Last updated: August 22, 2016 @ 01:30PM
Master of Public Health
Dean
Peter Tiidus
Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
Associate Dean and Graduate Program Director
Panagiota (Nota) Klentrou
Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
Core Faculty
Professors
Brent E. Faught (Health Sciences/Chair), John Hay (Health Sciences), Jian Liu (Health Sciences), Diane Mack (Kinesiology), Martin Tammemӓgi (Health Sciences)
Associate Professors
Jarold Cosby (Kinesiology), Madelyn Law (Health Sciences), Lynn McCleary (Nursing), Miya Narushima (Health Sciences), Carolyn Pietrangeli (Health Sciences), Julie Stevens (Sport Management)
Assistant Professors
Paula Gardner (Health Sciences) Adam MacNeil (Health Sciences), Jane Moore (Nursing), Jenn Salfi (Nursing)
Participating Faculty
Susan Arai (University of Waterloo), Michael Christian (Niagara Health System), Sinead McElhone (Niagara Region Public Health)
Experiential Education Coordinator
Janet Westbury
905-688-5550, extension 4143
Walker Complex 280
jwestbury@brocku.ca
Graduate Officer, Professional Programs
Andra Lenius
905-688-5550, extension 3934
South Block 432A
AHS.MastersProfessional@brocku.ca
Program Description
The Master of Public Health (MPH) program is designed to meet the needs of public health professionals, health practitioners and recent post-graduate students with the goal of enhancing their theoretical and applied knowledge through courses and a practicum. The MPH courses complement the core competencies outlined by the Public Health Agency of Canada leading to a professional degree in public health.
Delivered in an exclusively online format, a combination of synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning techniques will be used to guide instruction and evaluate learning. The curriculum focuses on identifying the interdisciplinary elements required to design, implement and effectively manage public health systems. Research methods and analytical training essential to public health will provide a foundation in the conduct of research that will enhance evidence-based decision making. A unique aspect of the MPH program is its emphasis on infection control through its courses on Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Infection Control and Epidemiology. The Social Marketing and Health Communication course will examine the complexities of public health administration in today’s technologically driven society. The program addresses the growing need to anticipate, manage and mitigate public health crises.
Graduates of the MPH will be prepared to compete for positions in a variety of public health organizations as well as leadership roles in the health sector.
Admission Requirements
Successful completion of a four year Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, from an accredited university in Public Health, Health Sciences, Medical Sciences, Social Sciences or a relevant health field, with an average of not less than 80% (A-) average in the last two years of study. Students with a Bachelor’s degree in related fields of Chemistry, Biology, Kinesiology, Nursing, Psychology, and Sociology may also be eligible, although additional course work may be required. Applicants must have undergraduate preparation and a knowledge-based proficiency in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and have relevant work experiences in a Public Health organization. Applicants who have not completed their undergraduate degree at a University where English was the primary language of instruction, will be required to provide proof of English Language Proficiency as follows: IELTS (6.5 with no section under 5.5); TOEFL (80 with no section under 19) or equivalent score on other tests of ELP accepted by Brock University. For full listing of accepted tests see: https://brocku.ca/nextstep/international-students/english-language-proficiency/.
The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of suitable candidates.
This program is offered on a full-time (12 months), as well as part-time (maximum 4 years) basis.
Degree Requirements
The successful completion of eleven (11) half-credit courses, which include a 16-week mandatory Public Health practicum. All courses are scheduled in specific terms only, scheduled as follows:
Fall Term: MPHA 5P01, 5P02, 5P03 and 5P04.
Winter Term: MPHA 5P05, 5P07 and 5P09.
Spring/Summer Term: MPHA 5P06*, 5P08, 5P10 and 5P11*
* Full and part-time students must register for MPHA 5P06 in their final term of study, as a capstone course. Students must complete a Public Health practicum (MPHA 5P11) either in conjunction with or following MPHA 5P06 to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired during course work of MPHA 5P06 with the learning experiences gained through MPHA 5P11.
Course Descriptions
Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable timetable for details. Students must check to ensure that prerequisites are met.
Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met.
MPHA 5P01
Quality Health Systems through Collaboration and Partnership
Critical evaluation of factors that contribute to high performing public health systems through the lens of collaboration and partnerships.
MPHA 5P02
Qualitative Research: Interviewing and Beyond
The philosophical, epistemological foundations, and practical knowledge and skills of the range of approaches and methods of qualitative inquiry useful for needs assessment, program evaluation, knowledge translation, and advocacy in public health practice.
MPHA 5P03
Intermediate Epidemiology
Fundamental principles of epidemiology, including correct posing of study questions, study designs, measurements issues, study implementation, data collection and analyses, and concepts of validity, bias, confounding and correct interpretation of analyses and study results.
MPHA 5P04
Critical Foundations of Public Health
Foundations of public health, including history, core principles, philosophy, and the social and political forces that influence population health.
MPHA 5P05
Biostatistics in Public Health
Statistical principles and their applications in applied health sciences with emphasis on advanced understanding of multivariate analysis and practical skills in statistical programming.
MPHA 5P06
Policy and Practice: Critical Evaluation and Synthesis in Program Planning
An examination of the interface between theory, policy, and practice in public health. Students will identify an area within public health central to their interests and establish an understanding of the evidence driving both policy and practice, and demonstrate an awareness of the gaps in the interface. This is a self-directed course, based on adult-learning principles.
Note: This course is the capstone course and is completed as the final course in the MPH program.
MPHA 5P07
Infection Control and Environmental Health
Profiling the microbiota that share our modern home and work environments. Current practices in infection control and prevention of infectious disease, including health care-associated infections, blood-borne pathogens, and best practices in post-exposure prophylaxis.
MPHA 5P08
Public Health Emergency Preparedness
The role of public health in preparing for and responding to emergencies including developing familiarity with the incident management system, crisis communication, conducting hazard vulnerability analyses in addition to designing and running emergency preparedness exercises.
MPHA 5P09
Global Issues and Health Equity
An examination of the definition of health equity and a critical discussion of the differences between equity, inequality and social determinants of health. The identification of indicators to monitor and measure inequity from a local, national and global perspective.
MPHA 5P10
Social Marketing and Health Communication
Strategic marketing and communication practices involved in applying marketing principles and techniques to influence behavior change to solve social problems within a public health context. Students will be introduced to social marketing theory and practice by: exploring theories of behaviour change; examining the approaches to analyze the social and policy environment; applying techniques such as segmentation and target marketing, branding and marketing mix; and assessing the planning tools required to develop and implement a social marketing strategy.
MPHA 5P11
Public Health Practicum
Public health practicum in which students will plan, implement and complete a project in collaboration with a healthcare professional organization.
Note: This course will be completed in conjunction with MPHA 5P06.