Are you considering obtaining a degree in public health from a University in Colorado? The Colorado State University (CU), School of Public Health would be a wise choice.
The Colorado State University, School of Public Health has a collaborative and innovative environment located on three campuses. It offers a variety of alternative public health undergraduate degrees, two master’s degrees, a choice of a DrPH or PhD, dual degree opportunities, and numerous certificate programs. The number of research centers across the three campuses is extensive.
| University Name | Bachelor’s Degree | Master’s Degree | Doctoral Degree? | Certificate Programs? | CEPH Accreditation |
| Colorado State University, School of Public Health | BA or BS in Public Health; 4+1 program leading to an MPH | MPH, MS | DrPH, PhD | Many options | Yes, accredited as a Public Health School |
The Colorado State University, Colorado School of Public Health was established in 2008. It consists of three educational and research institutions: the University of Colorado, Colorado State University, and the University of Northern Colorado.
The School emphasizes collaboration. Once you read the descriptions below of the vast degree offerings, certificate programs, and research centers, you’ll understand how committed the School is to that concept.
To stand at the forefront of a changing world, you will need the passion and identity of a collaborator and innovator. At the Colorado School of Public Health we hold both. As an accredited, collaborative school of public health, we stand ready to create healthier futures, build stronger partnerships and steward shared resources for the betterment and health of communities in Colorado and around the world.
Colorado School of Public Health. (n.d.) Mission & Vision. https://coloradosph.cuanschutz.edu/about-us/mission-vision
The vision of the School is to “become one of the nation’s premier institutions for public health education and research, with top recognition for its work in selected areas and an outstanding reputation for delivering education, training, and service programs that are based in science, proven in practice, and adapted through creativity to meet pressing population health needs.” It’s mission is “To promote the physical, mental, social, and environmental health of people and communities in the Rocky Mountain Region, across our nation, and globally.”
The Colorado School of Public Health has three campuses to choose from: the University of Colorado (CU) Anschutz in Aurora, Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, and the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley. Each campus offers unique programs and student experiences.
There are five different departments in the School:
- biostatistics & informatics
- community & behavioral health
- environmental & occupational health
- epidemiology
- health systems, management, & policy
The School Offers Several Undergraduate Degree Options Through a Collaborative Approach
The Colorado School of Public Health does not directly offer an undergraduate degree in public health. However, the School collaborates with undergraduate programs to offer a variety of alternative bachelor’s degrees.
Students attending CU Denver and CU Anschutz have the option of following a 5-year degree program to earn Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science (BA/BS) of Public Health plus a Master of Public Health (MPH).
Students attending CU Denver can pursue an undergraduate major in public health, with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degree option.
Students at CSU in Fort Collins are offered a BS in Environmental Public Health provided by the CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. This degree plan provides instruction on “the study of how people interact with their environment— air, water, soil, plants, and animals in workplaces and homes—in order to identify and mitigate potential impacts on human health.”
The Human Services program offered by the College of Natural and Health Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado gives students an opportunity to earn a BS in Human Services. This degree plan teaches students about health education strategies, significant US diseases, and statistical principles pertaining to the study of diseases in communities.
Two Master’s Degree Options Are Available
Students are able to get a Master of Public Health (MPH) from any of the three Colorado School of Public Health collaborating locations. The MPH is a 42-45 credit hour program. It is designed to be completed in two years.
Different concentrations are available for the MPH degree depending on the location chosen. Available concentrations combined from all three locations include the following:
- Applied Biostatistics
- Animals, People, and the Environment
- Community and Behavioral Health
- Community Health Education
- Environmental and Occupational health
- Epidemiology
- Global Health and Health Disparities
- Health Communication
- Health Systems, Management & Policy
- Leadership and Public Health Practice
- Maternal and Child Health
- Physical Activity & Healthy Lifestyles
- Population Mental Health and Wellbeing
- Public Health Nutrition
The CU Anschutz Medical Campus location also offers a Master of Science (MS) degree. This degree involves a deeper dive into science with research and analysis. Available concentrations include biostatistics, epidemiology, and health services research.
Numerous Dual Degree Options Promote the Interdisciplinary Nature of Public Health
Many schools of public health provide a mechanism for students to complete two degrees at the same time. Dual degree options enable students to gain an interdisciplinary perspective and increase their employment opportunities. A dual degree can be a big advantage in the job market since public health intersects with many other professions. A combined degree can save students time and money since some coursework can count towards both degrees.
Available dual degree programs at CU include the following:
- MD/MPH—Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health
- DNP/MPH—Doctor of Nursing Practice and Master of Public Health
- PharmD/MPH—Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Public Health
- DDS/MPH—Doctor of Dental Surgery and Masters of Public Health
- MPA/MPH—Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Health
- MSW/MPH—Master of Social Work and Master of Public Health
- MURP/MPH—Master of Urban and Regional Planning and Master Public Health
- DVM/MPH—Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree and Master of Public Health
The School Offers Both PhD and DrPH Degrees
The Colorado School of Public Health has two doctoral degree options – a PhD and a DrPH.
