Program Directors
Dr. Nicolette Powe, YSU Program Coordinator
1104 Cushwa Hall
(330) 941-1895
nwpowe@ysu.edu
Dr. Amy Lee, CEOMPH Program Director
Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health
NEOMED
(330) 325-6179
afl@neomed.edu
Dr. Jeanine Mincher, Nutrition Graduate Program Director
(330) 941-3346
jlmincher@ysu.edu
Program Description
The Master of Public Health program at Youngstown State University is part of Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health (CEOMPH). CEOMPH is a multidisciplinary, interdepartmental, and interinstitutional program that provides opportunities for graduate studies in public health. It is housed in the Bitonte College of Health and Human Services. Although the M.P.H. degree is awarded by Youngstown State University, the M.P.H. program is consortium-based. It draws its faculty from several departments at The University of Akron, Cleveland State University, the Northeastern Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), Ohio University, and Youngstown State University.
The mission of the Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health program is to provide accredited public health education designed for the working professional. It does this through a collaborative learning community, drawing on the collective resources of its five member institutions and partnering community agencies. The program strives to produce respected and competent professionals able to improve public health practice, especially in eastern Ohio.
Students take core courses that are delivered through webinar and online teaching each semester.
Unique program features:
- Distance learning (webinar and online)
- Elective courses at any partner university
4+ 1 Bachelor of Science in Applied Science/Master of Public
Health Program
The accelerated "4+ 1 + program allows students to earn the Master of Public Health degree in one year after completing their Bachelor's degree. Undergraduate students can apply for admission into the accelerated program after completing 78 semester hours with a GPA of 3.3 or higher. While in the accelerated program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA. Students can take a maximum of twelve semester hours of graduate work that can count both towards the Bachelor's degree and Master of Public Health degree.
Nutrition Specialization
Stakeholder interviews have noted the emergence of non-traditional practice settings and an expanding scope of practice expectation required of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). Primary areas of focus will be disease prevention and integrative healthcare. With these focus areas, there will be a need for professionals who have training and preparation in leadership, inter-professional practice and a greater understanding of the community and cultural ecosystems of patients and clients. https://www.eatrightpro.org/
Future Model programs offered at the graduate level will provide the necessary coursework and supervised experiential learning to meet the competency based education requirements set forth by the accrediting body. Individuals completing the requirements are eligible to take the CDR RDN credentialing examination.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the minimum College of Graduate Studies admission requirements, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 2.75. Applicants must have successfully completed a college-level mathematics or statistics course, and a college social science or natural science course. If the applicant has a GPA lower than 3.0, then an acceptable GRE scores within the last five years is also required.
GRE scores may be waived if the applicant has a professional degree (master’s or doctorate) in a relevant area or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Official results from other equivalent standardized tests used for graduate admissions, also taken within the last five years, may be substituted. These accepted tests are the following: DAT, GMAT, MCAT, and PCAT. Please use institution code #1903 in the designated area of your GRE application form. TOEFL is required from applicants from countries where English is not the language of instruction; the minimum score must be 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) or 79-80 with read/speak/listen=17, write=14 (Internet-based). Please use the institution code #1903 in the designated area on your TOEFL application form.
Two years of work experience in a relevant field is highly recommended. The applicant must provide contact information for two references familiar with the applicant’s academic or professional background. If the applicant has not been involved in an academic institution for two years or more, references may be submitted by supervisors from his or her place of employment. Applicants should apply through the online portal system at Master of Public Health.
Graduate Faculty
Weiqing Ge, D.P.T., Ph.D., Professor
Biomechanics; manual therapy including complementary and integrative approaches; telehealth; cultural competence; scholarship in teaching
Nicolette Powe, Dr.P.H., Associate Professor
Health equality; chronic diseases; cancer prevention; healthy lifestyles
Degree Requirements
The curriculum consists of eight core courses, directed elective, required capstone project, and electives. In addition, a portfolio, and an exit presentation are required. Students should plan on taking the core courses as a cohort. Core courses will be offered on Saturdays, one course in the morning and one in the afternoon. Students may take core courses in any one of the distance learning classrooms at the partner universities. Distance learning will involve interactive electronic technology and web-based learning. Students may take electives at any time in the program, and may select an elective from any of the partner universities from a list of approved electives.
