Master of Science Degree

The fully online Master of Public Health (MPH) program at New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) is designed for working professionals seeking career advancement in public health. The program provides an multidisciplinary approach to training in the ten essential public health services along with critical management principles. This unique approach of core public health curriculum, along with leadership and management proficiency will prepare you to successfully practice public health in a supervisory/management role and oversee, plan, evaluate and improve population health programs and initiatives.

Students can complete our multidisciplinary 100% online MPH program in less than two years (seven terms), taking 2 courses in each term. To meet graduation requirements, a minimum of 56 quarter credits (equivalent to 38 semester credits) is required, including a 50-hour field experience in a public health or closely aligned entity, where students would work with a preceptor in a pre-determined project, prepare a Portfolio, a Capstone paper and present to a Committee.

An MPH graduate can work in a variety of public health settings, including local, state and federal public health agencies. Opportunities also exist in many other settings such as community health organizations; in foundations; coalitions or advocacy groups working in support of chronic diseases (diabetes, cancer, asthma), environmental concerns (water, food, asbestos), allied entities (Medicaid, program evaluation agencies, health insurers), policy issues (municipalities, legal and environmental justice groups, regulatory bodies); and also on college campuses, private non-profit agencies and business in wellness and employee assistance programs.

With the multidisciplinary MPH degree from New England Institute of Technology, graduates will be well-rounded professionals to practice public health and promote population health outcomes.

Accreditation Status

The Master of Public Health (MPH) at New England Institute of Technology is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (www.ceph.org). CEPH is an independent agency recognized by the United States Department of Education to accredit schools and programs of public health. CEPH assures quality in public health education to promote excellence in practice, research, and service in the field.

Plan of Study Grid

Term I		Quarter Credit Hours
PH 516	Fundamentals of Public Health	4
PH 535	Social Marketing and Communications	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	8
Term II
PH 510	Statistics for Public Health	4
PH 550	Public Health Policy and Planning	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	8
Term III
PH 520	Epidemiology	4
PH 551	Health Equity and Ethics	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	8
Term IV
PH 530	Research/Methods	4
PH 552	Program Funding and Evaluation	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	8
Term V
PH 545	Environmental Health	4
PH 571	Capstone Preparation	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	8
Term VI
PH 581	Capstone	4
MGM 514	Leadership	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	8
Term VII
PH 561	Equity Practicum	4
PH 580	Public Health Seminar	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	8
	Total Quarter Credit Hours	56

Legend

C = Number of lecture hours per week
L = Number of laboratory hours per week
T = Total Quarter Credit Hours where each lecture hour per week is one credit, every 2-4 laboratory hours are one credit depending on the expected amount of pre- or post-lab work.

Subject to change.

Vision

Empowered communities collaborating to promote healthy lifestyles. 

Mission

Our mission is to transform students from diverse backgrounds into well rounded public health practitioners and agents of change who will lead their communities to improved population health and health equity.

Goals

1. Advance an experiential learning pedagogy through our online state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary curriculum to meet the challenges of an ever-changing public health profession.
2. Embrace a community-wide culture of applied research, continuous quality improvement and lifelong learning.
3. Challenge students to be agents of change to address health equity and promote service in communities.

Our values:

We are a Learning Collaborative: We value multidisciplinary, cross-program collaboration, bringing diverse perspectives to the MPH program and public health perspectives to other NEIT programs. Faculty and students learn from each other and collaborate in teaching and learning. We are committed to life-long learning for individuals, groups, and communities.

We are Community-grounded: We equip our students with skills to work collaboratively with communities to find practical and innovative solutions to local problems. Public health is profoundly affected by the community environments in which we work, play, learn, and live. Therefore, public health education must be grounded in the community. We seek to be a helpful partner and an accessible resource to our communities.

We are Inclusive: We provide an accessible and flexible program designed to accommodate adults in a variety of circumstances, occupations and organizations. We embrace the lived experience of our students and the perspectives resulting from those experiences. We celebrate the diversity of communities in Southeastern New England.

We seek Excellence: We have a responsibility to ourselves, our students, and our communities to strive for excellence in instruction, scholarship and service.  We are reflective and embrace quality while looking for ways to grow and improve. In pursuit of excellence we take risks, learn from our experiences, and build confidence in our students, enabling them to become leaders in the building and support of flourishing communities.

Questions & Answers

1. For whom is this program designed?
The New England Institute of Technology Master of Public Health online program is designed for working professionals who wish to enhance their abilities to make a difference in their communities by developing their mastery of public health and management proficiency.

2. What are the entrance requirements for the MPH program?
Apply online at https://apply.neit.edu/Apply/. We have rolling applications. You will need to provide the official transcript of your baccalaureate degree, your current resume, and 500-word statement explaining how the MPH degree meets your professional goals. We start the program in the Fall (beginning of October). The university has the right to also start a cohort in the Spring (mid-March) provided we have a sufficient number of the students.

3. Do I need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) to be accepted into the MPH program?
No, GREs are not required for acceptance into this program.

4. Is there a residency requirement?
No, this is an online program with no residency requirement. There may be on-campus activities a few times during the program, but these will be optional, and will offer a way for distant students to participate.

