Graduate Certificate in Public Health

100% Online Certificate

Graduate Certificate in Public Health (GCPH)

Our 100% online, 18-credit certificate program provides a solid public health foundation

UNE Online’s Graduate Certificate in Public Health (GCPH) delves into a range of topics, including principles of epidemiology, biostatistics, and interprofessional approaches to policy & advocacy. Our GCPH provides students with the core public health principles and concepts necessary to advance their career. It also creates a path for students to pursue a graduate degree in public health.

The UNE Online School of Public Health embraces a mission centered on teaching, research, and science. Our program educates students from across the nation and around the world. It boasts a renowned faculty who are leaders in public health research and extensive collaborative partnerships in the public health community.

The GCPH can be completed in as little as 1 year, and all certificate credits can be applied to our Master’s degree program if students decide to go that route after certificate completion.

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Current Application Deadline

April 15, 2024

Summer A Session

Courses begin May 8, 2024

Time Left to Apply:

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Why Choose the University of New England Online?

Fully Online

Fully Online

Courses are delivered fully online, allowing you flexibility to complete coursework around your schedule.

Supportive

Supportive

Students will have an academic advisor to help with course selection based on their individual needs and will benefit from engaged faculty and a student support team.

Accredited

Accredited

Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) & New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE) accredited.

Transferable Credits

Transferable Credits

All of the courses in the GCPH are transferable to our MPH program, making an easy transition if students choose to continue on.

Graduate Certificate in Public Health (GCPH) Program Outcomes

Students who successfully earn the Graduate Certificate in Public Health are able to:

  • Develop healthcare quality improvement proposals that align with the complex system of legal and regulatory compliance that governs the healthcare system
  • Analyze significant policies that have shaped the American healthcare system
  • Critically evaluate healthcare interests and goals to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice

The UNE Online Experience

I started looking into opportunities within public health and I could incorporate my education and nursing skills to move my career in a different direction. I started by committing to the Public Health Graduate Certificate program, figuring I’d get a leg up on learning. The entire process has been extremely interesting. I’ve loved it.

Gail Callahan

Admissions

Successful applicants to UNE Online’s Graduate Certificate in Public Health will display a solid mix of quantitative, writing, and critical thinking skills. Work, volunteering, research, and/or internship experience relevant to public health and health equity are valued during the review process but not required. We review applicants in a comprehensive manner, taking into consideration their previous academic coursework, professional experiences and application materials.

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • Undergraduate transcripts to demonstrate academic readiness
  • No GRE Required

How to Apply:

Create an Online Portal Account to begin your application. To complete your online application you will need:

  • Current Resume/CV
  • Goal Statement/Essay: 500-1000 word essay describing your goals, relevant professional experience, and interest in advanced learning in your chosen field. Applicants should also address their capacity to succeed in a distance learning format.
  • Two professional/academic references
  • Official transcripts
  • Apply now for free!

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Graduate Certificate in Public Health Curriculum

All graduate certificate students must complete the following courses (18 credits):

This course will examine public health principles and concepts. It will provide a broad framework for understanding public health’s role in community health, prevention, and medicine. Using the five core public health knowledge areas and the ten essential public health services as a foundation, students will explore public health infrastructure, surveillance, social determinants of health, policy, and emerging issues. In addition, the course will weave public health areas such as chronic disease, infectious disease, environmental health, maternal and child health, and injury into discussions and assignments.

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles of epidemiology as they apply to public health practice. Content will include: a historical perspective on epidemiology, descriptive epidemiology, effect measures, study designs, bias, surveillance, and screening for disease. Emphasis will be placed on investigative techniques, epidemiological methodology, and critical thinking about epidemiological studies and data.

This course provides you with an introduction to the procedures used in the summarization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of research data. Topics include sampling, experimentation, measurement, descriptive statistics, correlation, probability, confidence intervals, testing hypotheses, 2-way tables, and simple linear regression. This course is deliberately broad and not intended to give students an in-depth understanding of statistical testing, analysis of categorical data or regression analysis. Rather, its intent is to provide an overview of some of the main areas of statistics and a working knowledge of basic summary statistics, graphs, and simple statistical tests for hypothesis testing. At the end of the course, a student should be able to evaluate simple statistical tests for hypothesis usage in everyday life and their own discipline, especially in relevant research publications; and interact knowledgeably with statisticians in planning, conducting, analyzing and reporting research projects.

