Welcome to the Division of Professional Studies at Saint Louis University's School of Public Health. Our Division sponsors the MPH Professional Option and dual degree programs. The Professional Option and dual degree offer the opportunity for professionals in public health, health care and social services to earn their Master's in Public Health part- or full-time while they continue to pursue their career, as well as for individuals at all stages of career development to earn their MPH in combination with a degree in Law, Medicine, Social Work, Nutrition/Dietetics, and Nursing (Nurse Practitioner).

The field of Public Health is at the forefront of addressing some of the most serious health issues of our time: chronic disease, fueled by behavioral problems such as obesity and tobacco use; new and emerging infections, requiring new skills and technology; and environmental toxins resulting from our manufacturing and agricultural processes. Health and social service professionals from diverse fields are increasingly recognizing the importance of population-based approaches to research and interventions as the key to addressing the complex health challenges facing our nation and our world.

With a Master's of Public Health degree from Saint Louis University, individuals will possess the skills necessary to address these issues. The combination of well designed classes, exceptional faculty and cutting-edge research opportunities will provide you with a sophisticated understanding of complex health problems, the research skills and understanding to approach problems scientifically, behavioral science models to promote behavioral change, and environmental understanding to help reduce risks to human life.

The Professional Options program allows professionals already working in the field of health care, public health and social services to advance their careers. Many of the courses are offered on a "weekend" model adapted to the schedule of a working professional. The dual degree programs also take advantage of overlapping coursework requirements and complementary subject matter.

What our graduates have to say about the Professional Option MPH:

"My training at SLU SPH was extremely valuable. It
provided me the skills to perform multi-center randomized
controlled trials and prospective cohort studies that I use
in my everyday professional life."

Mario Castro, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care
Washington University School of Medicine

"SLU's MPH Program offered a broad range of educational courses that have provided me with the background knowledge on many and various Public Health topics, thus opening doors of opportunities in infectious diseases, bioterrorism, homeland defense, FEMA, local, state, and federal public health departments to name a few."

Debra Stephens
Public Health Program Specialist
Illinois Department of Health
Lieutenant Colonel
United States Air Force Reserve

"The Professional Option Track's weekend format of class scheduling was perfect for me. Without these options, it would have been next to impossible to pursue the MPH as a full-time clinical nutrition manager in a very busy 300-bed hospital."

Chris Stockmeyer, MPH, RD
Health Education Specialist
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention