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Master of Public Health (Online)

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Master of Public Health (Online)

Curriculum

Build in-demand analytical, leadership and communication skills while exploring pressing public health concerns through our online Master of Public Health curriculum.

Summer 2026 Applications

App Opens: September 15, 2025
Early Action Deadline: November 15, 2025
Priority Deadline: February 1, 2026
Final Deadline: March 15, 2026
Semester Start Date: May 18, 2026

Apply to the Program Attend a Webinar Request Information

Fall 2026 Applications

App Opens: September 15, 2025
Early Action Deadline: March 15, 2026
Priority Deadline: May 15, 2026
Final Deadline: June 15, 2026
Semester Start Date: September 9, 2026

Apply to the Program Attend a Webinar Request Information

Curriculum

Build in-demand analytical, leadership and communication skills while exploring pressing public health concerns through our online Master of Public Health curriculum.

Through rigorous coursework and training, Brown’s online Master of Public Health program produces professionals who are equipped to elevate public health through rewarding careers in government, health care, nonprofits and academia. Our curriculum focuses on real-world relevance, academic excellence and both theoretical and hands-on competencies.

Learn public health by doing public health

By tackling public health concerns through the design of evidence-based interventions, tailored communication strategies and more, you will engage your education in a concrete and experiential way.

Our methodology allows you to sharpen your problem-solving and analytical skills while expanding your public health expertise. You will acquire global perspectives and insights into public health challenges from an international group of graduate-student peers. Because of the interactive nature of the online program, you will develop a sense of community—along with a global professional network—in our collaborative learning environment.

Coursework

Our program includes 12 courses, to be completed across 12-24 months. 

With an emphasis on using qualitative and quantitative data to make public health decisions, as well as leadership development, our online MPH will give you both the theoretical and practical foundation you need to effect positive change and advance your career.

24 Months

The following course sequence is recommended for students wishing to complete their MPH in two years:

ModuleCourse 1Course 2
Semester 1GPHP 2010: Using Epidemiology to Make Public Health DecisionsGPHP 2800: Public Health Leadership & Practice
Semester 2GPHP 2000: Using Biostatistics to Make Public Health DecisionsGPHP 2850: Public Health Communications
Semester 3GPHP 2020: Using Survey & Qualitative Methods to Make Public Health DecisionsGPHP 2400: Health Care Systems & Policy
Semester 4GPHP 2300: Social Determinants of Health/Equity in Public HealthGPHP 2310: Interventions at the Local, National and Global Scale
Semester 5GPHP 2410: Comparative Health Care SystemsGPHP 2320: Evaluations of Public Health Programs
Semester 6GPHP 2810: Local-Global Public Health LeadershipGPHP 2900: Integrative Learning Experience (ILE)

16 Months

The following course sequence is recommended for those wishing to complete their MPH in less than two years.

ModuleCourse 1Course 2Course 3
Semester 1GPHP 2010: Using Epidemiology to Make Public Health Decisions GPHP 2800: Public Health Leadership & PracticeGPHP 2400: Health Care Systems & Policy
Semester 2GPHP 2000: Using Biostatistics to Make Public Health DecisionsGPHP 2850: Public Health CommunicationsGPHP 2310: Interventions at the Local, National and Global Scale
Semester 3GPHP 2020: Using Survey & Qualitative Methods to Make Public Health DecisionsGPHP 2300: Social Determinants of Health/Equity in Public HealthGPHP 2320: Evaluations of Public Health Programs
Semester 4GPHP 2410: Comparative Health Care SystemsGPHP 2810: Local-Global Public Health LeadershipGPHP 2900: Integrative Learning Experience (ILE)

12 months

A 12-month accelerated sequence may be available. Students are required to consult their advising coordinator and both the 12-month and 16-month accelerated sequences require Academic Director approval.

Optional Focus Areas

The online MPH program offers two optional focus areas for students to receive specialized training through live mentorship from seasoned mentors in the field.

Clinician Focus

This focus is dedicated to bridging the gap between public health and clinical medicine. It offers live monthly sessions with clinicians with expertise in public health and an opportunity for you to interact with the guest speaker in a candid and personal way. These sessions will help you sharpen your skills in epidemiology, health-systems science, program implementation and science communication, as applied to health care.

