Online Master of Public Health (MPH) Degree

Now accepting applications for Fall 2024! See below for application details. 

Gwynedd Mercy University’s Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is an online program that will prepare you to become a public health leader in a critical, growing, and rapidly evolving field.
Complete our MPH degree in as few as 20 months. Attend as a full-time or part-time student to fit your schedule. No GRE required to apply.

In-Person Graduate Program Open House
Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. 
Join us to meet Dr. Sharla Willis and get all of your MPH and admissions questions answered.
Register here

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Program begins
Fall 2024 (no GRE required to apply)

Format
100% online

Ideal for
Full-time or part-time students

Unique focus
The only Health Equity Concentration of its kind in the area

Affordable Tuition
One of the least expensive local options

Alumni Savings
10% tuition grant for GMercyU grads

Find Your Calling 

Our MPH program is ideal for:
  • Public health professionals or students who want to work in a non-clinical healthcare setting, seek career advancement, or enhance their knowledge of the field
  • Healthcare educators, professionals, or students interested in working in a public health setting
  • Business professionals or students who want to work in health administration


Program Details

Gwynedd Mercy University is an applicant for accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The accreditation review will address the Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Science in Public Health degrees. Other degrees and areas of study offered by this institution will not be included in the unit of accreditation review. See https://ceph.org for more information.

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 (MPH) 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:

PUB 600 Foundations of Public Health and Health Equity
PUB 610   Public Health Analytic Methods I
PUB 620 Health Equity: Policy & Advocacy
PUB 630 Public Health Analytic Methods II
PUB 640 Planning and Managing Public Health Interventions

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 onlien MPH degree 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.

PUB 650 Environmental Health Equity
PUB 720 Structural Barriers to Health Equity
PUB 750 Global Health Equity

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

PUB 710 Communication Strategies for Health Promotion
PUB 730 Collaborative Design of Health Education Programs
PUB 740 Applied Epidemiology
PUB 760 Qualitative Research Methods for Public Health

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.

Mary Jo Pierantozzi
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
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, Ph.D. CRNP FNP-BC
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

The MPH program at Gwynedd Mercy has been instrumental to my career. The program's emphasis on health equity has equipped me with the knowledge to better understand the multifaceted disparities impacting the communities I serve. The unparalleled support from the faculty, coupled with the exceptional resources available through the Keiss Library, has greatly enriched my academic experience. This degree will not only help me advance my career, but it has given me a greater perspective on the interconnectedness and significance of public health.

Tori McQueen, Montgomery County Office of Public Health

Advance Your Career

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 2032, 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:

Position Median Annual Salary 2022 Expected Growth through 2032
Medical and Health Service Managers $104,830 28%
Environmental Specialists $76,480 6%
Epidemiologists $78,520 27%
Occupational Health & Safety Specialists $75,240 13%
Social and Community Service Managers $74,240 9%
Health Educators $59,990 7%

The expected job growth rate for all occupations in the U.S. is 3%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Admission

Applications are currently being accepted for a Fall 2024 program start. Ready to apply? Start by submitting your application through SOPHAS, a centralized application service for public health graduate programs.
GMercyU alumni, take advantage of our 10% alumni tuition grant for master's degree programs
Current students, who can begin the MPH during your senior year, should see the Early Entry for the Master of Public Health page for details on applying.

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. Transcripts must be submitted by your college(s) to GMercyU.
  • 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.

Have questions about the admissions process? We're here to help! Please contact us:

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

Apply Now for Fall 2024