July 27, 2009
The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) is expanding its Master of Public Health (MPH) Program, offering a new concentration area in Public Health Practice which will be offered in both Phoenix and Tucson.
The Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice is an interdisciplinary program that helps students acquire a wide set of public health competencies and emphasizes skills in preparation for public health practice – including management and leadership positions. Students learn to work effectively as part of multidisciplinary teams to develop, manage and evaluate public health programs for decreasing health disparities among and within diverse populations.
Applications Accepted Beginning in Fall 2009 for Fall 2010 Entry
Applications for the new concentration area will be accepted beginning this fall for classes in fall 2010. The Public Health Practice program will complement the college’s two existing programs in Phoenix — the MD-MPH dual degree and the Graduate Certificate in Public Health — and enhance the MPH degree program in Tucson, which has been in existence since 1993.
"We are thrilled to see the continued development of the Phoenix Biomedical Campus with the addition of the UA Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health expanding into downtown Phoenix. This program complements the offerings for students pursuing the health field in downtown and helps to meet the needs of our state for more health-care professionals. It puts us closer to our goal of having training for all areas of health care in the heart of our city," said Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. |
At view of the UA-MEZCOPH
campus in Phoenix. Photo by D. Taren. |
 “The increasing ease of international travel during the past 50 years has led to significant challenges in protecting the public health. Thus, it is good to see The University of Arizona expanding its efforts to add to the workforce in Arizona by creating the Arizona MPH Program in Phoenix,” said William M. Crist, MD, right, the University of Arizona's new vice president for health affairs.
Geared Toward Students in Tucson or Phoenix
The Public Health Practice program is geared toward students who are able to enroll in courses in Phoenix or Tucson. An internship that integrates classroom work into a practice setting serves as the culminating experience of the curriculum. Course work includes subject matter in the core areas of public health:
- Epidemiology
- Biostatistics
- Environmental and occupational health
- Public health policy and management, and
- Socio-cultural and behavioral aspects of public health.
Students obtain additional skills in the administration and fiscal management of programs that address the health beliefs in a variety of cultures. Students will be able to get practical experience by completing field-based courses and internships with various local, state, national and international agencies.
 Iman Hakim, MD, PhD, MPH, left, dean of the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health, said, “The Public Health Practice program will ensure a properly trained and improved public-health workforce for the state of Arizona. There is an acknowledged public health workforce shortage, and education can help us bridge the gap. I look forward to collaborating and strengthening our linkages with our local and state public health officials.”
An Accredited Program
The UA Zuckerman College of Public Health is the only accredited college in the Rocky Mountain Time Zone by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Obtaining an accredited Master's in Public Health (MPH) assures students that they are receiving a quality curriculum. A degree from an accredited institution also enhances a person's earning capacity. Read about the benefits of accreditation.
As alumni of the only accredited college of public health in the Rocky Mountain time zone, UA Zuckerman College of Public Health graduates are eligible to take the national examination to become Certified in Public Health (CPH) by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. The exam is rooted in the five basic core competencies of public health. The exam was developed for the purpose of providing a "Certified in Public Health" credential, which will provide you with a way to distinguish yourself as a graduate of an accredited school of public health, fully prepared to address the many challenges that will face public health in the coming months, years and decades.
As the organization representing all of the accredited schools of public health, the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) is committed to working with employer organizations across the country to help them recognize the value of CPH accredited professionals to their organization. By participating in this examination, you will help improve the quality of the public health workforce and define the future of public health practice.
For Information about the Public Health Practice Program
If you would like to learn more about the MPH in Public Health Practice, please contact:
Douglas Taren, PhD
(520) 626-8375 or taren@email.arizona.edu
For Information about Application Procedures
For more information about applying for the MPH in Public Health Practice program or other public health degree or certificate programs, please contact:
Becky Corran, MEZCOPH Office of Student Services and Alumni Affairs
(520) 626-3201 or bcorran@email.arizona.edu
Links
- The Arizona Republic covered this news article in their Business section on July 27, 2009. Read the story.
- More information about the exam to become certified in public health is available at:
http://www.publichealthexam.org
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