Home / Programs / Master of Public Health (Accelerated)
Complete your Master of Public Health in 12 months through an intensive, cohort-based program designed for emerging and working professionals who want to advance health equity and improve population health.
The Accelerated MPH at Meharry Medical College is an asynchronous, 45-credit-hour program that combines online coursework, applied public health experiences, virtual lectureship opportunities, and select in-person sessions on Meharry’s Nashville campus. Relocation to Nashville, Tennessee, is not required.
Students will learn from experienced faculty and public health leaders with expertise across federal agencies, healthcare organizations, academia, community-based organizations, research, policy, and public health practice. Areas of expertise include health equity, epidemiology, biostatistics, maternal & child health, health behavior, environmental health, program planning and evaluation, public health policy, leadership, and systems thinking.
The program also provides opportunities for applied learning through immersion experiences, professional development, community and organizational partnerships, and a culminating capstone project. Students graduate prepared to design, lead, and evaluate practical, equity-centered solutions that improve population health and address the needs of underserved communities.
About
Admissions
Curriculum
Contact
Key Commitments
Tuition + Financial Aid
Complete 45 credit hours in 12 months
Progress through the program with a dedicated student cohort
Take focused, sequential eight-week courses during the winter, spring, and fall
Participate in asynchronous coursework and live lectureship opportunities
Attend two in-person experiences in Nashville
Gain practical experience through Applied Practice Experiences
Develop a professional capstone product through the Integrative Learning Experience
Receive academic advising, faculty mentoring, career development, and structured student support
Accreditation
The Master of Public Health program at Meharry Medical College is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
The Accelerated MPH curriculum addresses all 22 CEPH Foundational Competencies through coursework, Applied Practice Experiences, and the Integrative Learning Experience. Competencies are introduced, reinforced, applied, and assessed throughout the program.
For questions about CEPH accreditation or to request accreditation materials, contact SGH@mmc.edu.
Complete your personal statement, please use the designated prompt below for your specific program (minimum of 500 words)
Personal Statement Prompt:
Identify a current public health issue that is meaningful to you. Explain why this issue is important, describe the population(s) most affected, discuss the factors contributing to the problem, and propose one evidence-informed strategy that could improve health outcomes. Conclude by explaining how graduate study in public health will prepare you to contribute to addressing this issue.
Complete Short Answer Questions: complete the short answer questions with a maximum of 300 words permitted per response, located on the online application
Step 2
Gather your application documents:
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required, at least one of which must be from an academic mentor (major professor, thesis advisor, etc.) who can speak to the applicant’s potential to undertake graduate studies.
Official transcripts
Applicants must submit official transcripts of coursework attempted and completed at allprevious colleges and universities whether or not a degree was earned at the institution. Please ask your institution to send official college transcripts electronically directly to the School of Global Health at sghenrollment@mmc.edu
If the institution prefers to mail transcripts, please use this address:
School of Global Health
Meharry Medical College
3401 West End Avenue
Suite 160
Nashville, TN 37203
All submitted transcripts become the property of the Meharry Medical College and will not be returned.
Test scores are not required for consideration into our program
STEP 3
Final Decision
Once all documents have been appropriately submitted to SGH, they will be reviewed by the Faculty Admissions Committee.
Applicants being considered for the Accelerated MPH must undergo an interview, SGH will contact applicants directly to coordinate a designated date and time.
All applicants will receive a final decision response by e-mail.
STEP 4
Admitted Students
Accept your admission decision by submitting your seat deposit. You will receive your decision via you application portal.
Complete your FAFSA and make sure to send information to Meharry Medical College.
Create your Student Workday Account to begin your onboarding process.
Register for classes when all onboarding items and holds have been resolved.
International Applicants
At this time, the Meharry School of Global Health is not able to consider international applicants for our upcoming cohorts. We recognize the importance of global representation and will provide updates should this policy change in the future.
GPA Requirement
Applicants must hold a master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may be considered on a case-by-case basis if they demonstrate substantial professional experience and leadership potential.
The 45-credit-hour Accelerated MPH curriculum provides students with a strong foundation in the essential areas of public health, opportunities to explore focused areas of study, and the practical skills needed to address complex population health challenges. Coursework is organized into sequential eight-week sessions.
Within the program, students will complete the Public Health Practice concentration, which builds on the program’s core curriculum by emphasizing the practical application of public health knowledge across a range of professional settings. Students develop skills in program planning and evaluation, leadership, communication, systems thinking, and evidence-based decision-making while learning to assess community and population health needs and translate data into effective public health action.
