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Master of Public Health

OVERVIEW

Help Foster a Healthier World with Your Master of Public Health Degree


 

Whether you're already working in the public health field or just starting out, a Master of Public Health degree can help you gain the advanced skills and knowledge you need to propel your career forward. You'll become an expert at monitoring your community's health, addressing public health issues, promoting disease prevention, improving access to healthcare and public health resources, and developing policies and plans for promising public health outcomes. 
 
WGU's Master of Public Health degree explores the core functions and essential services of public health, along with the social and behavioral determinants. You’ll dive into the challenges of obtaining financing for public health programs, as well as topics including: 

  • Biostatistics and analysis
  • Environmental health
  • Epidemiology
  • Global health
  • Public health policy and advocacy
  • Health education and promotion

60% of graduates finish similar programs in

21 Months*

WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance when you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.

*WGU Internal Data

Tuition per six-month term is

$4,995

Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps students reduce the ultimate cost of their degrees. Finish faster, pay less!

Average salary increase

$13,048*

Leavitt School of Health graduate students report an average salary increase of $13,048 after completing their WGU degree.

*WGU Internal Data

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COURSES

Public Health Courses

Program consists of 12 courses

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff. This program features scaffolded learning throughout the standard path, requiring the standard path order to be followed for optimal student success outcomes. 

WGU's Master of Public Health program is designed to meet the needs of employers in the public health field and the communities they serve. The curriculum is developed by public health experts and focuses on the skills and knowledge most in demand. 

Students who earn this degree will support their community's health by monitoring the community's health status and needs, promoting disease prevention, strengthening access to healthcare and public health resources, and creating policies, plans, and laws that positively impact the public's health.

This program prepares students to develop, implement, and evaluate public health programs. You’ll demonstrate research methods needed to address public health illness and disease and assess the impact social determinants of health and behavioral sciences have on health outcomes. 

The Master of Public Health program is an all-online program that you'll complete by studying and working independently, with instruction and support from WGU faculty. Most of your courses can be accelerated based on your prior knowledge and hard work.   

Public Health

12 Courses

Program consists of 12 courses

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.

Capstone

Special requirements for this program

At the end of your public health program, you will complete a capstone project that represents the culmination of all your studies and efforts. 

“A graduate degree provided more options for employment, but more so, it provided me with context of how to innovate, create, and manage programs to serve the populations to which I am called. I’m able to work more efficiently and have more sustainability."

—Tonya N. Daniel
M.S. Health Leadership

WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference

Traditional Universities

 

TUITION STRUCTURE

Per credit hour

Flat rate per 6-month term

SUPPORT

Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors

Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one

EXAMS

Scheduled time

Whenever you feel ready

SCHEDULE

Professor led lectures at a certain time and place

Courses available anytime, from anywhere

TIME TO FINISH

Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options

As quickly as you can master the material, can finish programs in 1 year

Traditional Universities

 

TUITION STRUCTURE

Per credit hour

TUITION STRUCTURE

Flat rate per 6-month term

SUPPORT

Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors

SUPPORT

Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one

EXAMS

Scheduled time

EXAMS

Whenever you feel ready

SCHEDULE

Professor led lectures at a certain time and place

SCHEDULE

Courses available anytime, from anywhere

TIME TO FINISH

Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options

TIME TO FINISH

As quickly as you can master the material, can finish programs in 1 year

Why WGU?

You Aren't On Your Own

WGU has Program Mentors who work with you from the day you start, all the way through graduation. They help you chart your courses, answer your questions, and ensure you can go through your program. You're not alone when you choose an online degree at WGU.

Flexibility You Need

Students choose WGU for their online degree program because of its flexibility. Whether you already have a full-time job, have responsibilities as a parent, or just have a busy schedule, WGU can work for you.

Strong Alumni Network

When you enroll in this healthcare program at WGU, you join an impressive network of healthcare professionals. This network is key in helping boot credibility and respect for your degree from WGU.

Accredited, Respected,
Recognized™

One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.

COST & TIME

An Affordable Public Health Degree

By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.

Tuition Calculator
Pay less by completing your program faster
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A Master of Public Health Degree is Within Reach

There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:

The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.

Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits. 

Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

A Master of Public Health Degree —Designed to Fit Your Life

Online. Flexible. Student-focused. These are just some of the qualities that make our programs a great fit for today’s working students—and make WGU a different kind of university. 

Our degree programs allow you to speed up your progress—no waiting for other class members to catch up or for a new semester to start. Taking a course covering concepts you’ve been applying for years? Review the online course material, take the online assessment, and move on. Taking a course in a subject you’ve never tried? Maximize all available resources to ensure you’re comfortable with the material by the time you take the assessment.

" The WGU staff helped me to believe in myself, in general, to shine my leadership qualities. That lesson was a competency that I needed to pass to take my place as a leader in the healthcare industry. I’ve been able to pitch ideas for programs that will not only help my community, but generations to come. Thank you, WGU!”

—Tonya N. Daniel
WGU Healthcare Graduate

CAREER OUTLOOK

Expand Your Career Opportunities with a Master of Public Health

This online Master of Public Health degree program is your chance to build the next phase of your career and positively influence your community. Public health professionals play a vital role in preventing disease, promoting healthy behaviors, and reducing health disparities. They also play key roles in responding to national and global public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. With your degree, you’ll be prepared to contribute to your community's health in various ways, such as:

  • Promoting disease prevention
  • Improving access to healthcare and public health resources
  • Developing policies and plans for better public health outcomes 

Earning your Master of Public Health from WGU means you’ll be ready for a variety of career paths to help your community become healthier for everyone. You may find your calling in environmental health, infectious disease prevention, maternal health, nutrition, public policy, research, healthcare nonprofit management, or health education. Whatever path you choose, you’ll be making a positive impact.

Return on Your Investment

On average, WGU graduates see an increase in income post-graduation

Average income increase from all degrees in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary. Source: 2023 Harris Poll Survey of 1,655 WGU graduates.

Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.

19%

The projected growth of epidemiologists is 19% through 2033.

—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Use Your Public Health Skills to Excel Across Industries

WGU’s Master of Public Health degree program primes you for thriving careers across various industries by instilling the sought-after skills employers value. Developed in partnership with public health experts, our curriculum teaches key competencies like health equity, data analysis, communication, program evaluation, budgeting, and beyond, ensuring you're ready for success in any public health role you pursue. 

Possible Jobs

  • Epidemiologist 
  • Environmental health specialist 
  • Community health educator 
  • Health program manager
  • Health policy analyst
  • Biostatistician
  • Global health specialist

Possible Work Settings

  • Healthcare institutions
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Universities and research institutions
  • Government agencies
  • Community health centers

WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers

Hospitals and clinics around the country know the benefit of a degree from WGU, so your healthcare degree is valuable.

ADMISSIONS

Admission Requirements Unique to This Master of Public Health Degree

To be considered for this master's degree program, you must:

  • Possess a bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA from an accredited university.

Transfer Credits

Get Your Enrollment Checklist

Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.

Get Your Questions Answered

Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.

Get Added Support and Flexibility as You Start Your Degree 
Take a course or two at your pace before committing to a full degree program. Strengthen your study habits, gain essential learning skills and, best of all, each completed course counts toward your degree requirements. 

Learn More about Pathways to Starting

Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?