2.1.a. An instructional matrix presenting all of the school’s degree programs and areas of specialization. If multiple areas of specialization are available within departments or academic units shown on the matrix, these should be included. The matrix should distinguish between public health professional degrees, other professional degrees, and academic degrees at the graduate level, and should distinguish baccalaureate public health degrees from other baccalaureate degrees. The matrix must identify any programs that are offered in distance learning or other formats. Non-degree
programs, such as certificates or continuing education should not be included in the matrix (CEPH Data Template 2.1.1).
KSUCPH offers the professional degree of the Master of Public Health (MPH with five concentrations in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Health Policy and Management,
Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics) and academic degrees at the bachelor level (BSPH) and the doctoral level (PhD in Public Health with concentrations in Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management, and Prevention Science). These programs and their degree/requirements are presented in Table 2.1.a.
TABLE 2.1.a. Instructional Matrix- Degrees and Specializations (CEPH Data Template 2.1.1.)
Academic Professional Minimum Units Required BSPH Degree
Public Health Major Concentrations:
Allied Health (online and in class)
Environmental Health Science
Environmental and Occupational Safety
Global Health
Health Promotion and Education (online and in class)
Health Services Administration (online and in class)
Pre-Medicine, Dentistry, Osteopathy
Prevention and Preparedness
BSPH 121-126
MPH Degrees
Biostatistics MPH 46
Environmental Health Sciences MPH 46
Epidemiology MPH 46
Health Policy and Management MPH 46
Social and Behavioral Sciences MPH 46
PhD Degrees
Epidemiology PhD 91
Health Policy and Management PhD 91
Prevention Science PhD 91
Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH)
The Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree broadly prepares students to enter the workforce as an entry-level public health professional or to enter an advanced program of study. Students explore the five disciplines of public health: biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health policy and management and the social and behavioral sciences through the BSPH core courses. Students augment their core coursework by selecting a concentration (listed below) for more in-depth study.
BSPH Concentrations
The Allied Health concentration seeks to augment the career portfolio of the allied health professional or student. Students interested in this concentration must currently hold or must be actively pursuing a state licensure in an allied health field. This concentration adds depth to the students’ prior clinical experiences by adding the liberal education and public health
components to broaden the professional’s career path. Students holding state licensure in select fields may be eligible to receive up to 12 hours of upper division credit for their prior experience and demonstrated competency in select areas. This concentration is offered 100 percent online or in person. This concentration was developed in response to requests by NE hospital systems for degree completion programs for their associate degree allied health employees.
The Environmental Health Science concentration prepares students to help reduce the burden of human illness and injury that can result from natural and man-made environmental
exposures. The program trains students for a challenging, dynamic, and interdisciplinary career focused on public and private environmental health and occupational health and safety risks associated with human activities. Students use their basic sciences and environmental health and safety training to learn how to solve problems in their community and the workplace. They learn risk assessment principles and control measures to correct problems and effect policy change, along with the administration and enforcement of environmental, public, and occupational health and safety laws. In addition to classroom lectures, the program includes laboratory and field experiences. Graduates typically enter the environmental health and safety workforce at entry levels. They also work in academic institutions, private industry, and for international health organizations. Students in this concentration are science-prepared to sit for the Ohio Registered Sanitarian exam. The College is currently planning to transition this concentration to a BS in Environmental Health Sciences that would require a greater number of
In addition to the environmental, health and safety core programs, students complete selected required math and science courses, and elective courses from an approved list. Students must participate in at least two internships, cooperative positions, or cumulative experience for academic credit that allows students to gain practical on-the-job experience. Students learn the use of risk assessment along with the administration and enforcement of environmental, health and safety regulations. This concentration is offered at the Trumbull Campus only and is a bachelor’s degree completion program for the Associate in Environmental Technology. This program was developed at the request of employers in the area preferring bachelor’s trained personnel.
The Global Health concentration aims to educate students in identifying and working to address the critical public health and human needs of diverse, underserved and vulnerable populations locally and globally. Students learn the need for multidisciplinary (biological and social sciences) approaches and cooperation to address the major global public health
problems. Students have the opportunity to focus on a specific aspect of global health, e.g., HIV/AIDS, health policy, health disparities, health education, environmental health, nutrition, through various elective groupings. The Global health concentration prepares students to work at entry-level positions in public health with local, regional, national or international public health agencies in both public and private sectors. Students who pursue this concentration are required to participate in a study abroad experience and complete four courses (Elementary I and II; Intermediate I and II) of either Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish.
