This 100% online Master of Public Health (MPH) in Veterinary Public Health degree includes interdisciplinary training in veterinary-related public health sciences and prepares students with skills and competencies essential for leadership and administrative positions in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases, food safety, and the wildlife-domestic animal-human interface. The Master of Public Health (MPH) in Veterinary Public Health program offers specialized training in the emerging public health discipline of One Health. Students learn how to work with veterinarians, ecologists, and physicians to monitor and control public health threats by applying the core disciplines of public health and specialized knowledge of veterinary medicine to learn how diseases spread among people, animals, and the environment. The land grant setting of Utah State University provides unique resources for the Master of Public Health (MPH) in Veterinary Public Health program with the College of Veterinary Medicine, agricultural extension programs, Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories, and the Institute for Antiviral Research, as well as strong academic programs in climate sciences, ecology, and natural resources. This program is 100% online, so students can complete the program from anywhere around the world. This program can be pursued part-time or full-time.
The Master of Public Health (MPH) in Veterinary Public Health is considered a professional program (Plan C) program. Students must complete an Applied Practice Experience (APE) and write a capstone paper, also known as the Integrative Learning Experience (ILE). Students should contact their advisor early in their program to start planning their APE and ILE, to ensure that all degree requirements will be met, and that all appropriate paperwork has been sent to the School of Graduate Studies (SGS). The Plan A option (research and thesis) is available under certain circumstances. Plan A students must find a major professor and two additional committee members, in addition to meeting all SGS requirements.
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Accreditation
The CAAS MPH Program is an applicant for accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health. The accreditation review will address the CAAS MPH degrees only. Other degrees and areas of study offered by this institution will not be included in the unit of accreditation review. Please see the CEPH website to learn more about the applicant and accreditation process.Follow us on social media
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Affordable Tuition
No GRE
Admissions Requirements
- Complete online application.
- Pay the $55 application fee.
- Provide transcripts for all college/university credits.
- Include a statement of purpose in your online application.
- 3.0 or higher GPA for the last 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours
- 3 letters of recommendation (at least two should come from faculty members).
An undergraduate degree with a background in biochemistry, chemistry, biology, mathematics, statistics, and animal disease is preferred, though all students with an undergraduate degree and some science background are encouraged to apply.
Application Deadlines
Application materials received by the deadlines listed below will be prioritized and given full consideration. Late applications will be considered for admissions when space is available. Please reach out to the program director with application questions.
| Semester Start | Early Priority Deadline | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | January 15* | March 15 |
| Spring | None | September 15 |
*Applications submitted by this date will be reviewed in time for applicants to submit college and university level scholarships through Scholarship Universe.
Jane Kelly
Clinical Professor | Veterinary Diagnostician | Public Health, Microbiology
Savannah Daines
MPH Program Assistant & Graduate Program Coordinator
Career Outlook for Graduates
Graduates with an MPH degree in Veterinary Public Health can seek out diverse positions in public health organizations, academia, and industry that offer opportunities for leadership roles, professional development, and higher pay and benefits. Potential positions include public health veterinarian, veterinary epidemiologist, animal food safety specialist, wildlife public health specialist, and research and management positions. These positions can be found in a variety of governmental, academic, nonprofit, and for-profit settings, including colleges and universities, healthcare organizations, agricultural and food industries, international agricultural and development organizations, and local, state, and federal health and environmental agencies. Veterinarians who receive an MPH degree also prepare themselves to become board-certified in Veterinary Preventive Medicine. When combined with a science-focused undergraduate, the MPH degree can be used as a stepping stone to veterinary or medical school.
For students interested in academic careers in public health, the MPH degree can be excellent preparation for application to doctoral public health programs
Two Year Degree Plan MPH
Veterinary Public Health Concentration
Students in the MPH in Veterinary Public Health program are required to complete 42 credits, 6 of which are electives
Year One
| Fall Semester | Credits | Details |
|---|---|---|
| NDFS 6140--Introduction to Public Health* | 3 | Required to take during your first fall semester |
| ADVS 6830-- Communicating and Evaluating Public Health Information: Case Studies in Environmental Health | 3 | Required |
| NDFS 6810--Social Determinants of Health | 3 | Required |
| Total credits | 9 |
* Students with a bachelor’s degree from a CEPH-accredited public health program can take an alternative course to NDFS 6140 Introduction to Public Health since they would have fulfilled these foundational public health knowledge competencies in their undergraduate program.
