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Program Mission Statement

In a diverse, interprofessional environment, the Master of Public Health program at Cedar Crest College prepares the next generation of public health practitioners to improve population health outcomes and eliminate health disparities.

Program Description

The Master of Public Health program at Cedar Crest College will consist of online class experiences with service learning and capstone experiences in public health practice and research. The program will have a unique partnership with the master’s degree in nutrition, sharing courses across program areas to create an interprofessional student experience. Students from the two programs will have opportunities to learn together in several classes, sharing professional experiences, expertise, and research opportunities.

The Master of Public Health provides the following:

  • Foundational didactic coursework in core public health courses and elective courses in nutrition, cultural and mental health issues, grantsmanship, healthcare ethics, and interprofessional collaboration and leadership.
  • An opportunity for Dietetic Intern students to complete required nutrition courses while obtaining a Master of Public Health.
  • Service-learning experiences with public health professionals in healthcare, nonprofit organizations, and the public sector.
  • Evidence-based practicum experience resulting in a capstone project and possible publication in peer-reviewed journals or presentations at professional conferences.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

  1. Apply, analyze, and interpret evidence-based approaches to public health;
  2. Discuss public health and healthcare systems;
  3. Assess population needs;
  4. Design a population-based policy, program, project, or intervention;
  5. Evaluate and propose polices that impact public health and health equity;
  6. Apply leadership and management principles to address relevant issues in public health;
  7. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content;
  8. Integrate perspectives from other sectors and professions to promote and advance population health;
  9. Apply a systems thinking tool to represent a population health issue.

Administration of the Program

The program has a director who determines and sets academic policy in consultation with the faculty experts who teach in the program. Prior to implementation, the Office of the Provost, through the School of Adult and Graduate Education (SAGE), must approve all program-specific academic policies.

General Admissions Information

Students are admitted to graduate programs at Cedar Crest College on the basis of individual qualifications.

Applications for the Master of Professional Studies are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Students are admitted to the program in the fall, fall II, spring, spring II, and summer I sessions.

Application materials and all correspondence relating to admission should be sent to:
Cedar Crest College
School of Adult and Graduate Education
100 College Drive
Blaney Hall, Room 212
Allentown, PA 18104-6196
Phone: 610-740-3770
Email:
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-6:30 pm; Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

International applicants should send materials and correspondence to:
Cedar Crest College
International Admissions
100 College Drive
Allen House, Room 202
Allentown, PA 18104-6196
Phone: 610-606-4666, ext. 4587
Email:
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Applicants and prospective students may contact the admissions office to schedule a campus tour or in-person, online, or phone appointment with an admissions counselor.

Please see the Admission of Students section at the beginning of the catalog for more information related to admissions processes and policies.

Master of Professional Studies Application Requirements
To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must submit the following items:

  • A completed admission application, found at www.cedarcrest.edu/apply
  • Official transcripts from the bachelor’s degree-granting institution and any other institutions where relevant coursework was completed.
    • Transcripts from institutions located outside the United States will need to be accompanied by an official course-by-course evaluation, with degree equivalency, completed by a NACES-recognized foreign transcript evaluation agency, such as World Education Services (www.wes.org).
  • A statement of your goals (approximately 500 words)
  • One letter of recommendation
  • One flex option (choose one):
    • One additional letter of recommendation,
    • GRE or GMAT score, or
    • Two years’ professional work experience
  • Your current resume.

Master of Professional Studies Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • An applicant must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants may apply while finishing their bachelor’s degree requirements, however the degree must be conferred, as shown on an official transcript, prior to the start of the student’s first matriculated semester at Cedar Crest College.
  • Minimum bachelor’s degree GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). However, applications are reviewed holistically, and applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may be granted conditional admission at the discretion of the program director if their application materials demonstrate the potential for success in the program.

It is recommended, but not required, that the applicant have completed the following coursework at the undergraduate level:

  • One semester of economics
  • One semester of accounting
  • One semester of statistics

*GMAT or GRE test may be required if the applicant does not meet criteria established by the program.

Admissions Decisions

A committee of faculty members from the Health Sciences Department will make final admissions decisions based upon the criteria specified above. Each applicant will be considered from a holistic perspective. The Program Director reserves the right to ask the prospective candidate for additional information.

Transfer Credit Policy

Students entering the program may transfer up to 6 credits of coursework. The transferred coursework must be equivalent to courses listed in the curriculum and must have been completed within ten years of the date of enrollment in the program (the first day of classes of a student’s first academic year). Once matriculated in the program, students will not receive any credit for coursework taken at another institution.

Matriculation

Accepted students are matriculated into the program on the first day of enrolled classes during their first semester of academic study. Graduate programs may permit non-matriculated and visiting students to enroll in graduate courses on a case-by-case basis. In the event that a graduate course reaches its enrollment maximum, matriculated students are given preference over non-matriculated students.

Degree Program Retention Policy

An overall GPA of 3.0 is required in order to maintain good academic standing in the program. A minimum grade of “C” is required for all courses with a maximum of two grades (6 credits) of “C” across the program. Two individual courses may each be repeated one time for grade improvement; no individual course may be repeated more than once. Students failing to maintain a GPA of 3.0 during any semester will be placed on academic probation and are subject to dismissal from the program without subsequent demonstrated improvement.

Maximum Period of Candidacy

Students must complete the program in seven academic years beginning from the first term of matriculation. 

Leave of Absence Policy

Students wishing to take a leave of absence from the program must request to do so in writing to the Program Director. The granting of the requested leave is at the discretion of the Program Director. The time frame associated with a leave of absence is not counted in the seven years necessary to complete the program.

Completion of the Graduate Program and Graduation

  • Complete all required coursework (42 credits) with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Apply to the Registrar for graduation by the published application deadline
  • Fulfill all financial responsibilities to the College

Required Core Curriculum

MPH 570 Foundations of Public Health (3 credits)
MPH 571 Introduction to Healthcare Systems (3 credits)
MPH 600 Health Statistics and Epidemiology (3 credits)
MPH 601 Health Policy and Advocacy (3 credits)
MPH 602 Evidence Analysis (3 credits)
MPH 603 Health Program Planning and Management (3 credits)
MPH 610 Health Education: Learning Throughout the Lifespan (3 credits)
MPH 620 Applied Practice Experience (3 credits)
MPH 630 Practicum I (3 credits)
MPH 631 Practicum II (3 credits)

Tuition and Fees 2026-2027

MPH Tuition, per credit, $791.00
Full-Time/Part-Time Student Activity Fee per semester. $35.00
Full-Time Technology Fee per semester, $175.00
Part-Time Technology Fee per semester, $87.50

Graduate Program Handbook

Each student will be given a copy of the Graduate Student Handbook prepared specifically for the Master of Public Science. The handbook provides students with information about the curricular requirements, policies and procedures associated with the program. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves and understanding the information presented in the Graduate School Handbook. Questions regarding the content of the handbook should be directed to the Program Director.