This degree option leads to a 42-credit graduate degree that is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and prepares students for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential.

This degree option prepares students to work in a variety of careers in the public and private sectors, such as community organizations, hospitals, and state or local health departments. Graduates have demonstrated competency in assessing needs; planning, implementing, administering and evaluating health promotion programs; and serve as a health promotion resource and advocate.

In addition to taking nine courses (27 credits) in Community Health and Prevention Sciences, students attain additional public health core content by taking five of the existing Masters in Public Health generalist on-line courses (i.e., biostatistics, epidemiology, health services, environmental health, and ethics, 15 credits). The new option provides a distinct combination of courses and training that prepares new practitioners in public health focused on community and behavioral sciences.

Courses in the degree option are delivered in a prescribed sequence to a cohort of full-time students. The blend of on-line and on-campus courses makes the option attractive to students who want an on-campus experience that provides more in-person opportunities to work collaboratively with faculty mentors. The concentration is of interest to new public health practitioners and students recently graduated from undergraduate programs.

The table below presents the courses for the Masters in Public Health with Community Health and Prevention Sciences concentration. Students are able to complete the 42-credit degree in four semesters.

Teaching Assistantships: There are a limited number of teaching assistantships available for students in the MPH - CHPS degree programs. Please contact Blakely Brown to learn more about the teaching assistantship and how to apply for the assistantship.

Research Assistantships:  Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) may be available to incoming and returning MPH-CHPS students.  Some GRAs provide a tuition waiver, support for some program fees, and a modest stipend.  GRAs devote approximately half-time effort during the academic year on projects of interest to their GRA assignment. Applicants interested in applying for a GRA should indicate it on their application and within their applicant statement. For more information about the GRAs, please contact Kari Harris.

GRA positions that are currently available are described below. In their statement of interest, applicants are encouraged to specify which GRA opportunity interests them and why.  Applicants will receive additional information if they are being considered for a GRA position. GRA opportunities may require additional application processes, such as an interview, background check, or separate letter of interest.

Current GRA Opportunities

All Nations Health Center is Missoula’s Urban Indian Health Organization (UIHO), whose mission is to provide “sustainable healthy lives for our Native people and the surrounding community through culturally based, holistic care.” All Nations offers a comprehensive suite of healthcare services from full medical services to behavioral health services, health promotion programming, cultural programming, youth programming, and more. As a graduate research assistant (GRA) with All Nations, you will be placed where your skills and experience best align with our needs at the time. This might include working on a needs assessment, program planning, program implementation, evaluation, research, or something else. An interview may be required for this position. A valid driver’s license from a US state is required, and the GRA will need to successfully pass a criminal background check before beginning the assistantship. Learn more about us at www.allnations.health.

The graduate research assistant at Missoula-City County Health Department may be placed at any of the department’s many public health service sections, such as Health People Health Families, Infectious Diseases, Environmental Health, or Emergency Preparedness. More information will be provided to those who are considered for this GRA position.

Contacts

Dr. Blakely Brown (blakely.brown@umontana.edu)

Dr. Kari Harris (kari.harris@umontana.edu)

Dr. Rachel Peterson (rachel.peterson@umontana.edu)

Courses

Elective Courses - click here to find elective courses for the MPH-CHPS degree program

Capstones - click here to find information on the MPH-CHPS Capstone courses