5. How do online courses work?
Online courses at New England Institute of Technology are developed by a faculty-led team of public health, management, learning, and technology experts. The courses are designed to be interesting, relevant and engaging, and to have a real impact on your life and career.

The majority of course work is expected to be completed based on your personal and professional schedule within the context of the course requirements. There’ll be some work due every week, while other projects will span multiple weeks. Occasionally, faculty may also schedule synchronous class activities through the Canvas Learning Management System that may require you to be available to participate at a specific time. See Online Learning at NEIT for more information about online courses in Public Health.

6. How is taking an online course different from a campus course?
Online courses offer you flexibility in the scheduling of your class and study time. Instead of meeting at a fixed time and location, your online courses will run on a weekly schedule starting on a Monday and ending on a Sunday. Courses require you to login regularly and you are still required to submit assignments by the due dates specified in the syllabus.

Online courses require self-discipline and self-motivation to complete the work that is required. Since there are no scheduled class times, you’ll need to dedicate an appropriate amount of time to review the course content online, complete the readings, participate in the online discussion forums, and complete other work as assigned.

7. Do I need special computer skills or equipment?
You will need strong computer skills to navigate through the Web, use simple audio and video applications, upload and download documents, copy/paste graphics, and especially have intermediate knowledge in MS Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Students can get help through tutors from our Academic Skills Center or take courses in English, writing or software prior to starting the program. Ask us about this.

You Will Also Need
• A webcam (the one built into your laptop or iPad should be fine)
• A microphone (built into the computer or headset is handy).
• A digital camera (the one on a smart phone is fine).

You will need frequent and extended access to a computer to be successful in your course.

8. What are the hardware and software requirements for the program?

Online students must be capable of installing and maintaining their own computer’s hardware and software. New England Tech does not assist students with the setup of their personal computers.

Information about obtaining the software (if any) will be made available to you at the start of each course.

Note: Tablets and smartphones can be convenient for reading course materials and email but will not be sufficient for doing all of your course work.

9. How do I get assistance with technical issues?
New England Institute of Technology’s online courses are designed to help acclimate you to technology and build your skills and your confidence as you go. We provide 24×7 support via phone, email or chat to help you with computer or online system issues in the learning management system. NEIT is unable to help with every computer problem, but many issues can be resolved.

10. What makes New England Institute of Technology’s Master of Public Health program different from others?

• Ten-week long courses keep you focused, are easier to digest, and provide the chance to complete your program in less than two years.
• Our faculty are practitioners from the field: leading experts from many top firms, as well as the public sector.
• NEIT blends advanced topics in public health with the most relevant principles of general management and leadership to provide you with the right mix of technical and business skills.
• Our curriculum is designed to provide a balance of practical knowledge you can apply to your work right away with a long-term base of skills to assist in your career advancement.
• 24×7 Canvas technical support by email, chat or phone helps you work on your schedule.

11. How large will my classes be?
The average size for a class is about 15 students; however, larger and smaller classes occur from time to time.

12. How long is each academic term?
Courses are 10 weeks long, with four terms offered per year, starting in January, April, July, and October.

13. How long should it take me to complete my program?
You’ll take two courses in each term as outlined in the prescribed curriculum. In this 7-term program you may complete the requirements less than 2 years.

14. How many courses do I have to take each term?
We recommend taking two courses per term to stay in sync with your class and earn your degree quickly. But you may take one course per term as well, if you prefer, and you may vary your course load from one term to the next. Taking fewer than 2 courses per term will increase the time to finish your degree, and would also limit the options of courses to take, as not all courses are offered every academic term, and you may need to wait until your course is offered again.

15. Is there a student orientation?
Yes, the MPH program has an orientation and all new students must attend. The orientation provides more information about the program, the online platform, the writing requirements, school’s services, key contacts and answers any questions the students may have. New students will be contacted about one month before the start of the term to setup the orientation, online or in-person.

16. Are there participation requirements?
Yes. Depending upon the course, you may be required each week to participate in various activities such as discussion boards, case study analysis, project work, or other activities. You will be interacting with other MPH students and faculty, and become part of an active, vibrant learning community. All course activities will be counted towards your final grade. Required participation will be identified in the course syllabus.

17. What faculty will be teaching this program?
All online courses in the MPH program are taught by faculty with appropriate academic and professional credentials, as well as extensive practical experience who understand the needs of the working professional. Additionally, all faculty teaching online courses receive specific training in online delivery methods to provide you with a robust online learning experience at New England Institute of Technology.

18. How can I access specific course-related help when I need it?
There’s a team of specialists behind the screen to help you with course and technical issues. Your professor will be available to you via email and by phone. Additional support staff -- advisors, tutors, and librarians – are also present in many courses to provide assistance. Responses to a question will generally be delivered within 24 hours. Preferred methods of contact as well as contact information will be identified at the beginning of each course in the course syllabus.

19. Will I be assigned an advisor?
Yes. Students in the MPH program will be assigned a Student Success Coach from the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. The Student Success Coach provides guidance, encouragement and support and is the primary point of contact for all your concerns and information about college policies and procedures.