The Health Promotion and Education concentration focuses on the social determinants of health behaviors. Such behaviors include alcohol, tobacco, other drug use, exercise, physical activity, injury and violence and sexual activity. Prevention approaches address community-level strategies to promote healthy behaviors, including media, policy and education initiatives.
Students typically work in the public sector in social service agencies or non-profit agencies.
There is also a demand in the private sector as large corporations actively promote healthy lifestyles among employees as a means of increasing productivity and lowering health care costs. This concentration is offered 100 percent online or in person.
The Health Services Administration concentration prepares students for entry-level positions in health care management and establishes a foundation for graduate work in health policy and management. Students analyze national and local public health infrastructure, evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of health care delivery and explore the legal and ethical issues of health care administration. Graduates enter the health care workforce as compliance officers, patient navigators, insurance specialists and other health care managers. In addition, students are encouraged to pair this concentration with a minor such as a minor in Business. This concentration is offered 100 percent online or in person.
The Pre-Medicine, Dentistry, Osteopathy concentration includes preparatory courses for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), the Dental Admissions Test (DAT), and other
professional schools. Courses include those in the Kent Core, public health core requirements, concentration electives and general electives. The overall curriculum of the Bachelor of Science
in Public Health degree program focusing on biological, social and economic determinants of health, prevention and control of diseases, introduction to biostatistics and public health research, makes this program highly desirable for admission to professional schools. This program has been of considerable interest in our partnering medical school- the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) which has expressed an interest in dedicating primary care medical school and pharmacy school slots for our most accomplished students in this
concentration. This concentration is also of great interest to the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine and they have structured recruitment sessions with these students. The overall goal of this concentration is to increase the number of premed students from Kent State University who enter a primary care discipline. The premed students are highly encouraged to complete the MPH prior to application to their chosen professional school.
The GPS Roadmaps (Course planning guides) for each BSPH concentration are available in Resource File 2.1.a. Requirements range in minimum credit hours from 121-126.
A complete set of syllabi for all BSPH courses is available in Resource File 2.1.a.
Master of Public Health (MPH)
The Master of Public Health degree is offered in 5 specialty areas – Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Each concentration requires 19 credit hours of core courses, 21 credit hours of concentration courses, and 6 credit hours of elective courses.
Biostatistics trains students in the quantitative science of health data collection, storage, retrieval, analysis and interpretation. Graduates are equipped to use statistical methods to design and analyze health-related surveys and experiments for the purpose of improving health. The College’s faculty research interests include application of biostatistical analysis to better understand critical health problems such as adolescent substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Graduates in biostatistics will find employment in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, state and local health departments, and federal health agencies and biotechnology companies to analyze the effectiveness of new drugs and interventions, identify risk factors for disease, and develop effective prevention strategies.
Environmental Health Sciences is designed to (a) help students understand how environmental factors including biological, physical and chemical factors affect the health of a population; and (b) gain knowledge and skills to develop practical strategies for mitigating the effects of harmful
Epidemiology trains students to analyze the distribution and determinants of disease,
disabilities and death in populations. Graduates are able to apply quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate disease outbreaks, determine causal relationships between
environmental and biological factors, and conduct studies to project health trends in
populations. Students in this specialization benefit from public health faculty research agendas in bio-preparedness, public health surveillance systems, chronic disease, cancer and infectious disease epidemiology. Graduates are placed in research positions in universities, medical schools and pharmaceutical companies; disease prevention specialists in hospitals; and as surveillance managers in state and local health departments.
Health Policy and Management trains students to address public health risks and develop effective health services delivery models. It is an interdisciplinary program that incorporates health services research, health policy analysis, and health care planning and management.
Given the active research of the College’s faculty in identifying service gaps and in developing evidence-based practices and policy analysis, students emerge with strong skills in health care organization management, alternative models of service financing and strategies for improving services. Graduates are placed in administrative and management positions in hospitals, clinics, state and local health departments, nursing homes and mental health facilities; policy analyst positions in health planning organizations and governmental agencies; and planning and management positions in health maintenance organizations and health insurance companies.
