Online Master of Public Health

• 100% online
• CEPH-accredited
• 45 credit hours; $675.72 per credit hour
• Graduate in two years full-time or three years part-time

The online Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) from Northern Illinois University is a CEPH-accredited program that prepares you to design and evaluate public health programs and policies. You'll explore the detailed processes of health policy, financing and planning programs, and assess the many forces that shape community health: Environmental, behavioral, social, economic, and political.

As a graduate, you qualify to sit for the Certified Public Health (CPH) exam and step into a career in local, state, federal or tribal health departments, corporate and hospital wellness programs, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and private consulting firms.

Program Highlights

• Quality Degree. Gain an education accredited by CEPH — the nationally recognized accrediting body for both schools of public health and public health programs — ensuring a rigorous and relevant program.
• Quick Program. Graduate in just two years as a full-time student or three years if you're part-time.
• Affordable Tuition. Pay an estimated tuition of just $29,250. NIU's M.P.H. costs less than similar programs at private universities.
• Flexible Schedule. Learn online from anywhere and switch between a full- and part-time course load each semester if you need to.
• Hands-On Experience. Expand your résumé and networking opportunities with an internship in your specialization and close to where you live.

Curriculum: Study Detailed Courses in Public Health

Public health concerns are many — from preventing the onset and spread of disease to how to prioritize patient care against finances in an operational plan. You're ready to meet the daily challenges of the field when you complete the 11 core courses and 1–2 electives in the online M.P.H. program at Northern Illinois University.

Career Outlook: Excel With a Career-Focused Specialization

Step into your next role easily when you select an M.P.H. specialization. It provides a deep dive into the knowledge you need to excel in your position.

Health Promotion Specialization

Help people and communities choose a healthier lifestyle and prevent disease with an M.P.H. specialization in Health Promotion.

The health promotion field is expected to expand by 16 percent between 2016 and 2026.¹ You learn to evaluate current health promotion and disease prevention programs, use various theories to determine the best ways to promote health, and develop materials and implement programs for diverse populations.

The two courses in the Health Promotion specialization qualify you to also sit for the Certified in Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam. You're ready to go to work as a patient educator, program or division director, community engagement specialist, or community health program specialist.

Health Services Management Specialization

Prepare to run a successful healthcare facility with an M.P.H. specialization in Health Services Management.

Health Service Managers have an average salary of $98,350 and can expect job growth of 20 percent between 2016 and 2026.² In this specialization, you master how to combine financial information with the influence of legal, regulatory, organizational, political and ethical constraints in decision-making strategies to operate a public health-services organization.

The three courses in the Health Services Management specialization prepare you to step into roles such as program director or manager, health administrator, and healthcare business manager.

When you take the elective PHHE 533: Principles of Long-Term Care Administration in combination with this specialization, you also qualify to sit for the Illinois Nursing Home Administrator License Exam.

Why NIU Online?

At Northern Illinois University, our mission is to promote excellence and engagement in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, creativity and artistry, and outreach and service. Now you can be a part of our educational community no matter where you are.

Gain access to coursework, instructors and classmates from anywhere. We make it easy to keep up with your responsibilities and commitments while working toward your career goals. At NIU, your future is our focus.

Learn More

If you have any questions about Northern Illinois University's online Master of Public Health, request more information using the form on this page.

SOURCES:

¹U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (April 2018). Health Educators and Community Health Workers. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved on February 26, 2019, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htmhttps://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm.

²U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (April 2018). Medical and Health Services Managers. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved on February 26, 2019, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htmhttps://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm.