MPH in Public Health

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Healthy weight, chronic disease, health system performance and costs, access to health care, environmental threats, health disparities – these are some of the pressing public health problems facing Maine and the nation. Through our nationally recognized academic and research programs, the Muskie School of Public Service is dedicated to improving health and health systems.

The Muskie School’s Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program prepares students with the practical knowledge and skills to address today’s complex population health and health services challenges. Multi-disciplinary in nature, the MPH program delivers a broad public health and health systems perspective, with specialized tracks in Policy & Practice and Health Management. Graduates serve in the public and private sectors to apply evidence-based practices and state-of-the-art knowledge and skills to improve health and prevent disease.

Why Study Public Health at USM?

• USM’s MPH program offers a competency-based curriculum emphasizing applied, practical learning and skills.
• Students can specialize with an accredited track in Health Management ¹ or the new track in Policy & Practice. Students can also pursue advanced coursework in epidemiology, biostatistics, research methods and environmental health.
• The program features significant opportunities for faculty-student interaction. Faculty and alumni are well connected with the practice community, and these relationships often result in opportunities for field placements, capstone projects, and career networking.
• Students have opportunities for experiential learning and applied research, working with nationally recognized faculty and staff engaged in national, state, and local projects to improve health and health systems. Through paid graduate and research assistantships, students engage in research, evaluation, and community service projects addressing the development of public health infrastructure, rural health policy, chronic disease prevention, disability and aging, quality improvement, health care access and financing policy, as well as mental health.
• The Muskie School provides a learning environment conducive to career professionals with classes in the late afternoon and evening. Some courses are offered in locations throughout Maine through the university’s distance education network.
• Students also benefit from a robust student and alumni network.

Public Health Core Faculty

• Elise Bolda, PhD, University of North Carolina
• Andrew Coburn, PhD, Brandeis University - Chair
• David Hartley, PhD, University of Minnesota
• Brenda Joly, MPH, PhD, University of South Florida
• David Lambert, PhD, Brandeis University
• Susan Payne, MPH, PhD, Boston University
• W. Douglas Thompson, PhD, Yale University
• John Pierce Wise, Sr., PhD, The George Washington University

Public Health Adjunct Faculty

• Kolawole Bankole, MD, MS, USM Muskie School of Public Service
• Deborah Deatrick, MPH, University of Michigan
• James Highland, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
• David Howes, MD, Dartmouth College
• Lisa Letourneau, MD, MPH, Harvard University
• Gino Nalli, MPH, Yale University
• Trish Riley, MS, University of Maine
• Hugh Tilson, MPH, DrPH, Harvard School of Public Health

For More Information

For more information about the Public Health program, please e-mail Andrew Coburn, program chair.

Visit our admissions page for more information on master's program admissions.