Master of Public Health Virtual Information Session

So what's our plan if or do we have people in the waiting room?

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OK. So we don't know yet if there's people there?

OK.

You're going to guide me through my vocal warm up exercises.

I prefer to be called Mariah.

Oh my goodness.

Hello everyone. Good afternoon.

I'm going to let everyone, umm, give everyone a couple moments to come on into our session and then we will get started.

OK. I think we're good. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Tara Williams. I am the proud Director of Graduate Admissions at Stockton University. And I am joined today by our UH program Chair for the Masters of Public Health program, Doctor Stephanie Griffin. And together we are going to be presenting our virtual information session about the MPH program here at Stockton and we're going to discuss a little bit about what.

The program is about career opportunities, the practical experience. We're going to have a short video so you can learn more about the program and then we're going to talk about admissions into the program and what that entails. So I'm going to turn the program over to Stephanie Griffin, but if you at any point during this presentation, if you would like to ask any questions, please feel free to utilize the chat feature that is here in the.

Virtual information session, you will not see me. I will be behind the scenes, but I will be answering any questions that you have and then I will pop back on to discuss admissions information. So I'm going to turn the program over to Doctor Griffin.

Alright, awesome. Thank you, Tara. I just want to make sure we're recording right.

Yes.

You're welcome.

A perfect, excellent. Thank you so much for that introduction, Tara. I am very pleased to be with all of you today. So thanks again for arranging this umm, so we can get the word out about our MPH program a little bit more. Our faculty, staff, and current students are genuinely excited to share what makes Stockton's MPH program special. I am going to try to keep this presentation brief so we have plenty of time for questions at the end, so we'll just go ahead and jump right in.

And hopefully I am driving the slides. There we go.

So if you are new to the field of public health, we're going to start here with the basics. What exactly is public health? Well, we think of it as both an art and a science. We work to prevent disease and promote quality of life by partnering with communities, organizations, and society as a whole.

Here is what sets us apart from clinical medicine. While doctors treat individuals, we focus on protecting entire populations. We dig into root causes. We look at how society influences health and how.

And we try to bring diverse stakeholders together to improve well-being for everyone who might be affected. It's really about the big picture approach to health.

This word cloud was created by one of our undergraduate students and it gives you a sense of just how broad the field of public health is. So we cover everything from environmental hazards to chronic disease, from policy to the boots on the ground community work.

Because of that diversity of topics, there's diverse career options available to people in this career field. One of the most exciting things about public health is the sheer variety of career paths open to you. According to the American Public Health Association, public health professionals work everywhere from conducting cutting edge research to educating communities, from setting workplace safety standards to developing school nutrition programs.

You might find yourself vaccinating people in communities, tracking disease outbreaks, advocating for smoke free policies, or using data to understand why some populations face greater or different health challenges than others.

Our MPH program prepares you for all of this, giving you the skills to work in state and county health departments, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, Wellness centers, academic institutions, and beyond. You will be working alongside an incredibly diverse team, too Social workers, nutritionists, epidemiologists, nurses, occupational health specialists, policymakers, you name it.

Let's see, I'm going to click back here one more time. Here, I'll give you some concrete examples of where public health professionals work. So we have placed students who have now, you know, moving on to their careers in places like hospitals and healthcare organizations that that's sort of an obvious and definite choice. But also we have people who work as first responders in state and local health departments and as health educators in schools. You'll find public health professionals in academic settings and government agencies and private.

Institutions working as scientists and researchers, the breadth is really remarkable and that is what makes this field so dynamic and rewarding.

So let's talk about the vision and mission of the Stockton Masters of Public Health program.

Our vision is simple but powerful. We seek healthy people thriving wherever they live, work, learn, play and worship. We are talking about eliminating health disparities and helping everyone reach their full health potential locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. Our mission emphasizes HealthEquity and social justice. We are not just training practitioners. We are developing leaders who know how to collaborate with communities, advocate for change, and empower the people they serve.

We take an interdisciplinary approach here, bringing together both clinical and non clinical perspectives on prevention and health improvement. The bottom line is we are student centered. Everything we do is designed to prepare you for real-world challenges through quality instruction, meaningful research, and genuine community service.

So we'll talk quickly about some of the specifics of the program.

