Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health
M.A. in Public Health Biology
Colorado, USA
MA
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
Key Summary
About: You're studying a fully online, part-time M.A. in Public Health Biology from The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Launched 2017, it covers modern biological principles and research methods for public health. It's interdepartmental: coursework from Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Environmental Health and Engineering, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Biostatistics, and Epidemiology. It can be completed in 2-3 years.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can enter Laboratory Manager, Research Biologist, Biological Science Laboratory Technician, Life and Physical Science Technician, Natural Resources Biologist, Biology Educator, College Instructor, Healthcare Administrator, Project Manager roles in academic, government, nonprofit, or industry settings, including lab supervision.
A fully online, part-time degree offered by the No. 1 school of public health in the country.
The Master of Arts in Public Health Biology was launched as a fully online degree program in 2017. This program offered by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health allows students to advance in current research or teaching positions, enhance credentials for a new position in academic institutions, industry or governmental research organizations, or gain a solid foundation for advanced graduate work. This program is best suited for students who have had some professional work experience and are looking for a program that would allow them to develop professionally or prepare for a subsequent degree.
Advantages of this fully online graduate program:
- Led by renowned experts who are shaping the field through research and application
- Online delivery gives flexibility and accessibility to students around the world
- Can be completed in 2-3 years
The program is designed to foster knowledge of modern biological principles and research methods applicable to the identification, treatment, and prevention of conditions of relevance to public health. The program is interdepartmental, involving the active participation of the School’s three biological science-based departments: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB), Environmental Health and Engineering (EHE), and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (MMI). Required coursework is offered by these three departments, and also by the Departments of Biostatistics and Epidemiology.
The Master of Arts in Public Health Biology is an interdisciplinary online degree.
Students will complete a minimum of 48.5 term credits to graduate. The program is designed to be completed within 8 academic terms of 8 weeks each – a total of two academic years (Sept-May), but students have up to four years to complete the degree. In addition to the coursework, students must complete a literature-based thesis, where newly acquired knowledge is employed in order to demonstrate critical synthesis and integration of existing primary literature.
Required Courses (16.5 credits):
- 550.630.81 Public Health Biology (3 credits)
- 550.631.81 Biological Basis of Public Health (3 credits)
- 550.855.81 MA Public Health Biology Thesis (5-6 credits)
- 552.601.81 Foundational Principles of Public Health (.5 credits)
- 552.602.81 The Role of Quantitative Methods in Public Health (.5 credits)
- 552.603.81 The Role of Qualitative Methods and Science in Describing and Assessing a Population's Health (.5 credits)
- 552.604.81 Causes and Trends in Morbidity and Mortality (.5 credits)
- 552.605.81 The Science of Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Prevention in Population Health (.5 credits)
- 552.606.81 The Critical Importance of Evidence in Advancing Public Health Knowledge (.5 credits)
- 552.607.81 Essentials of Environmental Health (.5 credits)
- 552.609.81 Psychological and Behavioral Factors that Affect a Population's Health (.5 credits)
- 552.610.81 Health Inequities: The Role of Social, Political, and Economic Determinants (.5 credits)
- 552.611.81 The Impact of Globalization on Global Burdens of Disease (.5 credits)
- 552.612.81 Essentials of One Health (.5 credits)
Optional Foundation Courses (11 credits):
- 140.6181 Statistical Reasoning in Public Health I (3 credits)
- 140.6181 Statistical Reasoning in Public Health II (3 credits)
- 340.721.81 Epidemiologic Inference I (5 credits)
Required Course, Environmental Health Sciences:
Choose at least one of the following
- 180.6081 Environmental Health (5 credits)
- 187.610.81 Public Health Toxicology (4 credits)
- 187.632.81 Molecular Toxicology (4 credits)
- 183.631.81 Fundamentals of Human Physiology (4 credits)
Required Course, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology:
Choose at least one of the following
- 120.620.81 Fundamentals of Reproductive Biology (3 credits)
- 120.610.81 Introduction to Biochemistry: Protein Structure and Enzyme Catalysis (3 credits)
- 120.627.81 Stem Cells and the Biology of Aging and Disease (3 credits)
- 120.602.81 Concepts of Molecular Biology (4 credits)
- 120.6281 Introduction to Cancer Biology (3 credits)
Required Course, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology:
Choose at least one of the following
- 260.6181 Principles of Immunology I (4 credits)
- 260.656.81 Malariology (4 credits)
- 260.600.81 Intro to Biomedical Sciences (4 credits)
Competencies
By the end of the program, students should be able to:
- Describe the molecular, cellular, immunological, and physiological bases of selected human diseases and conditions.
- Describe the biological principles that underlie the development of disease and its prevention, control, and management.
- Critically evaluate data described in scientific papers and integrate data from multiple papers into coherent theories about the regulation of complex biological processes and diseases.
- Apply statistical principles to the analysis of biological data and apply findings to the understanding and treatment of human disease.
- Compose, explain and defend a 20-30 page scholarly thesis that demonstrates a deep understanding of how biological principles and methods are used to understand, treat and/or prevent a particular condition of importance in the public health arena.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the MA in Public Health Biology program, students will be able to:
- Describe the molecular, cellular, immunological, and physiological bases of selected human diseases and conditions;
- Describe biological principles that underlie the development of disease and its prevention, control and management;
- Critically evaluate data described in scientific papers and integrate data from multiple papers into coherent theories about the regulation of complex biological processes and diseases;
- Apply statistical principles to the analysis of biological data and apply findings to the understanding and treatment of human disease;
- Compose, explain and defend a 20-30 page scholarly thesis that demonstrates a deep understanding of how biological principles and methods are used to understand, treat and/or prevent a particular condition of importance in the public health arena;
- Communicate effectively with the general public, professionals and other stakeholders on issues related to immunology, biochemistry, molecular biology, environmental health sciences and public health.
- Laboratory Manager
- Natural Resources Biologist
- Life and Physical Science Technician
- Biological Science Laboratory Technician
- Research Biologist
- Healthcare Administration
- Project Manager
- Biology Educator
- College Instructor
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the school website for more information
