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ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Academic Requirements MPH Core Requirements Urban Health Track Core Requirements Non-Health Professional Student Requirements Course Exemptions Transfer Credits Electives Culminating Experience

Academic Requirements
The MPH Program is currently offered as a part-time or full time program.

A master’s degree candidate must complete the proposed MPH program core requirements as well as the track requirements. The number of credits required for successful completion of the program is 42.

All students must complete a Culminating Experience that integrates theory and practice. The SUNY Downstate Medical Center MPH program is well situated to offer potential students a broad range of Culminating Experiences through collaborative arrangements with an array of public and private hospitals, community-based organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies.

Writing Placement Exam
All students accepted into the MPH program are required to pass a Writing examination. The purpose of the examination is to determine student proficiency in writing and expressive abilities. Students who pass the examination are exempted from taking a required two credit course, URBA 5003: Writing with Power.

Math Placement Exam
All students accepted into the MPH program are required to pass a Math Placement examination. . The purpose of the examination is to determine student proficiency in mathematics and statistical abilities. Students who pass the examination are exempted from taking a required one credit course, URBA 5004: Mastering Math.









MPH Core Requirements
All students for an MPH must complete 15 credits of core requirements, which provide the basic knowledge in major areas of public health.

Course Number	Course Title	Credits
URBA 5101 URBA 5102 URBA 5103 URBA 5104 URBA 5105	Principles of Biostatistics Principles of Epidemiology Health Behavior and Risk Reduction Issues in Environmental Health Principles of Health Systems Management	3 3 3 3 3
		Total 15

Urban Health Track Core Requirements
All students for an MPH must complete the core requirements for the urban health track that provide knowledge in urban public health issues.

Course Number	Course Title	Credits
URBA 5201 URBA 5202 URBA 5203 URBA 5205 URBA 5206	Introduction to Public Health Theory and Practice Issues in the Health of Immigrant Populations Sex, Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Health Community Organization Urban Health Issues	3 3 3 3 3
		Total 15

Non-Health Professional Student Requirements
In addition to the MPH Core Requirements and the Urban Health Track Core Requirements, those who are non-health professional students must complete the following courses:

Course Number	Course Title	Credits
URBA 5002	Health Care Across the Lifespan	3

TOTAL CORE REQUIREMENTS: 30 (for health professional students) or 33 (for non-health professional students)








Course Exemptions

1.	The course listed under “Non-Health Professional Student Requirements” is waived for students who are pursuing a concurrent degree in a health profession at SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
2.	Individuals who do not meet these criteria but who wish to receive course exemptions must demonstrate competency in the areas of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, pathophysiology, as well as clinical competency, by taking and passing a written examination in each course: Health Care Across the Life Span – 3 credits.
3.	Those who wish to take the exemption examination must pay a fee of $50.00 per credit of the course from which they are exempting. If the individual passes the examination, she or he will have those credits applied to the total number of credits required for successful completion of the course of study. Those who do not pass the examination, must take that course and pay the full tuition for the course as well as the exemption examination fee of $50.00 per credit.

Transfer Credits
Please note that only a total of six (6) credits can be transferred in or exempted for the SUNY Downstate MPH Program.

—Six (6) credits of approved course work that has not been used to complete a degree at another university can be transferred to credits for the SUNY Downstate MPH degree, OR

—Three (3) credits of exemption examination for the non-health professional course only: Health Care Across the Life Span – 3 credits, OR

—Three (3) credits of an approved course that has note been used to complete a degree at another university and three (3) credits of a passed exemption examination for non-health professionals in the MPH Program at SUNY Downstate.

Credit transfers must be approved by the Program Director. The student must furnish
official, written proof of the course content equivalency.

Professional Development Courses. (All entering students are required to take placement exams in writing and mathematics. Students who pass these exams are exempted from each of the following courses respectively.)

Course Number	Course Title	Credits	Pre-requisite Courses
URBA 5004 URBA 5003	Mastering Math Writing with Power	1 2

Electives
Students have a choice of electives to be completed the requirements for an MPH student(s) must complete 9 elective credits.

Course Number	Course Title	Credits	Pre-requisite Course(s)
CHSC 6020 ENHS 5049 HPMG 5201 URBA 5301 URBA 5302 URBA 5303 URBA 5304 URBA 5305 URBA 5306 URBA 5307 URBA 5308 URBA 5309 URBA 5310 URBA 5311 URBA 5313 URBA 5314 URBA 5315 URBA 5316 URBA 5317 URBA 5318 URBA 5601 URBA 5602 URBA 5603	Field Experience in Maternal & Child Health Women, Health, & the Environment Health Policy in the Delivery System Public Health and Medicine Chronic Disease and Public Health Human Sexual Behavior Issues in HIV Prevention Issues in Adolescent Health Injury and Violence Prevention Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Global Health New and Emerging Threats Introduction to Research Social Marketing Issues in Health Outcomes Research Communicable Diseases Prevention & Control Public Health and the Aging Population Public Health of Nutrition, Weight, and Eating Behaviors Categorical Data Analysis Planning Pediatric Interventions Introduction to Focus Groups, Surveys and Other Evaluation Methods Program Design and Evaluation for Behavioral Change Interventions Understanding Health Behavior: Social, Psychological, and Behavioral Influences	1-3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3	URBA 5002 URBA 5002 URBA 5002 URBA 5002 URBA 5002 URBA 5002 URBA 5101 & 5102 URBA 5101 & 5102 URBA 5101 & 5102 URBA 5101 & 5102 URBA 5101, 5102 & 5103 URBA 5103
URBA 5604	Communication Strategies in Urban Public Health: Theory and Application	3	URBA 5103

Culminating Experience (CE) [Previously called the Practicum]
All students must complete a Culminating Experience (CE). Before beginning the CE, students take a 1 credit course to plan their individual projects. Approval of the faculty advisor and CE advisor are required prior to initiation of the experience. The Culminating Experience is designed for students to synthesize and integrate knowledge gained through coursework and other learning experiences in a setting that involves some aspect of clinical practice. There will be one credit assigned per semester for the Culminating Experience.

Note: This information is subject to change without notice.
Please check with the MPH Program Office for the most current information.