Master of Public Health

The Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) Master of Public Health (MPH) is a 42-credit-hour generalist degree designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of foundational public health knowledge including Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental Health, Health Services Administration, and Social and Behavioral Health. The MPH program is designed to prepare students for a career where they can influence public health on a local, state, national and/or global level. Provided from a distinctly faith-based foundation through an online learning model, students will value, understand, and apply the interrelated social-behavioral theories and contextual factors needed to address the complex health problems of 21st-century households, communities, and organizations.

IWU's MPH program is an online degree offered through a well-recognized instruction modality. Students will take one eight-week course at a time allowing them to earn a degree while maintaining their personal and professional commitments. Students will also engage in a hands-on, mentored experience in a public health setting that is arranged to coincide conveniently with one's work and life.

Upon satisfactory completion of the MPH program, students should be able to:

• Apply evidence-based knowledge of social, biological, and environmental determinants to disease and health conditions.

• Employ appropriate methods of design, analysis, and synthesis to address population-based health problems in urban, rural and global environments.

• Synthesize the interrelationships among the organization, delivery, and financing of health services.

• Communicate public health principles and concepts through various strategies across multiple sectors of the community.

• Promote diversity and cultural understanding in public health education, research, and practice.

• Demonstrate public health knowledge and skills in practice settings.

• Demonstrate effective leadership competencies for building partnerships in advocating for public health programs and policies.

• Articulate a Christian worldview toward various public health issues.

Accreditation

This degree program offered through Indiana Wesleyan University is seeking national accreditation with the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH).

Mission

We are committed to prepare students to improve the health of populations locally and globally through strengthening health systems, building stronger communities, and facilitating healthy behavior from a faith-based foundation.

Admission Requirements

A carefully completed application for admission should be submitted to the Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) School of Health Sciences Master of Public Health (MPH) program. Admission to this degree program is based on qualifications and space availability. This is a competitive program and application alone does not guarantee admission. Admission is awarded without regard to sex, race, color, age, religion, national origin, or disability.

• Applicants to the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program must have a baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university. The minimum grade point average (GPA) is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for any completed undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or below must take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).

• Application Form: Submit a completed School of Health Sciences graduate application form.

• Official Transcript:Submit official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended. Official transcripts from all post-high school educational experiences are to be included. Transfer students from a college or university abroad are also responsible for having their transcripts evaluated by a credential evaluation service such as World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) for an official course-by-course credential evaluation (document-by-document evaluations will not suffice). Transcripts from international programs will be individually reviewed.

• International/Non-English Speaking Students: A student who is living in the United States but is not a United States citizen must submit a copy of a visa or permanent resident status during the process of application. Students who do not speak English as their first and primary language must submit satisfactory scores from one of the following before admission to the university:
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For graduate students, a score of at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) is required for regular academic admission.
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For graduate students, a score of at least 6.5 is required for regular academic admission.

• References: Submit three professional references. At least one of the references should be from a previous faculty member who can speak to your capacity to do graduate level work.

• Writing Sample: In a double-spaced typed essay of 500 to 750 words, explain your interest in the program, what you hope to achieve by completing the program, and how your personal or professional background relates to your interests or goals. The essay's content and the clarity of writing will be assessed as part of the admissions process.

• Prerequisite Courses: Students are required to have a grade of "B" or better in 200-level math (i.e. college algebra) or statistics course as a foundation for success in professional level graduate work in the MPH program.

• Resume: Other aspects of an applicant's record, such as educational achievement, professional experience and clarity of career goals should be reflected in a resume. Admissions decisions are based on an overall assessment of the adequacy of an applicant's preparation and desire for the successful completion of a graduate course of study in Public Health.

• In-person/Video Conference Interview:  Applicants to the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program must participate in an interview conference with the program faculty. The interview conference will provide the opportunity to assess the applicant’s understanding of public health and suitability for the academic rigors of the program.
• Deadline for Application: A July 1st deadline exists for the review of all the applicant’s materials and applicant in-person/video conference with the faculty.

The Admission Committee decides the acceptability of applicants for the MPH program after evaluation of all required applications materials. Applications will not be reviewed until all applications materials are received and requirements are met. New or updated applications are required for those applicants who defer entrance after a year or who re-apply after initially declining an offer of acceptance.

• Probationary and Provisional Acceptance
  • Probation - A graduate student whose entering grade point average (GPA) falls below the minimum required by the program may be accepted on probation. Probationary status will be removed after the student has completed the first two courses of the core with a satisfactory GPA (3.0). In case of extended probation, the number of courses to be completed in order to change status will be determined by the Program Director and MPH faculty. Any student failing to remove the probationary status will be academically suspended from the program.
  • Provisional - Students whose files are incomplete may be accepted provisionally at the discretion of the Vice President for Student Services if it appears from the available documentation that eligibility for the program has been met. The student is given until the end of the first course to submit the required materials. Failure to meet the required deadline will result in the student being dropped from the roster and not being allowed to continue.

Transfer Credit

The Indiana Wesleyan University Master in Public Health (IWU-MPH) program policy regarding transfer of credits allows students previously enrolled in a public health program from a college or university that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to transfer up to nine (9) hours of degree credit into the IWU MPH program curriculum. Hours of credit may be transferred, but grades earned in courses taken at another institution are not used in computing the student’s graduate GPA at IWU.

No more than 30% of the graduate degree may be transferred in from another regionally-accredited institutions. To submit courses for transfer, students must submit a list of the courses (an official transcript) they would like to transfer, along with the course descriptions and syllabi to the IWU MPH faculty. The MPH faculty evaluates the courses for equivalency with the course content and learning outcomes of the IWU MPH program. Any culminating project (e.g., capstone) or practicum requirement associated with the IWU MPH program must be taken at IWU.

Minimal conditions governing the transfer of earned graduate credits to the IWU MPH program, include:

• Earned a minimum of a “B-“in the course to be considered for transfer credit.
• The student must have taken the course within the past seven years. When graduate course is taken at another university on a credit/no credit or pass/fail option, hours of “credit” or “pass” are not accepted in computing the student’s graduate GPA at Indiana Wesleyan University.
• Taken the course within the past seven years.

Program Requirements

• A background check and/or drug screen at progression in the program may depend on your compliance and/or the results of these checks. Capstone/Clinical sites may have additional requirements (e.g., immunizations, background checks, and/or drug screen).
• Progression in the MPH program depends on a minimum grade of “B-“ or higher in all MPH courses. Any MPH course with a grade below B- must be repeated. All courses must be successfully completed in the sequence prescribed by the program.
• It is anticipated that the student will be able to complete the MPH degree in 28 months. If the student needs further time to complete the program requirements, then by program policy the MPH degree must be completed within 4-years of matriculation. Students who maintain continuous enrollment, who make normal progress toward a degree, and who earn their degree within the program's maximum time from the date of enrollment may meet the graduation requirements as stated in the catalog under which they enrolled.
  

Graduation Requirements

To fulfill graduation requirements students must have completed all of the following:

• All credits required in the course of studies with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.

• Minimum grade of "B-" or higher all MPH courses. 
• Payment of tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.