the graduate level. Many of the students enrolling in this program studied public health at the college during their undergrad years. Students who earned their degrees from other schools must take 39 credits of classes. Those credits include work that they do in three different internships too. They will also take a capstone seminar in their final years. Other classes in this MPH program include Community Health Administration and Social Aspects of Public Health.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
1501 Lakeside Dr.
Lynchburg, VA 24501
(434) 544-8100
Old Dominion University
Masters
Old Dominion University, also called ODU and Old Dominion, is a doctoral university that places a high level of importance on research. Master of Public Health students will find that this program allows them to do independent research both on the campus and offline. Home to more than 24,000 students, Old Dominion offers an MPH program that is a joint effort with Eastern Virginia Medical School. Students will actually submit their applications to the medical school and take classes at both schools. Students applying to this program must submit official transcripts, a personal essay, three letters of recommendation and a GRE score.
Public Health (M.P.H.)
ODU offers one of the top Master’s in Public Health programs in Virginia because this program accepts both traditional and online students. Students will take the same courses and do practicums away from the university’s campus. Practicums allow students to gain real experience working in the same field or area of public health where they want to work after they graduate. They must do at least 120 hours of fieldwork on a volunteer or unpaid basis. The standard MPH program features 43 credits of classes. Students will take classes such as Introduction to Public Health and Principles of Environmental Health Science.
Public Health – Environmental Health Online
Students can also enroll in an online program available from ODU and study both public health and environmental health. Called one of the nation’s best online MPH programs, it accepts students from all states except for those living in Washington. The global health program features 43 credits of both classes and practical work. It includes courses such as Principles of Toxicology, Environmental and Occupational Health Risk Assessment and Environmental Health Law and Policy. Students will take classes over three semesters in their first year and two semesters in their second. They must do a practicum and take a capstone seminar in the last semester.
Accreditation
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
5115 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
(757) 683-3685
Public Health – Environmental Health Online
University of Virginia
Programs
When many people think of schools in Virginia, they think of the University of Virginia. As the main university system in the state, it consists of the main campus in Charlottesville and smaller campuses outside of the city. The MPH program that it offers is more unique than those available from other schools because it is a joint or combined program. Students will earn an MD while working on an MPH. The idea behind this program is that it teaches doctors the fundamentals and helps them learn what their patients need. Students must apply to each program to gain admission.
M.D./M.P.H. (Masters in Public Health)
As one of the only joint Master’s in Public Health programs in Virginia, this University of Virginia program requires that students work on their MD degrees first. Only medical students and those who plan on working as doctors can apply. After finishing a clinical rotation, students can begin taking public health classes. Instead of spending five years in medical school, students will spend six years taking courses from both programs. Some of the core courses in this MPH program include Introduction to Epidemiology, Health Promotion and Health Behavior, US Health Care Policy and Public Health Law and Ethics.
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Contact
Claude Moore Medical Education Building, Lane Road
Charlottesville, VA 22908
(434) 924-5571
Virginia Commonwealth University
School of Medicine
One of the only Master’s in Public Health programs in Virginia available from a School of Medicine is the program that Virginia Commonwealth University offers. Also called VCU, the university will only accept students who already have an undergraduate degree and a grade point average of at least 3.0. Students must also take the GRE and submit their scores. The university requires a score in the 75th percentile in all three sections of the exam. Students will also submit letters of recommendation and write a personal essay. VCU asks that they write about their future goals and what they want to do in public health.
Public Health, Master of (M.P.H.)
Those who want to earn an MPH from VCU must complete several steps, including the taking and passing of 45 credits of classes. This program also features both a practicum and an internship. Students typically do their practicums in their first years and then do their internships over the summer. They will also do a service learning project and work at least 20 hours in a volunteer capacity. The program includes two seminars and a final capstone project also. Students take courses such as Principles of Environmental Health, Public Health Ethics, and Graduate Research Methods.
Accreditation
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA 23284
(804) 828-0100
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Department of Population Health Sciences
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a school in Virginia that offers technical and medical programs for students of all ages. Often called Virginia Tech for short, it is a very selective university that looks for the best students out of those who apply each year. The MPH program this school offers is available from its Department of Population Health Sciences. This is one of the only Master’s in Public Health programs in Virginia with accreditation from the CEPH. Virginia Tech expects students to do some independent work in the field and complete a capstone project to gain more experience.
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Though Virginia Tech designed its MPH program as a full-time program, it also accepts part-time students. Full-time students take four semesters of classes to graduate, while part-time students will spend at least three years in the program. Students can choose between concentrations in infectious disease or public health education. They will take 42 credits of courses and do a practicum. Virginia Tech allows students to do their practicums close to its campus or in other cities. Though students will take courses in their concentrations, they will also take core public health classes, including Health Behavior and Health Education and Environmental Health.
Accreditation
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Contact
205 Duckpond Drive (0395)
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
(540) 231-3945
The close proximity of Virginia to Washington DC and other major metropolitan areas makes this state a top choice for those who want to study public health and work in the field. Master’s in Public Health programs in Virginia teach students practical skills and may give them the chance to do some fieldwork also.