You will learn from our core group of full-time faculty, plus practicing public health professionals who bring real-world experience to us as adjunct faculty. Our curriculum covers all the core competencies you need Biostatistics and epidemiology, environmental Health Sciences, health policy and management, social and behavioral sciences, communication and leadership, program planning and diversity, equity and inclusion.

This is a 42 credit hour degree. We offer courses online and a couple in a hybrid format and you can enroll full-time or part-time, whatever works for you.

Theory is great, but we know you need real hands on experience, especially as you launch your new career. This is why every student completes what we call an applied practice experience.

The lay term is of course an internship. You will spend about 200 contact hours working with a supervisor in the field. The requirement you need to complete at least 18 credits first of coursework. So you're bringing real knowledge to the table with the organization that you're serving. Where can you do these internships? We've placed students all over the place, Community-based organizations, healthcare settings, academic institutions, non government organizations, governmental agencies, basically anywhere public health.

Is happening. You can do an internship there. You'll be tackling real current issues and building the experience your resume that employers want to see.

So I need to take a minute to brag about our team. We have UH-12 faculty members, nine of whom are full-time either in the college, sorry, the School of Health Sciences, or UMM. We have one new member here, Robin Hernandez McKinnon, who's in the social work program, and I think she's going to bring a really interesting perspective to our global health course. Anyhow, every single one of these professionals brings extensive academic credentials and applied public health experience working with diverse populations in.

Settings. But here's what really matters. They're not just experts. They're active researchers and scholars who genuinely care about your success. This is Stockton's guiding principles, students first. And you will feel that from day one all the way through graduation.

A quick word about accreditation. We know that this matters to a lot of applicants. We began our application with the Council for Education and Public Health, also known as CEF, in January of 2025. Our initial application was accepted in the spring semester and we're working on the process now towards full accreditation.

CHIEF is the nationally recognized body that sets rigorous standards for public health programs. Why does this matter? Well, accreditation ensures the quality of education that we deliver to you and it opens doors for certification and employment opportunities for our students. The process involves a multi level review to make sure that we meet nationwide standards developed by practitioners and academics in the field of public health. We designed our program with these standards in mind from day one and we are actively working through the.

Education process.

OK, so why Stockton? Why should you choose us? I'll give you some highlights here. We have small class sizes with flexible online and hybrid formats. You can go part time if you need to. Make that work for your, umm, work and life expectations. We're all seeking balance in today's crazy world. We have competitive tuition rates compared to other MPH programs in New Jersey and we're very proud of that. We have a unique focus on developing well-rounded professionals and leaders, not just checking boxes.

And we have those supportive, esteemed faculty that I mentioned earlier. They are genuinely invested in your success.

So we are building this MPH program. You know, as I mentioned, we're working towards our accreditation, this MPH program, we're now in year 3. We had our first graduating class last spring, but we have a long history of public health education here at Stockton of over 40 years. It's approaching 50 years, I think with over 1000 graduates from the BS in Public Health program, the Bachelors of Science in Public Health.

So, uh, while the MPH program is relatively new.

We have that decades of experience that's sort of the foundation of our success. Stockton's bachelors program in public health has umm.

A nearly 70% rate of students working in health-related fields, graduates or they're seeking further education, and over 25% have pursued or completed graduate studies. So our current MPH students, they're already advancing in their own careers, making progress in research and in practice. So we put together a short video that I will show you next about the undergraduate program. But it gives you a sense of the importance and value of a public health education here at Stockton.

Awesome, I love watching that video. All those happy people.

So as you can get a sense from looking at some of those alumni interviews, there are students at the undergraduate and graduate level. They're bright, engaged, and passionate about this really important field and what we do for communities and for our nation. You will see that immediately once you join our student body. The Public Health Society is the official student run organization that is an umbrella organization for undergrads and grads. They create awareness campaigns, they organize fundraisers and work on projects that make a real.

Friends both on campus and in the community, and you are of course welcome to join if you become a student here at Stockton.

So I want to talk real quickly. One of the things that was mentioned in that video is the Certified Health Education Specialist or Chez certification that is under the National Commission for Health Education credentialing called Ncheck. So.

