Graduate Programs

Master of Public Health

Master of Public Health student presenting her capstone project.
Master of Public Health student presenting her capstone project.

Creating a Healthier World.

Combine science and real-world experience for a fulfilling career.

A Master of Public Health is a multidisciplinary professional degree focused on the application of science and theoretical knowledge toward the prevention of disease and promotion of health. We prepare students for promising careers that improve the health and lives of people and populations.

Students enrolled in the Master of Public Health program explore specific disciplines within public health through foundational coursework, apply knowledge and skills through a practice-based field experience, and bring together their coursework and experiences into an integrative capstone project.

In addition to the required coursework, students choose one of our three areas of emphasis (or concentrations) to further define their expertise:

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Who We Are

From ensuring the food we eat is safe to developing and monitoring vaccines that prevent disease to promoting physical activity, public health is all around us.

We are people-first professionals who investigate the complex health issues impacting our populations. We are driven by our passion to help make communities happier, healthier and safer.

  • First
    First and only school of public health in West Virginia accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
  • $73,000
    $73,000 median salary for public health workers with an advanced degree according to Payscale.com.

What You’ll Do

You’ll get to choose a career that aligns with your interests and professional goals that can be in a variety of workplace settings, such as clinics, hospitals, local health departments, colleges or universities, and state or federal agencies.

Careers are wide-ranging and may include:

  • Biostatistician
  • Community health worker
  • Data analyst
  • Emergency preparedness and response coordinator
  • Epidemiologist
  • Health educator
  • Health policy analyst
  • Health services manager
  • Infection preventionist
  • Occupational and environmental health scientist
  • Organization or agency director
  • Research scientist
  • Wellness coordinator
  • Youth development specialist
Payton Shreve
Accelerated Bachelor's to Master of Public Health (MPH)
“I was passionate about healthcare but couldn't picture myself in a clinical setting. WVU allowed me to study a topic I'm passionate about while learning about health disparities in Appalachia.”
Meet Payton