George Mason University Online Master of Public Health (MPH)

• Master of Public Health (MPH) - Public Health Practice

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By Sara Navratil Reviewed By Jocelyn Blore

Updated January 8, 2024

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For the 2023-2024 academic year, we have 112 schools in our MHAOnline.com database and those that advertise with us are labeled “sponsor”. When you click on a sponsoring school or program, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.

George Mason University (GMU) offers an online master of public health (MPH) program with a concentration in public health practice (PHP). Offered through the Department of Global and Community Health under the College of Public Health, this program includes a 200-hour practicum in public health. No campus visits are required for the program.

A public health graduate certificate program is also offered, including up to six core MPH courses. Post-completion, students can continue seamlessly into the full master of public health program. Finally, an accelerated master’s degree program is offered for excelling bachelor’s students. These students can earn any bachelor’s degree plus a master’s in public health in an accelerated pathway called BAM after completing at least 60 credits and with a minimum GPA of 3.25 or higher. Up to four graduate MPH courses may be taken as bachelor’s students.

Although no work experience is required, the MPH-PHP program is designed for public health practitioners and professionals with experience in governmental and non-governmental health-related positions. However, applicants come from a variety of professional and educational backgrounds.

Graduates of this program may go on to careers as research associates, epidemiologists, social science analysts, environmental health specialists, public health supervisors, systems analysts, program coordinators, family health services directors, public health information officers, database administrators, and disease ecologists. Public health professionals may work for organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Food and Drug Administration (USDA).

Graduates of the MPH program may be eligible to take the Certified Public Health (CPH) exam through the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE). George Mason University is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and is located in Fairfax, Virginia. The online MPH in public health practice program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Admission Requirements: Applicants to the GMU MPH-PHP program must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. GMAT and GRE test scores are not considered for submission and students should not submit them. Admission decisions are made based on undergraduate performance, professional and volunteer experience, a statement of goals and objectives, and submitted letters of recommendation.

Although no work experience is required, a resume or CV must be submitted. A background in statistics, social sciences, and biology is preferred. Application materials include official transcripts, a statement of goals and objectives, two letters of recommendation, and a resume or CV.

Study Plan: The MPH-PHP program begins in the fall or spring. Full-time and part-time completion plans are available; most students complete the program in two to three years.

During the public health problems in a changing society course, students complete an integrative learning experience (ILE) in collaboration with faculty, through which students create a graduate-level written product that demonstrates synthesis and integration of learned materials throughout the program. This course is taken in the student’s final semester. Additionally, a 200-hour practicum must be completed.

Curriculum: The George Mason University MPH program comprises 42 credits, including a 200-hour practicum. Core courses include foundations of public health; community assessment and partnerships; health program planning and evaluation; U.S. and global public health systems; role of government and healthcare and public health; apply public health and leadership management; and either fundamentals of epidemiology and biostatistics or introduction to epidemiology. Practicum courses include a practicum seminar and a practicum in public health.

PHP concentration courses include public health preparedness and response; evidence-based public health practice; public health equity and justice; project management in public health; public health problems in a changing society; and either rural public health or environmental health.

Online Experience: Online MPH-PHP courses are asynchronous and are delivered through the Blackboard online learning management system (LMS). Mason Online seeks to keep online courses interactive through discussion boards, email exchanges, blogs, social media, and wikis. Courses may include readings, lectures, videos, case studies, assignments, and assessments. Schedules and due dates apply.

On-Site Requirements: There are no on-campus requirements for the MPH-PHP program. Students are welcome to visit campus and participate in graduation.

GMU Online MPH tuition numbers are listed in the tables below and include a per-credit distance learning fee, but not other fees. Interested parties should contact the GMU College of Public Health for full tuition details.

Graduate students may be eligible to apply for unsubsidized graduate Stafford and PLUS loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Accepted students are also encouraged to check with their employers about the benefit of a tuition reimbursement program. Other funding considerations may include religious and community scholarships, grants, and private loans. Interested parties can learn more about financial aid from the GMU Office of Scholarships and Student Aid.

Sara Navratil

Writer

Sara Navratil is a freelance writer and a Certified Canfield Success Principles Trainer. She's the owner of Sara Liza Life, a company dedicated to helping people rewrite their lives. She enjoys researching and writing about healthcare-related topics, including information on online MHA programs. When not working she likes to read, bake, and spend time with her family.