San Jose State University : Department of Health Science

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Campus Master of Public Health Program

The MPH Program at San José State University was founded in 1970 to prepare community health education practitioners to serve the diverse and dynamic communities of Northern California. Our program was awarded an unprecedented second seven year re-accreditation term by the Council on Education for Public Health.

Since its founding and first accreditation in 1974, its essential mission has been:

To provide professional education that prepares and supports both students and graduates with conceptual frameworks, knowledge, sensibilities, and confidence to apply health education and public health strategies and skills to programs, policy, and community development.

San Jose State Univiersty offers the MPH Program in two modes (you can only apply to one mode):

 

1) The MPH campus-based program: Links to program background and application information are located in this section of the Health Science website.

2) The MPH Distance Education Program: information is located at the following link: MPH Distance Education Program 

In recognition of the increasing cultural diversity of the state of California, our MPH program is committed to training culturally competent health educators whose backgrounds and skills reflect our changing demography. Specifically, the MPH program trains health education practitioners who are able to:

 

  • Assess the factors which affect the health of individuals, groups, andcommunities; and identify those assets, priorities, and policies that contribute to health education and health promotion interventions within a social system;
  • Analyze and research emerging trendsto predict future individual and community health needs and opportunities based on current evidence and societal changes, and to communicate their implications for public health and health promotion policy and practice;
  • Apply theory, appropriate technologies, educational methods, and communication strategies todesign, plan, implement, and evaluate health education and health promotioninterventions in accordance with public health objectives, community needs, and organizational and community goals; 
  • Provide technical assistance and act as a health education resource across a broad range of settingsto promote community health through community building and organizing with identified stakeholders, including community members, consumers, health practitioners and health care providers, policy and decision-makers;
  • Apply administration principles and skills to manage human, fiscal, capital, and social resources when administering health education strategies, interventions, and programs.
  • Apply concepts and theories of systems, behavior, education, and change to influence desired health outcomes, with particular emphasis on ecological approaches and global perspectives that connect health education and promotion efforts to larger social issues.  
  • Design, conduct, analyze, use, and share both qualitative and quantitative evaluation or research related to community health education and promotion;
  • Apply the principles and skills of effective inclusive and multicultural  communication when working with individuals, groups, organizations, and communities from diverse cultures and backgrounds;
  • Advance public health practice and the health education profession by building on their historical and contemporary contributions to the field;
  • Adhere to standards for ethical practice and research based on their personal values and mission statements, institutional mandates, and the Code of Ethics for the Health Education Profession, in order to apply them to fields of public health and community health education.
  • Develop leadership, career, and professional development skills in order to promote lifelong learning opportunities.
  • Otherwise work to assure conditions which protect and promote public health.

 

 

 

The program's mission is achieved through an integrated program of instruction, research, and service, carried out in close collaboration with a diverse network of community programs and practitioners. Our ultimate goal is public health and social justice through planned, organized, and empowering community efforts.

We invite you to browse through the both MPH websites for more information about each program. Please feel free to comment or ask any questions along the way by emailing us at mph@email.sjsu.edu.

These outcome objectives encompass the areas of professional responsibility delineated by the National Commission on Health Education Credentialing, Inc., and the newly approved Graduate Standards.