Program Description
The MPH is a professional and academic degree designed especially for clinicians and non-clinicians. The program emphasizes the use of scientific and biblical evidence in health programming. The MPH is offered with the following three emphases: Health Ministry, Health Promotion, and Nutrition.
Possible Careers
Graduates in public health may find employment in the following:
- Health and Social Services; Employment by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), industry (product promotion, computerized screening programs), hospitals (patient health education, preventive services), churches (church-based health department or local church-based programs).
- Relief and Development Activities: Government and Non-Government Organizations (Adventist Development and Relief Agency–ADRA, World Vision).
- Research: Schools, hospitals, industry, government.
- Teaching: Universities, schools, industry, NGOs.
- Law and Policy Enforcement: Government agencies.
- Advocacy (e.g., smoking reduction policies): Government, churches, advocacy groups.
- Health Care Provider (preventive care): Self-employment as a consultant in cooperation with other health professionals in a group setting.
- Publishing: Publishing house (e.g., Editor of a health magazine like Life and Health).
- Administration: In universities, hospitals, churches (e.g., health department of the Adventist Church).
- Social and Religious Services: Church health services as part of a spectrum of programs (e.g., pastor evangelist in the Adventist Church), chaplaincy at health settings, and health education in schools.
Professional Competencies
- Addresses ecological determinants of health.
- Involves multi-sectors in health programs.
- Develops appropriate community-based health improvement programs.
- Addresses health issues throughout the life cycle.
- Works together with the community in assessing, planning, developing, and evaluating health interventions.
- Applies theories and models in lifestyle improvement/health behavior change interventions.
- Prepares the community for environmental emergencies, and employs effective disaster management strategies.
- Conducts health research.
- Communicates effectively one-on-one and with the community, using appropriate health communications methods.
- Wholistically integrates scientific knowledge and the Bible.
Example Certifications in Public Health including Health Education
The program prepares the graduate in core competencies which reflect the integration of the mission of AIIAS with the competencies expected regionally and internationally as listed by the Council on Education for Public Health (www.ceph.org) with data on areas of responsibility collected by the Council on Linkages Between Academic and Public Health Practice (www.cphno.org). Assessment of MPH core competencies in designed to include areas of responsibility as tested for by leading international certifications such as
- The Certified in Public Health (CPH®) examination by the National Board for Public Health Examiners that assesses for ten areas of responsibility (https://www.nbphe.org/cph-content-outline/).
- The Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) examination (https://www.nchec.org/ches) that assesses for eight areas of responsibility, competencies, and sub-competencies for health education specialist practice as assessed for by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (www.NCHEC.org).
and designed to prepare for employment eligibility as a public health leader and/or health ministries leader in centers holding faith in the God of Abraham such as the global health network of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The MPH graduate is responsible and encouraged to determine their eligibility for certification and employment in their area of interest. Preparation for specialized boards may depend on the background of the MPH graduate along with additional exam preparation, such as wellness coaching, nutrition, and lifestyle medicine (https://iblm.co/).
As of 2022, AIIAS MPH program alumni with three years of full-time experience in public health are eligible to sit for the CPH® exam that is proctored by Prometric™ (https://www.prometric.com/). Determination of eligibility for the CHES ® exam is subject to transcript evaluation upon application to the NCHEC.
Competencies of the MPH Program
The MPH Program foundation competencies to which an MPH student is prepared and assessed for follow the listing by CEPH* (2021 criteria):
Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health
- Apply epidemiological methods to settings and situations in public health practice.
- Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as appropriate.
- Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy, or practice.
Public Health & Health Care Systems
- Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
- Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities, and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community, and systemic levels.
Planning & Management to Promote Health
- Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities health.
- Apply awareness of cultural and religious values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs.
- Design a population-based policy, program, project, or intervention.
- Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
- Select methods to evaluate public health programs.
Policy in Public Health
- Discuss the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
- Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
- Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
- Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity leadership.
- Apply leadership and/or management principles to address a relevant issue.
- Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
Communication
- Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
- Communicate audience-appropriate (i.e., non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
- Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.
Interprofessional and/or Intersectoral Practice
- Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health.
Systems Thinking
- Apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative.
- *Excerption (with modifications to include faith-based emphasis) from the Council on Education for Public Health, 2021, https://media.ceph.org/documents/2021.Criteria.pdf
Public Health Advisory Committee
The Department of Public Health is advised by an external and independent global Public Health Advisory Committee comprised of stakeholders (including university health education leaders and potential employers) representing major regions of the world. The current chair of the advisory committee, Anna Nelson, DrPH, CHES, is an MPH/DrPH Program Director at Loma Linda University, USA, and leads the committee representing the international stakeholders of AIIAS. This advisory committee meets annually to advise the MPH program in relation to the Mision, Vision, and Outcome expectations.
