Public Health

Overview

The Graduate Programs in Public Health are organized around the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals.  The Core Competencies reflect foundational skills desirable for professionals engaging in the practice, education, and research of public health.

The Core Competencies are organized into eight domains, reflecting skill areas within public health, and three tiers, representing career stages for public health professionals.  These competencies are at the center of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by emerging leaders in the field of public health.

Students may access the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals here.

Major Description

The College of Graduate and Professional Studies offers a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and a Graduate Certificate in Public Health (GCPH). These programs provide a graduate education to individuals currently working in the public health field, allied health professionals, clinicians, and individuals in the beginning stages of a career in public health. The curriculum is delivered in an online format, with full- and part-time options, and is intentionally flexible and readily applicable to students regardless of where they live.

The Master of Public Health is a 46-credit hour curriculum that develops and enhances skills in a variety of professional areas, including social and behavioral health, program development and evaluation, and public health practice and management. This degree culminates in a practicum, which includes a public health practical experience and capstone research project.

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health is an 18-credit hour program that provides students with the core public health courses they need to broaden and enhance their professional knowledge. All courses in the Graduate Certificate in Public Health are also transferable to the MPH degree program.

Program Goals

Education

1. Recruit and enroll compassionate, motivated, and academically oriented students reflecting diversity in ethnicity, race, age, gender, and experience, and demonstrated passion for improving public health.
2. Graduate students who are prepared with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become successful public health professionals.

Research

1. Sustain a robust community-oriented research agenda consonant with the program mission and goals.
2. Train students in research methods by providing practical learning opportunities that allow for meaningful participation in the generation of new knowledge and community relationship building.

Service

1. Encourage students to perform community service with a public health focus.
2. Cultivate and promote a culture of active public health service through faculty, staff, and student engagement in the community.

The Master of Public Health degree program is accredited by the Council of Education for Public Health (CEPH). The Master of Public Health and the Graduate Certificate in Public Health are programs approved by the Maine State Board of Education and accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health includes the following required courses (18 credits):

The Master in Public Health program includes the following courses (46 credits):

The following five core courses (15 credits):

The following four required courses (10 credits):

7 of the following 16 electives (21 credits):

Integrated Public Health Practicum

The Integrated Public Health Practicum includes a 2-credit Practical Experience (GPH 745) and a 2-credit Capstone (GPH 746).

Competencies

The Graduate Programs in Public Health adopted the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) competencies. In addition, the program places special emphasis on three public health competencies for all students  that are core to our program.

UNE Master of Public Health Program and Graduate Certificate of Public Health Program Competencies

Graduation Requirements

To qualify for completion of and receive the Graduate Certificate in Public Health (GCPH) students must:

• Satisfactorily complete 18 credits of specified course work within three consecutive years.
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Have no outstanding financial obligations to the University.

To qualify for completion of and receive the Master of Public Health (MPH) students must:

• Satisfactorily complete 46 credits of specified course work within six consecutive years.
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Have no outstanding financial obligations to the University.

Please refer to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies Student Handbook for relevant academic policies.

ADDING, DROPPING, AND WITHDRAWING FROM COURSES

The last day to add or drop a course without financial penalty is the second day of class.  Students who withdraw from a course must do so in writing (email is acceptable) and will receive a "W" on their transcript indicating withdrawal.  Students will receive a partial refund if they withdraw from a course within the first or second week.  Be aware that no portion of the tuition will be refunded after the second week of the course.  Students who have not participated in the  course by the end of the second week will be administratively withdrawn from the course and will not receive a tuition refund.

Withdrawals must be submitted from a student's UNE email to be considered.

Students who withdraw after completing more than 2/3 of a course will receive a grade of "WF" (Withdrawn Failing) or "WP" (Withdrawn Passing) based upon the instructor's assessment of the student's current standing in the course.  A "WF" is calculated as an "F" in the student's GPA.  Upon successful completion of the course, the new grade will be used to calculate the GPA.  Students will be dismissed from their program after two failing grades (including a "WF").

