The School of Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health and offers a research-oriented opportunity for faculty, and a valuable professional experience for students. The school is a unique partnership between the New York State Dept. of Health and the University at Albany. The school is also affiliated with Albany Medical Center and Bassett Healthcare. Many of the 200 or so faculty members work on a daily basis within the field of public health, administering major health programs for the state of New York, or studying scientific or policy-oriented public health problems of national significance. Students not only have regular access to these health experts as teachers, mentors and internship advisors, they have immediate access to a vast array of internship opportunities, at the Health Department, Albany Medical College and a wide variety of other public and private health institutions throughout New York.
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The Dr.P.H. aims to prepare leaders within the public health profession who will address complex public health issues by combining sophisticated analytic and research skills with a broad-based understanding of the political, scientific, medical, statistical, ethical and economic factors that contribute to health problems. The Dr.P.H. is modeled on medical education, giving students both intensive instruction and offering them the opportunity to do four internships, or rotations, through a range of public health programs. The doctoral internship rotations accomplish for public health students what internship rotations are for students in medical school, providing direct, hands-on experience in several areas within the field of health. The culminating experience for Dr.P.H. students will be a doctoral project that demonstrates the student's capability to take charge of a major public health problem using the range of skills acquired. Through its strong relationship with the New York State Department of Health, the School has access to countless research programs in all aspects of public health.
The Public Health Surveillance and Preparedness Cerificate program offers formal training in public health preparedness with a focus on bioterrorism and infectious disease. A major advantage of the Certificate is the availability of most required courses through distance education as well as the traditional in-class modality. This flexibility enables the Certificate to build upon the School of Public Health’s goals of providing public health education to working professionals and upgrading the skills of the public health workforce. The Certificate’s close association with the Center for Public Health Preparedness provides access to a rich database of training and education resources for both students and faculty. This program is available fully online.
The Certificate Program in Public Health Fundamentals is aimed at preparing students for the continuously changing challenges in public health. Students may choose to take the required courses either online or in class. Building upon the School’s relationship with the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and local health departments, the program acknowledges the emerging need for creative educational modalities in health. This program is available fully online.
The Master of Public Health (MPH) is a professional degree designed to prepare graduates to tackle real public health problems, as practitioners who can apply their breadth of understanding as well as some degree of expertise and experience in at least one specific area of public health. The interdisciplinary MPH degree program allows students to apply cutting edge scientific and technical knowledge to preventing disease and promoting wellness through organized community efforts. The diversity and complexity of today's public health concerns require practitioners who understand the political, ethical, economic, and scientific concerns involved in addressing the great challenges to the modern world. The school's unique focus on linking academic studies with a broad base of knowledge, skills and experience necessary to meet today's public health challenges. All students participate in at least two distinct public health internships.
This fully online program provides an exciting opportunity for public health professionals and others interested in the field to obtain a Master's Degree in Public Health. Like our traditional MPH program, this concentration provides a strong academic foundation in the core disciplines of public health AND opportunities for students to apply new knowledge and skills in the public health field.
The dual degree, Master of Public Health and MD program is targeted at medical students who are interested in acquiring knowledge and skills in public health. The marriage of medicine and public health skills will enable physicians to be better practitioners and leaders in the fields of medicine and public health. The program will build upon the existing relationship between Albany Medical College and the UAlbany School of Public Health to prepare physicians to be aware and capable of addressing public health problems and to create public health professionals adept at clinical knowledge and practice.
The School of Public Health and School of Social Welfare have joined resources to offer students an opportunity to combine the MPH (Department of Health Policy, Management and Behavior: Management or Health Policy track) and the MSW (MACRO concentration) for a strong specialization in health policy, management and administration. The MSW coursework includes generalist and advanced social work MACRO practice that prepares students to work in health care and health related settings. Both degrees count courses in the other program as meeting course requirements. The program is fully accredited as (1) Council on Education for Public Health accredited MPH program under the School of Public Health's current accreditation and (2) a Council on Social Work Education MSW program under the School of Social Welfare's current accreditation.