Social and Behavioral Sciences provides students with an interdisciplinary understanding of the theoretical basis of health behavior in populations across the life course and how to apply theoretical principles to design effective behavior change strategies. Graduates are able to design and evaluate public health interventions intended to improve health for families,
workplaces, communities and law enforcement/criminal justice settings. The active research of the College’s faculty, particularly in the areas of violence and substance abuse prevention and HIV/AIDS use, provides students the opportunity to work on large-scale, externally funded prevention research. Students are prepared for careers in health education and promotion;
program design and evaluation; and prevention program development for state and local health departments, corporate wellness programs, hospitals, international health agencies, mental health centers and non-profit organizations.
A complete set of MPH course syllabi can be found in Resource File 2.1.a.
PhD in Public Health
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Public Health is offered in three concentrations:
Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management, and Prevention Science.
The Epidemiology concentration is designed to train students to examine the distribution and determinants of diseases in populations. Graduates of this program will be able to apply quantitative and qualitative methods to examine critical and/or emerging health issues, gain advanced ability to conduct large studies and analyze data sets in order to project health trends
in populations of interest. Students in this specialization will benefit from active faculty research agendas in bio-preparedness, public health surveillance systems, chronic disease, cancer and infectious disease epidemiology.
Doctoral students in the Health Policy and Management concentration will learn to design and implement studies and use advanced research methods to examine critical and emerging health issues. A focus on interdisciplinary skills to meet the rapidly changing health needs of
communities is at the heart of this degree program. Students will benefit from active faculty research agendas in health systems research, occupational health and safety, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, access to health care, health literacy, substance abuse prevention and community-based programming.
Prevention Science is an interdisciplinary program aimed at promoting healthy behaviors in populations across the life course. Graduates of this program will be able to design and evaluate public health interventions and have expertise in a variety of theoretical and
substantive perspectives for the purpose of conducting research within systems of the family, health and education, workplace, community, law enforcement/criminal justice settings and social welfare. The active research of Kent State University's College of Public Health faculty, particularly in the area of violence and substance abuse prevention, will provide students the opportunity to work on community-based prevention research.
A complete set of PhD Course syllabi can be found in Resource File 2.1.a.
Schedules of Courses for the BSPH, MPH, and PhD programs for the past three years can be found in Resource File 2.1.a.
2.1.b. The school bulletin or other official publication, which describes all degree programs identified in the instructional matrix, including a list of required courses and their course descriptions. The school bulletin or other official publications may be online, with appropriate links noted.
Information on KSUCPH programs is provided in the University Requirements section of the Catalog. This catalog is published for each academic year and is the contract between the University and the student. The catalog for KSUCPH programs can be found at the following link:
Strengths
KSUCPH offers instructional programs that are required for accreditation, including the MPH in the five core knowledge areas of public health and the PhD in three specializations. Beyond the required instructional program, KSUCPH offers the BSPH. These programs are all fully
developed and implemented and there are graduates from all programs and all
concentrations/specializations with the exception of the Prevention and Preparedness Concentration in the BSPH which is a newly implemented concentration in collaboration with the Trumbull regional campus.
Challenges
Under the RCM financial model, low enrollment programs are carefully monitored by the University. We have had a relatively slow rising enrollment in the Environmental Health and Biostatistics MPH specializations. This has resulted in low enrollment specialization classes in these specializations. Since these disciplines are required for the core, we need to establish a more effective recruitment strategy into these specializations.
Plans
KSUCPH is considering the development of a BS in Environmental Health Sciences to better address the competencies needed for bachelors’ students to take the Ohio registered sanitarian examination. Some employers have reported that, since the BSPH degree is new and unknown to them, they would prefer to hire students with the traditional BS degree. The new program will be developed under the direction of Dr. Charles Hart, PhD, CIH, CSP, RS, Associate
Professor, Environmental Health Sciences who currently directs the BSPH Environmental Health concentration. Dr. Hart has formed a program advisory committee for the BSPH Environmental Health concentration that could serve as the advisory committee for the new BS degree. The new program would seek accreditation from the National Environmental Health Science &
Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC). More information on this program under KSUCPH consideration can be found in Resource File 2.1.c.
There are no other plans at this time to change the degree offerings in the KSUCPH.
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