Last updated: October 11, 2018 @ 09:18AM
Public Health
Master of Public Health
Dean
Peter Tiidus
Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies
Panagiota (Nota) Klentrou
Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
Graduate Program Director
Brent E. Faught (Health Sciences)
Core Faculty
Professors
Brent E. Faught (Health Sciences), Jian Liu (Health Sciences), Diane Mack (Kinesiology), Martin Tammemӓgi (Health Sciences)
Professor Emeritus
John Hay (Health Sciences)
Associate Professors
Jarold Cosby (Kinesiology), Paula Gardner (Health Sciences), Madelyn Law (Health Sciences), Lynn McCleary (Nursing), Jane Moore (Nursing), Miya Narushima (Health Sciences), Jenn Salfi (Nursing), Julie Stevens (Sport Management)
Assistant Professors
Adam MacNeil (Health Sciences), Carolyn Pietrangeli (Health Sciences)
Adjunct Faculty
Sinead McElhone (Niagara Region Public Health)
Participating Faculty
Susan Arai (University of Waterloo), Melissa Blair (The Reputation Group), Ashleigh Miatello (McMaster University)
Program Coordinator
Izabella Ludwa
905-688-5550, extension 4024
South Block 328
mph@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 theoretical and applied knowledge through course work and a practicum experience. 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 no less than 80% (A-) 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 and/or volunteer experiences in a Public Health organization.
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
Basic degree requirements include the successful completion of eleven (11) half-credit courses, which include a 16-week mandatory Public Health practicum. Seven (7) half-credit courses are required courses, and are scheduled in specific terms only, as follows:
Fall Term: MPHA 5P01, 5P02, 5P03 and 5P04.
Winter Term: MPHA 5P05
Spring/Summer Term: MPHA 5P06* and 5P11*
Students must complete four (4) half-credit electives selected from the following courses: MPHA 5P07, 5P08, 5P09, 5P10, 5P12, 5P13, 5P14.
* 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) in conjunction with or preceding MPHA 5P06 to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired during course work of MPHA 5P06 with the learning experiences gained through MPHA 5P11.
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.
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.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students
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.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.
MPHA 5P03
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.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.
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.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.
MPHA 5P05
Biostatistics in Public Health
Statistical principles and their applications in public health with emphasis on advanced understanding of multivariate analysis and practical skills in statistical programming.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.
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, 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.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.
Note: This course is the capstone course and is completed as the final course in the MPH program.
MPHA 5P07
Infection Control
Current practices in infection control and prevention of infectious disease, including strategies and emerging issues in vaccination, antimicrobial resistance, and health-care associated infections.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.
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.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.
MPHA 5P09
Measuring 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 and appraisal of indicators/metrics to monitor and measure inequity from a local, national and global perspective.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.
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.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.
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.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.
Note: This course will be completed in conjunction with MPHA 5P06.
MPHA 5P12
Environmental and Occupational Health
Workplace and ecological stressors and processes that increase public health risk, and how these mechanisms influence occupational and environmental health.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.
MPHA 5P13
Health Economics
Application of economic theories and models to understand and analyze decisions made by individuals, health professionals and governments in relation to health and well-being.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.
MPHA 5P14
Leading Change in Public Health
Foundational theories and concepts from management science with an emphasis on leadership and change management as it applies to the public health sector.
Restriction: Only open to Public Health students.