Meet Our MPH Students
Clinicians and non-clinicians are welcomed to our program. How can our MPH be a fit for you?
Emphasis in Health Ministry
The present era in history is dominated by science and the products of scientific research and technology. Even in the orient, where much of the culture is grounded in ancient traditions and fashioned by mystery and magic, life is now being refashioned by science. Any leader not capable of thinking scientifically will be at a distinct disadvantage in dealing with the pervasive facts and issues of the 21st century. Christian leaders who can think scientifically will have a decided advantage in presenting the Christian faith in the prevailing scientific culture.
To facilitate a clear grasp of what science is and what it is not, of how theology and science encounter and reinforce each other, and of how the health sciences in particular may be utilized in practical ways to mend and enrich human lives and advance the message of Christ, the Great Physician, is the primary mission of the emphasis in Health Ministry curriculum.
In addition to the professional competencies listed in the beginning of the Public Health section, the graduate with an emphasis in Health Ministry will possess the following competencies:
- Integrate Christian values and the health sciences to achieve the goal of spreading the gospel and making disciples.
- Personal and family crisis management and intervention by providing emotional support, first aid, and referring cases to relevant sources of assistance.
Admission Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree or its equivalent with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better (on a four-point scale). Students with an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.00 may be admitted on scholastic probation. Their admission status will be reevaluated after completion of 12 semester hours of coursework.
- Demonstrated English proficiency.
- Complete an interview with a faculty member of the Public Health Department.
Prerequisites
- Human Anatomy and Physiology (3 semester hours).
- General Mathematics (3 semester hours).
- Biology (3 semester hours).
- At least 12 semester hours in the field of religion or theological studies.
These required prerequisites are undergraduate credits with a minimum grade of B. Other documents that demonstrate acceptable level of knowledge in the above subjects may be acceptable to the department, including evidence of successful completion of online study modules, or other modalities, from recognized institutions/organizations, with a passing grade. Prerequisites are valid only if taken within the last 10 years.
Emphasis in Health Promotion
Health promotion is creating and implementing personal, social, physical, and environmental interventions that enable individuals and communities, not only to prevent disease and to have access to health care, but also to improve their quality of life, and increase quantity of life.
Health promoters and educators are in high demand in the 21st century. The heavy burden of lifestyle-related diseases or chronic diseases can be overcome only if health care providers work together with health educators and promoters as agents of change. The MPH with an emphasis in health promotion is committed to preparing those agents of change.
In addition to the professional competencies listed at the beginning of the Public Health section, the graduate with an emphasis in Health Promotion will have the following competencies:
- Analyzes current global health issues and the interface between globalization processes and their impact on the health and welfare of disadvantaged populations.
- Addresses adolescent and school health issues.
Admission Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree or its equivalent with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better (on a four-point scale). Students with an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.00 may be admitted on scholastic probation. Their admission status will be reevaluated after completion of 12 semester hours of coursework.
- Demonstrated English proficiency.
- Complete an interview with a faculty member of the Public Health Department.
Prerequisites
- Undergraduate studies in Human Anatomy and Physiology (3 semester hours) with a passing grade.
- General Mathematics (3 semester hours).
- Biology (3 semester hours).
It is possible to be accepted into the program provisionally when the prerequisites are not fully met. In such a case, the student agrees to complete them before 50% of the coursework has been completed.
These required prerequisites are undergraduate credits with a minimum grade of B. Other documents that demonstrate acceptable level of knowledge in the above subjects may be acceptable to the department, including evidence of successful completion of online study modules, or other modalities, from recognized institutions/organizations, with a passing grade. Prerequisites are valid only if taken within the last 10 years.
Emphasis in Nutrition
The MPH with emphasis in Nutrition is designed to prepare graduate health professionals to have a thorough understanding of nutrition in relationship to normal body functions and its role in the prevention of disease.
In addition to the professional competencies listed in the beginning of the Public Health section of the Bulletin, the graduate with an emphasis in Nutrition will have the following competencies:
- Assess nutritional needs and status at the individual and community levels.
- Design and implement appropriate programs to meet nutritional needs of individuals holistic manner.
Admission Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree or its equivalent, preferably in Nutrition, with a GPA of not less that 3.00. Students with an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.00 may be admitted on scholastic probation, and their admission status will be reevaluated after completion of 12 semester hours of coursework.
- Proficiency in oral and written use of the English language, which is the medium of instruction at AIIAS.
- Complete an interview with a faculty member of the Public Health Department.
Prerequisites
The prerequisites for the MPH with emphasis in Nutrition include a minimum of 15 undergraduate credits as indicated with no less than a grade of B earned in each as follows:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology (3 semester hours).
