the M.S.P.H. Program at meharry

The M.S.P.H. and the M.P.H. are equivalent degrees; however, at Meharry, we emphasize the "S" in M.S.P.H. because the scientific knowledge and competencies our students acquire will allow them to thrive as health professionals upon graduation. We expect our graduates to make their public health decisions on "evidence based" data.

This program is a 45 credit-hour course of instruction, plus a field externship. The core courses consist of 15 required credit hours and 30 electives; students may choose a concentration and select their electives accordingly. There is a variety of courses from which to choose to fulfill the course requirements for the M.S.P.H. degree.

EXTERNSHIP

Students are required to complete a 400-hour externship in a public health agency. The externship is an on-the-job experience of at least ten 40-hour work weeks, totaling 400 hours. It is generally held during the summer months between the first year and second year of academic study. The Externship Manual must be downloaded and maintained by the student throughout the externship. M.S.P.H. students have participated in externships at the local, state, federal, and international levels. Partner organizations have included Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Tennessee Hospital Association, Centers for Disease Control, Department of Veterans Affairs, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Harvard University, and the Minority International Research Training (MIRT) Program in Ethiopia Africa.

CULMINATING EXPERIENCE

To complete the M.S.P.H. degree, the student has the option of writing a thesis or sitting for a comprehensive exam. Both the thesis and exam cover all the core courses of public health and test the knowledge the student has attained in the core areas of public health. They equally test the student's ability to integrate the knowledge that he/she has attained during matriculation in the program. The M.S.P.H. Thesis Manual has been developed to assist students with preparation and writing of the thesis.

C.E.P.H. ACCREDITATION

Meharry's M.S.P.H. program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (C.E.P.H.), the official accrediting body for all public health programs and Schools of Public Health in the United States.