That organization credentials professionals who have mastered the skills and competencies in health education. We don't make the determination here if our courses align with the requirements necessary to qualify and sit for this exam and Check makes that determination. But we have integrated lots of the health education content into our coursework. So what I'm doing right now is working with students who are interested in achieving this credential to.

Umm, get the review by and check and make sure that everything is aligned so that our students can sit for the exam and hopefully go on to careers in health education, which is really valuable and rewarding experience.

The other certification we'll talk about is the certification in public health that is run by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. So earning the CPH demonstrates the knowledge of the key sciences and domains in the field of public health. Are you OK, Tara? OK, good.

I thought maybe it wasn't working. Sorry about that. So.

You, uh, once you graduate from Stockton's MPH program, you are eligible to sit for the CPH exam. Uh, this is the first and only credential of its kind.

That demonstrates both your knowledge of key public Health Sciences and your commitment to ongoing professional development. The exam covers 10 domains that align perfectly with our curriculum. That includes things like data analysis and informatics, communication, leadership, HealthEquity and social justice, law and ethics, policy and advocacy, disease prevention, program management, program planning and evaluation, and community engagement.

OK, now I know why you popped in because this is your slide, so I will let you take it my friend.

OK, umm, so, umm, I wanted to pop back on and talk a little bit about the admissions process. So, uh, right now our application is open for the next cohort, which would be for Fall 26. Umm, although that seems like, uh, light years away, it's actually not, uh, we do have folks who are already applying for Fall 26 and we hope that you will consider that as well. So we're just going to go over a few.

Things that you need for the application. Obviously a bachelor's degree is required for this master's program. We do ask that you have a cumulative GPA with 3.0. What we need by cumulative is that all colleges attended all college credits. They have to be averaged out to a 3.0 or higher to apply for this program. Like Doctor Griffin said, you should have a bio and stats course with a minimum of AB grade and then the completed application. What you need for that.

That is the essay 3 letters of recommendation transcripts from all colleges attended and then your resume.

For the letters of recommendation, please make sure that they are professional or academic in nature. Umm, family, friends, family, friends, anything like that is really not accepted. Uh, please make sure that they are from UMM. You know, it could be from your supervisors or faculty members, past faculty members, even your colleagues are OK to write letters of recommendation as long as it is coming from a work sense and not like a friendship sense. Umm, it has to be professional.

Or academic in nature.

An internship supervisor is another option.

Yes, great option.

If you interned under someone, that's a good one, yes.

Yes, umm, we do have rolling admission for this program. So as soon as your application is complete, it will be reviewed, which is important to know. And when the cohort is full, it is full. So the earlier that you get the application in, uh, the better. But uh, we do say that you should have your application and all materials in by July 1. Umm, I would like to have like a little asterisk on that. And the reason being is that we do have orientation that takes place in about May.

Umm, it is best if you come to that first orientation. Uh, the reason why is your, uh, tuition bill, you will have more months in your, if you choose the payment plan, the monthly payment plan, umm, the earlier the register for your courses, the more months that you will have to spread your bill over. Uh, just a little insider tidbit. So if you come to the first orientation, which typically takes place in May, umm, you will be able to.

Take take advantage of that extra month or two to spread your bill over. Just a little fun fact. So although it says July 1, I would actually say maybe April would probably be best. So that way you're invited to that first orientation. But for priority deadline, you know, we do say July 1.

Would you like to talk about the other admissions options? OK, perfect.

Yes. So, uh, direct entry, that is a umm, a program for Stockton students. If you have the qualifying GPA, umm, that is a streamlined application. So you would not need the letters of recommendation, You wouldn't be paying the $50 application fee. You would essentially just be having umm to complete the, the essay, uh, portion of the application. So if you're a Stockton student, you have the 3.0 GPA, you have AB in biochemistry.

You can select direct entry when you're applying and that will streamline your application for you. We also have an accelerated dual degree, 2 dual degree options for folks that are coming in from high school who are coming to Stockton who already know that you want to take advantage of this masters program. You can be a, you can do your Bachelor of Science in public health and then transition into the dual degree, which is the MPH program or you could be.

Another option is if you wanted to do the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and then also and then transition into the MPH program. The benefit of accelerated dual degree is instead of doing your four years undergrad and then your two, three years masters, however it spreads out, it's actually a condensed accelerated version. So it saves you time and it saves you money because a lot of those courses double count for both the bachelors and the masters, and it's a condensed curriculum.

