North Dakota State University Public Health Degree Programs
North Dakota State University appears in our ranking of the 10 Best MPH Degrees in the Midwest.
The Master of Public Health is designed for those who wish to help others live long, healthy lives. The program is multidisciplinary, focusing on general health of communities. Students learn how to monitor and prevent the spread of disease, clinical and policy-oriented initiatives and methods used to promote a healthy lifestyle through education and community engagement. Courses required for the program include:
- Biostatistics
- Community Health Leadership
- Environmental Health
- Essentials in Epidemiology
- Public Health Management and Policy
- Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health
Students may also concentrate their studies in:
- American Indian Public Health
- Community Health Sciences
- Dietetics
- Management of Infectious Disease
A master’s thesis is required as well as a 240-hour practicum or internship.
About North Dakota State University
In 1862, the Morrill Act was signed by Abraham Lincoln creating what came to be known as land-grant institutions. Under the act, states were given federal lands that they could sell or use to establish institutes of higher learning. In 1883, as the Dakota Territorial Legislature began creating state agencies, they needed to identify locations for a penitentiary, mental health hospital and an agricultural college. Because an institute of higher learning had already been established in Grand Forks, it was determined that the agricultural college would be placed in Fargo.
North Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889 and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station was establish in 1890. The Station was created using the Hatch Act, a federal law that promoted research in farm products that would be beneficial to the public. That same year, the North Dakota Agricultural College became the land-grant college for North Dakota.
Initially, classes were held in six classrooms that the school rented from Fargo College while the campus was being constructed. The school moved to its permanent location in 1892. In 1907, faculty officially adopted the colors yellow and green as the school colors.
In 1960, after a four-decade struggle to do so, the name of the school was changed to North Dakota State University. A second campus opened in downtown Fargo in 2004.
Today, North Dakota State University enrolls almost 14,000 students in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. US News & World Report rank the school in the top 150 public schools in the country and the top 200 in high school counselor rankings. The school excels in innovation and technology research with more than $153 million in annual expenditures according to the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development Survey. The school has also been ranked among the Top 100 public research universities.
North Dakota State University Accreditation Details
North Dakota State University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary schools of the Higher Learning Commission. They have held that accreditation since 1915. Accreditation is a voluntary peer-review process that allows students registered at North Dakota State University to apply for federal financial aid. Accreditation also confirms that students are receiving high-quality education based on criteria determined by the Association. Periodically, the University is reviewed to confirm they continue to have the resources to meet their goals and objectives. Any areas during that review that are determined to need improvement are addressed by the University as quickly as possible. In addition, specific programs at the college are also accredited by the following industry-specific organizations:
- Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration
- Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education
- American Association of Collegiate Schools of Business
- American College of Sports Medicine
- American Council for Construction Education
- American Dietetic Association, Council of Accreditation
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards
- Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Program
- Council for Interior Design Accreditation
- Educational Leadership Constituency Council
- Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
- Institute of Food Technology
- Landscape Architecture Accreditation Board
- National Accreditation for Clinical Lab Science
- National Architecture Accreditation Board
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- National Association of Schools of Music
- National Association of Schools of Theatre
- National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
North Dakota State University Application Requirements
Admission to the Master of Public Health program requires applicants to have adequate preparation in a field related to public health. They must show potential to succeed at the graduate level as well. They must submit an application and provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. They must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Official GRE, PCAT or MCAT scores must be provided. The Admissions Committee will invite selected applicants for an interview based on submitted application materials. All students must submit a satisfactory background check as well. No more than nine semester credit hours may be transferred from another college or university. Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0 in order to apply. A statement of purpose explaining the reasons for seeking the MPH degree as well as three recommendation are required.
North Dakota State University Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for the Master of Public Health at North Dakota State University per credit hour are as follows:
- North Dakota Resident – $750.00
- Minnesota Resident – $962.50
- US Non-Resident – $1,125.00
Financial aid is available for graduate school programs at the University. Graduate assistantships are available to full-time students who assist with teaching, research or administrative duties to offset the cost of tuition. Students may also be eligible for grants, fellowships or scholarships. Loans, both federal and private, are also available to cover the cost of graduate school. In order to qualify for any assistance, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the form must be renewed annually.
The mission of North Dakota State University is to address the needs and aspirations of a changing world by creating graduates with energy and momentum to achieve change.