Public Health Degrees at the University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota appears in our ranking of the Top 10 MPH in Health Policy and Management Degrees Online.
The University of North Dakota offers two comprehensive degrees in public health, one bachelor’s and one master’s, as well as an undergraduate minor and graduate certificate. The four-year undergrad degree provides students with a broad foundation in the field, combining health sciences courses like Anatomy for Paramedical Personnel and Fundamentals of Nutrition with classes focusing on society and psychology. Faculty expose students early to research methods and introduce them to public health issues, both locally and globally, in the program’s first semester. Later in the program, courses focus on identifying public health concerns and the design and implementation of community programs. Students can choose between two options of emphasis, one centering primarily around health education in schools and the other involving the public at large. Both culminate in a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education after completion of a 12-credit-hour internship and senior capstone research project. The undergraduate public health minor consists of 21 credit hours and is a popular addition to health science majors like nursing and pre-medicine.
The graduate program requires 42 credit hours and is typically completed in two years, resulting in the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. Similar to many other MPH programs, coursework covers the five primary areas in the field, epidemiology, biostatistics, education, management, and environmental health, but UND’s focus on big data, data mining, and analytics stands out. All students complete a two-course computer programming series, Public Health Data Management in SAS and R, and practice these skills in later classes like System Dynamics and Health Policy. In addition to the 11 required core courses, students have a choice between two specialization tracks, Population Health Analytics or Health Management and Policy, each consisting of two required classes and one elective. The final requirement for the MPH is completion of a practicum, scholarly project, and seminar during which students gain real-world experience and demonstrate their understanding of the field through researching and analyzing a current public health concern. Students pursuing the graduate certificate need 15 total credit hours and can specialize in either General Public Health or Population Health Analytics.
At every level, the public health department at the University of North Dakota works hard to ensure their graduates are well prepared for entrance into today’s professional world by continuously updating their program and facilities as technology evolves. In addition, both the master’s and bachelor’s programs can be completed entirely online which makes this a popular program among working and long-distance students.
About University of North Dakota
Before North Dakota had received statehood, the University of North Dakota was founded in 1883 and has remained on the same campus in Grand Forks, a small city in the northeastern part the state. In its early years, the university focused primarily on the liberal arts. However, this has slowly shifted, and UND is now a renowned research university, most known for research in the medical and allied health fields as well as aerospace studies and the Energy and Environmental Research Center. The university is nationally recognized for many of its programs, especially their online offerings. The U.S. News and World Report has ranked UND’s online bachelor’s degree platform in the top 20% in the country. This publication also identified the school as one of the 25 most innovative national colleges and universities in the U.S.
University of North Dakota Accreditation Details
The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) evaluates every college and university in a 19-state region in the middle of the United States to ensure each institution meets certain standards. This is a comprehensive review, done on a 10-year schedule, and the HLC looks at educational factors like student-to-faculty ratio, availability of learning resources, and scope of curriculum as well as organizational aspects of a school such as finances, policies, and transparency. The University of North Dakota has remained continuously accredited since 1913, having been most recently recertified in 2014. Additionally, the public health graduate and undergraduate degree tracks are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), an organization that ensures these specific programs provide adequate preparation for professional work in the field.
University of North Dakota Application Requirements
Students applying to the University of North Dakota as freshmen need to submit a completed undergraduate application as well as official transcripts documenting completion of a high school diploma with at least 4 years of English courses and 3 each in the areas of math, lab science, and social studies. Prospective students under 25 years of age also need to send test results with recommended ACT/SAT scores being 20/1100 with a GPA above 2.75, 20/1030 with at least a 3.0 GPA, and 18/960 with a 3.5 minimum GPA. Students who do not meet these cutoffs are still encouraged to apply because other factors are also considered. Admission to the MPH program requires completion of a bachelor’s degree with a GPA above 3.0. Applicants must submit transcripts, GRE scores, a statement of purpose outlining future career goals, three letters of recommendation, and a resume. MCAT, GMAT, DAT, or LSAT scores are accepted in lieu of the GRE, and this requirement can be waived completely with five years of relevant work experience or completion of a different graduate degree.
Tuition and Financial Aid
There are three tuition levels for students with North Dakota residents paying the least, followed by Minnesota residents and then everyone else with all online students following the in-state rubric. Undergraduate rates are $390, $430, and $555 per credit hour with higher MPH tuition costs of $750, $953, and $1125. UND provides an automatic discount to ambitious students by capping tuition charges at 12 credit hours each semester even if students take more courses. Many students qualify for scholarships and grants through the university based on previous academic record, financial need, and community involvement. All veterans and current military members are automatically eligible for in-state tuition rates regardless of residency status, and those using Tuition Assistance benefits through the federal government pay an even lower amount. The Department of Education, Health, and Behavior Studies which houses the public health programs at University of North Dakota provides additional scholarship resources and work-study positions to help students fund their education.