Public Health Degrees at the University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Cheapest MPH Degrees Online.
In order to earn the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the University of North Dakota, students must complete 42 hours of coursework. The core curriculum covers all areas that the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) requires of its accredited programs, including health management and policy, environmental health, behavioral and social sciences, epidemiology, and biostatistics. Students must also complete a nine-credit specialization in either health management and policy or population health analytics as well as a three-credit practicum and a three-credit culminating experience.
Students entering the program must have foundational knowledge in genetics and environmental health, and those who do not have a background in these areas must independently obtain that background. UND will provide low-cost or free options to assist students in meeting this requirement. However, UND will not provide credit-hour requirements for these additional courses; students will only receive a completion certificate.
The MPH degree consists of 27 credits in required MPH core coursework that covers topics such as population health research methods, biostatistics, health policy, public health data management, leading and managing public health systems, healthcare systems, social and behavioral sciences in public health, and epidemiology.
The two specializations in the MPH program, population health analytics and health and management policy, provide practical and integrative learning experiences designed to foster essential communication and problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, and intellectual growth. Graduates are prepared to work in many international, national, and regional settings including academic institutions, non-governmental health organizations, health plans, and healthcare delivery organizations. Each specialization consists of nine credit hours.
The practicum is an evaluated, supervised, and planned practice experience that provides students with the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to the real world. It is designed to meet the needs of the practicum organization, specialization criteria, and student goals. Students must submit a proposal before enrolling in this course. The culminating experience consists of a scholarly project and an MPH seminar, and students also have the option of completing a public health internship.
About the University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota, also known as North Dakota or UND, is a public university located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was founded in 1883 by the Dakota Territorial Assembly, six years before North Dakota was established, making it the oldest university in the state. UND initially boasted a strong liberal arts foundation, but over time, it has grown into a prominent scientific research university. The Carnegie Foundation classifies it as having “high research activity,” and the school is considered one of the top research and academic institutions in the northern Midwest.
UND offers a number of specialized and professional programs, including the state’s only schools of medicine and law. The John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences is perhaps its best-known college as it was the first in the U.S. to offer a degree in unmanned aircraft systems operations as well as degrees in aerospace and aviation. The university’s campus is also home to several national research institutions, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center, the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and the Energy and Environmental Research Center.
University of North Dakota Accreditation Details
The University of North Dakota is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), a commission of the North Central Association. In addition, the Master of Public Health degree is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Earning a degree from a nationally accredited program is a testament to the quality of the education. Accreditation assures the public and students that the school has undergone a rigorous review process and continues to meet high standards set by the accrediting body. It also means that credits taken during a particular program are transferable to other accredited institutions or programs.
University of North Dakota Application Requirements
In order to be admitted into UND’s Graduate School, students must complete an online application and pay the nonrefundable application fee. Applicants must also hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited university or college and show evidence of a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of a minimum of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. UND also requires test scores from either the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), although there is no minimum score required for admission. Applicants who have either a master’s degree or a minimum of five years of work experience in a public health field are not required to submit test scores. Other supporting documentation includes three letters of recommendation, an official post-secondary transcript from all institutions attended, a written statement describing the applicant’s motivation and professional goals, and a resume listing work experience, honors, awards, and relevant accomplishments.
Tuition and Financial Aid
North Dakota residents can expect to pay $701.20 per credit hour, and non-residents, including online students, can expect to pay $1,051.80 per credit hour. UND also offers additional rates through its Minnesota Reciprocity program, meaning that residents of Minnesota may attend a UND program and pay $890.52 per credit — a lower tuition rate than the normal non-resident rate. These rates do not include mandatory fees, and tuition is not maxed at 12 credits for this program. The resident tuition rate applies to students in the following states: Wyoming, Washington, Utah, South Dakota, Oregon, New Mexico, Nevada, Montana, Idaho, Hawaii, Colorado, California, Arizona, and Alaska.
The UND Graduate School offers financial aid for graduate students, and the process begins by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Possible forms of aid, depending on eligibility, include UND scholarships, loans, and grants such as the Federal Direct Loan for Graduate Students (gradPLUS), which is a program specifically for professional and graduate students. In addition, in 2015, U.S. News & World Report ranked the University of North Dakota in the “Top 30 Best Online MBA Programs for Veterans” and the “Top 25 Best Online Graduate Business Programs for Veterans,” indicating the school’s dedication to active duty servicemembers, veterans, and their dependents.
