Jan 30, 2026  
2026-2027 Graduate Catalog 
    
2026-2027 Graduate Catalog

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Location(s): Manhattan Campus, Manhattan Online, Olathe Campus



A total of 42 semester hours is required to complete this degree offered through the Public Health graduate program. The program is a professional degree that requires a core of public health courses (15 credit hours), a public health practice experience or master’s thesis (6 credit hours), and an area of emphasis (21 credit hours). An area of emphasis is selected from food safety and biosecurity, infectious diseases/zoonoses, public health human nutrition, or public health physical activity.

Course Requirements


Area of emphasis (21 credit hours)


Select from one of these four areas. The 21 credit hours required for each emphasis area are listed below.

• Food Safety and Biosecurity

• Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses

• Public Health Nutrition

• Public Health Physical Activity

Food Safety and Biosecurity


In addition to the core courses (15 credit hours) and field experience (6 hours) or thesis research and field experience (9 hours), students must complete credit hours from the Food Safety and Biosecurity emphasis area as outlined below to fulfill the 42 credit hour requirement for the MPH degree.  Substitutions may be approved by the major professor, supervisory committee, and the MPH Program director.

Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses


In addition to the core courses (15 credit hours) and field experience (6 hours) or thesis research and field experience (9 hours), students must complete credit hours from the Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses emphasis area as outlined below to fulfill the 42 credit hour requirement for the MPH degree.  Substitutions may be approved by the major professor, supervisory committee, and the MPH Program director. 

Select any remaining credits needed for the degree from the list below:

Public Health Nutrition


In addition to the core courses (15 credit hours) and field experience (6 hours) or thesis research and field experience (9 hours), students must complete credit hours from the Public Health Nutrition emphasis area as outlined below to fulfill the 42 credit hour requirement for the MPH degree. Substitutions may be approved by the major professor, supervisory committee, and the MPH Program director.

Select any remaining credits needed for the degree from the list list below:

Public Health Physical Activity


In addition to the core courses (15 credit hours) and field experience (6 hours) or thesis research and field experience (9 hours), students must complete credit hours from the Public Health Physical Activity emphasis area as outlined below to fulfill the 42 credit hour requirement for the MPH degree.  Substitutions may be approved by the major professor, supervisory committee, and the MPH Program director. 

Select any remaining credits needed for the degree from the list below:

Required “Public Health Practice” (3, 4 or 6 hours)


Field experience (6 hours); OR a combined field experience (4 hours) and master’s report (2 hours); OR a combined master’s thesis (6 hours) and field experience (3 hours)  

 

Total Hours Required for Master’s: 42