ATSU Master of Public Health (MPH) Program Guide 2026

Program Overview: ATSU Online MPH

A.T. Still University (ATSU), founded in 1892, offers a 100% online Master of Public Health (MPH) through its College of Graduate Health Studies (CGHS). The program is CEPH (Council on Education for Public Health) accredited and fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), providing the credential recognition essential for public health careers.

With campuses in Mesa, Arizona and Kirksville, Missouri (though the program is entirely online), ATSU brings over 125 years of heritage in whole-person healthcare to its public health curriculum. The program is designed for working professionals seeking to advance their careers in public health without disrupting their current employment — a critical consideration given that many public health professionals cannot take time away from the communities they serve.

Under the leadership of Program Chair Dr. Mary-Katherine McNatt (DrPH, MPH, MCHES, CPH) and Dean Don Altman (DDS, DHSc, EdD, MPH, MBA, MA), the program balances rigorous academic standards with practical flexibility. The 48-credit curriculum covers all core public health competencies while allowing specialization through electives in emerging areas such as health disparities, social media in public health, and pandemic response.

Core Curriculum: 15 Courses Covering All Public Health Domains

The ATSU MPH curriculum spans 48 credit hours across 15 courses, covering the full breadth of public health knowledge and practice. Core courses include:

• Introduction to Public Health Concepts — foundational frameworks for understanding population health
• Epidemiology — the science of disease distribution, determinants, and control in populations
• Biostatistics — statistical methods for analyzing public health data
• Environmental Health Sciences — physical, chemical, and biological environmental factors affecting health
• Behavioral Sciences and Health Education — theories and methods for promoting healthy behaviors
• Public Health Administration — management principles for public health organizations
• Public Health Policy — analysis and development of policies affecting population health
• Community Health Informatics — technology applications in public health data management
• Fundamentals of Research in Public Health — research design and methodology
• Development of Community-Based Programs — planning, implementing, and evaluating health interventions
• Global Health Issues — international health challenges and collaborative solutions
• Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response — public health roles in crisis management

Elective courses allow students to specialize in areas of particular interest or career relevance, including Community Health and Social Media, Cannabis History, Policy, and Culture, and Public Health Disparities, Health Equity, and Covid-19. These electives reflect the program’s commitment to addressing contemporary public health challenges that are reshaping the field.

Online Format: Flexibility Without Compromise

The ATSU MPH is delivered 100% asynchronously, meaning there are no scheduled live sessions — students can complete coursework on their own schedules. The academic year is divided into four 10-week blocks (two per semester), and students can begin the program in any block, providing maximum enrollment flexibility.

Each week follows a structured rhythm: assigned readings, a discussion post due Wednesday, response posts, and an additional assignment due Sunday. The expected weekly time commitment is 8-15 hours, calibrated for working professionals who are balancing employment, family, and education. This structure provides enough regularity to maintain momentum while preserving the flexibility that online learners need.

Up to 3 courses (9 credits) may be transferred from other accredited institutions, provided they were completed within the last 7 years with a minimum grade of 3.0. This transfer policy enables students with prior graduate coursework to accelerate their path to the MPH degree.

Public Health Practicum: Applied Practice and Integrated Learning

The capstone of the ATSU MPH is a two-component Public Health Practicum that bridges classroom learning with real-world public health practice. The Applied Practice Experience (APE) requires students to develop and execute an applied practical experience with a public health organization — providing hands-on experience in program planning, implementation, or evaluation within a professional setting.

The Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) requires students to produce a high-quality, substantive written document aimed at a public health organization. This capstone document demonstrates the student’s ability to synthesize program knowledge and apply it to a real public health challenge. Together, the APE and ILE ensure that graduates can translate theoretical knowledge into practical impact — the essential competency that employers seek in MPH graduates.

This practice-integrated approach aligns with ASPPH (Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health) recommendations for applied competency development. Similar emphasis on translating academic knowledge to professional practice can be found across health science programs, including the approach taken by the UNC Chapel Hill PharmD program with its extensive immersion experiences.