This focus is led by Craig Spencer, M.D., MPH, associate professor of the practice of health services, policy and practice at the Brown University School of Public Health. Dr. Spencer is a practicing emergency physician and a nationally and internationally recognized expert in public health. He has more than two decades of global public health and humanitarian experience and speaks frequently about pressing public health issues in the media. 

Leadership in Public Health Focus

This focus is designed to provide additional live monthly webinars where you will interact with industry leaders and professionals for direct mentorship and candid conversations. With an emphasis on real-world understanding, this focus will help you gain insights and skills needed for success in leadership positions in health care or public health.

This focus is led by Nithya Ramesh, MPH, DMSc, assistant professor of epidemiology and director of online programs at Brown’s School of Public Health, in partnership with Scott Rivkees, M.D., acting associate dean for education at Brown’s School of Public Health, and former State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health of Florida. 

Applied Learning

In addition to the online MPH coursework, you will complete a 145-hour MPH practicum, applying your newly acquired knowledge and skills in a public health setting.

The culminating course of the program, and completely distinct from the practicum, is the integrated learning experience, during which you will investigate a public health challenge aligned with your interests. You may choose to complete either a literature review or a secondary data analysis. Your findings will be submitted as a scientific article suitable for submission to a public health journal, along with a poster presentation. 

The Master of Public Health Online Experience

Our program expands access to the MPH experience for students both in the United States and around the world. We actively recruit a diverse student body from across the country and internationally to cultivate a globally connected student body.

We’ve built our online Master of Public Health generalist program to account for different global time zones and student-support needs. All courses take place online and combine asynchronous and synchronous components to make the most of the online learning environment. Synchronous sessions will occur one time per week and will be recorded for students to access at their convenience.

Flexible, Asynchronous Coursework

On your own schedule, engage with faculty-created asynchronous coursework such as interactive multimedia, recorded lectures and demonstrations, expert/guest lecture videos and discussion boards.

Interactive, Synchronous Sessions

You will also have the chance to connect with world-class faculty members and fellow students in live, synchronous sessions. During these optional, weekly small group sessions, you will meet with your cohort for live discussions about how your coursework applies to your current work situation, as well as to your region or country.

Recent speakers

Recent speakers at the Brown University School of Public Health

Click on a name to see the video

  • Seth Berkley, M.D.
  • David Cicilline
  • Tom Coderre
  • Demetre Daskalakis M.D., MPH
  • Sapna Desai, Ph.D.
  • Kristie Ebi, Ph.D., MPH
  • Anthony Fauci, M.D.
  • Gökhan Hotamışlıgil, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Ron Klain
  • Heidi Larson, Ph.D.
  • Gina McCarthy
  • Monica Medina
  • Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy
  • Frank Richards Jr, M.D.
  • Wendy Schiller, Ph.D.
  • Reed V. Tuckson, M.D., FACP
  • Zeynep Tüfekçi, Ph.D.
  • Michael VanRooyen

Expert Talk Webinar Series

The Expert Talk Webinar Series features conversations for Online MPH students to gain interdisciplinary perspectives on the career paths of our extraordinary leaders.

Watch on YouTube

Clinician Focus Area Lead

  • Spencer

    Craig Spencer

    Associate Professor of the Practice of Health Services, Policy and Practice
    craig_spencer@brown.edu
    Research Profile

Leadership Focus Area Leads

  • Ramesh

    Nithya Ramesh, DMSc, MPH

    Director of Online Programs, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology
    nithya_ramesh@brown.edu
    Research Profile
  • Rivkees

    Scott Rivkees

    Associate Dean for Education in the School of Public Health, Director of the Accelerated Master of Public Health Program, Academic Director of Master's in Healthcare Leadership, Professor of the Practice of Health Services, Policy and Practice
    scott_rivkees@brown.edu
    Research Profile

Summer 2026 Applications

App Opens: September 15, 2025
Early Action Deadline: November 15, 2025
Priority Deadline: February 1, 2026
Final Deadline: March 15, 2026
Semester Start Date: May 18, 2026

Apply to the Program Attend a Webinar Request Information

Fall 2026 Applications

App Opens: September 15, 2025
Early Action Deadline: March 15, 2026
Priority Deadline: May 15, 2026
Final Deadline: June 15, 2026
Semester Start Date: September 9, 2026

Apply to the Program Attend a Webinar Request Information
Brown University School of Public Health
Providence RI 02903 401-863-3375 public_health@brown.edu

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