Degree Programs
The Department of Family and Preventive Medicine (originally Family and Community Medicine) has offered a master's degree in public health education since 1974, a MSTAT-Biostatistics degree since 1976, and a PhD since 2004. Initially the public health degree offered was the Master of Science in Community Medicine (MSCM); in 1984 this degree was changed to the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH). Since 1984 the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine Public Health Program has offered the MSPH degree, an academic degree with a research focus, and the MPH degree, a professional degree designed for individuals seeking a career in public health practice.
In 1978, the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine Public program became one of the first three community health/preventive medicine programs to be accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the nationally recognized accrediting body for public health programs.
Since 1978 the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine Public Health Program has undergone six accreditation reviews, the last concluded Summer 2014, for an additional seven years.
To date, the Public Health Program has a total of 1,386 graduates employed in a variety of public health, health care, research, and related settings. There are currently 176 active graduate students within the MPH, MSPH, MSTAT: Biostatistics Track and PhD degree programs.