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) “program is a professional doctoral-level program designed to develop public health leaders: researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners who are able to address complex public health issues.” Available concentrations for this degree include community and behavioral health, environmental and occupational health, and epidemiology.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is “designed for students wishing to pursue careers in academia, teaching and conducting research. Our PhD curriculum is focused on helping students develop subject matter expertise and research skills.” Available concentrations for this degree are biostatistics, epidemiology, and health services research.
Certificate Programs Promote Specialized Skills
Many schools and programs of public health offer certificate programs where students can further develop or refine their professional development with specialized skills. The experiences and opportunities offered by certificate programs will vary depending on the topic concentration.
Several certificate programs are offered by the Colorado School of Public Health. Most are offered at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Two of the programs are available online.
The following certificate programs are offered:
- Applied Biostatistics
- Global Public Health
- Health Analytics and Data Science
- Latino Health
- Public Health Preparedness & Disaster Response
- Population Mental Health & Wellbeing
- Public Health Sciences (offered at all three locations)
- Maternal & Child Health (online)
- Total Health Worker (online)
A Vast Number of Research and Practice Centers Demonstrates the School’s Reach
CU offers a vast and valuable set of research centers and programs:
- Cancer Prevention & Control Program – “From genetic epidemiology to nutrition and environmental health, our faculty are advancing collective understanding of what causes cancer, how to better detect the disease, and how behavior can impact survivorship.”
- Center for Global Health — The mission of the Center for Global Health is to catalyze equitable partnerships in teaching, research, practice, and service to make innovative and creative advances in the global standard of health.
- Center for Health, Work & Environment – “The Center for Health, Work & Environment is one of six Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health® (TWH) and houses the Mountain & Plains Education and Research Center, one of 18 centers of its kind. The center works to advance worker health, safety, and well-being through education, research, and public health practice.”
- Center for Innovative Design & Analysis — The Center for Innovative Design & Analysis (CIDA) provides biostatistics expertise, establishing collaborative partnerships with researchers at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, its affiliates, and the surrounding community.
- Center for Public Health Practice – “The Center for Public Health Practice offers workforce training, development, and consultation to support innovative public health programs throughout Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region.”
- Centers for American Indian & Alaska Native Health – “The Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health promote the health and wellbeing of American Indians and Alaska Natives by pursuing research, training, continuing education, technical assistance, and information dissemination.”
- Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence – “The Colorado Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence is one of six Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
- Community Epidemiology & Program Evaluation Group — The Community Epidemiology & Program Evaluation Group (CEPEG) studies attitudes, behaviors, and potential interventions related to public health, and provides a full range of evaluation services for public health programs.
- Latino Research & Policy Center – “The Latino Research & Policy Center (LRPC) has the vision of academically empowering students in Latino health and health policy by developing educational and training programs in the area of public health”
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity & Diabetes Center – “The mission of the LEAD Center is to conduct research into the lifecourse health consequences of early and later life exposures that increase the risk and accelerate the onset of adiposity (obesity) and diabetes.”
- MHealth Impact Lab – “The mHealth Impact Laboratory works to address inequities in health outcomes by creating and curating high-quality mobile and digital technology solutions.”
- Population Mental Health & Wellbeing Program – “This program is dedicated to the expanding and investing in research, education, and partnership in behavioral health—mental health and substance use—and public health.”
- Program for Injury Prevention, Education & Research – “The Program for Injury Prevention, Education and Research (PIPER) links research, training, and practice to prevent injury in Colorado, the U.S., and around the world.”
- Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center – “The Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center (RMPRC) conducts community-engaged research with schools and communities to achieve health equity by optimizing social-emotional, mental, and physical health.”
- Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center – “The Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center works in collaboration with several organizations to develop, market, deliver, and evaluate a wide range of trainings based on current needs and public health trends.”
- Systems for Action – “Systems for Action is a research program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation housed in our Department of Health Systems, Management & Policy. The program studies approaches for aligning delivery and financing systems across medical care, public health, and the social services sector in ways that improve health and health equity.”
The Colorado School of Public Health is accredited by CEPH
The Colorado School of Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) as a public health school.
To become accredited, a public health school, program, or standalone baccalaureate degree program must undergo a rigorous evaluation. CEPH accreditation standards establish minimum levels of educational quality and provide assurances that students will be educated in a manner consistent with the best standards in public health education.
The School was initially accredited in 2010. It was re-accredited in 2016 and will undergo its next re-accreditation process in 2024.
For more information about the CEPH accreditation process and to understand the importance of accreditation when choosing a public health program, click here.
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