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What does it cost?

Learn more about the cost of an online master’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.

Georgia State is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible programs for all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student’s future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.

How long will it take?

Full-time students can complete the online MPH degree in 4 semesters or 2 years. A part-time student can complete the program in 7 semesters or 3.5 years.

Application Deadlines View Admissions Requirements

Fall

  • February 15 (priority deadline)
  • March 15 (regular deadline)

Spring

  • October 1 (regular deadline)

The above are standard deadlines. Check our deadlines page for updates and extensions.

For more details on the application process, visit the Graduate Admissions page.

Online Master of Public Health - Health Promotion and Behavior Concentration

Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

Talk to an enrollment coach
404-413-4393
[email protected]

Talk to admissions
404-413-1452
[email protected]

Georgia State Online’s Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior (HPMB) equips students with the skills, knowledge and experiences to promote health and prevent diseases within populations and communities. By offering a concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior, Georgia State is able to empower students with the skills and tools they need to enact change and impact their communities.

Our unique Health Promotion and Behavior concentration provides students with an education on methods of promoting health and well-being in the community and how to assist with the implementation of healthy behaviors on an individual and community scale. The Health Promotion concentration establishes a strong foundation for developing expertise in health promotion methods through engaging online courses, research opportunities and supportive faculty that encourage and enable students to succeed.

Courses in this 42-credit hour program of study are designed to integrate theory, practice and research. The curriculum for the online Master of Public Health program with Health Promotion and Behavior concentration is the same curriculum as our rigorous in-person MPH and HPMB program, providing the same quality of education in a convenient online format. There is no GRE requirement to apply to the program.

Program Highlights

Make a Difference in the Health of Your Community With an Online Master of Public Health Degree

The online Master of Public Health degree from Georgia State will help you build and strengthen the public health system and improve the health of communities through behavior change and educational outreach.
  • Flexible online courses that work with your schedule
  • Complete the program in only two years
  • Lower cost for an online education with the same quality and stability of our in-person MPH program
  • No GRE required to apply
  • Research opportunities and applied learning experiences
  • Academic advising to guide you through your educational journey
  • Taught by the same internationally and nationally recognized faculty as our in-person MPH program
  • A School of Public Health with a goal of exceeding $20 million annually in sponsor-funded research

Career Outlook

What Can You Do With an Online Master of Public Health Degree?

Health promotion specialists plan and evaluate programs and policies which improve public health and public health systems. In health education, you could develop community-wide education initiatives on health topics such as nutrition or create curricula for training community health workers.

Public health is a field of action and impact that works with organizations to develop programs, policies and environments that enable health. It is the perfect career field to help communities on a grand scale and meet the growing need for public health professionals.

According to the World Health Organization, 40 million new health workers will be needed by 2030 due to increased rates of noncommunicable diseases and aging populations. The need to provide the public with programs and policies to support good health will result in state and local governments, hospitals and businesses employing a growing number of experts in health behavior and promotion.

Earnings Potential

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that careers in health education and community health work are expected to grow at a rate of 12% between 2021-2031, much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations of 5%. The BLS also reports that the median annual salary for health education specialists and community health workers is $48,860.

Student Testimonials - Why Study Public Health?

“What inspires me to pursue my master's of public health is the idea of being able to prevent a lot of the sickness that I see on a day-to-day basis. I work as a neonatal ICU nurse, so my patient population is all premature infants. What I want to do with my public health degree is come up with the tools and programs to be able to prevent premature birth.”

- Irene Wilkerson

“I'm passionate about studying public health because I have a strong belief that health is a human right. And because of this, I think that someone's socioeconomic status should not determine the quality of care that they receive. So, I'm going to make it a personal goal of mine to be sure to give a voice to those who are not always heard.”

- Asha Bell

“I am passionate and love public health because no matter what concentration you're in, no matter where you're working in public health - if you're working in academia, if you're working in the field - no matter what you want to study in public health, you're always helping people, you're always helping environments and you're helping society. It's one of the fields where we’re really making a difference and that's why I wanted to work with public health.”

- Phylicia Stewart

Program Details

The GRE is no longer a requirement for admission to the MPH program.

Please note that two applications are required for this program:

  • SOPHAS Application
  • SOPHAS Supplemental Admissions Application: Georgia State/CAS-Liaison Programs

Both applications and all supporting documents must be in by the deadline.

Visit the SOPHAS website for application details, SOPHAS Georgia State/CAS-Liaison Programs supplemental application instructions and FAQs.

Application materials include:

  • SOPHAS Application fee - $135
  • Georgia State/CAS-Liaison Fee - $50
  • A resume or curriculum vitae
  • Official transcripts from each college and/or university attended
  • Three professional references
  • A statement of purpose and objectives
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for international applicants

Visit the How to Apply page for a complete list of instructions for the Georgia State application or to begin your application now.

The online Master of Public Health degree curriculum consists of 42 semester hours in the following areas:

  • Required MPH Foundational Core Courses (16 Credit Hours)
  • Required HPMB Concentration Courses (12 Credit Hours)
  • Concentration Approved Elective Courses (9 Credit Hours)
  • Required MPH Applied Practice Experience Course (2 Credit Hours)
  • Required MPH Integrative Learning Experience Course (3 Credit Hours)

A limited selection of online MPH and Health Promotion and Behavior concentration elective courses will be offered fully online each year, allowing students to satisfy all degree, concentration and elective requirements fully online.

Students in the online MPH program with Health Promotion and Behavior concentration may occasionally register for in-person or hybrid courses if their desired course or elective is not available online or offered in a preferred semester; though registering for in-person or hybrid courses should be limited (to maintain online student status), and students will be expected to participate in all in-person requirements of the chosen course.

Affording Your Online Master of Public Health - Health Promotion and Behavior Concentration Degree
Georgia State is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible programs for all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student’s future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances, and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.

Learn more about the cost of an online master’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study.

Contact Student Financial Services
We are here to help you understand the cost of your program, the payment schedule and financing opportunities.

Use the Student Financial Services Guided Paths to walk you through the Financial Aid Process and learn about all our options for financing your education.

Corporate Assistance
Consult your employer about the availability of tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance programs.

Military Assistance
Active duty military, veterans and military families should visit Veterans Educational Benefits to take full advantage of available financial assistance and educational benefits. Download our guide to How to Start Your VA Benefits.

University System of Georgia Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
The purpose of TAP is to foster the professional growth and development of eligible employees. For more information, see TAP Tuition Assistance.

Online Master of Public Health graduates demonstrate the following foundational competency areas:

  • Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health
  • Public Health and Health Care Systems
  • Planning and Management to Promote Health
  • Policy in Public Health
  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Interprofessional Practice
  • Systems Thinking

Contacts

General Questions
404-413-4393
[email protected]

Lynette Reid
SPH Graduate Admissions & Recruitment Manager
404-413-9307
[email protected]

Admissions and Curriculum Inquiries
School of Public Health Admissions
404-413-1452
[email protected]

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Atlanta, GA 30303