Public Health Program Overview
(Health Policy Track)

The science of Public health focuses on promoting and protecting the health of entire populations. Public health researchers and practitioners seek to improve the health of whole communities — from neighborhoods and communities to cities and countries. Their work often includes shaping policy and encouraging healthy behaviors through education.

The USP master's in public health (MPH) provides you with the knowledge, practical training, and analytical skills you need to realize your full potential in improving public health.

Through the MPH program, you can focus your studies on areas such as:

• Assuring public health through access to high-quality prevention and health promotion
• Tracking epidemics to their source, such as bird flu-like illnesses
• Creating educational campaigns to combat childhood obesity by encouraging healthy lifestyles
• Advocating for improved health policies through both regulatory and legislative channels

Because the field of public health is dependent on experts from a wide variety of academic disciplines, the USP program is interdisciplinary by design. We have developed a unique program that includes approaches from science, regulatory, legal and public health. For example, professors with expertise in law, medicine, pharmaceuticals, education, statistics, and public policy teach the courses in the public health program.

You'll leave the program with not only a theoretical understanding of public health issues, but hands-on experience in real-world settings. For example, you'll work with USP experts in the Health Policy Institute, as well as with a network of community sites such as the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging.