The Online MPH Degree for Working Professionals

We understand that committing to a graduate program is a major decision. The following questions can help you decide if our program aligns with your experience and schedule:

Do you envision a future in health and want to pursue opportunities while working?

  Do you already have an advanced degree or at least two years of work experience in a health-related field and want to deepen your impact?

Would you be able to complete asynchronous coursework and attend live, online classes in the evenings?

If you’ve answered "yes" to the above, you’re in the right place.

In Columbia’s two-year Online MPH program, you’ll be part of a small cohort, allowing you to build strong personal and professional connections with a diverse group of peers. Together, you’ll attend live classes over Zoom each week, where you’ll learn from the same world-class faculty who teach our on-campus Columbia MPH program. Our online learning is designed to be accessed from any device for a convenient, seamless experience no matter where you are. Plus, coursework is asynchronous, giving you the flexibility to balance your education with your career and other commitments.

The Online MPH degree program consists of five components:

• Core Curriculum: In Year 1, students will build a strong foundation through Core classes, such as Foundations of Public Health, Determinants of Health, and Research Methods and Applications.

• Concentrations: The Core curriculum spans 16 concentrations—including Ethics of Public Health, Human Rights, and Quantitative Foundations—that build on each other to provide broad, essential knowledge for a career in public health.

• Practicum: Through an Applied Practice Experience (APEx), you’ll have the opportunity to leverage what you’ve learned in class to make real-world impact in public health organizations and agencies.

• Leadership: In this course, you’ll develop the skills to lead teams in various settings, work effectively as a team member, and implement fresh, innovative ideas within an organization or larger community.

• Integration of Science and Practice: In these small group sessions, you’ll analyze case studies to apply public health theory to real-world challenges. Assignments are designed to hone your skills in negotiation, persuasion, team thinking, public speaking, and critical judgment.

What’s more, you’ll have lifelong access to Career Services. We are proud to provide students and alumni with personalized career advising and mentorship, targeted professional development, and access to leading employers and practicum sites.

All Online MPH students are required to complete an Applied Practice Experience (APEx). APEx projects are individually selected and tailored to meet student needs with the focus, substance, and approach varying by student. Students participate in the APEx during the second summer of the program after completion of all coursework. The APEx requires a minimum of 140 hours, typically ten hours per week over fourteen weeks. Additionally, students are required to provide the project site with a minimum of two work samples that align with foundational and program specific competencies.

Prior to enrolling, most Online MPH students have already earned an advanced degree or completed at least two years of post-undergraduate, full-time professional work in clinical healthcare, research,
community-based public health, or another healthcare adjacent field. By pursuing our online degree for working professionals, these students seek to enhance their ability to address complex public health challenges that demand a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective.