The purpose of the graduate certificate in public health is to provide students with foundational graduate-level coursework in public health. The five-course, 15-credit curriculum can be completed in two semesters.
Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate in Public Health, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate their knowledge in the five core areas of public health, which include: biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health services administration, and social and behavioral sciences.
- Apply their knowledge and skills to solving public health problems.
Certificate program students will enroll in the following coursework on a non-degree basis. Students must complete each course with a grade of B or better in order to receive the certificate.
- PHS 504: Behavioral Health Intervention Strategies (3 credits) or BB H 504: Behavioral Health Intervention Strategies (3 credits)
- PHS 520 Principles of Biostatistics (3 credits)
- PHS 542: Environmental Health Sciences (3 credits)
- PHS 550: Principles of Epidemiology (3 credits)
- PHS 571: Health Services Organization and Delivery (3 credits) or HPA 520: Intro to US Health Services Organizations and Delivery (3 credits)
For information on how to apply, please see the Graduate Certificate in Public Health Application Instructions page.
Certificate coursework may be transferable to the Penn State Master of Public Health (MPH) graduate degree program should a student wish to continue public health training at the graduate level. Note that admissions as a non-degree graduate student neither guarantees nor implies subsequent admission to a degree program.
Certificate program students who wish to have their certificate courses transferred towards the Penn State MPH degree must formally apply and be admitted to the Penn Stat MPH degree program. Please see the MPH Admissions Requirements and Application Instructions as well as the graduate school transfer of credit policy for more information.
