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In an effort to meet the growing need for epidemiologists and biostatisticians entering the public health field, the College of Public Health is proud to announce the launch of two new Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degrees. The newly established M.P.H. in Epidemiology and M.P.H. in Biostatistics degrees are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) designated and are scheduled to start in Fall 2024.

The designation recognizes the strong STEM foundation of the new degrees’ curricula and will have impactful benefits for everyone who is pursuing a rewarding career as a public health professional, in particular international students.

International graduates of the new and on a F-1 visa will be eligible to apply for an additional two years of work authorization after the initial 12-month period of Post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the United States if they meet the required criteria.

According to Melissa Zullo, Ph.D., CPH associate dean for academic and faculty affairs, the STEM designation will elevate the offer of the College of Public Health graduate programs and will make a substantial difference for both students and public health organizations. “The ��ɫapp M.P.H. in Epidemiology is the only STEM-designated, CEPH-accredited graduate degree in Ohio that is offered both in person and online; while the in person M.P.H. in Biostatistics is the only one in Northeast Ohio,” says Zullo.

“The STEM designation additionally enhances the value of the M.P.H. degree programs in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and will allow the College of Public Health to better support all our students by providing extended training time,” Zullo adds.

The new STEM-designated degrees replace the former M.P.H. concentrations and will continue to help fill the need for graduates trained in epidemiology and biostatistics methods in Ohio and throughout the country. “Epidemiologists and mathematicians/biostatisticians show respectively a 27 percent and a 30 percent increase in job growth between 2022-2032,” notices Zullo. “For the past 15 years, CPH has been training public health practitioners with the highest quality education, providing graduates of the MPH degrees with elevated knowledge and skills to be competitive and successful in pursuing these jobs,” Zullo concludes. 

For more information about OPT and F-1 student status, please visit the ��ɫapp Office of Global Education.

For more information about the M.P.H. in Epidemiology and MPH in Biostatistics, please visit our website or contact Lynette Phillips, Ph.D., program coordinator at lphill20@kent.edu.