- General Mathematics (3 semester hours).
- Biology (3 semester hours).
- Introduction to Nutrition or Basic Nutrition (3 units) or equivalent
- Nutritional Metabolism or Biochemistry (3 units)
These prerequisites are undergraduate credits with a minimum grade of B. Other documents that demonstrate an acceptable level of knowledge in the above subjects may be accepted, including evidence of the successful completion of online study modules, from recognized institutions and organizations. It is possible to be accepted into the program provisionally when the prerequisites are not fully met. In such a case, the student is required then to complete all missing prerequisites before 50% of the coursework has been completed. Prerequisites are valid only if taken within the last 10 years.
Double Emphasis
In the MPH program, taking double emphasis is encouraged. A student choosing to pursue a double emphasis must fulfill the number of semester hours for each emphasis.
Single emphasis:
- Health Ministry – 45 Credits
- Health Promotion – 45 Credits
- Nutrition – 46 Credits
Double emphases:
- Health Ministry & Health Promotion – 54 Credits
- Health Ministry & Nutrition – 57 Credits
- Health Promotion & Nutrition – 55 Credits
Double emphasis requires that the Field Learning Internship experience encompasses both fields, or that the thesis fit both emphases.
Requirements
To earn the MPH degree with emphasis in Nutrition, the student must satisfy the following requirements:
- Complete the required minimum semester hours of courses as stipulated in the curriculum, achieving a GPA of 3.00 or higher.
- Select and complete one of the following culminating options:
- Elective class beginning with a PH prefix (3 semester hours) + PHHM/PHHP/PHNU 691 Field Learning Internship (3 semester hours) + Comprehensive Examination.
- PHHM/PHHP/PHNU 698 Thesis including an oral defense (6 semester hours) + Comprehensive Examination + Publication or acceptance for publication of at least one article in a refereed journal.
- Complete the Service Learning requirement.
Curriculum
Program Structure | Credits |
|---|---|
Public Health Core | 27 |
Emphasis in: | |
Health Ministry | 12 |
Health Promotion | 12 |
Nutrition | 13 |
Culminating Phase | 6 |
TOTAL | 45-46 |
Public Health Core | |
Complete the following nine courses: | |
CHMN 630 Health Ministries | 3 |
PHFN 600 Health Promotion Theory and Practice | 3 |
PHFN 605 Planning and Evaluating Health Promotion Programs | 3 |
PHFN 610 Principles of Environmental Health and Disaster Management | 4 |
PHFN 615 Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
PHFN 620 Biostatistics | 3 |
PHFN 625 Policy and Advocacy Development for Public Health | 3 |
RESM 520 Academic Writing | 2 |
RESM 610 Research Methods | 3 |
Emphasis in Health Ministry | 12 |
Complete the following three courses: | |
CHMN 612 Pastoral Care and Counseling | 3 |
LEAD 610 Biblical Foundations of Leadership and Ethics | 3 |
PHHM 655 Lifestyle Diseases and Risk Reduction Programs | 3 |
Complete one of the following courses: | |
CHPH 617 Principles of Christian Ethics | 3 |
MSSN 540 World Religions | 3 |
PHHM 684 Issues in Science and Religion | 3 |
Emphasis in Health Promotion | 13 |
Complete the following four courses: | |
PHHP 640 Public Health Nutrition | 3 |
PHFN 625 Maternal-Child Health and Family Planning | 3 |
PHHP 655 Lifestyle Diseases and Risk Reduction Programs | 3 |
PHHP 660 Current Global Health Issues | 3 |
Emphasis in Nutrition | 13 |
Complete the following five courses: | |
PHNU 600 Nutritional Status Assessment | 3 |
PHNU 610 Advanced Nutrition I: Carbohydrates and Lipids | 3 |
PHNU 611 Advanced Nutrition II: Proteins, Vitamins, and Minerals | 3 |
PHNU 640 Public Health Nutrition | 3 |
LEAD 610 Biblical Foundations of Leadership and Ethics | 1 |
Culminating Phase | |
Complete one of the following options: | |
Non-Thesis Option | |
Elective class beginning with a PH prefix | 3 |
PHHM/PHHP/PHNU 691 Field Learning Internship | 3 |
Comprehensive Examination | * |
Thesis Option | |
PHHM/PHHP/PHNU 698 Thesis. The thesis will follow the Graduate School criteria, plus additional guidelines from the Department. | 6 |
Meet our MPH Professors
Financial Information for MPH
$8,230
Tuition, required fees, books. Not including prerequisites.
Family $ 8,770
This includes housing, utility, food & miscellaneous, refundable deposit. For a couple with 2 children in a 2-bedroom unit.
Individual $ 3,500
This includes housing, utility, food & miscellaneous, refundable deposit.
