Master of Public Health
Promote wellness at the community and global levels.
The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is a professional graduate degree designed for individuals passionate about improving public health, preventing disease, and promoting wellness at the community and global levels. The program is designed to educate students in areas that are vital to local, national, and international public health concerns. The MPH program provides students with a multidisciplinary education, integrating knowledge from epidemiology, biostatistics, social and behavioral sciences, health policy, and environmental health. Graduates develop essential skills to analyze health trends, implement interventions, and influence public health policy.
MPH students will learn how to address health-related challenges like managing infectious illnesses, enhancing access to healthcare, and lowering environmental risks. MPH graduates can work in various sectors, including government agencies, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, academia, and international health programs. With increased focus on disease prevention, health equity, and global health challenges, public health professionals are in high demand and public health careers offer stability and strong earning potential, especially in epidemiology, health policy, and healthcare administration. MPH professionals play a critical role in addressing public health crises, advocating for policy change, and improving healthcare access worldwide.
Graduate Capstone
Students are required to complete a capstone project. This individualized project allows students to apply knowledge and skills acquired in their courses and real-world experiences. It is designed to promote vital assets of learning integration, synthesis, and expertise in change management and leadership.
Enjoy Flexibility– 12 online courses with program start dates every 2 weeks
Choose Where You Learn– Online courses
Affordable Monthly Payments
Focus on Your Passion– Choose your capstone project
Why More Students Are Choosing Aspen
MPH Courses
Aspen’s MPH curriculum features 12 courses designed to equip you with advanced leadership and critical thinking skills. Taught by experienced educators from diverse industries, you’ll have the opportunity to apply new knowledge directly to your field through the integration of your MPH capstone project.
View the degree plan for this program here: Master of Public Health Degree Plan
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MPH501 - Public Health in America
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MPH503 - Health Policy & Ethical Issues in Public Health
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MPH505 - Public Health Education & Program Oversight
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MPH510 - Epidemiology in Public Health
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MPH520 - Disaster Management & Emergency Preparedness
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MPH530 - Environmental Issues in Public Health
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MPH540 - Public Health Administration
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MPH550 - Health Behavior and Health Education
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MPH560 - Applied Biostatistics for Public Health
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MPH570 - Evidence-Based Practice in Public Health
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MPH580 - Public Health & Health Education Internship
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MPH590 - Public Health & Health Education Capstone
This graduate-level course introduces students to the historical development, structure, operation, and current and future directions of the major components of the public health delivery system. It reviews the historical evolution of the US public health system’s features and examines the ways in which national public health services are organized and delivered, the influences that affect public health public policy decisions, factors that determine priorities for the allocation of resources, and the relationship of costs to measurable benefits. The course enables students to assess the role of organized efforts to influence public health policy formulation, and the contributions of medical technology, research findings, and societal values on our evolving public health delivery system.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This graduate-level course focuses on health policy, law and ethics in public health. It is intended to provide professionals with the principles, knowledge and application necessary to deal with pressing legal and ethical issues relating to the field of public health. This course will provide an overview of regulatory action and the legislative and judicial processes, enabling learners to become familiar with changes impacting public health practice and diverse populations. Within a code of ethics, issues affecting public health practice and the profession will be explored.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This graduate-level course will provide the background, skills and foundational concepts necessary for students to effectively plan, develop and evaluate a public health intervention program based upon a specific population’s needs. The student’s public health educational program will incorporate elements of the core functions of public health and the ten essentials of public health services.
3 CreditsRequired Books
Epidemiology in Public Health is a graduate-level course that introduces students to epidemiology, the scientific discipline that focuses on the cause and treatment of human health problems and is the method used to find the causes of health outcomes and diseases in populations. This course emphasizes the evaluation of public health strategies and interventions that are designed to address these public health problems.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This graduate-level course covers the public health community’s essential role in identifying, responding to, containing, mitigating and recovering from disasters and emergencies by providing insight on local, national, and global threats.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This graduate-level course encompasses the significant topic areas of environmental health associated with biological, chemical, and physical agents in the environment and how human health is impacted by water, soil and air quality, food safety, weather, and land resources. Genetic, physiological, and psychosocial factors are also explored, specifically to those that influence & compromise public health outcomes and are associated with the environment and environmental hazards.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This graduate-level course covers preventative methods and public accountability regarding public health and discovers public health structure at the local, state, and national levels. Further, involvement of local, state and federal government in public health and management of public health resources, including human resources will be reviewed. Finally, identification of relationships between public and private health alliances will be reviewed in efforts to combat public health concerns emphasizing preventive approaches.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This graduate-level course will provide insight into health behavior and understanding of the cultural, social and economic factors that impact an individual’s health behavior. Health behavior is a key building block for initiatives in public health education. This course will focus on the creation of a health education initiative as it is relevant to a local community.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This graduate-level course presents the topics of the use of probability, descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and nonparametric tests as they pertain to health research. Students also study the foundational concepts of biostatistics relating to peer-reviewed, public health publications and the application of quantitative methods utilized by public health professionals. Students will approach and address health-based problems using biostatistical methods and data analysis, during this course.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This graduate-level course examines evidence-based Public Health practices and focuses on how to search, utilize analysis, and interpret sources of public health information and data. This course will prepare the student to identify a health issue, develop a concise statement of the health issue, and create a base plan to complete the Public Health Internship and Capstone.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This graduate-level course focuses on the application of theoretical concepts and strategies for a selected learner population in a public health setting. Emphasis is on effective communication and sensitivity to varying needs of the learner based on cultural and educational background. Evidence-based strategies will be developed into a comprehensive activity or teaching plan to engage learners in active learning and implemented to meet mutually determined outcomes. 120 hours of internship experience will be required. This course satisfies the Proctored Exam requirement for this program.