The curriculum maintains the same academic rigor, degree requirements, and Council on Education for Public Health competencies as Meharry’s traditional MPH program. Coursework is delivered through a focused, accelerated format that allows students to complete the degree in 12 months.
Students will gain knowledge and skills in areas such as:
Epidemiology and biostatistics
Environmental health
Health behavior and health promotion
Research design and data management
Public health leadership and practice
Health administration and planning
Racism and health
Program planning and evaluation
Health equity and the structural determinants of health
Public health communication and collaboration
Systems thinking and evidence-based decision-making
Through the curriculum, students learn to assess population health needs, interpret and apply public health data, design and evaluate programs, communicate with diverse audiences, and develop strategies that improve health outcomes.
Have questions about the Accelerated MPH or want to learn more about whether the program is the right fit for you?
Schedule a one-on-one conversation with our enrollment team to learn more about the curriculum, admissions process, application requirements, and next steps.
Mahia Valle, MBA Enrollment Manager Director, Communications School of Global Health Meharry Medical College
Provide a quality public health education experience that equips diverse students with the competence to address the public health needs of all populations, especially the underserved.
Provide opportunities for faculty and students to engage in scholarly activities that enhance the public health evidence base for the elimination of health disparities.
Provide opportunities for the professional development of students, faculty, community, and the public health workforce.
Provide opportunities for students to engage in collaborative and transformative public health practice activities.
Strengthen and sustain partnerships and collaborations with local and national academic, community, and public health practice organizations.
Vision
Diversifying the field of public health leaders, practitioners, and researchers to advance health equity locally, nationally, and beyond.
Mission
The mission of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at Meharry Medical College is to improve the health and well-being of people of color and underserved communities. We strive to eradicate health disparities, through educational excellence, evidence-based research, and culturally competent service.
Goals
There are 4 goals that address the primary functions of the program:
To provide a quality public health education experience that equips diverse students with the competence to address the public health needs of all populations, especially the underserved.
To provide opportunities for faculty and students to engage in scholarly activities that enhance the public health evidence base for the elimination of health disparities.
To provide opportunities for the professional development of students, faculty, community, and the public health workforce.
To strengthen and sustain partnerships and collaborations with local and national academic, community, and public health practice organizations.
Values
Excellence — Consistently achieving outstanding levels of performance while upholding the highest standards of ethical behavior, intellectual honesty, and professional conduct.
Service — Establishing and maintaining a nurturing community-based service-oriented culture and environment that exceeds expectations.
Accountability — Accepting individual and collective responsibility for preserving and effectively managing the resources of the Program.
Teamwork — Encouraging, supporting and valuing the collaborative efforts of faculty, staff and students to advance the quality of education, research, and service.
Innovation — Promoting creativity and the development of ideas that stimulate improvements in our intellectual and operational endeavors.
Diversity — Fostering an inclusive environment that includes ethnic, intellectual, social, and cultural, and gender diversity.
Advocacy — Advocating for local, state and national health and public policies and training directed at improving the status of health of all individuals with an understanding of the health care needs of underserved populations.
Health Equity — Insisting that everyone has equal chance to reach their full potential without undue influence from social circumstances, health disparities and systems that limit access to opportunities and resources.
Critical Thinking — Cultivating a disciplined, systematic process for evidenced-based decision making to solve public health problems.
For questions about CEPH accreditation and to obtain copies of the final CEPH self-study, please contact us at SGH@mmc.edu.
Cost Structure
$45,000 total tuition
Tuition and Fees*
Per Credit Hour – $ 1,000.00
Fees – ~$1,800.00
*This does not include books, travel and lodging for in-residence sessions. Student fees are subject to change on a yearly basis.
Financial Aid + Scholarships
Currently, the School of Global Health does not offer internal scholarships for the Accelerated Master of Public Health program. We encourage prospective students to consider employer sponsorships, tuition reimbursement programs, or external scholarship opportunities that align with their professional background and goals.
Employer Sponsorship: Many students are professionals whose employers offer tuition support. Check with your HR department about sponsorship or reimbursement policies.
Tuition Reimbursement Programs: Federal, state, and private sector employers frequently offer reimbursement benefits that can offset program costs.
External Scholarships: A number of foundations and professional organizations offer scholarships for health administration professionals. We encourage students to search databases such as ASPPH
Federal Financial Aid at Meharry: Students enrolled at least half-time may be eligible for federal loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To learn more, visit: https://meharry.edu/admissions-and-aid/financial-aid/
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