ATSU Online Master of Public Health: Complete Program Guide 2026

Why an Online MPH Matters in 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally transformed public perception of public health professionals. What was once a behind-the-scenes field — managing vaccination programs, monitoring disease surveillance systems, and analyzing population health data — became front-page news as epidemiologists, health educators, and public health administrators led the response to a global crisis. The result has been a surge in demand for qualified public health professionals at every level, from community health organizations to federal agencies.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in public health occupations will grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2029 and beyond. This growth spans roles in epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, environmental health, community health education, and public health administration. For professionals seeking to enter or advance in this field, a Master of Public Health (MPH) is the standard credential — and increasingly, accredited online programs provide the flexibility to earn this degree without disrupting existing careers and family commitments.

A.T. Still University’s online MPH program addresses this demand with a CEPH-accredited curriculum delivered in a fully asynchronous format that respects the schedules of working professionals. With 125+ years of history in health sciences education and a whole-person healthcare philosophy, ATSU brings a distinctive perspective to public health training that emphasizes both scientific rigor and human-centered practice.

About A.T. Still University

A.T. Still University was founded in 1892 by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, who pioneered the whole-person approach to healthcare that became the foundation of osteopathic medicine. With over 130 years of continuous operation, ATSU is one of America’s longest-established health sciences universities, operating across two campuses in Mesa, Arizona and Kirksville, Missouri, while serving over 3,500 students through six schools.

The College of Graduate Health Studies (CGHS), which houses the MPH program, is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1 — ensuring meaningful interaction between students and instructors even in an online format. With over 1,300 employees supporting the university’s mission, ATSU provides the institutional infrastructure and support services that distinguish an established university from newer online education providers.

Dean Don Altman (DDS, DHSc, EdD, MPH, MBA, MA) leads the CGHS with a commitment to academic excellence, balance between theory and practice, and a support structure designed for student success. The university’s heritage in whole-person healthcare translates into an MPH program that views public health not as a collection of technical skills but as a vocation centered on improving the health and wellbeing of communities. Similar to how BU Questrom’s Executive MBA prepares leaders in business administration, ATSU’s MPH develops leaders who can address complex public health challenges with both analytical rigor and human compassion.

Program Structure and Format

The ATSU online MPH is designed explicitly for working professionals who need flexibility without sacrificing academic quality. The program consists of 48 credit hours across 15 courses, with an average completion time of two years. The academic calendar features four 10-week blocks per year (two per semester), and students can begin in any block — meaning there are four entry points per year rather than the traditional fall-only start that characterizes many graduate programs.

All coursework is delivered asynchronously through the Canvas learning management system, meaning there are no fixed class times. Students access materials, participate in discussions, and submit assignments according to their own schedules. A typical week involves assigned readings, an initial discussion post due Wednesday, discussion response posts with peers and professors, and another assignment due Sunday. This structure creates a rhythm of consistent engagement while allowing flexibility in when students complete their work.

The time commitment is manageable for working professionals: approximately 8-15 hours per week of coursework, depending on the course and the student’s background. This range reflects the reality that some courses (like Biostatistics) may require more time for students without quantitative backgrounds, while others build on professional experience that students bring to the program.

Core Curriculum: 15 Courses Deep Dive

The ATSU MPH curriculum covers all five core areas of public health knowledge defined by CEPH: biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health services administration, and social and behavioral sciences. Each course is designed to build competencies that translate directly into professional practice.

Foundational Courses

Introduction to Public Health Concepts establishes the framework for the entire program, covering the history, principles, and core functions of public health. Fundamentals of Research in Public Health teaches the research methods and critical analysis skills needed to evaluate evidence and design studies. Epidemiology — often called the “cornerstone of public health” — trains students to investigate the distribution and determinants of disease in populations, using real-world datasets and case studies.

Quantitative and Environmental Sciences

Biostatistics develops the quantitative analysis skills essential for evidence-based public health practice, covering statistical methods used in health research, program evaluation, and policy analysis. Environmental Health Sciences examines the relationship between environmental factors and human health, including toxicology, occupational health, and environmental policy. Community Health Informatics addresses the information systems and data management tools that underpin modern public health surveillance and decision-making.

Policy, Administration, and Behavioral Science

Public Health Administration covers the organizational, financial, and leadership skills needed to manage public health agencies and programs. Public Health Policy examines the policy-making process and teaches students to analyze, develop, and advocate for health policies at local, state, and federal levels. Behavioral Sciences and Health Education Concepts explores the psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence health behaviors, providing frameworks for designing effective health education interventions.

Applied and Specialized Courses

Identifying Community Health Needs teaches needs assessment methodologies used to prioritize health interventions. Development of Community-based Programs covers program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Public Health, Emergency Preparedness, and Disaster Response — a topic that gained critical relevance during COVID-19 — prepares students to plan for and respond to public health emergencies. Global Health Issues provides an international perspective on health challenges that cross borders and require coordinated global responses.

Elective Options

Students choose one elective from options including Community Health and Social Media, Cannabis History, Policy, and Culture, and Public Health Disparities, Health Equity, and Covid-19. These electives reflect emerging areas of public health practice that are shaping the profession’s future direction.

Public Health Practicum

The Public Health Practicum is the capstone experience of the MPH program, consisting of two integrated components that bridge academic learning with professional practice.

The Applied Practice Experience (APE) requires students to develop and execute an applied practical experience with a public health organization. This is not a passive observation — students are expected to contribute meaningfully to the organization’s public health mission, applying the skills and knowledge gained throughout the program to real-world challenges. The APE ensures that graduates have demonstrable professional experience before completing their degree.

The Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) requires students to produce a high-quality, substantive written document aimed at a public health organization. This document synthesizes the analytical, research, and communication skills developed across the curriculum into a professional deliverable that demonstrates readiness for leadership roles in public health practice. Just as McGill’s MEng practicum bridges academic engineering with real-world application, the ATSU practicum ensures MPH graduates are practice-ready from day one.

Faculty and Academic Leadership

The ATSU MPH program is led by Dr. Mary-Katherine McNatt, who holds a Doctorate of Public Health with emphasis in social and behavioral sciences from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, along with a Master’s in Rural Public Health from Texas A&M University. Dr. McNatt is certified in both public health (CPH) and health education (MCHES), and she brings experience spanning nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and academia.

Her research interests — cultural health disparities, rural and border health issues, maternal and child health, public health preparedness, and special medical needs populations — reflect the breadth of the program’s curriculum and its emphasis on underserved communities. This focus on health equity and access permeates the program’s teaching philosophy and course design.

The broader faculty includes doctoral-level professionals with credentials spanning public health, dentistry, health education, and related fields. Faculty members like Greg Loeben (PhD), Josefine Wolfe (PhD, RDH, CHES), and Marsha Presley (PhD, MPH) bring diverse professional backgrounds that enrich the learning experience. The program describes its faculty as “top public servants, academic innovators, and industry leaders from a variety of backgrounds in the health sciences” — and the credentials substantiate this claim.

Career Paths and Job Outlook

The career landscape for MPH graduates is both broad and growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that public health employment will grow much faster than the average for all occupations, driven by increasing attention to population health, pandemic preparedness, chronic disease management, environmental health, and health equity.

ATSU MPH graduates are prepared for a wide range of career paths:

• Epidemiologist: Investigate disease patterns, design surveillance systems, and inform public health interventions
• Health Educator: Design and implement programs that promote healthy behaviors in communities
• Public Health Director: Lead public health departments or agencies at local, state, or federal levels
• Biostatistician: Analyze health data to support research, policy, and program evaluation
• Environmental Health Scientist: Assess and mitigate environmental health risks
• Health Policy Advisor: Develop and advocate for health policies that improve population outcomes
• Public Health Project Manager: Coordinate multi-stakeholder health initiatives and grants
• Health Administrator: Manage healthcare organizations, clinics, and public health programs
• Community Health Services Director: Oversee community-based health programs and outreach
• Health Education Consultant: Advise organizations on health communication and behavior change strategies

The versatility of the MPH degree means that graduates work across sectors — government agencies (CDC, state health departments), nonprofit organizations, hospitals and health systems, pharmaceutical companies, consulting firms, and international organizations like the World Health Organization. The CEPH accreditation ensures that the degree is recognized and valued by employers across all these settings.

Tuition, Financial Aid, and Scholarships

ATSU’s MPH program is priced at $718 per credit hour, with the full 48-credit program costing approximately $34,464. This positions ATSU competitively in the online MPH market — many CEPH-accredited programs at comparable institutions charge significantly more, particularly those associated with large research universities.

Financial aid is available through Federal Direct Stafford Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans for students enrolled at least half-time (minimum 5 credit hours per semester). Accepted students gain access to Scholarship Universe through the ATSU portal, which aggregates both internal ATSU scholarships and external scholarship opportunities from across the country.

The tuition rate is evaluated annually by the university, so prospective students should confirm current pricing at the time of application. However, the per-credit-hour model allows students to manage their financial commitment by adjusting their course load — taking fewer courses per block extends the completion timeline but reduces per-semester costs. For students comparing online MPH options, the combination of CEPH accreditation, affordable tuition, and comprehensive financial aid access makes ATSU a strong value proposition. Similar to how CMU’s undergraduate programs offer exceptional ROI through career outcomes, ATSU’s MPH delivers credentials that pay dividends throughout a public health career.

Admission Requirements and Application

ATSU maintains accessible admission requirements that reflect the program’s mission to serve working professionals from diverse educational backgrounds. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree in any field (not specifically public health or health sciences) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above. The application requires submission of an admissions application, resume, transcript, and essay.

For international students, qualifying TOEFL scores are required. Up to 3 courses (9 credits) may transfer into the program if completed within the last 7 years with a minimum grade of 3.0 — allowing students who have completed relevant graduate coursework elsewhere to reduce their time to degree.

The program offers four start dates per year, corresponding to the four 10-week academic blocks. This flexibility means that accepted students rarely need to wait more than a few months to begin their studies. Applications can be submitted through the ATSU CGHS application portal, and the admissions team provides personalized enrollment support throughout the process.

Student Support and University Resources

Online students at ATSU have access to a comprehensive support ecosystem that addresses academic, professional, and personal needs. Each student is paired with a dedicated academic advisor who provides personalized guidance on scheduling, academic progress, and career planning. Advisors serve as the student’s “first stop for all things ATSU,” ensuring that online students receive the same level of institutional support as on-campus students.

The Writing Center is staffed with professional writers, editors, and educators who have experience in healthcare research and writing. Given the writing-intensive nature of the MPH curriculum — from discussion posts to the ILE capstone document — this resource is particularly valuable for students returning to academic writing after years in professional practice.

Library services provide full access to the A.T. Still Memorial Library, including medical and dental research libraries, with most books available in online format. Career services offer resume preparation, online interview support, and career advice — resources that are available to all students, including those who are already employed and seeking to advance within their current organizations.

For prospective students ready to advance their careers in public health, ATSU’s online MPH offers an accessible, affordable, and CEPH-accredited pathway to a credential that opens doors across the health sector. Contact the admissions team at 877.626.2577 or email cghsonlineadmissions@atsu.edu to schedule a consultation and begin your application.