TCSPP to offer online M.P.H program from 2014

With more than 17 programs in psychology and behavioral and health sciences already established, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP)—one of the leading nonprofit institutions of its kind-- is offering for the first time in its history a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) Program beginning spring 2014 online and fall 2014 in Los Angeles. The 42-credit degree, consisting of a core of 27 credits, six credits of field work and capstone, and nine credits of an emphasis area is built of the standards of the Council on Education for Public Health (CePH), with the curriculum based on the competency model published by the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH). Students can complete the program in as little as two years. To learn more about the program, and to apply, click here.

The new M.P.H. program speaks to the mission of The Chicago School's rich history in preparing graduate students as global leaders and practitioners in the fields of behavioral health sciences through its Engaged Professional Model of education. Its clinical and forensic faculty has experience working within a variety of settings including hospitals, health care systems, and the legal system to include prisons and juvenile detention centers, and many of its students are currently working on practica and internships with public health systems. Furthermore, its International Psychology faculty and students are already working in a global context with difficult public health issues and solutions.

According to Dr. Gino Natalicchio, vice president of Online Programs at TCSPP, the program is specifically designed for working adults interested in making a difference in the health and wellness of others through the promotion of community and public health. "There is an increasing need for scholarly and applied leadership in the fields of public health policy, leadership theory, statistics and research design aligned with national public health education competency standards," he explained.

To ensure graduates are well prepared for present and future public health roles and demands, the online/on ground M.P.H. Program offers the opportunity to build knowledge and skills through the completion of a comprehensive core of courses as well as having the ability to deepen an area of interest through the selection of courses from electives in three areas: Global Health, Psycho-Behavioral Dimensions of Public Health, and Public Health Leadership. Students can choose to focus in one of those three areas or they can decide to take electives from all of those areas.

After the program's completion, graduates are prepared to deliver outstanding professional services; excel as leaders and managers; be sensitive to and understand diverse populations; and appreciate the importance of education, research, and policy-making in the dynamic field of public health. Public Health practitioners may assume leadership roles in hospitals/clinics, pharmaceutical companies, health insurance companies, and consulting firms.  Other career paths include local, state, or federal health department administrators, health educator, policy analyst, and planner positions.