Veterinary Public Health - MPH

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

About This Degree

This 100% online Veterinary Public Health (MPH) degree includes interdisciplinary training in veterinary-related public health science and prepares students with skills and competencies essential for leadership and administrative positions in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases, food safety, and the wildlife-domestic animal-human interface.

What You Will Learn

The Veterinary Public Health MPH program offers specialized training in the emerging Public Health discipline of One Health, defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease control and Prevention as the approach of working with veterinarians, ecologists, and physicians to monitor and control public health threats by applying the core disciplines of Public Health and specialized knowledge of veterinary medicine to learn how diseases spread among people, animals and the environment.

The land grant setting of Utah State University provides unique resources for the Veterinary Public Health MPH program with the College of Veterinary Medicine, agricultural extension programs, the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories, and the Institute for Antiviral Research, as well as strong academic programs in climate sciences, ecology, and natural resources.

This program is 100% online so you can complete the program from anywhere around the world. This program can be pursued part-time or full-time. The curriculum follows guidelines of the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and is 42 credits.

Career And Outcomes

Career Opportunities

Veterinarians who receive an MPH degree can increase their ability to become board certified in Veterinary Preventive Medicine and can seek out diverse positions in public health organizations, academia, and industry that offer opportunities for leadership roles, professional development, and higher pay and benefits. These organizations include:

  • Local, state, and federal health and environmental agencies
  • Colleges and universities
  • Health care organizations
  • Agricultural and food industries
  • International agricultural and development organizations

Potential positions for MPH graduates include:

  • Public health veterinarian
  • Veterinary epidemiologist
  • Animal food safety specialist
  • Wildlife public health specialist
  • Research and  management positions in government, academia, and industry

Job Outlook

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND ADVISING

Advising

Jane Kelly

Clinical Professor
Email: jane.kelly@usu.edu
Office: Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Phone: 801-798-5435

Brenda Poulsen

ADVS Graduate Coordinator
Email: brenda.poulsen@usu.edu
Office: AGRS 248
Phone: 435-797-2162

I am not a current USU student

I have not applied or been admitted, even if I've taken a USU Concurrent Enrollment course

I am a current USU student

I have been admitted and plan to attend, or continue attending USU

USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

*This degree is available at various USU locations.

**This degree is 100% available online. USU is a SARA-approved institution offering fully online programs nationwide; please visit USU's state authorizations for details.

Admission

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet departmental requirements, in addition to requirements of the School of Graduate Studies as seen on the School of Graduate Studies Catalog Page. To be considered for the MPH Veterinary Public Health program, applicants must meet these minimum requirements.

  • Complete online application.
  • Pay the $55 application fee.
  • Provide transcripts for all college/university credits.
  • Include a statement of purpose in the online application.
    • This should be a 1-page single-spaced paper that describes how the MPH Veterinary Public health program aligns with your career goals and what you have accomplished professionally or academically that demonstrates your ability to be successful in graduate school.
  • Include a current resume/CV in the online application.
  • 3.0 or higher GPA for the last 60 semester (90 quarter) credit hours.
  • 3 professional letters of recommendation.

Deadlines

Application materials received by the deadlines listed below will be prioritized and given full consideration. Late applications will be considered for admissions when space is available. Please reach out to the program director with application questions.

  • Semester start in Fall:
    • Early priority deadline: January 15*
    • Application Deadline: March 15
  • Semester start in Spring:
    • Early priority deadline: None
    • September 15

* Applications submitted by this date will be reviewed in time for applicants to submit college and university level scholarships through Scholarship Universe.

Plan Options

The MPH Veterinary Public Health program is a 42-credit program which includes 18 credits of public health foundational competency courses and 18 credits of veterinary public health concentration courses. In addition to these required courses, the students select 2 elective courses. This program is considered a professional program (Plan C) although students can complete a Plan A (thesis) option if they can obtain a major professor to complete their research with. Students must complete an applied practice experience (APE) and write a final paper (Integrative Learning Experience (ILE)). Students should contact their advisor early in their program to outline an acceptable APE and to be certain that all degree requirements will be met and that all appropriate paperwork has been sent to the School of Graduate Studies. Students must complete their APE in their final year of the program and ILE in the final semester of the program. Students are required to demonstrate mastery of select public health competencies upon completion of the APE and ILE.

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