Online Master of Public Health Degree

The only program of its kind in our area to offer a Health Equity Concentration, GMercyU’s online MPH degree will prepare you to identify underlying causes of health disparities in disadvantaged communities in the U.S. and abroad, and develop effective strategies to address them.

The program includes a focus on developing public health skills relevant to the breadth of public health practice. Courses address epidemiology, program planning and evaluation, environmental health, policy,  advocacy, and public health leadership.

Other benefits of GMercyU's Online MPH degree include:

• Courses taught by public health experts
• A flexible full-time or part-time program, offered online
• Research and internship opportunities in the field

And, you will learn at an institution whose history and mission is rooted in service – at GMercyU, we have been developing change-makers and social justice advocates for decades.

Master of Public Health students must complete 42 credits in public health courses. Courses are designed to help students become competent and confident in the application of skills used in the field of public health. 

The initial courses focus on an integrated core curriculum that addresses the knowledge and competencies foundational to public health:

After completing these foundational courses, students will have the opportunity to utilize these public health skills in an Applied Practical Experience (PUB-700) with a public health organization in their community.

The MPH at Gwynedd Mercy University includes a concentration in Health Equity. While health equity is central to all our courses, students will take three concentration courses to further develop public health skills in courses that address specific strategies for addressing health disparities and achieving health equity in domestic and international populations.

Students will also have the opportunity to select electives, such as the following:

Producing a final, high-quality, written product developed during the Integrative Learning Experience (PUB-790) in the last semester will allow students to synthesize the skills learned throughout the program.

For all Master of Public Health course descriptions, please refer to the Graduate Course Catalog.

Read about GMercyU's “Health Equity in the Time of COVID" discussion, hosted by Sharla Willis, DrPH, MPH, MA, Founding Program Director and Assistant Professor of the Public Health Programs at GMercyU.

Dr. Willis also co-hosted GMercyU's Informational Panel on the COVID-19 Vaccines.

Dr. Willis wrote Public Health Encompasses More than Pandemics to share careers in public health you might not have considered.

Sharla Willis, DrPH, CHES
Position: Founding Program Director and Assistant Professor
Did You Know? Dr. Willis completed a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Health Scholars postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan focused on community-based participatory research.
Read bio

Victory Osezua, PhD, MPH
Position: Assistant Professor
Did You Know? Dr. Osezua also works as an independent public health consultant for various non-profit organizations across the country.
Read bio

Maria Warnick, PhD, CRNP FNP-BC
Position: Assistant Professor
Did You Know? Dr. Warnick completed a doctoral program in public health with a focus in epidemiology after years of experience as a family nurse practitioner.
Read bio

Even before the COVID-19 public health emergency, public health has been a field in need of workers.

Today, job opportunities in this field are expected to increase nationally by 17% through 2030, more than double the national average, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

According to a 2017 survey of state and local public health workers, 22% planned to retire in the next five years (de Beaumont Foundation, 2019). In the Philadelphia area, those with a public health bachelor's degree earn a median salary of about $68,000 – more than twice the average wage for the region, according to a survey conducted by Burning Glass Technologies.

Public health is a broad and diverse field. Experts are needed all over the world to work for government health departments and agencies, private corporations, non-profit organizations, community clinics, schools, and more.

With an MPH degree, public health professionals can advance into management positions and enjoy a career in which they can make a difference and a living, while benefiting from increases in job opportunities.

Here are just a few examples:

The expected job growth rate for all occupations in the U.S. is 7.7%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Admissions contact information: 
Wivina Chmura, Associate Director of Admissions
215-641-5541
gradadmissions@gmercyu.edu 

No GRE is required. Admission requirements for the online MPH degree program will include:

• Transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you attended; please submit any post graduate work as well.
• A 250-500 word essay identifying a public health issue in your community and how an MPH would help you address this issue
• Two letters of reference from people who can speak to your ability to succeed in and benefit from the MPH program, ideally academic or professional references from instructors or supervisors
• A current resume or curriculum vitae
• Access to a computer and internet connection in order to successfully complete online coursework

Applications are reviewed holistically to make a determination of applicants’ ability to thrive in our graduate program. We look for:

• Demonstrated academic ability in your undergraduate transcript, generally defined as:
  • A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale or the equivalent, and
  • Consistent academic performance in math, science, and writing intensive courses.
  • Note: While a GRE is not required, those with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 or lacking in the above courses may submit GRE scores for consideration.
• Strong written communication skills, assessed through:
  • Your essay
  • Transcripts
  • References
• A strong interest in the field of public health and addressing the health needs of communities. Keep in mind that:
  • Our program welcomes those who are currently working in the field of public health, career changers and recent graduates. Your personal experience is valued.
  • Public health is an interdisciplinary field, so all academic backgrounds are relevant.
  • Your essay will help us understand why you are interested in public health. It is okay if you do not yet have a specific career goal or public health area identified, as you will have the opportunity to explore the field during the MPH program. If you have public health experience or detailed public health career goals, please share those in your essay and resume.

*Since this is a fully online program, GMercyU cannot sponsor any student VISAs for the MPH degree. For international students interested in the MPH Program, we recommend that you first check with your government's policies to determine if they accept online U.S. degrees as a valid degree before considering this program.

Get the education you need to advance your career — and expand your career possibilities — in public health. Earn your Master of Public Health at GMercyU.

Apply Now for Fall 2023