JMU - Public Health

Dr. Stephen Stewart, Graduate Coordinator

For information, call (540) 568-8195

Web site: http://www.commonwealthmph.org/

Admission

Application materials must be downloaded from the MPH Web site and submitted to the address below:

The Commonwealth Master of Public Health Program

Eastern Virginia Medical School

P.O. Box 1980

Norfolk, VA 23501-1980

(757) 446-6120

Email: info@commonwealthmph.org

Refer to the �Application Requirements� section on Page 158 for additional information.

Application Deadlines

Completed applications must be received by the date specified on the MPH Web site at http://www.commonwealthmph.org/. Applications received after this deadline may be considered based on space availability and merit.

Mission

Commonwealth MPH Program graduates will possess an understanding of the public health sciences, knowledge, and skills that are used in health care management, population-based research, and the community practice of public health.

The program is designed for working professionals. Most courses will be offered via distance-learning platforms used by the four sponsoring institutions. Specialty concentrations will be offered in Health Management/Policy and Health Education/Behavior. Alternatively, students may select a General MPH track that provides flexibility in structuring specialty courses. Courses are taught by faculty from all four institutions, and may be supplemented by community faculty with expertise in specific topics.

The program will benefit professionals working in private, government, or community organizations, or the military, who are responsible for:

� assessing health status or population needs

� designing and implementing programs to meet identified needs

� managing administrative functions in health organizations

� conducting program evaluation and outcomes research

� developing coalitions to meet community needs

� marketing health services

� analyzing the epidemiology of specific diseases

� measuring or assuring the quality of health care services

Accreditation

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia approved the program in February 2003. The four sponsoring institutions are regionally accredited, and collectively offer an extensive range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. An application for accreditation will be submitted in 2006 to the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the national accrediting body for schools and programs in public health. The curriculum is modeled after the EVMS/ODU residential MPH Program, which is fully accredited by CEPH.

Program Structure

The program is a collaborative effort of four equal partners: Eastern Virginia Medical School, George Mason University, James Madison University and Old Dominion University. EVMS will serve as the school of record, and will prepare diplomas and certify that students have met all graduate requirements. The diploma will reflect the names and official seals of the four sponsoring institutions.

The Masters of Public Health program will consist of 41 credit hours. The program is designed to be completed in two years. All students are expected to take six to seven credit hours per trimester.

Students will take two courses each trimester. In addition to the required courses, students will participate in a five-day residential program conducted at the beginning of each academic year hosted at one of the sponsoring institutions. During the orientation, students will participate in an �Introduction to Online Learning� course where they will become familiar with selected computer technology such as the use of word processing, spreadsheets, sending e-mail and navigating the Web, and other skills required to effectively access the distance courses.

Distance education allows students to complete many courses at the time and place most convenient to their schedule. Courses taught using synchronous technology will generally be conducted in the evenings or possibly on Saturdays. Distance classes will be delivered online each semester with occasional videoconferences. Online lectures will consist of PowerPoint presentations with an audio component, and some lectures include video presentations. Real interaction will be conducted through Live Talks, chat rooms and phone conversations. There are group assignments in some courses, and students will communicate via bulletin boards, chat rooms, and the telephone to complete projects.

In addition to the required course work, students must complete a field practicum in their area concentration. During the second on-site week students will take an exam covering the core competencies in public health and will identify their practicum sites.

Students not seeking the MPH degree may take up to three program courses if space is available.

Admission Requirements

For U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

� Baccalaureate degree from accredited college or university, with an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in courses taken in the last 60 credit hours. Applicants that meet the 3.0 GPA requirement and are U.S. citizens do not need to submit GRE scores. Applicants with a GPA between 2.5 and 2.99 in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate courses must submit a Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or equivalent (e.g., MCAT) score within the last five years. For non-probationary admission, U.S. students must score 800 or higher on the combined verbal and quantitative sections, and 3.5 or higher on the analytical section. Applicants with a GPA under 2.5 will not be considered for admission to the program.

� Completed application packet with three letters of recommendation.

� One or more years of public health work experience is preferred but not required for all candidates. Special consideration may be extended for candidates who have 10 or more years of public health work experience.

� Application fee for U.S. citizens is $50.

For International Students

� Baccalaureate degree from accredited college or university, with an undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 in courses taken in the last 60 credit hours.

� All international students must submit GRE scores. For non-probationary admission, international students must have a combined score of 1000 or higher on the verbal and quantitative sections, and 3.5 or higher on the analytical section.

� TOEFL score of 650 for paper-based test and 278 for computer-based test for applicants whose native language is not English.

� Completed application packet with three letters of recommendation.

� International students must abide by all U.S. Immigration laws throughout their enrollment at EVMS. This includes, but is not limited to, qualifying for and obtaining a proper VISA prior to attendance. For further information, please contact Mr. Michael Cox in the EVMS Office of Human Resources at 757-446-6043.

� Application fee for international applicants is $100.

