The only option for earning a public health degree in Alaska is at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), College of Health, Division of Population Health Sciences (DPHS). However, it’s an excellent choice and one that is tailored to the Alaska population. The Division offers academic programs and research centers focused on population health.
| University Name | Bachelor’s Degree? | Master’s Degree? | Doctoral Degree? | Certificate Programs? | CEPH Accredited? |
| University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), College of Health, Division of Population Health Sciences (DPHS) | Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) | MPH, MSW/MPH | No | No | Yes |
DPHS is committed to understanding the factors which impact population health in Alaska and beyond and educating people to have a positive impact on public health.
University of Alaska Anchorage. (n.d.). Improving the Health of Populations. https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/academics/college-of-health/departments/population-health-sciences/.
The mission of DPPHS is “to advance health sciences through the educational opportunities of academic training, research, and community service in order to improve the well-being of the diverse peoples of Alaska and the circumpolar north.”
UAA Offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Degree
The University of Alaska Anchorage offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree (BSHS). The degree has two tracks: a health educator track and a pre-professional track.
The health educator track is aimed at students seeking a career in school, community, workplace, and medical settings. The pre-professional track is more clinical in nature. It provides training in public health and health education, but also adds courses to “prepare students for clinical training and graduate programs including occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, pre-med, and physician assistant studies.”
The Division builds flexibility into the BSHS program by offering multiple delivery formats. Courses are available on campus, online, and via hybrid offerings (online and in-person). The majority of the core courses are offered online at least once during the academic year. This gives students located outside of the Anchorage area or those who are working added flexibility for attending class.
A Master of Public Health That Focuses on the Needs of Alaska
The division also offers a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree that “focuses on preparing people to be leaders in public health.” The degree “is designed to meet the challenges of the diverse and complex field of public health, with a particular focus on the needs of Alaska and the Circumpolar North.”
A minor in public health is also available. In addition, the Division provides the option of a public health and social work (MSW/MPH) dual degree. The goal of this degree option is to “train leaders who have the skills and competencies to address many of the social and public health problems facing the state of Alaska, this nation, and the world.” This degree option is structured so that students can meet all the requirements of both programs quicker than it would to complete them separately. Through a mutual agreement between both programs, some courses count towards graduation requirements in both programs.
All required courses for the MPH degree are delivered online via a distance format.
Two Research Centers
DPHS has two important research centers that are worthy of note. First, the Division houses the Institute for Circumpolar Health. This center addresses the health and environmental factors impacting individuals living in circumpolar nations. The specialized needs of these individuals are associated with a rural and remote lifestyle; in many areas, access is restricted to boat, plane, or sled.
The other research center housed in the Division is the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies. This center “focuses on applied research which seeks to understand addiction and its impact on health and all aspects of life.” This is a service-based center that, in addition to research, actively engages people in the community and throughout Alaska.
The MPH Program is CEPH Accredited
The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA), College of Health, Division of Population Health Sciences is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) as a public health program.
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.
To maintain accreditation, schools must complete the re-accreditation process every seven years. The UAA public health program was initially accredited in 2009. It will undergo its next re-accreditation process in 2023.
For more information about the CEPH accreditation process and to understand the importance of accreditation when choosing a public health program, click here.