Audit Policy

A student may, with prior consent of the Program Manager or designee, enroll in a course for an audit grade (AU). This must be requested at the time of registration for the course and must be accompanied by signed approval of the instructor and Program Manager or designee. This applies to both matriculated and non-matriculated students. Reversal or change of an audit grade is not possible. Once enrolled for AU, the grade becomes permanent on a student's academic record. The student who wishes later to be graded for such a course must re-enroll in and pay for graded credit. In auditing a course, the student is expected to complete all lectures and discussion boards, but is not permitted to submit course work for evaluation, take examinations, receive grades, or earn credit. Auditing a course does not count toward enrollment status (i.e. part-time, full-time, etc.) and therefore cannot be considered for financial aid purposes, veteran's benefits, etc.

Leave of Absence

Students must enroll and successfully complete at least one course per term. A leave of absence (LOA) for a specified period of time, not to exceed one academic year, may be granted to a matriculated student with the authorization of the Dean and the Program Manager or designee.  If not enrolled for one full term, students must complete the required Request for Leave of Absence form available from Registration Services.  Application for readmission is not necessary if the student returns as planned.  However, the student who does not return at the specified time will be administratively withdrawn and will be subject to readmission procedures.  Policy on leave of absence tuition credit is located in the Financial Aid section of the University catalog.

University Withdrawal

All matriculated students who wish to withdraw from the University must complete notification documentation available from Registration Services. Documentation must be signed by designated academic and administrative authorities. Student responsibilities include: (a) knowledge of the University's policies regarding refund of tuition and/or fees as stated in the University catalog; (b) return of University identification (ID) card to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies; (c) (if applicable) return of any University keys in your possession to the appropriate departments. The University reserves the right to withhold the issuance of refunds and transcripts until the process has been completed.

Academic Integrity

The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without the permission of each instructor.
5. Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Manager.  Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student's previous record of violations.  Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final.  Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the College for Graduate and Professional Studies Student Handbook.

Office for students with disabilities

Disability Services works to ensure that the University promotes respect for individual differences and that no person who meets the academic and technical standards needed for admission and continued enrollment at the University of New England is denied benefits or subjected to discrimination due to a disability.  Toward this end, and in conjunction with federal  and state laws, the University provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students.

See Public Health Competencies.

Transfer Credit

To request consideration for transfer credit, the student must provide an official transcript and a course syllabus for each course.  Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies based upon specific program details listed below.  Requests for approval of transfer credit should be submitted to, and will be granted at the discretion of, the Program Manager.

Graduate Certificate in Public Health (GCPH) Program: Upon acceptance, students may apply to transfer up to two, 3-credit courses (maximum of six credits) into the program.
Master of Public Health (MPH) Program: Upon acceptance, students may apply to transfer up to three, 3-credit courses (maximum of nine credits) into the program.

Transfer courses must:

• Be classified as graduate level.
• Have been taken within five years of application.
• Be from a CEPH accredited institution.
• Have been completed with a grade of “B” or better.
• Be equivalent to one of the required program courses, or an elective course that meets the goal of the student’s public health education.
• Not have been applied toward any other degree.

Individuals who earned a Graduate Certificate in Public Health from the University of New England within the last five years may apply for admission to the MPH program and request that all courses be accepted.  Current GCPH students, who are in good standing, may apply to the MPH program at any time during the certificate program by requesting a "change of major" with their Student Support Specialist.

Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is highly valued by the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.  Many courses within the College feature experiential-learning components.  However, at this time, no credit will be awarded to students for purely experiential learning experiences undertaken in lieu of coursework.

College Eligibility and Application Standards

Applicants who have earned a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited academic institution are eligible to apply for admission into online programs at the university.  Graduates of colleges or universities that are accredited by other recognized accrediting bodies may be considered eligible after a review for exception by a committee consisting of the Dean of Admissions, the University Registrar, and the Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.  The decision to admit an applicant to his or her intended program is made by an admissions committee based on a combination of criteria according to the requirements of the specific program.