The Masters of Sciences program in Biomedical Sciences offers a broad perspective on biomedical, clinical, and laboratory research with particular emphasis on analytic and quantitative skills. This "scientific research" focus distinguishes the MS degree from the MPH degree, which is more general. The program leading to the MS degree typically requires two years of full-time study, culminating in the completion of a masters thesis.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Biomedical Sciences offers intensive laboratory and field training in biomedical sciences. In addition to this wet bench training, students develop research planning, communication, and quantitative skills required for successful leadership roles in academia, government, and industry. These scientific, planning, and communication foci distinguish the PhD degree from the MS degree, which is more general.
The Masters of Sciences program in Biostatistics stresses theory and methodology to provide students with skills that can be applied to many areas, including health care, economics, social, biological and environ-mental sciences and the development of observational studies and survey techniques. The M.S. program may also lead toward a doctoral degree with research focused on statistics, biometry, mathematics or
econometrics.
The doctoral program of study and research normally takes four years of full-time study and research beyond the baccalaureate. The general program requirements call for a minimum of two years of full-time graduate study or the equivalent, and at least one additional year devoted to the research and writing of an acceptable dissertation. During the first two years of study, the student obtains a general education in statistical theory and methodology. The student develops a program of course work under the guidance of a faculty advisor and, upon successful completion of the course work, typically receives a master's degree at the end of the second year. However, a master's degree is not a prerequisite for obtaining a doctoral degree.
The Master of Science program in Environmental Health is designed to develop advanced skills, critical thinking, and a sound understanding of the fundamentals in the disciplines of environmental chemistry, toxicology or environmental health. The program prepares students for technical and analytical careers in the environmental sciences, working in the public or private sectors.
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Environmental Health Sciences is designed to prepare students for scholarly and professional positions and careers in academia, government and industry. The program emphasizes the application of biological, physical, and medical sciences to the solution of environmental and public-health problems The objective of doctoral study is to develop each student's ability to conduct original, advanced research as an independent scientist. In keeping with this goal, each student is expected to guide his or her own research project, under the supervision of a faculty member, with a high level of effort and accomplishment, and thereby gain the capacity to be self-teaching and the ability to design and conduct research on important issues in the student's chosen field.
Graduates completing the MS in Epidemiology will understand the design, application and interpretation of epidemiological studies of public health problems in the community. Students will become familiar with the range of epidemiologic practices, including surveillance, etiologic investigation, and the evaluation of preventive interventions. They will be able to define, compute and interpret fundamental epidemiologic measures, explain the principles, strengths and weaknesses of epidemiologic study designs, know how to apply the fundamental techniques for selection of study populations, have experience with techniques for collecting data and evaluating the quality of data, demonstrate basic skills for managing computer-based data, and demonstrate the ability to interpret and present the results of epidemiological research.
Graduates completing the PhD program in Epidemiology will understand the design, application and interpretation of epidemiological studies of public health problems in the community. Students will become familiar with the range of epidemiologic practices, including surveillance, etiologic investigation, and the evaluation of preventive interventions. They will be able to define, compute and interpret fundamental epidemiologic measures, explain the principles, strengths and weaknesses of epidemiologic study designs, know how to apply the fundamental techniques for selection of study populations, have experience with techniques for collecting data and evaluating the quality of data, demonstrate basic skills for managing computer-based data, and demonstrate the ability to interpret and present the results of epidemiological research.
The health disparities certificate program is designed to respond to the need for current and future leaders in public health, social services, medicine, and the social sciences (public health, social work, psychology, economics, and anthropology) to be knowledgeable of the issues and strategies needed to eliminate health disparities. The goal of this graduate program is to train current students and professionals in the field to be leaders in addressing and working to eliminate health disparities.
The graduate certificate in Global Health Studies is designed to equip graduate students, health care professionals, and public health professionals with an in-depth understanding of the complexities and realities of global health. This program is available fully online.
The Graduate Certificate in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) offers students the opportunity to explore and deepen their understanding of the field of MCH as a specialty area within public health. MCH focuses on promoting the health and well-being of women, infants, children, adolescents, fathers, and families, with special concern for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, including children with special heal care needs.
