Overview
The MPH degree program is offered by LSUS and the Louisiana State University Health Science Center - Shreveport (LSUHSC) and includes 42 credit hours. The curriculum is specifically designed to prepare public health graduate students for careers in a public health setting. The curriculum includes courses specifically designed to incorporate 15 foundational public health knowledge areas and 27 foundational competencies identified by the Council of Education for Public Health (CEPH: www.ceph.org) as essential to the MPH educational process. All students are required to take the foundational and required courses, 30 credit hours. The last phase of the program consists of an Applied Practice Experience (internship - 3 credit hours) which students are required to complete 150 hours of practicum experience and produce a structured report that describes, analyzes, and critiques the experience. Students have the option of completing an MPH Integrated Learning Experience (capstone - 3 credit hours) or Master’s Thesis (6 credit hours). Students who choose the MPH Integrated Learning Experience will complete an additional six credits of electives. Students who choose to complete a thesis may waive one elective. In both the Applied Practice Experience and culminating experiences, students are under the supervision and guidance of faculty and field-based practitioners.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for regular admission to the MPH degree program, all applicants must submit an online application for admission. US Citizens and International applicants must submit all LSUS Graduate Studies required admission documents to the Office of Admissions and Records. Students who meet the admission criteria for LSUS Graduate Studies must also meet the following program-specific criteria to be considered for admission into the MPH degree program:
- Bachelor’s degree from a university accredited by a USDE-recognized institutional accrediting agency, with minimum 3.0 overall GPA or minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester hours;
- Three electronic recommendations submitted to the MPH Program Director;
- Completion of an asynchronous interview.
Upon receipt of these requirements, the MPH Admission Committee will make admission decisions based on all materials submitted to the University and the MPH Program. No GRE score is required for this program.
Career Opportunities
The MPH prepares students for positions in local, state, federal, and non-governmental health agencies, health services, community health organizations, research institutions, and academic institutions.
Grade Policy
A GPA of 3.0 or higher is required for graduation from the MPH program. Students are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the program.
Comprehensive Exam
The final requirement for master degree candidates is to pass the Comprehensive Final Examination and culminating experience (capstone or thesis). Comprehensives may be taken during the semester in which the candidate is registered for the last three semester hours of required credit prior to the final culminating experience. Comprehensive Exam students who fail the qualifying examination will have the opportunity for one “make-up” examination no later than 30 days after the first examination. After two unsuccessful attempts to pass the examination, the faculty may recommend additional courses or other forms of remediation prior to a third attempt. Inability to pass the examination after three attempts will result in dismissal from the degree program.