Michigan Public Health Student Profile

To learn more about the vast array of skills that University of Michigan School of Public Health students can offer your organization or company, please review the below details about our school, degree offerings, and departments.

University of Michigan School of Public Health

Ranked among the top schools of public health in the country, we train more than 1,300 graduate and undergraduate students each year. With more than 190 faculty and researchers across six academic departments and numerous collaborative centers and institutes, we produce impactful research aimed at finding lasting solutions to pressing public health problems.

Degrees & Departments

Learn more about our degree offerings to gain a deeper understanding of the training of our School of Public Health students and how their skill sets align with the needs of your organization.

Michigan Public Health undergraduate students are trained in public health research, behavioral and social sciences, population health determinants, data analysis, and strategies for addressing public health challenges. Undergraduate students choose between two bachelor's degree programs:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Community and Global Public Health, which is focused on providing training on solving public health challenges through policy, education, administration, and government work
  • Bachelor of Science in Public Health Sciences, which is focused on providing training on solving public health challenges through a science-based or clinical perspective

Review the Michigan Public Health Undergrad Webpage for more information

Master of Public Health (MPH) students are trained in foundational public health skills, including epidemiological methods, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, population health needs assessment, health policy and program implementation and evaluation, health communication and advocacy, and leadership and management. The MPH curriculum and requirements train students to apply their skills to address public health challenges within various community-based settings.

Students can earn an MPH in these disciplines:

  • Environmental Health Sciences: In addition to their MPH training, students in the Environmental Health Sciences department receive specialized training in environmental impact, occupational health, environmental toxicology, sustainability, environmental policy, exposure analysis, and health risk modeling.
  • Epidemiology: In addition to their MPH training, students in the Epidemiology department receive specialized training in epidemiological research, transmission and systems modeling, surveillance, epidemiologic analysis, and biostatistics. 
  • Health Behavior & Health Equity: In addition to their MPH training, students in the Health Behavior & Health Equity department receive specialized training in survey research, community engagement, health promotion, health program evaluation, social determinants of health, behavioral research methods, and health and risk communication.
  • Health Management & Policy: In addition to their MPH training, students in the Health Management & Policy department receive specialized training in healthcare quality measurement and improvement, healthcare system and non-profit management, health policy research and evaluation, health informatics, cost-effectiveness analysis, and healthcare accounting.
  • Population & Health Sciences: In addition to their MPH training, students in the Online MPH in Population and Health Sciences program can choose to specialize in Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Behavior & Health Equity, and Health Management & Policy.
  • Nutritional Sciences: In addition to their MPH training, students in the Nutritional Sciences department receive specialized training in food systems, food services management, nutrition programs evaluation, culinary science, nutritional assessment, community nutrition, eating disorders prevention and treatment, and nutrition counseling. MPH students can also become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), which provides specialized training in the field of Dietetics.

Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) students receive competency-based training in health management and health policy. Specific training topics include: healthcare cost analysis, quality assessment, organizational process improvement, government regulation, policy analysis, healthcare economics, and organizational management. Review more details on the Health Management and Policy Webpage.

Master of Science (MS) students can specialize in the following areas:

  • Biostatistics: The MS degree trains students to use statistical and data analysis, statistical computing, data science, and linear regression for careers in research and industry.
  • Health Data Science: The MS degree trains students in data computing, health data science, data analytics, statistical computing, and machine learning.  
  • Environmental Health Sciences: The MS degree trains students to conduct research in the areas of Environmental Health Sciences and Toxicology.
  • Computational Epidemiology and Systems Modeling: The MS degree trains students in epidemiology through mathematical and statistical modeling and computing languages. 
  • Nutritional Sciences: The MS degree in Nutritional Sciences trains students on nutritional assessments and research methods within the field of nutrition. Students have the option of receiving a concentration in Dietetics.

Master of Health Informatics (MHI) students build knowledge of the health care system and master concepts in health policy, information sciences, and behavioral, cognitive and organizational science. They develop methodological skills in high-powered analytics, systems analysis, planning, development and implementation. Review more details on the Master of Health Informatics Webpage.

Michigan Public Health PhD students are trained in high-level research and project management skills through designing, conducting, and managing original research for their doctoral dissertation. Students can complete a PhD in one of our school's departments: Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Behavior & Health Equity, Health Management & Policy, and Nutritional Sciences. In addition to high-level skills within their specific fields, PhD students develop advanced leadership skills with regard to designing and implementing research and managing research teams.