Students currently completing their undergraduate or graduate studies are encouraged to apply to our programs and, if admitted, are accepted on a conditional basis pending receipt of a transcript showing proof of graduation.  Students must submit a letter "in good standing" from the institution from which they are graduating at the point of application and supply proof of graduation before the end of the first term in which they are registered or they will be administratively withdrawn from the program.

University of New England transcripts will be obtained by UNE admissions staff from the Registrar's office on behalf of applicants that have completed prior degrees or coursework at the university.

All applicants with international degrees or coursework are responsible for having their transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the U.S.  We accept foreign educational credential evaluations from all NACS (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) members, as well as AACRAO (American Association of Credentialed Registrars and Admissions Officers).

Please note:  Any evaluations submitted to UNE by approved credential evaluators need not include the original transcript.

Please see the International Student Admissions policies for additional requirements regarding English language proficiency, ECFMG requirements, and verification of financial support.

Application Process

All online programs require the following:

• Completed online application: http://go.une.edu/apply
• Submission of the non-refundable application fee
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Official transcripts reflecting conferral or prior degree from a regionally accredited institution All transcripts are to be submitted from the original institutions.
• Note: Transcripts for any coursework appearing as transfer credit on the transcript of the conferred degree can be waived if the coursework is unrelated to the degree being sought.  The program admissions committee defines all coursework not eligible for waiver.

 Academic prerequisites:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited undergraduate institution, or international equivalent.
• Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and completion of a college-level math course and a college-level biological science course. Please note: In lieu of college-level courses in either, students may submit GRE subject test scores in mathematics or science, or the GRE quantitative ability score.
• The ability to pursue rigorous online graduate study.
• Current employment in a setting conducive to applying course concepts and strategies is highly desirable.

Application requirements:

In addition to the application requirements listed above, applicants to the Graduate Programs in Public Health are asked to submit the following:

• Three letters of recommendation from individuals who the applicant feels are most qualified to evaluate his/her academic achievements, clinical or public health or other professional experience, or leadership potential in public health. 
• Each letter needs to be sent directly to UNE from the reference writer, along with the MPH applicant reference form.  The reference form first needs to be signed by the student and then completed by the reference writer. 
• Students may print the form, hand sign, and fax/scan/mail back to his or her Enrollment Counselor, or may electronically complete the form by providing the Enrollment Counselor with the names and email addresses of the three individuals who will be writing references.
• Goal Statement:  Students are required to provide a detailed statement of purpose (500 - 1000 words).  This statement should describe personal development and future goals; relevant professional experience; interest in graduate study in public health; and the capacity to succeed in a distance learning format, i.e., self-motivated, self-starter, comfortable with and access to a computer and the internet.  Students are expected to comment on plans they have to use their education in public health and personal qualities, characteristics, and abilities they believe will enable them to be successful in achieving professional career goals.

Technology requirements:

Courses in the Graduate Programs in Public Health are delivered by Blackboard, an online course management system with an audio component and the following are required to complete the program

• Access to the internet and to computer audio capability
• Specific software as described in course syllabi
• Capacity to succeed in a distance learning format

PROCEDURES AND POLICIES

• Applications for new students will be accepted for the summer, fall, and spring terms.
• Only fully complete applications (with all supporting documentation) submitted by the deadline will be considered by the Admissions Committee.
• Students not seeking a degree may enroll into individual courses as a non-matriculated student, space permitting and upon approval by the Program Manager. (Non-matriculated students must hold a bachelor's degree and may take up to two courses only.) Students wishing to take more than two courses in the program must apply to UNE and be accepted into the program prior to enrolling in the third course. Students cannot move from non-matriculated status to matriculated status within the same semester.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include course textbooks. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

Financial Aid

Detailed information and applications are available upon request from the Financial Aid Office. Call (207) 602-2342 or visit the Financial Aid website.