| Spring Semester | Credits | Details |
|---|---|---|
| ADVS 5000--One Health: People, Animals, and the Environment | 3 | Required |
| NDFS 6550--Public Health Policy and Advocacy | 3 | Required |
| Elective | 3 | See elective list |
| Total credits | 9 |
| Summer Semester | Credits | Details |
|---|---|---|
| ADVS 6000--Ecology and Health: Case Studies of Relationships Between the Environment, Organisms, and Health | 3 | Required |
| Total credits | 3 |
Year Two
| Fall Semester | Credits | Details |
|---|---|---|
| NDFS 6540--Introduction to Epidemiology and Biostatistics* | 3 | Required |
| ADVS 6840--Epigenetics in Public Health | 3 | Required |
| NDFS 6240--Program Planning and Evaluation in Public Health | 3 | Required Strongly recommended to take after year 1 in the program |
| ADVS 6100--MPH Practicum | 3 | Required, must be taken in final year of the program (strongly recommended to take in second-to-last semester) Plan A students register for ADVS 6970 Research and Thesis up to 10 credits spread out in various semesters |
| Total credits | 12 |
| Spring Semester | Credits | Details |
|---|---|---|
| NDFS 6280--Public Health Administration and Leadership | 3 | Required |
| ADVS 6010--Applied Veterinary Epidemiology | 3 | Required (NDFS 6540 is a pre-requisite) |
| Elective | 3 | |
| *You will also complete your Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) this semester. | ||
| Total credits | 9 |
| SUMMARY | Credits | Details |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL MINIMUM NUMBER OF CREDITS | 42 |
SELECT LIST OF ELECTIVES
This list is not comprehensive. Please work with your advisor to find additional elective options that may align with your interests. Delivery method and availability of these courses may vary. If you have questions, please look in Banner, reach out to the instructor of record, or ask your MPH advisor.
| Elective courses | Credits | Semester(s) Taught |
|---|---|---|
| HEP 6000--Advanced Program Planning and Evaluation in Public Health | 3 | Spring, Summer |
| HEP 6120--Foundations of Global Health | 3 | Fall |
| HEP 6450--Research Methods in Population Health | 3 | Spring |
| HEP 6800--Health Behavior | 3 | Fall |
| NDFS 6010--Hunger Issues and Solution | 3 | Spring |
| NDFS 6110--Food Microbiology | 3 | Spring |
| NDFS 6200--Nutritional Epidemiology | 3 | Fall |
| NDFS 6210--Advanced Public Health Nutrition | 3 | Spring |
| NDFS 6600--Current Topics in Obesity | 3 | Fall |
| NDFS 6470--Global Public Health | 3 | Spring |
| NDFS 6800--Counseling and Motivational Interviewing | 3 | Fall |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! The CAAS MPH program is offered 100% online, which means you can take courses from anywhere in the world. You are not required to be on campus or attend classes virtually at any time. With that said, there are plenty of opportunities to connect with faculty and students via Zoom.
Students who have completed graduate courses (that have not been used towards a completed degree) at other accredited universities may request that courses are reviewed for transfer credit. The School of Graduate Studies allows a maximum of 12 credits to be transferred. Credits can be transferred as long as the MPH degree will be completed within 8 years of starting the transferred coursework, although exceptions can be made on an individual basis.
Letters of recommendation should be from former professors, employers, or other professional references. Personal references are not recommended. Letters of recommendation should emphasize your potential as a graduate student.
If you have general application questions, please contact the graduate school directly at graduateschool@usu.edu. For program-specific questions, please contact the MPH graduate program coordinator, Savannah Daines (savannah.daines@usu.edu or 435-757-2060).
The MPH program requires a total of 42 credit hours. Tuition and fees are based on credit hours and differ for in-state and out-of-state students. For students located in Utah, tuition for online courses is the same as face-to-face courses. For students outside Utah, there is a special tuition rate for online courses that does not take residency into account. Use the USU Tuition and Fees Estimator for more information to calculate what tuition would cost for you!
Yes! Please visit the WICHE WRGP website for more information about potential tuition savings for non-Utah residents.
To apply to the MPH Veterinary Public Health concentration an undergraduate degree with a background in biochemistry, chemistry, biology, mathematics, statistics, and animal disease is preferred though all students with an undergraduate degree and some science background are encouraged to apply.
The university, college, and the ADVS department have scholarships and assistantships that often become available for graduate students. MPH faculty notify students when these opportunities become available within the department and college. We also recommend looking for scholarships on the USU website. Additional scholarship opportunities are often available through professional organizations. As a result, we highly recommend students be involved in public health organizations.
Please contact the MPH graduate program coordinator, Savannah Daines (savannah.daines@usu.edu or 435-757-2060), for more information about the program. You can also reach out to Dr. Jane Kelly (jane.kelly@usu.edu or 801-798-5435).