Public Health (MPH) Program Details

Degree Requirements

    ❱   Required coursework
    ❱   Graduate School writing proficiency requirement
    ❱   Graduate School Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) requirement
    ❱   Scholarly research paper/Capstone project
    ❱   Final oral examination

Program Objectives

  ❱  Prepare individuals in the promotion of health and prevention of disease in communities with an emphasis on the needs of vulnerable populations
  ❱  Apply analytical reasoning and research methods to address social, behavioral, and environmental determinants of public health
  ❱  Use advanced epidemiological methods and biostatistics to examine associations between social, behavioral, and environmental factors and disease
  ❱  Use public health research findings for policy development

Research Areas & Interests 

Faculty Research Interests

A sampling of research interests

  • How behavioral methods can be implemented to improve the physical and psychological well-being of cancer survivors and persons at risk for cancer 
  • Biostatistical modeling and HIV/Aids prediction
  • Statistical models for ophthalmologic data structures
  • Predictive modeling, with application in cardiovascular diseases and lifestyle
  • Addressing community health needs through resource mapping and coalition building
  • Sociocultural and behavioral health factors among minority adolescents and emerging adults
  • Relationship between left ventricular mass and cardiovascular responses to psychological stress
  • Cardiovascular reactivity and development of pre-clinical and clinical disease states
  • Racial discrimination and breast cancer in black women
  • Impacts of physical activity onreducing breast cancer risk
  • Social support and physical activity as moderators of life stress in predicting baseline depression
  • Stress management therapy in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy
  • Resilience of health systems in post-conflict South Africa

MPH Faculty & Research Areas


Pamela L. Carter-Nolan, Ph.D., MPH
Director
Associate Professor Principles of Epidemiology
Pcarter-nolan@howard.edu

Carla D. Williams, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Social and Behavioral Science
cdwilliams@howard.edu

John Kwagyan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor Biostatistics
Biostatistics
kwagyan@Howard.edu

Andrew K. Sanderson, II, MD, MPH, FASGE
Associate Professor
Public Health Policy and Management
andrew.sanderson@howard.edu

Kimberly Henderson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Health Disparities, Inequities, and Inequalities
kimberly.henderson@howard.edu

Alicia Anderson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Public Health Planning & Evaluation
as_anderson@howard.edu

Tywanda McLaurin-Jones, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
tmclaurin-jones@howard.edu

Robert L. Copeland, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Environmental Health Science in Public Health
rlcopeland@howard.edu

Teletia Taylor, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
t_r_taylor@howard.edu

Otto Chabikuli, MBChB, MCFP, MFamMed, MSc
Affiliate Instructor
Global Health
otto.chabikuli@howard.edu

Program of Study*

CORE COURSES (27 CR)

PUHE 205  Principles of Epidemiology

PUHE 501  Introduction to Statistical Reasoning

PUHE 206  Social and Behavioral Science

PUHE 505  Public Health Policy and Management

PUHE 510  Environmental Health Science in Public Health

PUHE 502  Health Disparities, Inequities & Inequalities 

PUHE 506  Principles of Public Health Practice 

PUHE 504  Applied Biostatistics 

PUHE 512  Global Health 

ELECTIVE COURSES (12 CR)

A sampling of elective courses below. Students can take approved courses outside of the department and/or through the Consortium. 

PUHE 503  Community Engagement

PUHE 511  Research Methods

PUHE 513  Public Health Planning & Evaluation

Elective 

CAPSTONE COURSES (3 CR)

PUHE 508  Public Health Capstone I (1 Credit)

PUHE 514  Public Health Capstone Project II (2 Credits)

PRACTICUM COURSE (3 CR)

PUHE 509  Public Health Practicum

MPH Generalist Curriculum

*Courses included in the sample program of study are subject to change. Students should consult with their programs regarding their required program of study. 

Admission to Candidacy 

Students are admitted to formal candidacy by the Graduate School when they have completed the required coursework, submitted an approved topic for research, and been recommended by the Department. Candidates must also have satisfied the Graduate School writing proficiency requirement and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) requirement.

Graduate Funding 

Graduate research or teaching assistantships may be available at the department level that provide tuition remission and/or a stipend during the academic year. Research assistants and teaching assistants work no more than 20 hours a week under the program's direction, usually in support of faculty research (research assistants) or in support of assigned courses (teaching assistants). 

2021 Past Capstone Projects
Capstone Project Student
#EndtheBS (Beauty Standards): A Toolkit For Mental and Physical Health Outcomes Associated with Social Media’s Beauty Standards Ramona Plummer
A Resource Guide for Pregnant and Postpartum Intimate Partner Violence Survivors Maya Patton
Assessing for Metabolic Syndrome and Lifestyle Factors in the Gail and CARE Models to Determine Breast Cancer Risk in African American Women: A Research Proposal Carrie Crowther
DMC Program: Addressing Obstetric Violence Adjoa Oduro
Examining Religiosity, Spirituality, Coping, and Stress Among African American Women with Cardiovascular Disease, Coping, and Stress Blair Epps
HIV, Older Adults, and COVID-19 Dianne Hawkins
The Disproportionality of African American Males in Special Education James Dickerson Jr.
The Impact of a Multi-Component School-Based Nutrition Program Among Children Residing in Chicago, IL Kamari McElroy
2020 Past Capstone Projects
Capstone Project Student
A Descriptive Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes, Birth Trends and Deliveries in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 7 and Ward 8, Comparing 2014 and 2018: The Impact of Hospital Closures Shannon Gopaul
Closing the Health Disparity Gap among African American Men: A Literature Review to Understand the Roles of Medical School Education, College Education, and Patient Education Leventon Brown
Evaluating the Relationship Between GIS, Public Health, and Geospatial Education in the Consortium of African-American Public Health Programs: A Gap Analysis and Needs Assessment Ashley Bamfo
Filling the Gaps with Color: An Explorative Policy Brief with Recommendations into PPACA’s Response to Behavioral Health Disparities Joseph Perry II
From the Playpen to the State Pen: A Critical Examination of the Role of School Culture and School Policy on Mental and Behavioral Health Issues in African American Students Briana Jeffreys
Fruit and Vegetable Consumption During Infancy: A Narrative Review and Comprehensive Look at Achieving Optimal Weight Asia Bangura
Immunohistochemical and Clinical Pathological Predictors of Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Incidence and Survival in Black Women Jasmine Lopes
Men Need Healing Too Campaign Toolkit Delshawna Dixon
Public Health Social Works Role in Marijuana Legalization Shoareged Phillpotts
The Effect of Psychological Stress on the Development of Preeclampsia Among African-American Women During Pregnancy Kennisha Okereke
The Impact of Perceived Discrimination During Pregnancy on Birth Outcomes in African American Women: A Narrative Review Victoria Poku