Public Health: Hlth Behavior and Hlth Promotion (MPH)
Catalog Year 2026-2027
The Public Health: Health Behavior and Health Promotion, MPH focuses on improving individual and population health through a variety of applied methods, with an emphasis on preventive measures, social determinants of health, systems and environmental change, as well as behavior change strategies and health promotion. Interprofessional collaboration is essential to the overall health and wellbeing of populations served. All students will complete an applied practice experience which requires a field-based experience in setting aligned with their professional goals and interests.
The field of Health Behavior and Health Promotion is vast, offering an array of career options. Students are prepared for employment in educational settings, governmental agencies, private and voluntary health organizations, health care settings, and business and industry.
The curriculum focuses on skills and competencies required to apply for credentialing as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES ®) or a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES ®). Courses will be aligned and crosscut to focus on the broad areas of assessment, planning, evaluation, administration, communication, and advocacy. NCHEC's professional certification program establishes a national standard for individual health education practitioners that provides an advantage when seeking employment and/or graduate education.
Upon completion of this program, graduates will also be able to demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills critical to the support of diversity, equity, health equity, and inclusion in health education and promotion efforts, advocacy initiatives, and health communications.
Program Requirements
Common Core
Presents the overarching framework, principles, sciences, and core responsibilities associated with public health practice in the United States. It provides the necessary foundation for further studies related to specific disciplines (e.g., health education and promotion or nutrition and dietetics) associated with cross-cutting approaches of public health practice.
Prerequisites:
none
Overviews basic principles and applications of epidemiological concepts and methods in the study of public health problems in populations. The focus of the course is on the interpretation and assessment of epidemiologic research, both descriptive and analytic, and its application to public health practice and relevance to the key disciplines of public health. Examples of the use of the principles of epidemiology will be presented so that students will have sufficient understanding to apply such principles in future public health work.
Prerequisites:
none
An examination of the impact environmental factors have on human health and public health practice. Students study problems related to air, water, solid waste, housing, land use, toxic waste, and sanitation, emphasizing their effects on vulnerable populations and health disparities. The course integrates theory, policy, and applied practice, including risk assessment, environmental monitoring, regulatory frameworks, and intervention strategies. Through case studies and projects, students develop the skills to evaluate environmental health risks, design preventive strategies, and implement policies that promote sustainable, equitable health outcomes at local, national, and global levels.
Prerequisites:
none
Designed to make students familiar with the steps of grant writing, explore the various sources of grants available to health professionals, and develop skills and competencies to successfully write grant proposals.
Prerequisites:
none
Specific managerial components will be emphasized, such as organizational patterns, fiscal administration, and personnel management common to the healthcare system. Administrative functions of policy settings, planning coordination, public issue involvement, and community relations will be included. Particular attention is given to the human side of management.
Prerequisites:
none
Examines the intersections of global health and development, with emphasis on health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Students analyze how social, political, and economic forces shape health outcomes and evaluate strategies for health systems strengthening, including financing, workforce development, and universal health coverage. Case studies highlight issues such as infectious disease, maternal and child health, and the impacts of globalization and climate change.
Prerequisites:
none
Provides a rigorous understanding of the current American healthcare system and how it is likely to evolve. This course takes a policy and politics angle to healthcare's three persistent issues - access, cost, and quality - to understand current issues and future potential solutions. The roles of patients, physicians, hospitals, insurers, and pharmaceutical companies will be established. This course will also apply economics to an analysis of the healthcare industry, with special emphasis on the unique characteristics of the US healthcare markets, from pre-hospital to post-acute care.
Prerequisites:
none
Provides a thorough background on the practical aspects of health planning, including development, adoption, and implementation of health programs.
Prerequisites:
none
Provides a solid theoretical and philosophical foundation for professional health education practice. Current and historical health education, theoretical and philosophical models, and concepts are explored. Application of these models and concepts to professional practice is emphasized.
Prerequisites:
none
Focuses on advanced development of communication and advocacy skills for the health education specialist. The course provides in-depth coverage of health communication theory, application, and evidence. Students will critique a current health communication campaign.
Prerequisites:
none
Reviews the basic principles and techniques used in Biostatistics and will incorporate a final project that entails analyzing data, using the SPSS program, to answer hypothesized questions, and make conclusions using the inferential statistical process.
Prerequisites:
none
Focuses on the complexity of health behavior change and the skills necessary for a health promotion professional to assess, plan, and evaluate behavior change interventions for individuals and communities. Health behavior change theories and strategies will be discussed. Emphasis will be given to the impact of policy and environmental influences on behavior.
Prerequisites:
none
Provides students with the opportunity to apply what they have learned in their courses through supervised, practical experiences in public health settings to meet the needs of the setting.
Prerequisites:
none
Research/Methods Course(s)
Examines and applies research methods common to public health topics. Course requires an extensive literature review as part of a research proposal.
Prerequisites:
none
Capstone Course
A culminating experience where students synthesize and integrate knowledge learned in their program through projects specific to their educational and professional goals. Projects are high-quality written products that address multiple competencies within the student's area of focus.
Prerequisites:
none
Degree Plan
The Degree Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual degree plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan. * Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.
First Year
Fall - 12 Credits
Presents the overarching framework, principles, sciences, and core responsibilities associated with public health practice in the United States. It provides the necessary foundation for further studies related to specific disciplines (e.g., health education and promotion or nutrition and dietetics) associated with cross-cutting approaches of public health practice.
Prerequisites:
none
Examines and applies research methods common to public health topics. Course requires an extensive literature review as part of a research proposal.
