Master of Public Health Degree in Health Behavior & Health Equity
- 2 Year Program INCLUDING COURSE WORK AND INTERNSHIP
- 60 Credit Hours
The Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program is committed to creating the problem solvers of tomorrow. Through our rigorous, purpose-driven curriculum, comprehensive research experiences, innovative partnerships, and real-world field experiences, our students leave their program prepared to address today’s most pressing health equity challenges.
Apply!
We welcome MPH applicants for Fall 2025 on a rolling basis until May 15, 2025. (The Final Application deadline for international MPH applicants is January 15, 2025.) All applicants are considered for tuition scholarships, regardless of when they submit their application, as long as funding remains available. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible to ensure full eligibility for all available scholarship funds. Please contact us today, we are eager to assist you in completing your application for Fall 2025! Questions may be directed to Jackie Cormany, Graduate Program Coordinator, jcormany@umich.edu.
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Student experience and support
Skills and Competencies
The Health Behavior & Health Equity competency-based curriculum ensures students gain a breadth of foundational public health knowledge and key skills including:
- Applying social and behavioral science theories, concepts, and models
- Program development
- Program evaluation
- Behavioral science research methods
- Perspectives for addressing health disparities
- Applied health communication
Program Curriculum and Prerequisites
Our curriculum in Health Behavior & Health Equity consists of several components designed to prepare you for success in the profession you choose upon graduation. Students enroll in select courses from the School of Public Health Masters of Public Health Core Curriculum to gain a foundation of knowledge in public health. They also enroll in a series of Health Behavior & Health Equity Program Requirements ensuring expertise in our concentration. This classroom experience is complemented by Internship and Applied Practice Experiences and culminates in the Integrative Learning Experience.
The Health Behavior & Health Equity MPH Program is 60 credit hours, and half of the required credits must be taken in Health Behavior & Health Equity courses (subject code HBHEQ). In addition to the required courses listed below, students will complete electives of their choice to achieve the required total credit hours to earn the degree.
|
Course Title |
Course Number | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Public Health Practice Online Module | Non-credit | |
| Investigating Public Health Issues | PUBHLTH500 | 6 |
| Developing Public Health Solutions | PUBHLTH501 | 6 |
| Course Title | Course Number | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Psychosocial Factors in Health-Related Behavior | HBHEQ600 | 3 |
| Developing Strategies To Improve Health | HBHEQ651 | 3 |
| Program Evaluation in Health Education | HBHEQ622 | 3 |
| Research Methods (select one class) | HBHEQ 530, 620, 626, 638, 639, 700 | 3 |
| Health Equity (select one class) | HBHEQ 605, 613, 614, 617, 640, 645, , 677, 679, 690, 710: Racial & Ethnic Disparities, 733 | 3 |
| Applied Health Communications (select one class) | HBHEQ 641, 661, 668, 669 | 3 |
|
Internship Credit Reduction *Credit reduction limited to 3 credits for dual degree students |
252-504 hours | 3-6* credit reduction |
| Professional Development Seminar in HBHE Year 1 | HBHEQ672 | 1 |
| Professional Development Seminar in HBHE Year 2 | HBHEQ673 | 2 |
The Health Behavior & Health Equity MPH Degree program is 60 credit hours. In addition to the courses listed above, students will complete electives of their choice to achieve the required total credit hours to earn the degree.
Note: Students are required to take at least half of their credit hours within the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity. The credit reduction received for the internship may not count toward this requirement.
The Health Behavior & Health Equity MPH Program does not have any specific prerequisites.
Desired Qualifications of Applicants
Health Behavior & Health Equity uses a holistic review process that recognizes that there are many different types of experience and academic training that can lead to interest in Health Behavior & Health Equity. We encourage applicants to highlight all aspects of their background that they feel most directly motivate their interest in Health Behavior & Health Equity.
Note: Michigan Public Health does not require and does not review GRE or other standardized test scores for admission to any master's or doctoral programs. Applications will be reviewed holistically based on required application components. Please contact our admissions staff at sph-inquiries@umich.edu if you have questions.
Experience
Public health is a broad field, and many types of employment, academic, extracurricular, and life experiences are relevant to a career in Health Behavior and Health Equity. The Health Behavior & Health Equity MPH Program admits both applicants with years of experience and applicants who desire to pursue graduate work immediately after their undergraduate education. We look for an appreciation of health challenges and disparities that exist in the world, a motivation to create change, and a desire to understand the role that Health Behavior & Health Equity interventions can play in addressing those issues. We also appreciate that a passion for working with communities and achieving health equity often stems from living in these communities and facing those inequities.
Academic Record
In reviewing applicants’ academic record, we pay particular attention to individual courses that are relevant to public health (broadly defined) and to applicants’ trajectory of success over time. Many different disciplines can contribute to someone becoming an effective public health professional. We also recognize that many factors can affect one’s academic progress, and we encourage applicants to speak to such issues in their application materials.
Quantitative Preparation
Health Behavior & Health Equity does not have a specific prerequisite requirement regarding quantitative preparation. However, because students must use biostatistics skills as part of the MPH core, we expect applicants to have at least a foundational level of quantitative ability acquired through any of the following: college algebra or higher mathematics courses, college-level statistics or biostatistics courses, college-level science courses (e.g. physics), and/or demonstrated work experience that incorporates quantitative skills.
NOTE: Any student whose quantitative preparation is missing, weak, or significantly out of date is highly encouraged to take a college algebra course though an accredited institution (e.g., an accredited community college) in preparation for, or concurrently with, their application. Admission to the program may be made conditional on successful completion of such a course.
You may download a copy of our MPH Student Handbook for a more detailed overview of our program requirements.
Internship and Applied Practice Experience
Students gain experience in professional, mentored, and evaluated research and practice placements resulting in work products that contribute to their training and benefit partner organizations.
Integrative Learning Experience
Students integrate and synthesize foundational and concentration competencies and apply them to solving a complex public health problem in writing the Health Behavior & Health Equity Culminating Essay.
Financial Support
- All admitted students are considered for departmental scholarship—no additional application is required.
- Donor named scholarship opportunities are available to apply to during a student’s second semester.
- Limited internship funding opportunities are available to support part of the cost of unpaid internship and practice experiences.
In addition to departmental financial resources, please review financial aid and funding opportunities from the School of Public Health.
Ready to Apply?
Applications for the Health Behavior & Health Equity MPH program are processed through SOPHAS. Visit our Applications & Deadlines page to start the application process.