Health Education & Promotion
Master of Public Health (MPH)
The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Health Education and Promotion emphasizes the behavioral, social and cultural factors related to individual and population health and health disparities over the life span. Learn to promote and sustain healthy environments and healthy lives for individuals and populations.
The USU MPH in Health Education and Promotion in the Kinesiology and Health Science Department is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. This accreditation addresses the MPH HEP degree only. Other degrees and areas of study offered are not included in the unit of accreditation review. Please see the CEPH website to learn more about the applicant and accreditation process.
Potential Career Opportunities
Students who complete a MPH degree in Health Education and Promotion can seek out diverse positions in public health organizations that offer opportunities for leadership roles, professional development, and higher pay and benefits.
These organizations include:
- local, state, and federal health agencies,
- colleges and universities,
- health care organizations,
- community social service organizations,
- non-profit health organizations,
- international health programs and aid agencies,
- employee wellness programs,
- health coaching.
For more information visit the USU Catalog or USU Degree Finder.
Graduate Program Coordinator
Melissa Johnson
Program Coordinator II
Kinesiology and Health Science
Program Director
Julie Gast
Professor
Kinesiology and Health Science
Admissions
Prerequisite Requirements
Candidates for the health education and promotion program are expected to have completed an undergraduate degree in good standing. Students from any accredited undergraduate major are invited to apply. Applicants are expected to have strong written and oral communication skills.
Application Requirements
Students desiring to enroll in the health education and promotion program must be admitted to the Utah State University School of Graduate studies. As students start an application they will create a log-in that will allow them to come back in and complete their applications. The application has two parts, the initial application and the supplemental items. Students must complete the initial application and pay the application fee before you can access the supplemental materials.
The supplemental materials require the following:
- Provide transcripts from all previously-attended colleges and universities to be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies. USU alumni do not need to provide USU transcripts; the School of Graduate Studies have access and will pull them for you.
Transcripts sent by physical mail should be mailed to:
School of Graduate Studies
Utah State University
0900 Old Main Hill
Logan, Ut 84322-0900
Transcripts sent through the electronic clearinghouse should be emailed to graduateadmissions@usu.edu.
- Admission GPA of 3.0 or above. The admissions GPA is calculated based on the last 60 semester or 90 quarter credits taken, not the overall GPA.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation. All letters of recommendation should be professional references and at least two (2) letters should be from students' previous faculty members or instructors.
- Letters come directly from the referee, not the students. Students will include the contact information for referees in the application. The referees will then be contacted with instructions to submit the letters for the student.
- Provide current resume or CV.
- Include a statement of purpose in your online application to serve as a writing sample. For the statement of purpose, applicants should complete four essay prompts in total, including the three required prompts and your choice from the additional two prompts. Each writing prompt should be no more than 250 words. Please write each prompt at the start of each individual essay (these do not count as part of the 250 word maximum).
- Required Prompts:
- Prompt 1: Describe why you want to earn a graduate degree, and the experiences and qualifications that make you a strong candidate for advanced study in the field of public health.
- Prompt 2: In this program, you will be required to take a graduate-level biostatistics course and engage in research. Explain your background with research and statistics. If you do not have much experience or coursework in this area, please detail how you plan to be successful in this aspect of the degree.
- Prompt 3: Address your ability to meet the demands of an academically rigorous program that is writing and reading intensive, as well as online. Please explain any past academic weaknesses you may want to address here.
- Pick one of the following prompts:
- Prompt 1: In the HEP MPH degree program, we value diversity of thought, experiences, and background among our student body. Please explain how you might bring some aspect of diversity to the HEP MPH program. This could be in a number of ways such as your culture, travel experiences, life experiences, etc.
- Prompt 2: Please explain how your work experience helps you be prepared to excel in the HEP MPH degree. There is not an expectation that you currently work in public health, but overall work/volunteer experience may be addressed.
- Required Prompts:
- International students have additional requirements to meet
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
- Certified English Translations of Transcripts
Applicants are not required to submit graduate entrance exam scores (e.g. GRE, MAT, etc.). However, admissions to the HEP MPH degree is competitive. If you believe your test scores have the potential to strengthen your application, you may submit them as a supplement with your application and they will be taken into consideration along with other application materials.
For more information visit the USU Grad School website, steps to apply .
Admission Deadlines
Fall semester (August start date)
April 15 - Early Priority Deadline
July 1 - Application Deadline
Spring Semester (January start date)
October 1 - Application Deadline
Application materials received by the deadlines listed above will be given full consideration. Late applicants will be considered for admissions on a space available basis or may be deferred to a later semester.
Estimated Cost of the Program
$21,196.61*
*Tuition and fees vary based on factors such as residency, student location (zip code), number of credits taken, and student level (undergraduate vs. graduate). Rates also change each year. This estimate assumes a Utah resident studying in the Logan area, completing the program in two years (four semesters), based on the current year’s tuition and fees.
