Prepare to address complex population health challenges through evidence-based practice, policy, research and community-focused solutions.
UNC Gillings prepares students to examine the emerging and systemic threats shaping health, equity and well-being today, including:
Our CEPH-accredited online MPH trains working professionals to respond through:
Designed for flexibility, the program allows you to continue working while preparing to address complex public health issues across communities, organizations and health systems.
42
Graduate-level credits across flexible study pathways
4
Distinct concentration options
20–36
Months to complete for most students
200
Practicum hours in real-world health settings
No GRE
Required for admission
The curriculum begins with the Gillings Core, where you’ll build a strong foundation in the essential principles and practices of public health.
As an online MPH student, you will complete:
Learn more about the UNC online MPH curriculum.
All students complete a 200-hour precepted and evaluated practicum experience designed to connect classroom learning with real-world public health work.
During the practicum, you will:
Complete your practicum in a public health setting near you — no need to travel to campus
Receive support from a dedicated practicum team to help you find and secure your placement
Gain hands-on experience addressing real public health challenges
The applied practice practicum experience is included as part of the 42-credit-hour curriculum, supported by 1 credit hour of pre- and post-practicum coursework.
We offer four concentrations that will enable you to cultivate expertise in a specific area and apply your knowledge in local or global settings.
Please note: When applying to the program, you will select two concentration preferences. Your enrollment team will then help you finalize the single concentration that best aligns with your professional goals.
All concentrations are CEPH-accredited and emphasize interdisciplinary, real-world public health practice. Explore your concentration options below.
Perfect for analytical students who want to use data to track patterns of disease, uncover public health threats and help stop them in their tracks.
Core Skills: Identify public health threats, analyze patterns of disease using modern epidemiologic frameworks and communicate findings to diverse audiences.
Engage in, collaborate on and interpret the results of epidemiologic studies using foundational concepts and methods.
Design and implement surveillance systems and apply the resulting data to evaluate public health programs and research.
Designed for future leaders who want to create, evaluate and advocate for better healthcare laws and public policies in both government and private organizations.
Core Skills: Understand how the U.S. healthcare system works, learn how to advocate for systemic change and master the management skills needed to run programs and lead teams.
Analyze the organizational, financial and regulatory frameworks governing the U.S. healthcare system.
Evaluate the political and structural impacts of health policies on marginalized communities.
Ideal if you already have some professional or volunteer experience in public health and want to build versatile leadership skills that apply to any healthcare or community setting.
Core Skills: Manage multi-state projects, lead teams, resolve conflicts smoothly and bring different organizations together to make communities healthier.
Use strategic management tools and structural frameworks to unpack complex public health threats.
Apply continuous optimization methods to evaluate and improve institutional healthcare delivery.
Learn more about the MPH Leadership in Practice concentration
For students passionate about improving health through better food systems, nutritional guidance and solutions to food insecurity.
Core Skills: Assess scientific evidence for dietary guidelines, lead nutrition programs across public and private sectors and develop health communications that resonate with diverse communities.
Create nutrition messaging that is inclusive, culturally aware and tailored to the needs of different populations.
Build a strong foundation in how the body uses nutrients, dietary requirements and the relationship between nutrition and population health.
Learn more about the MPH Nutrition, Food Systems and Health concentration
Our online MPH program offers flexible pacing options tailored to your schedule and career goals, ensuring you gain the rigorous training and hands-on experience needed to lead public health solutions in your community and beyond. Students should consult with their Academic Coordinator to confirm which pacing option works best for them.
This intensive pace is designed for students who want to focus on their studies and fast-track their entry into or advancement in public health.
Credits: 42 credit hours
Time to complete: In as few as 20 months
The most traditional path balances steady academic progress with a manageable course load, making it a great fit for students juggling professional responsibilities.
Credits: 42 credit hours
Time to complete: 24–36 months for most students; 60 months maximum
See how the online MPH from UNC Gillings can help you deepen your public health expertise while continuing to grow professionally.
Your online classes are designed and taught by world-class researchers, authors and field practitioners. Our faculty don’t just teach public health theory; they actively work in local communities to solve pressing health and resource challenges every day.
Physician and Public Health Educator | Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Jan Lee Santos is a physician and public health educator with over 15 years of experience across academic medicine, community health and healthcare systems. He teaches public health systems, policy and advocacy at UNC Gillings, where he received the 2024 Teaching Innovation Award and has mentored over 500 learners.
Courses:
SPHG 721: Public Health Solutions: Systems, Policy and Advocacy
Public Health Director, Dare County | Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Sheila Davies is the director of health and human services and public health director for Dare County, North Carolina. Her work spans substance abuse prevention, telepsychiatry and community health leadership. She has served on numerous state and national public health task forces, including the SAMHSA Telemental Health Services expert panel.
Courses:
Earning your MPH can prepare you for leadership and analytical roles across healthcare systems, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, research institutions and community health organizations.
Here are the national median salaries and common work settings for public health careers, based on the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
| Job Title | Common Work Settings | National Median Salary Estimate |
|---|---|---|
Medical / Health Services Manager | Hospitals, Outpatient Care and Clinics | $117,9604 |
Statistician (Biostatistician) | Pharma Manufacturing, R&D and Government | $104,3505 |
Epidemiologist | State and Federal Government, Hospitals | $83,9806 |
Environmental Health Specialist | Government Agencies and Consulting Firms | $80,0607 |
Social and Community Service Manager | Local Non-Profits, NGOs and Civic Organizations | $78,2408 |
Health Education Specialist | Community Centers, Hospitals and Schools | $63,0009 |
The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
As of January 1, 2026, North Carolina participates in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), supporting greater cross-state mobility for eligible healthcare professionals working in clinical leadership and public health settings.10
Earn your MPH online from UNC Gillings and build the skills to address today’s public health challenges through evidence-based leadership, policy and practice.
Join a collaborative community of professionals working to improve health outcomes across communities and healthcare systems.
No. The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Online MPH program does not require GRE scores for admission. Applications are reviewed holistically using materials such as academic transcripts, a résumé, statement of purpose and letters of recommendation.
Yes. The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Online MPH is designed for working professionals, including clinicians, healthcare administrators and public health practitioners seeking to expand their leadership, policy and population health expertise.
Flexible concentration options, including Leadership in Practice, help students strengthen their ability to address health inequities, improve healthcare systems and lead public health initiatives across diverse communities and organizations.
