Academics & Programs

The Master of Science (MS) in Population Health degree prepares graduate students to investigate and address health determinants using data science and develop novel and effective avenues for disease diagnosis and prevention, health promotion, and intervention. The program combines foundational courses in population health with additional data science, qualitative research methods, population health survey methods, research ethics, and policymaking. Students gain knowledge and skills through coursework, experiential learning opportunities, research projects, and engagement with traditional and non-traditional partners to pursue a healthier world. 

The MS degree requires a minimum of 42 credits. It provides students with a strong conceptual background in population health and extensive methodological expertise in data science and qualitative research.  All majors will obtain a strong foundation in population health by completing Population Health Concepts and Methods; Biological Basis of Population Health: Concepts and Methods; Health Data and Computational Science; and Social Determinants of Population Health. Students will also be required to take Methods in Epidemiology I; if this course was completed at the undergraduate level at the College of Health, students would be expected to take a Special Topics in Epidemiology course instead during the MS program.  Further, they will enhance their methodological expertise by taking courses in Applications in Statistical Learning; Data Architecture, Mining, and Linkage;  Qualitative Research Methods; and Population Health Survey Methods . Additionally, students will complete two 1-credit seminars in Research Ethics in Population Health and Data-informed Policy Making. Students will also take three concentration elective courses to provide them with additional expertise in substantive and/or methodological areas of interest. The population health thesis integration occurs in the required two-semester sequence. Students propose and implement a population health research paper or project in consultation with a faculty member or an internship site.

Launch of this program is scheduled for Fall 2021 and is currently pending University faculty approval.  

The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree prepares graduate students to work in a variety of local, state, national, and global public health research, practice, and policymaking settings. Students will gain expertise in the core domains of public health, investigate and address the determinants of health using data science, and develop novel and effective avenues for disease prevention and health promotion. The program combines foundational courses in public health with additional courses in data science, qualitative research methods, leadership, cultural competence and health, and policymaking. Students gain knowledge and skills through coursework, experiential learning opportunities, research projects, and engagement with traditional and non-traditional partners to pursue a healthier world. The MPH program is designed to meet the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation requirements.

The MPH degree requires a minimum of 42 credits. It provides students with a strong conceptual background in public health and extensive methodological expertise in data science and qualitative research.  All majors take core public health courses, including Health Promotion and Education, Health Data and Computational Science; Environmental Health Sciences: Concepts and Methods; and Health Services, Administration, Politics, and Policy. Students will also be required to take Methods in Epidemiology I; if this course was completed at the undergraduate level at the College of Health, students will be expected to take a Special Topics in Epidemiology course instead during the MPH program.  Further, they will enhance their methodological and practice expertise by taking courses in Data Architecture, Mining, and Linkage; Qualitative Research Methods; and Health Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. Additionally, students will complete three 1-credit seminars in Leadership and Health Practice, Cultural Competence and Health, and Data-informed Policy Making. Students will also take two elective courses that will provide them with additional expertise in substantive and/or methodological areas of interest. The public health capstone integration occurs in the required two-semester project, in which students plan, implement, and evaluate a public health project at an internship site.

Launch of this program is scheduled for Fall 2021 and is currently pending University faculty approval.  

Students applying to enter the College of Health at Lehigh University as a first-year student may elect to apply for direct admittance into the accelerated 4:1 program.  Applications for the accelerated 4:1 program should be submitted through the Common Application or Coalition Application.  Application requirements and deadlines and can be found on the Admissions website.  Students admitted to the accelerated 4:1 program will be notified at the end of March.  Those accepted into the accelerated 4:1 program are expected to achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the completion of their first semester of junior status to continue with the MS or MPH.  

Current Lehigh students enrolled in the College of Health and pursuing a BS in population health are may apply to the accelerated 4:1 program once they have achieved junior standing, a minimum of 54 credits.

• Completed online application
• $65 application fee
• Minimum of 3.25 cumulative undergraduate GPA by the end of the first semester of junior standing
• 2 letters of professional recommendation
• CV/resume
• Essay/Personal statement
• Completion of two advisor-approved graduate-level concentration elective courses (with a grade of “B” or higher”) before undergraduate graduation
• Successful completion of a bachelor's degree prior to entering a graduate degree
• No entrance examinations are required.

A graduate of an accredited college or university may apply for admission to the MS or MPH program.  Applications for admission may be completed online and must be filed by July 15 for the following fall semester or by December 1 for the spring semester. Application criteria and requirements for the College of Health are listed below.  Additional information may be found in the course catalog.  

• Completed online application
• $65 application fee
• Recommended GPA Minimum: 3.0 undergraduate GPA or graduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a minimum of twelve hours of graduate work at other institutions.  Applicants for the MPH will be considered from individuals with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75.
• Official transcript(s) from each post-secondary institution attended
• 2 letters of professional recommendation
• CV/resume
• Essay/Personal statement
• Successful completion of a bachelor's degree prior to entering a graduate degree
• No entrance examinations are required.

Future

Future