3 CreditsRequired Books
This graduate-level course will focus on the written explanation of the project the student completed during MPH580. The opportunity to demonstrate knowledge of essential theory, incorporate research findings, and demonstrate scholarly thought will be the emphasis of this course. This project-based capstone is designed to encourage the student to draw upon knowledge and experience gained over the course of the entire MPH program and during the public health internship. The capstone course is intended for the student to explain and defend a substantial original applied project of your own authorship.
3 CreditsRequired Books
Cost & Time to Completion
The Best Fit for Working Adults
We understand the difficulties in pursuing your master’s degree when you have a demanding work schedule. The 8-week courses at Aspen University allow you to complete your program in as little as 2 years.
Our Monthly Payment Plan Makes Us Different.
Paying for your degree shouldn’t be complicated. Our Monthly Payment Plan makes it easy for working nurses to finance their education.
Tuition Rates
| $15,480 | Tuition |
| $2,950 | Fees |
| $1,800 |
Estimated
Textbook
Costs
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| $20,230 | |
Other Ways to Finance Your Degree
Students who have served, or are currently serving in the United States Military and their legal spouses are eligible to receive a Military Affiliation Discount from Aspen University.
Aspen University maintains employee tuition discount partnerships with a large and growing number of organizations. Tell your enrollment advisor where you work and ask them to check for you prior to enrolling.
Aspen offers several payment plans for students to fund their education.
Admission Requirements
Application – A completed application; Aspen does not charge an application fee
Bachelor’s Degree – Official Transcript demonstrating a bachelor’s degree from an institution that is accredited by a CHEA recognized accrediting body or an international equivalent; applicants must have earned at least a 2.5 GPA in their bachelor’s program (see Catalog for more information)
Government-Issued Photo Identification – Identification must be valid, current, and legible.
Career Outlook
The Master of Public Health program at Aspen University is designed to equip graduates with a unique blend of skills necessary to advocate for public health needs and become a leader in the field. The program’s integrated internship and capstone courses help students apply their coursework directly to their profession and set graduates apart in a competitive job market. Employment in public health-related fields is expected to grow significantly over the next decade. The demand for epidemiologists, health educators, and public health analysts is driven by emerging global health threats, environmental concerns, and the need for improved healthcare access. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of epidemiologists is expected to grow 19% between 2023 to 2033, employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow 29% between 2023 and 2033, and employment of health education specialists is expected to grow 7% between 2023 and 2033.
Graduates from this program are equipped to work in careers related to the following fields:
- Epidemiologist: investigates patterns and causes of diseases
- Works in government agencies, research institutions, and hospitals
- Health Policy Analyst: develops and assesses healthcare policies
- Works in government agencies, advocacy organizations, and think tanks
- Public Health Educator: designs and implements health education programs
- Works in schools, nonprofits, and community organizations
- Environmental Health Specialist: evaluates environmental risks affecting public health
- Works for regulatory agencies, consulting firms, and non-governmental organizations
- Global Health Specialist: develops programs to combat global health issues
- Works with international organizations like the World Health Organization and other non-governmental organizations
An MPH degree provides a strong foundation for careers in public health, offering job stability, competitive salaries, and the opportunity to make a significant impact on population health. As the field grows, graduates will find increasing opportunities to shape the future of healthcare and public policy.
Average Annual Salary for Health Services Managers
$110,680
Data pulled from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Winter 2025. Salary can vary widely depending on geographical location and role.
MPH Frequently Asked Questions
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What is an MPH degree?
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Can I finish the MPH degree online?
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What are the most in-demand public health careers?
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What sectors hire MPH graduates?
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Do I need a background in healthcare to apply?
A Master of Public Health degree is a graduate-level degree that prepares graduates for improving population health across local, regional, national, and global populations.
Yes, Aspen’s MPH degree program is completed online.
Epidemiology, health policy analysis, and public health education are among the fastest-growing fields due to increasing global health challenges and policy reforms. With the rise of digital health initiatives, many of these positions are also available for hybrid or remote workers.
MPH graduates are employed by government agencies (i.e. the CDC, WHO, or local health departments), nonprofits and non-government organizations (i.e. the Red Cross or Gates Foundation), private sector (i.e. pharmaceuticals or consulting firms) or academic and research institutions.
While it is not required to have a healthcare background to be successful in this program, students may find some background information in this area to be a useful tool while completing the program.