Master of Public Health program welcomes first cohort

The fall semester brought with it the first cohort for the new Master of Public Health program from the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs.

WMU-Grand Rapids, downtown location

"I was very pleased to see 25 students enrolled in the program for fall," said Dr. Bob Wertkin, director of the School of Interdisciplinary Health Programs. "We knew there were students interested in programs like this and we found more than we expected for the first cohort."

The new program is offered in a hybrid format, featuring mostly online coursework, with face-to-face meetings limited to two weekends each semester at WMU's downtown Grand Rapids location. The hybrid format allows students to earn their master's degree without interfering with their work and home schedules.

"Our first face-to-face meetings were last weekend," said Dr. Vivian Valdmanis, MPH program coordinator. "Our students were impressed with this beautiful facility and they're excited about the public health material we're providing -- including the latest information about public health policy and issues."

Rather than focusing on one specific aspect of public health, WMU's MPH program is a generalist degree, focusing on five core areas within public health:

  • Biostatistics
  • Environmental health sciences
  • Epidemiology
  • Health services administration
  • Social and behavioral sciences

The broader scope of the program will prepare graduates for a number of careers in the expanding area of public health.

More information about the Master of Public Health program is available at wmich.edu/healthprograms.