Using an ecological approach, health behaviors will be considered within the context of influences on individual behaviors. The course will address the use of behavioral and social science theory to inform the development of health promotion and disease prevention programs, and consider the inherent ethical dilemma involved in planned social and behavioral change efforts.

This course brings together graduate students in public health, education, social work, nutrition, and health informatics to work collaboratively to learn the fundamentals of policy-making as applied to the broad issue of student health in an educational setting. Students work in interprofessional groups to identify the social problem, describe the policy context, map potential policy solutions, and make final recommendations in an individually written policy analysis that incorporates learning from their interprofessional peers. Students will explore the structure and function of government systems as they relate to values-driven policy decisions.

This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the field of environmental health in a public health context. This course will emphasize the exposure risks, health effects, evaluation, and control of hazards including infectious agents, toxic chemicals, air pollutants, and ionizing radiation. Public health applications are incorporated through a comprehensive key assessment project.

 

Master of Public Health
All of the credits in the Graduate Certificate of Public Health can be transferred into UNE Online’s Master in Public Health Degree, creating a smooth transition for students who choose to continue on that path.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the University of New England Online Graduate Certificate in Public Health is competitive among other schools at $830/credit,* and because all of our courses are delivered 100% online, you will not incur the cost of traveling or relocating to complete your degree. (*Note: Tuition is subject to change. Listed tuition does not include the cost of fees, books, or additional credits that may be required, etc. Contact Student Financial Services to learn more.)

Cost per
Credit: $830

# of Credits for GCPH: 18

Typical cost for GCPH: $14,940

 

General Services Fee (per semester, non-refundable for matriculated students)
$80
Tuition (per credit hour)
$830
Technology Fee (per semester)
$160
Registration Fee (non-matriculated students per semester)
$30

Accreditation

When choosing an institution of higher education, you want to be sure your investment will hold value upon completion. Accreditation at the University of New England Online and for our graduate programs ensures a high level of academic quality and public accountability for the education being provided. For the Master’s in Public Health program, we are proud to hold CEPH (Council on Education for Public Health) accreditation, and NECHE (New England Commission on Higher Education) accreditation for the university.

Additionally, we are a proud member of ASPPH (Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health) whose mission is to advance academic public health by mobilizing the collective power of our members to drive excellence and innovation in education, research, and practice.

Faculty

At the University of New England Online our dedicated Public Health faculty are scholar-practitioners who bring their professional knowledge and experience into the classroom. This model allows students to learn from a diverse and engaged pool of faculty. See our public health faculty and staff.

 

Student Support & Resources

At the University of New England Online, we are committed to providing our students with the highest level of academic and personal support. Our online public health programs were created with the working professional in mind. We understand the unique challenges of adult students who are often juggling school, career, and family, which is why we offer a robust Student Academic Success Center (SASC) and high-touch academic advising. Learn more about Student Support and Resources.  

FAQ

Admissions

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis six times per year; apply here. You can also contact an Enrollment Counselor by calling or texting: (866) 722-5096 or emailing publichealth@une.edu

Students applying to the Graduate Certificate program must have successfully completed and undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. The admissions team reviews applications holistically. No GRE is required.

No. This certificate is 100% online and asynchronous with no campus visits required.

Typical activities include lectures, readings, and group discussions. Assignments include creating online discussion posts, videos, and papers. Assignments vary for each course and may include other modalities not included here.

Students must successfully complete 18 hours and all required courses to earn the Graduate Certificate.

UNE offers a variety of academic, technical, and administrative support to assist you. Upon entering the program, a dedicated Student Support Specialist will be there to provide support and answer any questions you may have – from questions on textbooks, to registration, to financial aid and more. This support is provided in addition to the assistance you will receive from program staff, your academic advisor, course instructors and fellow classmates.

Yes, the University of New England is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE). To learn more, please see www.une.edu/accreditation.

Yes, the Master of Public Health program here at the University of New England is accredited by Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency recognized as the accrediting body for public health schools and programs by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation is a rigorous peer-review process designed to ensure that a program’s curriculum meets the standards set for high-quality education and training. CEPH accreditation means graduates are prepared, through their coursework, to meet the demands of the current public health workforce. Federal agencies often require this accreditation from their employees.

Tuition for the MPH and GCPH programs can be found here: https://online.une.edu/public-health/cost.

This program uses the Brightspace D2L Learning Management System.