The Advanced Certificate in Public Health offers individuals the opportunity to understand core public health principles, prepare for responsibilities or promotion in a public health setting, or offers an opportunity to determine if the Master of Public Health degree program is of interest to pursue. The advanced certificate also provides additional formal education in the public health field. Students who successfully complete the advanced certificate program can apply all 15 units to the Master of Public Health degree if admitted into the degree program in the School of Public Health.
Application Window
Fall Start: Oct. 1 - March 1
SDSU’s online Advanced Public Health Certificate program will help you acquire the advanced public health knowledge you’ll need to enter graduate school and take on high-level roles in the workplace.
About the program
SDSU’s Advanced Public Health Certificate is a five-course graduate-level program that’s designed for professionals currently working in the field of public health. If you’re interested in taking on more responsibilities at work, or you’re in line for a promotion, this program will give you an opportunity to understand core public health principles at a higher level.
Estimated Cost$604/unit
Min. Completion Time
Course FormatThe program can also prepare you for admission to graduate-level public health programs, including SDSU’s MPH in Health Promotion and Behavioral Science or MPH in Epidemiology. The online courses cover a range of topics that are essential to any master’s program in public health, including epidemiology, behavioral sciences, and healthcare administration.
Want to try the program before applying? Take one 3-unit course before you’re accepted to the program! Click here to learn more.
If you’re interested in applying to one of SDSU’s MPH programs, you can transfer nine (9) units earned in the Advanced Certificate into the master’s program, giving you a unique opportunity to earn your Master’s in Public Health more quickly so that you can get back to doing what you do best — improving the health of your community.
Is This Program Right for Me?
SDSU’s Advanced Public Health Certificate program is for people who are passionate about keeping their communities healthy and want to take their professional careers to the next level. This program provides you with a unique opportunity to get a feel for the academic rigors of a graduate-level curriculum without committing to an entire MPH program.
If you complete the program and you’re still interested in continuing your education, you can apply all of your coursework towards earning an MPH from SDSU. If not, you’ve still earned a valuable Advanced Certificate that can help you attain higher-level employment opportunities.
While SDSU’s School of Public Health accepts students from a wide range of backgrounds, most students entering the Advanced Certificate Program hold bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, health science, nursing, social work, or other health-related fields of study.
Many students are professionals who currently work in a variety of fields across public health and its related disciplines, including:
Healthcare Administration and Management
Occupational Safety and Compliance
Health Education and Counseling
Civil and Safety Engineering
Youth and Career Counseling
Project and Program Management
Registered/Practical Nursing
Chemical and Physical Science
Health and Medical Research
Business Analysis
Academia
Data Analysis and Mathematics
Healthcare-Related IT
Human Resources
This intensive certificate program is also held entirely online, which makes it ideal for working professionals and potential students who don’t have the time or the means to attend in-person courses on a college campus.
What Can I Learn?
This five-course program is designed to act as a foundation for a graduate-level curriculum. You’ll cover a broad range of topics that are essential to your success as a leader in public health, including:
Epidemiology
Biostatistics
Behavioral Sciences
Social Sciences
Environmental Health Factors
Healthcare Administration
Your curriculum is designed by SDSU’s School of Public Health, a global leader in health-related research and academics. Your courses are delivered by the same expert faculty who teach courses in SDSU’s on-campus program. Through their professional experience and academic expertise, you’ll be able to participate in a graduate-level program that matches the intensity of any in-person public health certificate program.
If you’re interested in earning a Master’s in Public Health from San Diego State University, you’ll be able to transfer up to nine (9) units into SDSU’s MPH program. You can also petition for the other 6 units to transfer, which the School of Public Health can approve.
Time Commitments for Online Courses at Global Campus
Career Outcomes
Labor Analysis
Master’s in Public Health Graduates
Job Postings
Last 12 months
112,541
Projected Growth
Over 10 years
14.07%
Salary Range
Average
$77,000
Source: BLS & Burning Glass Technologies, 2020
Many students who have earned their bachelor’s degree in public health are interested in continuing their education in a graduate-level MPH program, but they may be hesitant to make an investment that’s both time-consuming and costly.
While employment numbers and salary figures for graduates with bachelor’s in public health are favorable, those numbers look even better for students who earn their MPH. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nationwide number of people employed with an MPH is expected to grow by nearly 15% over the decade, compared to just 10.6% growth for individuals with a bachelor’s degree. Currently, the average salary for those with an MPH is more than $77,000, compared to an average salary of $69,000 for those with a bachelor’s degree.
Salary Ranges for Top 5 Jobs
Master of Public Health
Healthcare Administrators and Managers
Health Education and Counseling
Mental and Behavioral Counseling
Civil and Safety Engineering
Project and Program Managers
With SDSU’s Advanced Certificate in Public Health, you can make an informed decision on whether you’d like to enroll in an MPH while building knowledge that you can apply to your current job.
Why Should You Choose Us?
Reputation
SDSU’s School of Public Health (SPH) is one of four CEPH-accredited schools of public health in California. Through partnerships with the UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency, and other health organizations, the SPH has a reputation as a leader in public health research. The SPH also provides assistance to healthcare organizations, governmental agencies, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, multinational organizations, and our own academic community on matters of public health.
Opportunity
With SDSU’s Advanced Certificate in Public Health Program, you’ll have a chance to prepare for a master’s program by taking five graduate-level courses. These five courses are part of SDSU’s MPH programs. If you’re interested in enrolling in SDSU’s graduate program, you’ll be able to apply nine (9) advanced certificate course units toward one of our public health master’s programs.
Practicality
If you’re not enrolling in a graduate program, you’ll still be able to use the Advanced Certificate in Public Health to help you take your current career to the next level. You’ll acquire the advanced public health knowledge you need to take on leadership roles in your organization — whether those entail taking on administrative roles, creating healthcare policies with lasting community effects, or implementing large-scale public health strategies.
Want To Learn More?
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If you'd like more information about this program, please call 619-594-7700 or email recruiter.global@sdsu.edu.