If the student is interested in an elective that is not on the approved list, an Elective Approval form must be submitted, along with the course syllabus, for review and approval by the CEOMPH Curriculum Committee:
CEOMPH Curriculum Committee
Consortium of Eastern Ohio Master of Public Health
NEOMED
4209 State Route 44
PO Box 95
Rootstown, Ohio 44272
Students will be assigned an advisor upon entering the program. The advisor will offer guidance on choosing electives appropriate to student career goals and interest. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. The program requires 42 semester hours to comply with accreditation criteria.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| MPH 6901 | Public Health Concepts | 3 |
| MPH 6902 | Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health | 3 |
| MPH 6903 | Epidemiology in Public Health | 3 |
| MPH 6904 | Biostatistics in Public Health | 3 |
| MPH 6905 | Health Services Administration in Public Health | 3 |
| MPH 6906 | Policy and Environmental Health Sciences in Public Health | 3 |
| Generalist Track | ||
| MPH 6907 | Grant Writing in Public Health Practice | 3 |
| MPH 6908 | Public Health Practice and Issues | 3 |
| MPH 6909 | Public Health Research and Evaluation | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| MPH 6994 | Individual Investigation in Public Health | 1-3 |
| MPH 6996 | MPH Practicum | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Required Project | ||
| MPH 6998 | Capstone Project 1 | 3 |
| MPH 6999 | Capstone Project 2 | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 42 | |
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| Public Health Nutrition Requirements | ||
| FNUT 6972 | Maternal and Child Nutrition Clinical | 3 |
| MPH 6901 | Public Health Concepts | 3 |
| MPH 6905 | Health Services Administration in Public Health | 3 |
| MPH 6906 | Policy and Environmental Health Sciences in Public Health | 3 |
| MPH 6904 | Biostatistics in Public Health | 3 |
| MPH 6902 | Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health | 3 |
| MPH 6903 | Epidemiology in Public Health | 3 |
| FNUT 6973 | Nutrition and Aging Clinical | 3 |
| FNUT 5825 | Current Nutrition Concepts | 3 |
| HAHS 5875 | Interprofessional Education for Health Professions | 3 |
| FNUT 6985 | Dietetics Clinical Experience | 4 |
| FNUT 6901 | Advanced Nutrition Assessment (Advanced Nutrition) | 3 |
| MPH 6998 | Capstone Project 1 | 3 |
| MPH 6999 | Capstone Project 2 | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 43 | |
Core Competencies
- Use basic techniques and statistical software to access, evaluate, and interpret health data.
- Apply analytic reasoning and methods.
- Interpret scientific and statistical results, including the strengths and limitations of scientific articles.
- Explain characteristics, strengths and limitations of epidemiological study design types.
- Apply behavioral health theories/models in developing community health promotion and intervention programs, and applications for research funding.
- Apply principles of strategic planning to public health, including continuous quality improvement, leadership, teamwork, systems thinking, and social marketing.
- Assess associations found between environmental hazards and health outcomes to influence environmental policies designed to protect populations.
- Apply principles of program planning, development, implementation, management, and evaluation in organizational and community initiatives.
- Use collaborative strategies in the design of policies, interventions, and programs.
- Communicate public health information to lay and professional audiences, using appropriate channels and technologies and with linguistic and cultural proficiency.
- Demonstrate ability to use credible evidence and rationale to guide well-reasoned decisions, proposals, and attitudes.
- Use individual, team and organizational learning opportunities for personal and professional development.
Generalist Competencies
- Prepare proposals for funding from external sources.
- Demonstrate the ability to design, implement and execute a research protocol.
- Consider the role of cultural and social factors in the planning and delivery of public health services and interventions.
- Demonstrate critical evaluation of ethical values, theories, and principles that guide public health inquiry and decision-making.
- Analyze the public health information infrastructure used to collect, process, maintain, and disseminate data in order to allow for decision-making at an administrative level.
- Apply theory and strategy-based communication principles adapted to different contexts.
- Explain how biological, chemical, and physical agents affect human health.
Nutrition Learning Outcomes
- Applies foundational sciences to food and nutrition knowledge to meet the needs of individuals, groups, and organizations.
- Applies and integrates client/patient-centered principles and competent nutrition and dietetics practice to ensure positive outcomes.
- Applies food systems principles and management skills to ensure safe and efficient delivery of food and water.
- Demonstrates leadership, business and management principles to guide practice and achieve operational goals.
- Applies community and population nutrition health theories when providing support to community or population nutrition programs.
- Integrates evidence-informed practice, research principles and critical thinking into practice.
- Demonstrates professional behaviors and effective communication in all nutrition and dietetics interactions
Graduate Courses
MPH 6901 Public Health Concepts 3 s.h.
Organizational structure, history, law, ethics, essential services, global problems, and future of public health.
Prereq.: Graduate standing, permission of course director required for non-MPH students.
MPH 6902 Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health 3 s.h.
Theories of health education and promotion; intervention (communication, collaboration, and strategies): sociocultural, diversity, and regional issues as pertains to public health.
Prereq.: Graduate standing, permission of course director required for non-MPH students.
MPH 6903 Epidemiology in Public Health 3 s.h.
Epidemiological methods, including study design, legal/ethical aspects, and Epi Info, applications of methods including screening, disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and community needs assessment. Student presentations to focus on special topics such as infectious diseases, chronic conditions, etc.
