Electives
When selecting electives for the MPH, MS, or PhD degree programs, students will want to consider how their choices might also help them move closer to potentially completing another degree, a certificate, or PhD minor. For instance, MPH students can explore several dual degree options and MS/PhD students can explore various combined degree options.
In addition, the campus offers several graduate certificate programs which can help enhance your degree and future marketability. MS/PhD students are eligible for all graduate certificate programs on campus. MPH students are generally eligible as well, but should inquire with the certificate-granting department before exploring. In some cases, application and admission to the certificate program is necessary before the student can enroll in certificate courses.
All PhD students are required to complete a PhD minor which is different than a certificate. However, sometimes the requirements for an external (not distributed) PhD minor and a certificate can have overlapping requirements making it relatively easy to achieve both. Many departments on campus offer PhD minors; please inquire directly with your department of interest regarding PhD minor requirements.
Electives are chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor. Beyond the core courses MS and PhD students are required to take, you have great latitude in selecting from the wide variety of courses offered on campus geared towards your own specific concentration interests. Please see the respective concentration pages for possible course ideas: Epidemiology (with Epidemiology Option), Health Services Research, Social and Behavioral Health Sciences, and Clinical Research. In addition, here is a list of electives for students desiring further quantitative or statistical preparation.
Students can also explore courses not listed with any of the concentration areas. This matches the interdisciplinary approach that is valued within our degrees. The Department of Population Health offers a variety of elective courses of interest, but previous students have also chosen to take courses from a wide variety of departments/schools on campus: Actuarial Science, Risk Management and Insurance; Biostatistics; Economics; Environmental Studies; Genetics; Human Development and Family Studies; Industrial and Systems Engineering; Kinesiology; Medical History and Bioethics; Medicine; Nursing; Nutritional Sciences; Pharmacy; Political Science; one of several Psychological departments; Public Affairs; Social Work; Sociology; and several others.
Students may also consider courses that count towards another degree, certificate, or PhD minor. Finally, students can also explore taking an independent reading course (PHS 699) relating to a specific topic of interest with the permission of a selected faculty member (students should note the maximum number of credits of PHS 699 that can count towards their degree).
MPH elective courses are intended to deepen a student’s knowledge in one or more areas of public health: epidemiology, health policy and administration, methods, biostatistics, global health, communication, environmental health, cultural competence and community health. A list of 70 plus courses have been reviewed and approved to fulfill MPH elective credit. These courses represent the broad influence of public health and the interdisciplinary offerings across campus including: public affairs, nursing, medical history, statistics, population health, social work, anthropology, law, environmental studies and many more. As a generalist public health program, students may find they want to emphasize their learning in one area and take elective courses which enhance their learning of that topic. Other students may want to grow their knowledge and interests by taking courses from multiple areas.
Students pursing a dual degree or certificate may take advantage of the overlap of courses. In the case of approved dual degree programs, there are pre-selected courses which the student may have already taken or will take which will meet the MPH elective requirement.
Students who wish to take a course for elective credit that does not appear on this list should contact the Student Services Coordinator.
