Elective Groups
As part of the Master of Public Health program, choose a 9-unit elective group to focus your studies around your career goals and interests. You may view elective group coursework in the university catalog by selecting the Program Requirements button below.
The APU MPH program is applying for the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation as an MPH program with a Health Equity concentration. Students will select an elective group of their choice. The elective groups will allow students to group 3 electives of their choice to fit their public health interests and/or career goals. All elective groups will have a Health Equity focus.
To view specific requirements and coursework information, visit the current academic catalog:
Program RequirementsBiostatistics and Epidemiology
Develop the skills to work in private, pharmaceutical companies or with government agencies or academic institutions in areas such as: evaluating new medical therapies, epidemiological study of disease, environmental monitoring, and more. Learn to design research studies and gather, process, and analyze data to drive change.
Career opportunities include: biostatistician, data analyst, research scientist, environmental researcher, pharmaceutical researcher, public health coordinator, academic researcher
Disaster Health and Emergency Preparedness
Build the capacity to prevent and detect threats associated with natural disasters, focusing on preparation, response, and recovery. Deepen your knowledge of the implications of disaster response, learning to evaluate systems and understand the structure and models unique to different situations.
Career opportunities include: FEMA emergency management director, emergency preparedness manager, environmental protection specialist, logistics management specialist, recovery audit coordinator, disaster relief specialist, emergency response team member
Environmental Health
Gain a deeper understanding of the connection between the environment and human health, from gathering field data and monitoring environmental conditions, to advising policymakers and working with industries to reduce waste.
Career opportunities include: built environment specialist, environmental health advocate, environmental health practitioner, food safety specialist, occupational health and safety expert, air pollution analyst
Public Health Policy
Use health policy to prevent disease and improve health. Public health policy focuses on keeping people safe and healthy through laws and policies at the local, state, territorial, and federal level. Evidence-based health policies can help prevent disease and promote health. Establishing informed policies is key to improving health nationwide.
Careers include Health Policy Analyst, Health Policy Manager, Advocacy Director, Health Insurance Specialist, Health Legislative Aide, Political Coordinator
Healthcare Administration
Prepare to lead improvements in the delivery of healthcare systems and services in public and private sectors, including roles in population health management and hospital administration. This elective group is designed for individuals looking to advance their roles in healthcare administration or management.
Career opportunities include: healthcare administrator, health services manager, public health researcher.
Health Promotion and Education
For people interested in influencing change through education, this elective group allows you to focus on improving community health outcomes by developing and implementing public health programs. Discover how to gather and analyze data to shape and adapt programs for diverse populations.
Career opportunities include: outreach specialist, program manager, director of family health services, academic policy advisor, health educator, program analyst
International Health
Gain a strong health science foundation as you learn to recognize, analyze, and solve global health issues. Concentrate on developing an understanding of methods used in addressing global diseases and finding innovative solutions to prevent international health crises.
Career opportunities include: community health worker, international aid specialist, researcher, project manager, development officer, epidemiologist, global health educator, communication specialist
Social and Behavioral Science
Understand the connection between psychological, behavioral, social, and cultural factors in addressing health problems and eliminating health disparities and inequalities. Gain skills to help provide creative solutions through community assessment, program development and evaluation, and research.
Career opportunities include: research roles at NIH and the CDC, program director with the County Health Department or Public Health coalition, interventions researcher, addiction treatment program developer
Note: This information is current for the 2022-23 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Please refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.