Prereq.: Graduate standing, permission of course director required for non-MPH students.
MPH 6904 Biostatistics in Public Health 3 s.h.
Principles of biostatistics in the context of multiple public health applications, Epi Info, SAS, and JMP statistical packages to be used.
Prereq.: Graduate standing, permission of course director required for non-MPH students.
MPH 6905 Health Services Administration in Public Health 3 s.h.
Management principles, including personnel administration, budgeting, financing, and continuous quality improvement as pertains to public health. Planning and evaluation principles, grant writing, public health economics, public health policy, and data sources.
Prereq.: Graduate standing, permission of course director required for non-MPH students.
MPH 6905C CE Health Services Administration in Public Health 3 s.h.
Management principles, including personnel administration, budgeting, financing, and continuous quality improvement as pertains to public health. Planning and evaluation principles, grant writing, public health economics, public health policy, and data sources.
Prereq.: Graduate standing, permission of course director required for non-MPH students.
MPH 6906 Policy and Environmental Health Sciences in Public Health 3 s.h.
This course provides and overview of public health policy, policy development, and advocacy. Environmental health issues serve as an example of the intersection between policy and science. Environmental health topics include air/water quality, food hygiene, sanitation, municipal/infectious/hazardous waste, vector-borne disease, occupational health, legal/risk issues, One Health, and global issues.
Prereq.: Graduate standing, permission of course director required for non-MPH students.
MPH 6907 Grant Writing in Public Health Practice 3 s.h.
Methods and techniques for writing and managing grant proposals to support public health programs.
Prereq.: Permission of instructor required for non-MPH students.
MPH 6908 Public Health Practice and Issues 3 s.h.
In an organizational setting, the following topics will be explored: informatics and communication, diversity and cultural proficiency, ethics, and biology. These topics are emerging public health issues, which will be applied in a practice setting.
Prereq.: Graduate standing and MPH 6901.
MPH 6909 Public Health Research and Evaluation 3 s.h.
Students will critically review journal articles, create research questions, conduct comprehensive literature reviews, employ quantitative and qualitative research methods that fall within institutional review board parameters, develop and execute a data analysis plan. Culmination of coursework will be individual oral presentation and mock journal article.
Prereq.: Graduate standing; MPH 6903 and MPH 6904.
MPH 6994 Individual Investigation in Public Health 1-3 s.h.
Intensive research or readings on selected topic or problem to be selected in consultation with MPH graduate faculty.
Prereq.: MPH 6901 and MPH 6904.
MPH 6995 Special Topics 1-5 s.h.
Specialized sections selected by faculty will focus on specific topics of current interest to public health practice. May be repeated with different topics up to 15 semester hours.
Prereq.: Graduate standing, permission of program director required for non-MPH students.
MPH 6996 MPH Practicum 3 s.h.
Student is teamed with a faculty advisor and community preceptor(s) to work on a meaningful public health issue. For students who desire additional field experience. students.
Prereq.: Graduate standing, permission of program director required for non-MPH.
MPH 6997 MPH Capstone Project 3-6 s.h.
A faculty advisor and community preceptor(s) are teamed with each student who will develop a paper (i.e., grant, study, proposal) on a meaningful public health issue learned from the core MPH courses.
Prereq.: Graduate standing; MPH 6901, MPH 6902, MPH 6903, MPH 6904, MPH 6905, and MPH 6906.
MPH 6997C MPH CE Capstone Project 3-6 s.h.
A faculty advisor and community preceptor(s) are teamed with each student who will develop a paper (i.e., grant, study, proposal) on a meaningful public health issue learned from the core MPH courses.
Prereq.: Graduate standing; MPH 6901, MPH 6902, MPH 6903, MPH 6904, MPH 6905, and MPH 6906.
MPH 6998 Capstone Project 1 3 s.h.
In-depth assessment of public health competencies and preparation for the culminating community experience in MPH Capstone II.
Prereq.: graduate standing; MPH 6901, MPH 6902, MPH 6903, MPH 6904, MPH 6905, and MPH 6906.
MPH 6999 Capstone Project 2 3 s.h.
A required culminating experience for MPH students to be taken after all core courses and MPH 6998 Capstone Project I are completed. In partnership with a community organization/agency.
Prereq.: graduate standing, MPH 6901, MPH 6902, MPH 6903, MPH 6904, MPH 6905, MPH 6906, and MPH 6998.
MPH 7008 Schools and Health 3 s.h.
Population focus survey of children's health issues and K-12 schools using CDC Coordinated School Program model as an organizing framework. Topics include school health policy, relationship of health and academic outcomes, and Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance (YRBSS). Current research infused into the course.
Cross-Listed: NURS 7008.