Over 95 percent of Daemen鈥檚 most recent BS/MPH graduates are working in a public health related field.
Earn your bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in just five years, while gaining knowledge and experience for rewarding careers in a vastly growing field.
Program Benefits
- Students will be prepared to protect and improve the health and well-being of people and communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, development of health policies, and research for disease prevention and wellness.
- Curriculum combines skill-based health studies with a strong background in the psychological, biological, sociological, behavioral, and business aspects of health care.
- Students will gain essential knowledge and tools to conduct original research and prepare for successful science-related careers or further study in public health and related disciplines.
- Our active MPH Student Association sponsors many activities, including on-campus public health awareness events, attending local and national public health conferences, fundraising, community service initiatives and social events.
- The Nat Sci / MPH pathway will allow students to graduate with a bachelor of science in Natural Sciences and a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in five years. This 4+1 format will provide an opportunity for Natural Sciences students to add a MPH degree in a more time- and financially-efficient manner than completing the two degrees separately. Graduates with a BS in Natural Sciences and a MPH would potentially have greater job opportunities and career growth than a BS degree alone.
- MPH courses are face-to-face, hybrid, and online and are offered during late afternoons and evenings to accommodate the working professional.
Career Outlook
Public health is an exciting and growing profession and allows our graduates to be employed in a variety of settings.
- Health departments
- Managed care organizations
- Community-based organizations
- Consulting firms
- Hospitals
- Academic institutions
- Global health organizations
- Research teams
Popular careers include:
- Health program managers
- Outreach coordinator
- Medical outcomes data analyst
- Discharge planner
Program Specifics
Program Structure
- This program leads to multiple degrees. Degrees are conferred separately: the BS, upon completion of all baccalaureate requirements; the MPH upon completion of the entire BS and MPH requirements.
- Prior to the start of the Professional phase (Year 4) of the program, all coursework referenced in the first 3 years must be completed in full
Admission to Upper Division Requirements/ Professional Phase begins at the end of 3rd year.
Students will complete either the Health Sciences Specialization or Individual-Studies Specialization of the Natural Sciences degree. These two tracks provide the opportunity for students to complete 12-15 credits of graduate-level MPH courses during their undergraduate studies. The credits count toward the BS in Natural Sciences and are waived for the MPH degree. Following conferral of the BS in Natural Sciences, students complete their MPH degree in one year (Summer, Fall, Spring). MPH content areas cover competencies across content areas of epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health administration, and psychosocial health. Additional coursework is completed in health equity and social justice, as well as a practicum and capstone in the student鈥檚 area of public health interest.
Requirements During the 4th Year
- Students must receive a B- or better in all PH courses during the 4th year and maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) minimum of 3.0 in order to progress to the 5th year and official entry into the MPH program. However, a grade of C or higher will still apply to complete requirements for the BS Natural Sciences degree. Students who do not achieve a B- or higher in all PH courses or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 during the fourth year will not be permitted to continue to the 5th year of study and official entry into the MPH program. They may then re-apply to the MPH program as a direct entry student and would need to retake any necessary courses and meet all MPH course grade requirements.
Graduation Requirements
- A minimum grade of C or better in all courses in BS Natural Sciences portion of the curriculum. This includes all courses under the Major and the Specialization.
- A minimum grade of B- or better in all PH courses and cumulative GPA of 3.0 during the 4th year.
- In the 5th year, while officially in the MPH program, a minimum grade of B- in any course. (Refer to Course Repeats, Probation, and Dismissal in the Master of Public Health section of the Graduate Catalog for academic policies during year 5 of study) Students must maintain an overall minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00.
Students complete a practice experience in their area of interest with a community organization and under the direction of a site preceptor, an experienced professional who mentors the student during the experience. Daemen has domestic and global community partnerships in various areas of natural sciences and public health in which students work closely with their preceptor to gain valuable experience to meet educational and professional development goals.
The MPH capstone is a culminating project in which students directly apply their academic knowledge to real-world projects and initiatives in their areas of interest under the direction of a Capstone Mentor. To support the student, the capstone is completed over two-semesters. During the first semester, students select an appropriate project, identify a mentor, and plan their project. During the following semester, students complete the project, analyze the results, and deliver a public presentation. The capstone project provides students the opportunity to master advanced level public health competencies that position them for competitive community and public health careers following graduation.
Examples of just some of the organizations in which students have collaborated for completing practicum and capstone projects are listed below.
- Alzheimer鈥檚 Association
- American Diabetes Association
- American Heart Association
- American Red Cross
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
- Catholic Health
- Community Access Services
- Community Service Alliance, Dominican Republic
- Comprehensive Cancer
- Elderwood
- Erie County Department of Health
- Erie County Department of Health
- Erie-Niagara Tobacco-Free Coalition at Roswell Park
- Evergreen Health Services
- Gloria J. Parks Community Center
- Gold鈥檚 Gym International
- HealthNow New York Inc.
- Independent Health Foundation
- Jacobs Neurological Institute
- Jewish Family Service
- Kaleida Health - Department of Public Health
- Lupus Foundation of Western New York
- Made 2 Move Fitness
- MedTel Outcomes
- National Institute of Health: Porto, Portugal
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Uganda
- Roswell Park Cancer Institute
- The Horizon Corporations: Health Management Group, Ltd
- VA Western New York Healthcare System
- Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo & WNY Center
- YMCA