That way you can finish both degrees in.

A limited amount of time and then also your, your billing would be a lot less because you're not doing the four years and the three years. It would be more of like a condensed time frame because like I said, a lot of this classes will count both towards your undergrad and your grad. So if you're someone who's in high school and you know, you want to do this program, or maybe you're a first year student and it's, you know, still time for you to raise your hand and say, I want to do this.

You can take advantage of that program.

Yes, we're pretty flexible, so as long as you have less than.

I think it's 90 credits of undergrad experience we could probably get you through in a total of 10 semesters plus one summer internship instead of I guess it would be 12 semesters plus one summer internship. So it does save time and money. So thank you for sharing that, Tara.

You're welcome.

OK.

We are.

So yes, we can move on to Q and I.

Yes. So are you open to people? Do they put their questions in the chat? Is that what we OK.

Yes, umm, I haven't received any so far, but this is your opportunity if you want to put any questions in the chat, Doctor Griffin and I will be here to answer any questions that you may have. Umm, while we're waiting for questions, again, just want to re emphasize that the application is open for fall 2026. Uh, you can begin that application now. Umm, if you go to our website stockton.edu/grad, you will be able to click on apply now and then begin your.

Application that way. The other thing you can do is click on graduate programs. You'll learn more about the MPH program and then anywhere on our website where you see that apply button, you can click and begin your application.

Nice. So you mentioned.

I just want folks to know that full time, if you accomplish the 42 credits full time, so you're usually taking between 9:00 and 12:00 graduate credits a semester, you can finish it in four semesters plus the internship. Now the internship you can do anytime. I have options in fall.

Spring, summer, winter, I've got options for everything for internship because I want people to be able to fit that into their lives. Most of our students work full time. So I we do everything that we can to make sure that you can do all the things, including taking care of yourself and your family and everything else while being a successful student and maintaining your employment and all the good things. So.

We typically if it's full time, we expect you in and out in two years.

Mm-hmm.

I don't see any questions.

If you're part time, you can spread it out over three years or more. I think the maths to completion is like 6 or 8 years. I we are not even that old of a program. So I have nobody who has failed to complete in that amount of time. We did graduate our first cohort in May, so that was very exciting. And we'll have another cohort of grads again in this spring. Umm, yeah. So let's see. I don't see any questions. I just see your comment. So I guess we did such a fantastic job that no one has questions.

Exactly.

I.

But ha ha, if people are shy. Oh, OK, so can all yes. So all three of the letters come from professional sources. So John, I, I feel your question. Umm, it's great if I can see something from an academic source, but I have worked with some students recently who were out of school for so long that they felt like those letters were not be helpful.

So umm, I would invite you to reach out to me.

Umm, Tara, I don't. Can I type in this thing?

Yes you can.

Everyone's gonna watch me do this in real time, and you know what? Nothing is worse than typing in front of people.

Umm, well, I guess maybe there are other worse things, but if you would like to John, send me an e-mail and tell me about your situation, I'm more than happy to just give you individualized advice. But professional sources are better than family, friends, and things like that. Like let's not go down that road. Umm, and if we can find an academic letter, great. If not, let's work together and figure out a solution.

So hopefully that helps you, John. Umm.

Also put the grad e-mail in the chat too. So if you leave this session and you have any questions or you're working through the application and you just want to, you know, shoot us a quick e-mail. I put the grad school at stockton.edu e-mail there. I do see your question.

Microsoft, OH.

Umm, so.

Yes. So you can apply for for the program. I see that you have a bachelors in optometry, 5 year clinical experience. You can begin the application. So and then as you're going through your materials that you need will attach to your application as any outstanding items that you need.

And we can discuss further 2 admissions for you specifically.

That would be great. Thank you for following up on that Terra.

You're welcome. Any other great questions?

If not, uh, you have Doctor Griffin's e-mail address there, you have, uh, the grad, umm, office in for, uh, e-mail address there. And umm, we'll be happy to answer any questions that you may have, but we look forward to your application and we look forward to you joining this wonderful program.

Thank you for your time, Tara. I appreciate it.

Of course. Thank you all.