Admissions Requirements

The ATSU MPH program maintains accessible admissions standards while ensuring students are prepared for graduate-level work. Requirements include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, a completed application with résumé, transcripts, and personal essay. International applicants must also provide qualifying TOEFL scores.

The relatively accessible GPA requirement (2.5 minimum) reflects the program’s philosophy that professional experience and motivation are equally important predictors of graduate success. Many students enter with years of professional experience in healthcare, social services, education, or community organizations, bringing practical knowledge that enriches classroom discussions and collaborative projects.

Tuition, Financial Aid, and Return on Investment

The ATSU MPH is priced at $718 per credit hour (evaluated annually), bringing the total estimated tuition for the 48-credit program to approximately $34,464. This positions the program competitively among CEPH-accredited online MPH programs, many of which charge significantly more.

Financial aid options include Federal Direct Stafford Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans for students enrolled at least half-time (minimum 5 credit hours per semester). ATSU’s Scholarship Universe portal provides access to both internal and external scholarship opportunities, helping students identify funding sources matched to their profiles.

The return on investment is enhanced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics projection that employment of public health professionals will grow much faster than average through the coming decade. With median salaries for epidemiologists, health administrators, and public health directors well above national averages, the MPH credential from a CEPH-accredited institution represents a strong financial investment in career advancement.

Career Outcomes and Professional Pathways

ATSU MPH graduates are prepared for a wide range of public health careers spanning government, healthcare, nonprofit, academic, and private sectors. Career pathways include:

• Epidemiologist — investigating disease patterns and informing prevention strategies
• Public Health Director — leading public health departments and agencies
• Health Policy Advisor — shaping legislation and regulations that affect population health
• Health Educator/Consultant — designing and implementing health education programs
• Environmental Health Scientist — assessing and managing environmental health risks
• Biostatistician — analyzing health data to inform public health decisions
• Public Health Project Manager — coordinating complex health initiatives
• Health Administrator — managing healthcare organizations and systems

The versatility of the MPH degree means graduates often work across traditional boundaries — an epidemiologist might transition to health policy, or a health educator might move into public health administration. ATSU’s career services provide resume preparation, interview coaching, and career guidance to support these transitions, while the doctoral-level faculty bring professional networks that connect students to opportunities in health sciences research, academia, and practice.

Student Support Services: The ATSU Difference

ATSU differentiates its online MPH through comprehensive student support services designed specifically for distance learners. Every student is assigned a dedicated Academic Advisor who provides personalized guidance on scheduling, progress tracking, and motivation. The Writing Center staffed by professional writers and editors with healthcare research experience helps students develop the writing skills essential for public health practice.

Full access to the A.T. Still Memorial Library (one of the premier medical and dental research libraries) ensures students have the research resources needed for evidence-based coursework. Most books are available online, eliminating access barriers for distance learners. Career Services provide resume preparation and interview support, connecting students with employment opportunities across the public health landscape.

ATSU’s broader institutional profile — six schools, 3,500+ students, and an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio — creates a supportive learning environment where students are known as individuals rather than numbers. Faculty are doctoral-level professionals who bring both academic rigor and practical public health experience to their teaching, embodying the university’s commitment to whole-person healthcare education. This student-centered approach parallels the emphasis on support found at institutions like the Carnegie Mellon graduate programs.

Accreditation and the 125-Year ATSU Heritage

Accreditation is a critical factor in choosing an MPH program, as it affects both credential recognition and eligibility for professional certifications. The ATSU MPH holds CEPH accreditation, the gold standard for public health education, as well as full accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This dual accreditation ensures the program meets the highest standards for both public health education specifically and graduate education generally.

ATSU’s 125+ year heritage in healthcare education provides a depth of institutional knowledge and commitment that newer programs cannot match. Founded as the founding school of osteopathic medicine, ATSU has always emphasized a whole-person approach to health — treating the individual within their environmental, social, and community context. This philosophy naturally extends to public health, where population-level interventions require understanding health in its fullest social and environmental dimensions.