Public Health Graduate Certificate

Certificate Overview

The Public Health Certificate Program is offered through the Graduate Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health. The Public Health Certificate Program covers the core content of the Master of Public Health degree program in the areas of epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, administration, and health education, and behavior. The Public Health certificate program provides a foundation in public health training for interested students in other disciplines, and earned certificate credit may be used towards completion of the MPH or MSPH degree programs at the University of Miami.

  • Courses
    Course Name Credits
    EPH 601 Medical Biostatistics I 4
    EPH 617 Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
    or
    EPH 620 Health Education and Behavior    		 3
    EPH 621 Fundamentals of Epidemiology 3
    EPH 631 Public Health Administration
    or
    EPH 632 U.S. Health Systems    		 3
    EPH 641 Environmental Health 3
    Total Credit Hours 16
  • Course Descriptions
    EPH 601 Medical Biostatistics I (4 credits):
    This is an introductory level biostatistics course designed for public health, biomedical sciences, and healthcare professionals. The course covers topics such as explanatory data analysis, data description and presentation techniques, probability and probability distributions, sampling distributions, statistical inferences from small and large samples, analysis of categorical data, analysis of variance, and correlation. Upon completion of the course, students will achieve a basic understanding of the concepts and techniques of data description and statistical inferences. Students will also acquire a working knowledge of commonly used statistical software such as SAS. Students will be able to understand, interpret, and critique the statistical analyses performed in research articles published in the biomedical and public health journals.
    EPH 617 Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (3 credits):
    This course will introduce students to the science of prevention and health promotion. More specifically, through didactic presentations, group discussions, article readings and critiques, and a term project, this course will focus on providing students with an overview of: the top preventable causes of disease in the U.S., the etiology of disease (with a focus on the top preventable causes of disease in the U.S.) across the lifespan, the role of prevention theories in the development of preventive interventions, and the role of methodology in prevention science. The course will also provide an overview of efficacious/effective preventive interventions, including (but not limited to): family community, and school level interventions. Examples from the fields of obesity, drug use, smoking, and HIV will be used to illustrate the course learning objectives.
    EPH 620 Health Education and Behavior (3 credits):
    Educational processes with special emphasis on the social and cultural determinants of health behavior, health education as a process of social change, and community based health education organizations. Open only to EPH majors.
    EPH 621 Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3 credits):
    This course serves as a core science course for public health. Fundamentals of Epidemiology will cover elementary biomedical concepts and epidemiological terminology and methods, to properly comprehend the epidemiological significance of health conditions of public health importance. This course is an introduction to the study of the distribution, determinants, and measurement of health and disease frequency in populations, including design, methods, and their application to specific health conditions.
    EPH 631 Public Health Administration (3 credits):
    An overview of the historical background, philosophy, and purpose of public health. Relationship between government, law, and public health. Organization, management, and intergovernmental relationships of public health agencies in the United States at the federal, state, and local level. Basic principles of management, decision making, and prioritizing in public health are discussed. Overview of programs and services provided by public health organizations with emphasis on current public health issues and problems are also included. Open only to EPH majors.
    EPH 632 U.S. Health Systems (3 credits):
    This course provides an introduction to the multiple systems that define, describe, and shape the delivery of health care in the United States. Using case studies and presentations of major issues, this course will give the learner an appreciation of the dilemma confronting policy makers, providers, and patients: how to balance cost, quality, and access.
    EPH 641 Environmental Health (3 credits):
    Interdisciplinary scope of environmental health problems. Development of a practical, dynamic model for integrating fundamental concepts from a variety of environmental disciplines. Open only to EPH majors.
  • Application Requirements
    Requirement Description
    Qualifications In order to be considered for this post-baccalaureate certificate, you must be a US citizen or permanent resident who holds an earned bachelor degree.
    Application Deadlines Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Keep in mind that it may take 2-4 weeks to review your application.
    SOPHAS  Express Online Application Apply online through SOPHAS express.

    Applicants must use their full legal name as it appears on their passport on all application materials.

    Please note that the application and review process for certificates are separate from the application process. Students admitted to the certificate program that later decide to complete an MPH must submit a complete and full   SOPHASapplication and be considered by the faculty admission committee. Please contact us if you are unsure or have additional questions.
    Application Fee All applicants are required to pay a fee of $50 for use of the   SOPHAS express application service.
    Official Transcripts ALL  academic records including degree and certificate programs, English language programs, and incomplete coursework/degrees from all previously attended colleges and universities must be submitted with your application.
    Upload scanned PDF files of your official documentation in the attachments section of the online application. Students who are admitted to the certificate program will be asked to supply official transcripts upon enrollment.
    Test Scores Certificate applicants are not required to submit GRE exam scores.
    Statement of Purpose and Objectives Your personal essay is intended to give you the opportunity to submit a narrative discussing your past education, experience, and current professional career objectives. Your statement of purpose should describe your:
    • Reasons for interest in a public health certificate
    • Your specific area(s) of research/professional interest
    • Career goals including how you hope to contribute to public health
    • Reasons for interest in the University of Miami
    You are encouraged to compose your statement in a text-only word processor such as Notepad or TextEdit, review your statement for errors, then cut and paste the final version into the text box on your SOPHAS application. You are limited to 1,500 words. Upload your personal statement under the attachments section of the online application.
    Resume / Curriculum Vitae All applicants must submit a complete, up-to-date resume / CV that includes all employment, activities, community service, education and academic or professional honors. Upload your resume / CV to the attachments section of the online application. Applicants should remove all biographical information typically found in international CVs such as age, race, marital status, religious affiliation and photographs from their resume / CV.
    Recommendations All applicants are required to submit one letter of recommendation from those who are best able to assess your ability to be successful in a graduate degree program. Ideally, your recommenders are recent professors, researchers or employers in a related field. You will be asked for your recommenders’ contact information on the online application under the evaluations section. They will be sent an online form to complete via email. Applications are not reviewed until this requirement is met.

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