Prerequisites:
none
Provides a rigorous understanding of the current American healthcare system and how it is likely to evolve. This course takes a policy and politics angle to healthcare's three persistent issues - access, cost, and quality - to understand current issues and future potential solutions. The roles of patients, physicians, hospitals, insurers, and pharmaceutical companies will be established. This course will also apply economics to an analysis of the healthcare industry, with special emphasis on the unique characteristics of the US healthcare markets, from pre-hospital to post-acute care.
Prerequisites:
none
Provides a thorough background on the practical aspects of health planning, including development, adoption, and implementation of health programs.
Prerequisites:
none
Spring - 12 Credits
Overviews basic principles and applications of epidemiological concepts and methods in the study of public health problems in populations. The focus of the course is on the interpretation and assessment of epidemiologic research, both descriptive and analytic, and its application to public health practice and relevance to the key disciplines of public health. Examples of the use of the principles of epidemiology will be presented so that students will have sufficient understanding to apply such principles in future public health work.
Prerequisites:
none
Designed to make students familiar with the steps of grant writing, explore the various sources of grants available to health professionals, and develop skills and competencies to successfully write grant proposals.
Prerequisites:
none
Examines the intersections of global health and development, with emphasis on health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Students analyze how social, political, and economic forces shape health outcomes and evaluate strategies for health systems strengthening, including financing, workforce development, and universal health coverage. Case studies highlight issues such as infectious disease, maternal and child health, and the impacts of globalization and climate change.
Prerequisites:
none
Reviews the basic principles and techniques used in Biostatistics and will incorporate a final project that entails analyzing data, using the SPSS program, to answer hypothesized questions, and make conclusions using the inferential statistical process.
Prerequisites:
none
Second Year
Fall - 9 Credits
An examination of the impact environmental factors have on human health and public health practice. Students study problems related to air, water, solid waste, housing, land use, toxic waste, and sanitation, emphasizing their effects on vulnerable populations and health disparities. The course integrates theory, policy, and applied practice, including risk assessment, environmental monitoring, regulatory frameworks, and intervention strategies. Through case studies and projects, students develop the skills to evaluate environmental health risks, design preventive strategies, and implement policies that promote sustainable, equitable health outcomes at local, national, and global levels.
Prerequisites:
none
Provides a solid theoretical and philosophical foundation for professional health education practice. Current and historical health education, theoretical and philosophical models, and concepts are explored. Application of these models and concepts to professional practice is emphasized.
Prerequisites:
none
Focuses on the complexity of health behavior change and the skills necessary for a health promotion professional to assess, plan, and evaluate behavior change interventions for individuals and communities. Health behavior change theories and strategies will be discussed. Emphasis will be given to the impact of policy and environmental influences on behavior.
Prerequisites:
none
Spring - 10 Credits
Specific managerial components will be emphasized, such as organizational patterns, fiscal administration, and personnel management common to the healthcare system. Administrative functions of policy settings, planning coordination, public issue involvement, and community relations will be included. Particular attention is given to the human side of management.
Prerequisites:
none
Focuses on advanced development of communication and advocacy skills for the health education specialist. The course provides in-depth coverage of health communication theory, application, and evidence. Students will critique a current health communication campaign.
Prerequisites:
none
Provides students with the opportunity to apply what they have learned in their courses through supervised, practical experiences in public health settings to meet the needs of the setting.
Prerequisites:
none
A culminating experience where students synthesize and integrate knowledge learned in their program through projects specific to their educational and professional goals. Projects are high-quality written products that address multiple competencies within the student's area of focus.
Prerequisites:
none
Policies
Please refer to the current institutional Student Policy Handbook on our website for a full set of policies.
Admission Requirements:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited university with a minimum GPA of 2.85. Preference is given to students who have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
A personal statement indicating the purpose and objectives for pursuing an MPH from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Three letters of recommendation from professors or professional colleagues. A minimum of one letter must be from an academic professor. No personal references are accepted.
A resume.
Additional Admission Requirements for International Applicants:
Minimum TOEFL iBT score of 80 or a minimum IELTS score of 6.5.
Progression and Graduation Requirements:
Commensurate with requirements from the Minnesota State University, Mankato College of Graduate Studies and Research's Policy & Course Requirements
Academic Integrity Policy:
The Department of Health Science values and supports an environment conducive to learning as well as academic integrity. Therefore, students are expected to comply with Minnesota State Mankato student responsibilities and policies for academic integrity. Academic integrity includes meeting one's responsibilities in an honest and forthright manner and avoiding acts of dishonesty, plagiarism, cheating, collusion, and other forms of academic misconduct. An act of dishonesty, cheating, collusion, and/or any other form of academic misconduct will result in a 0 on the assessment and a full letter grade deduction from the final course grade (e.g., "A-" to "B-"). An act of plagiarism will result in a 0 on the assessment or assessments and the student will be encouraged to meet with the chair of the Department of Health Science and receive remediation related to plagiarism. Two acts of any form of academic misconduct will result in a final course grade of "F". Evidence related to any act of academic misconduct will be submitted to the Chairperson of the Department of Health Science. Two acts of academic misconduct in any Health Science course or courses will result in discontinuance from, or eligibility to enroll in, the academic programs offered by the Department of Health Science. Additionally, evidence related to academic misconduct will be submitted, as appropriate, to the Office of Academic Affairs and/or the College of Education.
Please note: Policy reflects minimum departmental standards. Individual instructors may impose more severe sanctions for an act of academic dishonesty within their courses.