USU Registrar Tuition & Payment 2025-2026 Tuition and Fee Table
Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition costs at USU vary. They also plateau at 12 credits, so you pay the same amount for 12-18 credits. Some courses and programs have additional fees/costs. Student fees may differ depending on the campus location. Please see the Utah State University Tuition & Fees schedule for full information.
Financial aid generally comes in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans. Scholarships are awarded by the university and usually require applications. Scholarships from the admissions office are only awarded to students living in Utah. Grants are awarded by the government to students who fill out FAFSA. Loans can be awarded by various entities including the government and banks.
Assistantships
The KHS Department offers graduate assistantship (GA) opportunities for students in Logan, Utah, who have been accepted into a KHS graduate program. To be considered for a GA position, students must complete both the GA application (submitted directly to the department) and the Graduate School admissions application by March 1. Assistantship positions are awarded for the Fall and Spring semesters.
More information: KHS Graduate Assistantships
Program Requirements
New Graduate Student Orientation
The MPH HEP program hosts an orientation session for all incoming students. After being accepted, students will receive an email from the program director with the date and important details about the event.
Advising
Students in the KHS department receive guidance from both the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) and their Major Professor (faculty advisor/mentor). Together, these advisors help students meet program and graduation requirements, offering support throughout their progress toward earning a degree.
Graduate Program Coordinator
Graduate Program Coordinators (GPCs) are an important connection between graduate students, their departments, and the School of Graduate Studies. GPCs assist with graduate school paperwork, registration issues, deadlines, and degree completion requirements. They are often the first point of contact for student questions or concerns. If you're unsure who to contact, start with the GPC.
Major Professor/Faculty Advisor
Each student is assigned a faculty advisor by the program director when they enter the program. The advisor helps guide course selection, supports career planning, and assists with completing program requirements such as the internship and creative project. Advisors typically work with students throughout the program, though changes can be made if needed. Until an advisor is assigned, students can reach out to the program director with any questions.
Practicum Experiences
The HEP MPH program includes two key culminating experiences: the Applied Practice Experience (APE) and the Integrative Learning Experience (ILE). Both are designed to provide real-world, hands-on learning in public health settings.
Integrative Learning Experience (ILE)
The ILE requires students to produce a high-quality written Capstone Paper that demonstrates integration of foundational and concentration competencies. Projects may include program evaluations, policy briefs, literature reviews, or other professional products.
- Completed during one of the final two semesters (HEP 6850: Capstone in Public Health).
- Developed with a faculty advisor.
- Designed to be useful to external public health stakeholders.
- May build on the APE or be an independent project.
Full guidelines are available in the MPH Student Handbook and Canvas program resources.
Applied Practice Experience (APE)
The APE gives students the opportunity to apply public health knowledge in a real-world setting.
- Students work under a qualified public health preceptor.
- Must produce at least two professional-level products.
- Designed to strengthen public health preactice through community engagement.
Detailed instructions and resources are available in the MPH Student Handbook and Canvas program page.
Study Abroad
MPH students in the Health Education and Promotion (HEP) program have the option to participate in a Study Abroad experience each spring. This international opportunity can fulfill requirements for:
- HEP 6600: Practicum in Health Promotion
- HEP 6850: Capstone in Public Health
Students engage in public health projects in low- and middle-income countries, partnering with local agencies and non-profits. Projects vary by year and location but may include health surveillance and vector control, maternal and child health promotion, program planning and evaluation, and site visits and community health outreach.
Key Details:
- Date: Programs typically run for two weeks in early to mid-May each spring.
- Academic Credit: Earn 3 credits in either HEP 6600 or HEP 6850, based on project focus.
- Eligibility: Open to MPH graduate students who have completed at least 18 program credits. Students needing accommodations should contact the Disability Resource Center.
- Orientation: Students must completee a pre-departure orientation and a requried Canvas course the semester before departure. Additional program meetings will be arranged by the program leader.
- Program Leader: Dr. Steven R. Hawks (steve.hawks@usu.edu), Professor of Health Education and Promotion.
Apply
- Submit your application at: apply.studyabroad.usu.edu.
- Acceptance is subject to approval by the program leader.
General Program Requirements
The established curriculum is structured to meet both the professional standards of the program and accreditation guidelines.
- At least 15 credits must be at the 6000 level or above.
- Coursework below the 5000 level should be outside the student's graduate field and must be approved.
- Undergraduate or prerequisite courses are not included in the POS.
- Up to 12 transfer credits earned before starting at USU may count toward the program with approval and must be reported to the GPC.
- Credits in foreign languages, continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses below the 5000 level are not accepted.
| Total Credits | 45 |
| Minimum GPA* | 3.0 |
| Minimum Grade* | C |
| Completion of ILE and APE | |
| Completion of all required Graduate School forms | |
*To earn a 3.0 GPA or higher, students must maintain a B average or better. While grades of C are allowed, they lower the overall GPA. To offset a C grade, students must earn A grades in two other courses with equivalent credits.