Application materials must be downloaded from the MPH Web site and submitted to :

The Commonwealth Master of Public Health Program

Eastern Virginia Medical School

P.O. Box 1980

Norfolk, VA 23501-1980

Tuition and Fees

Consult the MPH Web site for the current tuition and fee structure. Tuition is subject to change. Federal financial aid is available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Limited financial aid may be available to international students through private lenders. Other cots include books, student fees, computer hardware/software, and participation in residential orientation programs conducted each year at one of the sponsoring instructions. To review the Commonwealth MPH student budget or to obtain additional information, review the EVMS Office of Financial Aid Web site at www.evms.edu/students/fin-aid or call (757) 446-5813. EVMS is the school of record for this program.

Curriculum

The table below depicts the two-year curriculum of the program. Additional details such as starting dates, times, etc. will be posted to this Web site at least three months prior to the beginning of each semester. All students must complete the Core Courses shown in Year 1.

Commonwealth MPH Program Courses

First Year Courses
Fall Semester	Credit Hours
CMPH 600. Health Education and Behavioral Science (Core)	3
CMPH 601. Principles of Epidemiology (Core)	3
CMPH 602. Ethics in Public Health Practice (Core)	1
Spring Semester	Credit Hours
CMPH 603. Health Administration and Organization (Core)	3
CMPH 604. Introduction to Biostatistics (Core)	�3
Summer Semester	Credit Hours
CMPH 605. Environmental Health Science (Core)	3
CMPH 606. Survey Development and Program Evaluation	3
CMPH 650. Community Practicum	1
	20
Second Year Courses
Fall Semester	Credit� Hours
CMPH 702. Specialty Track Course	3
CMPH 703. Specialty Track Course	3
CMPH 651. Community Practicum	1
Spring Semester	Credit Hours
CMPH 704. Specialty Track Course	3
CMPH 705. Specialty Track Course	3
CMPH 652. Community Practicum	1
Summer Semester	Credit Hours
CMPH 706. Specialty Track Course	3
CMPH 700. Capstone Seminar	3
CMPH 653. Community Practicum	1
	21

Courses offered through James Madison University

Epidemiology

HTH 657. Chronic Diseases

Health Administration

HTH 659. Health Care Environment

HTH 660. Health Economics

HTH 661. Financial Management of Health Services Organizations

HTH 669. Modern Health Care Administration

HTH 685. Field Work in Heath

Health Education

HTH 510. Human Sexuality

HTH 549. Contemporary Health Issues

HTH 552. Strategies for Health Change

HTH 558. Health Planning

HTH 655. Research Techniques

HTH 671. School Health Practice

Because multiple institutions are involved, some variance is possible for the beginning and ending dates of semesters, depending on which school is teaching a given class. As a general rule, the following guide depicts when the three semesters are structured in relation to the calendar year for the participating institutions:

Fall Semester = Mid-August to mid-December

Spring Semester = January to April

Summer Semester = Early May to early August

Transfer Policy

Students may be eligible to transfer up to six credit hours of graduate course work. All transfers must be approved in writing by the program director.

Course Offerings

Public Health

CMPH 604. Introduction to Biostatistics. 3 credits.

An introduction to statistical techniques in the health field. Emphasis is on descriptive statistics, probability and its application to screening tests, hypothesis testing, estimation, analysis of variance models, simple and linear regression, analysis of covariance, correlation, chi-square tests, survival analysis, and nonparametric statistics. Analysis of data using statistical software will be demonstrated. Lectures, reading assignments, and written assignments.

CMPH 601. Principles of Epidemiology. 3 credits.

An introduction to epidemiology as a body of knowledge and a method for analyzing community health problems. Emphasis is on how to measure and describe the health of populations, the natural history of diseases in population groups, sources of data, study designs, measurements of risk, evaluation of screening tests, causal inferences, and outbreak investigation. Lectures, reading, and individual and group assignments.

CMPH 600. Health Education and Behavioral Science. 3 credits.

An introduction to the underlying principles and theories of health education and behavior change for public health. The course will focus on community assessment, planning, implementation, promotion, and evaluation of health education efforts. Special attention will be paid to populations bound by shared risks and behaviors. Lectures, readings, individual and group projects.

CMPH 603. Health Administration and Organization. 3 credits.

An introduction to the understanding of the structure and functions of the American health care system, including public health practice and basic managerial responsibilities. Emphasis is on management tasks and styles, structure and trends in the health care system, legal and regulatory framework for public health, organizational and community assessment, and public health settings and services. Lectures, reading, and written assignments.

CMPH 605. Environmental Health Science. 3 credits.

An introduction to the chemical, physical, and biological factors affecting human health and disease. Emphasis is on the skills to detect environmental factors in health problems and to determine methods of control to prevent disease and maximize environmental quality. Lectures, readings, and required assignments.

CMPH 602. Ethics in Public Health Practice. 1 credit.

An examination of the central principles, concepts, and values in public health ethics. Emphasis is on identifying ethical issues in public health practice using lectures, readings, and group discussions.