Personalized support from day one

Building a connection early on — discussing your goals, listening to your questions, troubleshooting your challenges — sets up a productive relationship with your Student Success advisor. As soon as you enroll in your Public Health program, you’re invited to make an appointment to get up to speed on the many resources that are available to you. Meeting with a Student Success advisor is a required step in your new student orientation.

Afterwards, Student Success meetings take place on your schedule. Choose to meet online or by phone as often or infrequently as you wish. There’s no question or occasion that’s too big or too small. Sometimes, a 15-minute phone call is all you need. If you need 60, we can do that, too.

Student Success meetings may cover:

• Identifying a course plan: Plan ahead semester-by-semester to ensure you’re taking the right courses in the right sequence.
• Connecting with essential services: Need help finding student health services, academic tutoring, or the designated Public Health librarian? We’ll point you in the right direction.
• Collaborating with faculty: We’re here to help you work effectively with faculty on diverse issues related to your studies.
• Utilizing online tools: Review strategies for staying connected to your classmates and professors on Blackboard, finding a subject matter tutor through Wyzant, or learning online.

Meet Pallas: The face of one-on-one Student Success

Pallas Ziporyn is the MPH program advisor and is your point of contact as you consider enrolling and complete your degree. She has a background in public health and student advising and went through the MPH program herself. She will work with you to you develop a personalized program plan, help you navigate the program, and serve as a resource for you throughout your graduate studies.

Email Pallas today at: public.health@uvm.edu 
 

No matter where you are in your studies, your future career is probably on your mind. UVM's Public Health Career Services is your personalized support network for all-things career planning and job searching. From narrowing down the role that’s right for your skill set and passion to practicing salary negotiations, we’re your dedicated resource to help you build your career path with confidence. And we’re with you for the long haul: all Public Health graduates have forever-access to our Public Health Career Services at UVM.

Meet Public Health Career Advisor Caitlin Wilson

Caitlin A. Wilson, MPH has joined the Graduate Public Health Program as a Career Advisor. In this role, in addition to her faculty teaching responsibilities in the MPH program, Caitlin will provide graduate MPH students and alumni an opportunity to participate in career guidance and coaching opportunities to enhance their futures, broaden their network, and achieve professional goals.  

Caitlin Wilson, MPH

Professor Wilson holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Vermont Master of Public Health Program and a BS in Biological Sciences from the University of Vermont. Caitlin’s focus in public health surrounds health equity for vulnerable populations. Caitlin is passionate in public health advocacy, rural healthcare, gerontology, and migrant health. Caitlin has worked for numerous organizations throughout rural Vermont and New Hampshire to promote health and wellness for vulnerable individuals.

Schedule an Appointment with Professor Wilson

Public Health Career Resource Center

It’s true — looking for the right job can often feel like a full-time job unto itself. We’re here to help you look in the right places.

We’ve collected an incredible array of career resources that are geared specifically to starting or growing your career in public health. 

In our new Public Health Career Resource Center, you’ll find:

• Internship and Volunteering Resources
• Fellowship Resources
• Job Search Resources
• Resume and CV Resources
• Cover Letter Resources
• LinkedIn and WordPress Resources
• Interview Preparation
• Job and Salary Negotiation Resources

Access the Public Health Career Resource Center Today

Current students can access the Public Health Career Resource Center with a UVM NetID through Blackboard.

Public Health alumni can access career resources in our new Public Health Career Resource Center. No UVM NetID required; you can use an email to create an account.

UVM Graduate Public Health Programs

Are all the classes online?

Yes, 100% of our Public Health courses are held fully online.

How many people will be in my online classes?

Class sizes are small, ranging from 15 to 25 students.

How will I communicate with faculty if I have questions or concerns?

Faculty will be available throughout the course to support your educational goals and answer questions through online discussions, one-on-one conversations, and during designated office hours.

Is it possible to take classes and work full-time?

Yes. You should plan to spend 5 to 20 hours per week on each class. Students find the discussion boards with fellow students and instructors to be engaging yet flexible. You can participate anytime, including evenings and weekends.

Am I required to take the GRE?

No, the GRE is not required.

How do I apply?

Please see our admission page for the details.

I live outside the United States.  Can I enroll in one of your programs?

Yes! International students are always welcome in our programs. Here is our International Student Admissions information.

I work in a non-health related field. Am I qualified to enroll?

Yes, students from diverse academic and professional fields are encouraged to enroll. If you have a passion for making a difference and improving the quality of life for others, then please apply.

