Promote, Protect and Improve the Public Health of Rural and Underserved America
The online Public Health program is a partnership between South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota and develops public health practitioners and leaders to address the public health needs of rural and underserved communities, including indigenous communities. The program has adopted an interprofessional approach to addressing the five core areas of public health:
- Biostatistics
- Epidemiology
- Health services administration
- Social and behavioral sciences
- Environmental health
The Master of Public Health (MPH) is the most widely recognized professional credential for practice and leadership in public health. The Master of Public Health is the only program of its kind in the state and is offered online to meet the needs of a diverse student population.
SDSU and USD draw on their strengths in addressing the healthcare needs of rural and underserved communities and focus the MPH curricula on rural public health, creating a distinct national and regional identity for the program. This program is designed to train students in the core competencies of public health education and prepare them with the knowledge and skills necessary to assume a variety of positions in South Dakota and beyond.
Offerings
About the Program
Mission:
The University of South Dakota (USD) and South Dakota State University (SDSU) Master of Public Health (MPH) program is committed to improving health in rural and underserved communities by providing interdisciplinary learning, scholarship and community engagement for public health professionals.
Vision:
The program will generate resources and support for rural and underserved communities to achieve optimal and equitable health.
Program Goals
- Academic Excellence - Promote and achieve excellence in public health teaching and learning.
- Public Health Research and Practice - Faculty and students will engage in research and practice in collaboration with rural and underserved communities.
- Diversity and Inclusion - Recruit and retain diverse faculty and students who embody cultural inclusiveness.
- Service - Enhance the program's involvement in public health service to rural and underserved communities in South Dakota.
Core Values:
The MPH program embraces the educational philosophy and values of the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University. It is committed to the following core values.
- Academic excellence
- Student centered education
- Professionalism
- Integrity
- Diversity
- Collaboration and leadership
- Commitment to engagement and service in the community
- Commitment to the professional development of students and faculty
Employment, Fellowship and Internship Opportunities
Search for current opportunities via the following resources:
Potential Careers
The M.P.H. program will prepare professionals with graduate degrees or undergraduate degrees to be public health practitioners and leaders. The M.P.H. program will train graduates for a range of public health positions and public health specialties, including:
- Public health officer (federal, state, county)
- Health services administrator
- Healthcare industry analyst
- Hospital safety and infection control
- Hospital quality improvement and quality assurance
- Environmental health specialist
- Occupational safety and health specialist
- Medical and health services manager
- Epidemiologist
- Biostatistician
- Health promotion and disease prevention
- Public health policy
- Public safety and security
- Disaster preparedness
- Legal analysis
- Mental health
- Maternal-child health
- Geriatrics
- Nutrition
- Higher education
- Research investigator
There are a number of regional, national and governmental public health organizations, including several rural health and American Indian / Alaska Native health organizations that represent our program's focus on serving rural and Native American communities.
Regional Organizations:
- South Dakota Public Health Association
- South Dakota Department of Health
- Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Health Board
- Great Plains Area Indian Health Service
- Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas
- SD Public Health Bulletin
National Organizations:
- American Public Health Association
- American Medical Association
- Office of Rural Health Policy
- National Association of County and City Health Officials
- National Rural Health Association
- National Indian Health Board
- American Pharmacists Association
- American Nurses Association
Governmental Organizations:
Requirements for Admission to the Program
- Completed Graduate Application.
- $35 application fee.
- Official transcripts verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- Statement of purpose for studying public health
- Successful completion of a criminal background check upon acceptance.
- A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework. Each institution may admit students on conditional or provisional status per university policy.
International applicants should contact the Graduate School for additional admissions information.
Admissions Deadlines
- Priority deadline: March 1.
- Final deadline: May 1.
Tuition Information
Master of Public Health Cost Estimates for 2024-2025
Cost per credit:
- Online Tuition: $470.45
- *Fees: 145.40
| Program | Total Credits | Tuition | Fees | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Master of Public Health | 42 | $19,758.90 | $6,106.80 | $25,865.70 |
Public Health Certificate Cost Estimates for 2024-2025
Cost per credit:
- Online Tuition: $470.45
- *Fees: 145.40
| Program | Total Credits | Tuition | Fees | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health Certificate | 15 | $7,056.75 | $2,181.00 | $9,237.75 |
*Fees include Deliver Fees. Fees are calculated per credit.
Master of Public Health Coordinator
James Amell
Julie Stevens & Dale Evenson Endowed Associate Professor/Interim Dept. Head
Department of Allied and Population Health
Accreditation
The Master of Public Health program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. Alternatively, the most recent copy of the accreditation self-study and final report can be obtained by contacting the MPH Program Director. For more information about accreditation, visit CEPH.