20. Do I have access to other college services?
As an online student, you’ll have access to all college services including the Academic Skills Center, the Bookstore, our Career Services Office, Financial Aid Office, the Registrar’s Office, the Office of Student Support Services, as well as the Library, Student Accounts, the Office of Teaching and Learning and the Help Desk.

21. Is New England Institute of Technology accredited?
New England Institute of Technology is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Accreditation by NECHE is recognized by the federal government and entitles NEIT to participate in federal financial aid programs.

NEIT also holds many specialized health science accreditations, including Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Accreditation Counsel for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education (CAAHEP, and Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).

For more information on accreditation, see NEIT’s catalog.

22. Does the MPH program have specialized accreditation?
New England Institute of Technology is an applicant for accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (www.ceph.org). The accreditation review will address the MPH generalist degree program included in the accreditation unit, as defined in the Council’s letter accepting the application. Other degrees and areas of study offered by this institution will not be included in the unit of accreditation review.

The date of initial accreditation will be whichever of the two dates occur later: either 1) the date on which our application was accepted by the Council (6/16/2018) or 2) the date on which the most recent extension of applicant status was granted, if applicable. The Council assigns the date of initial accreditation during the Council meeting at which the accreditation decision is made. Entry into the process and acceptance of an application are not a guarantee of initial accreditation.

23. Can I transfer the credits that I earn at NEIT to another college?
The transferability of a course is always up to the institution to which the student is transferring. Students interested in the transferability of their credits should contact the Office of Teaching and Learning for further information.

24. Can I transfer credits earned at another college to NEIT?
Students may transfer no more than 4 credits (one course). Transfer credit for appropriate courses taken at an accredited institution will be considered for courses in which the student has earned a “B” or above. An official transcript from the other institution must be received before the end of the first week of the term for transfer credit to be granted for courses to be taken during that term. No tuition credit is provided for courses which are not a part of the curriculum.

25. How many credits do I need to acquire my Financial Aid?
Students entering the program will be eligible for various forms of financial aid, including loans. See your financial aid officer for additional details.

26. What does my program cost?
The cost of your program will be as outlined in your enrollment agreement, along with your cost for books and other course materials.

27. What kind of employment assistance does NEIT offer?
The Career Services Office assists NEIT students and graduates in all aspects of the job search, including resume writing, interviewing skills, and developing of a job search strategy. Upon completion of their program, graduates may submit a resume to the Career Services Office to be circulated to employers for employment opportunities in their fields. Employers regularly contact us about our graduates. In addition, our Career Services Office contacts employers to develop job leads. A strong relationship with employers exists as a result of our training students to meet the needs of industry for over fifty years. No school can, and NEIT does not, guarantee to its graduates employment or a specific starting salary.

28. Will I have the opportunity to practice the skills learned while still in school?
Yes, students will do a virtual practicum to prepare their Portfolio. Early in the program, students are asked to select an organization they want to support and work with while they are in the MPH Program. Students first volunteer and get to know the organization. In the second year, they identify projects the organization needs and that they can do. The Program Director/Advisor works with each student to ensure the projects meet the Portfolio requirements. All students will get detailed information about this in the “MPH Equity Practicum and Capstone Student Handbook.”

29. Are there any additional costs/activities associated with this program?
Besides textbooks and other course materials, you’ll be required to complete a virtual practicum.

30. What are the opportunities for PhD level work in public health?
As an MPH graduate, you can pursue doctoral degrees in public health or in other disciplines. Whether you’re interested in research (PhD degrees) or practice (DrPH degrees), there are a variety of doctoral programs in public health with rigorous academic requirements and some of them also entirely online. Positions for professionals with public health doctorate degrees exist in academia, and in policy and public health organizations.

31. Do I need to maintain a certain grade point average?
Yes. You’re required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 (B) throughout the entire program.

32. What happens if I earn less than a C in a course?
Students who earn less than a C in any course will be required to re-take the course the next time it is offered. If the student does not earn a C or better in a course after the second attempt, he/she will be dismissed from the MPH program. Students will only be allowed to re-take two courses.

33. Are there any behavior standards for this program?
You’ll be expected to exhibit ethical and professional behavior at all times. This will be assessed on a continual basis and will encompass not only grades but also adherence to classroom protocol, distance learning practices, attendance, participation and preparedness for class, appearance and ability to work as a team member. Development of professional values and attitudes is inherent in the curriculum, and you’ll be expected to exhibit such behavior to assure a placement in a public health setting. All students must abide by the requirements and policies in the Student Handbook (https://students.neit.edu/Campus-Info/Student-Handbook)

34. Is a master’s thesis required to complete the program?
No, the program does not require a thesis. All students are required to complete a virtual practicum to complete a Portfolio as well as a Capstone paper and presentation to the MPH Graduation Committee. Together, these components along with the number of credits as described in the program fulfill the graduation requirements.

Public Health - MS

Degree Progress Checklists

• For students entering July 2023 or later
• For students entering April 2022 to June 2023
• For students entering October 2020 to March 2022