Master of Public Health at ETSU
This school appears in our ranking of the Top 10 MPH Programs with No Out-of-State Tuition Fees.
East Tennessee State University has its own College of Public Health, which offers both a Master of Public Health and a Master of Science in Environmental Health. The MPH program requires that students choose a concentration in community health, biostatistics, health services administration, environmental health or epidemiology. Students will take different classes depending on the concentration they choose. Those enrolled in the Master of Science in Environmental Health (MSEH) program take courses to learn about how environmental factors can impact the health and wellness of individuals. The university also offers dual degree programs for students who want to earn an MD or pharmacy doctorate degree at the same time that they earn an MPH.
Certificate programs allow students to take five to six classes and earn a certificate instead of a degree. MPH students can actually take classes that count as their required electives to earn a certificate before finishing their degrees. Certificates are available in biostatistics, epidemiology, healthcare management, gerontology, rural health and public health.
The university also offers several online programs for MPH students. They can complete an MPH with a concentration in health services administration, epidemiology or community health. Those online students can do internships, they’ll need to work with the university to ensure that they get credit for their work. Those enrolled in one of the online MPH programs can also earn one or more certificates relating to public health.
About East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is a state school that goes by the names of ETSU and East Tennessee. Established in 1911, it originally operated under the name of the East Tennessee State Normal School and offered programs designed for teachers. As it shifted from offering training programs to full degree programs, it became the East Tennessee State Teachers College and gained regional accreditation. Though it went through a few other name changes, it finally became ETSU in the 1960s. Though the university added more programs to its curriculum over the years, its education and teaching programs are still popular among incoming students today.
ETSU now has 11 colleges operating on its campus, including the School of Continuing Studies for adult learners and those who want to go back to school, the College of Public Health that maintains all public health programs and the College of Nursing, which is responsible for all its nursing degree programs. It also has an Honors College that runs different programs. One of those is a program for incoming freshmen that allows them to study together in smaller groups and take classes with others in the honors program. ETSU is one of the largest public colleges in Tennessee and one of the nation’s largest public school systems. Its enrollment includes more than 2,000 graduate students and more than 14,000 undergrads.
East Tennessee State University Accreditation Details
One of the more important forms of accreditation that ETSU has is the accreditation that comes from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). CEPH only accredits programs that meet its own guidelines and standards, which ensure that students have a deep understanding of all the current trends and issues in the public health field today. ETSU also has regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), which allows students to transfer credits earned at another campus into one of the university’s MPH programs. This form of accreditation also allows students to use financial aid that comes from the government.
East Tennessee State University Application Requirements
Students applying to one of the ETSU MPH programs should submit their applications by the priority deadline of February 1, which allows them to begin classes in the fall. Though the university will accept applications sent in by June 1, it gives priority acceptance to those who submit their applications earlier. Those who wait until later in the year may find that the program does not have any spots remaining. ETSU has an application portal that allows students to work on and submit their applications over the web.
In addition to the application, the university asks for an official GRE score. Only those who already have a graduate or a post graduate degree can apply without this score. The university will accept a score from the GMAT provided that the score is no more than five years old. Students must also provide the university with an official college transcript that shows a grade point average of at least 2.75. They can send their transcripts directly to the ETSU graduate school. As long as the university has space left in the MPH program, it will continue accepting and reviewing applications submitted by the final deadline.
Tuition and Financial Aid
ETSU charges a tuition rated based on the number of credit hours of classes that graduate students take. This rate starts at $507 per credit hour for Tennessee residents, which includes a program service fee. Nonresidents, who are students from any state outside of Tennessee, pay $1,258 per credit. Full-time students taking nine credit hours of classes will pay between $4,47.50 and $1,234.50 each semester. This figure includes all fees but does not include the cost of textbooks, transportation to the campus, food and other personal expenses.
All incoming students should file the FAFSA, even if they think they do not qualify for financial aid. Those over the age of 25 and those who meet other requirements can file with their own tax details from the previous year. All other students will need to use their parents’ tax records to file. ETSU offers loan counseling for new students to help them understand what they need to do to get their loans. They will also go through exit counseling to learn more about paying back their loans. Graduate students qualify for unsubsidized loans that were accumulating interest while the student is still in college, but students can begin making payments on their loans while they’re in school. ETSU will also accept private and alternative student loans.
Graduate students can also look at grants and scholarships. Both of these financial aid methods provide them with money they can use to pay the school and any other costs they have. Scholarships are available from a number of different external sources. East Tennessee State University can help students fund study abroad trips too.