What career opportunities are available?

A Public Health Master’s Degree or Graduate Certificate gives you many career path options.  Please see our blog post for the five core disciplines with examples of positions that are in-demand and growing.

Master of Public Health

How many credits do I need to complete the online MPH degree program?

The University of Vermont’s online Master of Public Health degree is a 42-credit program.

Is the online MPH degree program accredited?

The Master of Public Health Program is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) and the Council for Education on Public Health (CEPH). NECHE is the nation’s oldest regional accrediting association, and governs the high standards of all of the programs offered at the University of Vermont. CEPH accreditation is nationally recognized as the quality standard of education and training in public health.

How long does it take to complete the online MPH degree program?

Full-time students can complete the program in 14 to 24 months. Part-time students (those enrolled in fewer than 9 credits per semester) have up to five years to complete the program. The MPH degree offers students another option for completing the program in one year.  If you are a UVM undergraduate student, then you have an option for a one-year Accelerated MPH.

Can I start the online MPH degree program anytime?

Yes. Our courses are offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. However, please note that for students wishing to complete the program full-time in 14 months we require a summer semester start.

When will I hear whether I have been accepted into the online MPH degree program?

We will let you know if you have been accepted within two to three weeks of receiving your completed application.

What are the prerequisites for the online MPH degree program?

We welcome students with a variety of backgrounds into our online MPH degree program. Please see our admission checklist for more details on prerequisites and note that we do not require GRE test scores.

Is financial aid available?

Master of Public Health students may be eligible for federal financial aid in the form of Federal Stafford and/or Federal PLUS loans, as well as alternative (private) student loans.

To apply for federal financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information on the application process for financial aid and alternative student loans, please visit the Student Financial Services website

Can you tell me more about the Culminating Project Experience?

In order to graduate you are required to complete a Culminating Project Experience, which includes the Applied Practice Experience (APE) and the Integrative Learning Experience (ILE). 

The Culminating Project Experience provides an opportunity for you to apply your program knowledge to a meaningful Public Health research project to improve the quality of life for people. Project examples include research to help prevent obesity and other chronic health conditions, improving public policy around nutrition in public schools, and researching disease outbreaks.

What is the Applied Practice Experience?

The Applied Practice Experience (APE) is a one-credit, brief work-based learning experience at a public health agency or organization of your choice (with assistance from APE Faculty). The APE includes 15 hours of direct contact with APE Faculty during the semester, 20 or more hours outside the classroom at the student-selected agency, and 10 hours of work on your electronic portfolio products including career development documents that showcase your public health education, experiences, and volunteer activities. The APE creates opportunities to assess the needs of a public health organization, select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors, and perform effectively on inter-professional teams.

 Students will create two products with direction from the agency/organization and apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs, propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.

Can you tell me more about the Integrative Learning Experience?

The Integrative Learning Experience is designed to help graduates meet two objectives of the MPH program:

1. Prepare graduates to apply knowledge and skills in a culminating experience or project that reflects research and/or practice needs of actual populations, and
2. Prepare graduates to “hit the ground running” in subsequent careers in health care, public health, or further academic study.

The course is taught entirely online and requires active participation in a project team. The ILE project work is divided into three parts, which are overlapping in terms of the time frames:

• Part 1: searching and synthesizing the literature on your topic area as part of designing the project.
• Part 2: processing your data, describing your data and then conducting actual data analysis.
• Part 3: preparation and presentation of deliverables associated with your project, such as participation in a virtual poster session.

Public Health Graduate Certificates (in Public Health, Global and Environmental Health, Epidemiology, and Healthcare Management and Policy)

How long does it take to complete the Certificate?

All of the Graduate Public Health Certificates are 18-credit programs, designed for one-year completion over the course of three semesters. While you may opt to take courses at your own pace, you must complete the program within five years.

Can I transfer my credits from my Public Health certificate to a Master of Public Health?

Yes, you can transfer all of your 18 credits from our UVM Public Health certificates to the MPH degree.

If you completed graduate level courses in Public Health at UVM or at another university, then the traditional transfer of credit policy applies for matriculation into the MPH. You can transfer up to 9 relevant credits from UVM or another university and an additional 6 relevant credits taken at UVM, provided the grade received for any transferred course is a B or higher. The program director will determine whether each course is relevant. The grades do not transfer.

Is financial aid available for this program?

Federal or institutional financial aid is not available for students enrolled solely in a certificate program. The Student Financial Services website includes details about other potential financing options for the certificate program.