The Graduate Certificate Program in Public Health is designed for working professionals who want to build a foundation in public Health and advance their careers at a flexible, part-time pace. This 12-credit program offers courses in a mix of online and hybrid formats, allowing for virtual and in-person engagement with faculty and peers. Students can take courses during the fall, spring, and summer and complete the program in as little as eight months (May– December) or in 1-2 academic years. This program prepares students for careers in public health and can support career advancement for individuals who are already employed in the public health field. Students gain skills in health policy and management, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, and social and structural determinants of health. Courses include regionally relevant literature and innovative case studies, so students learn to apply these concepts into real world settings. The Graduate Certificate in Public Health offers a stepping-stone to the NAU Master of Public Health program. If a student applies and is accepted into the NAU MPH program, all course credit earned in the certificate program will be transferred into the program. To learn more, email askMPH@nau.edu with specific questions about the program.

A Graduate Certificate in Public Health provides graduates with the opportunity to improve the health and well-being of communities. Public health professionals explore the factors creating public health challenges and propose solutions that are relevant and sustainable in the community. They conduct community needs assessments, develop and implement public health programs and evaluate the programs to determine effectiveness. A Graduate Certificate in Public Health strengthens depth of knowledge and builds competence in the skills necessary to be effective in the public health field. Additional experience and training can lead to higher salaries within the public health field. Employees with a Graduate Certificate in Public Health are qualified for advanced positions including, program coordinators and lead health specialists.

Baccalaureate degree: Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from a four-year college or university, or its international equivalent with a 3.0 GPA or better. The baccalaureate degree can be in any subject. Prior to applying please complete the following pre-requisite course: 1 semester of an intro or basic statistics course Students who have not completed the pre-requisite course prior to submitting their application will still be considered for the program as long as the applicant can demonstrate proof of enrollment in the course. (Upload a screenshot demonstrating course enrollment to the application.) Students with outstanding pre-requisite courses must demonstrate that they completed the course with a C or better prior to the start of the program. Students will be dropped from the program if the pre-requisite course is not complete, or if a C or better was not earned, prior to the start of the program. A pre-requisite course completed more than 10 years prior to the application deadline may need to be retaken. Additional Program Admission Requirements for the Public Health Graduate Certificate:

• PSY 230 or STA 270 with a Grade of “C” or better, or relevant experience
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• A personal statement that includes the applicant’s career goals and reason for applying to the certificate program.

For details on graduate admission policies, please visit the Graduate Admissions Policy.

Find the course plan here.

To apply visit the NAU Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (OGPS) website. 

• Application deadline. Applications are reviewed twice a year according to the following calendar:
  • Summer and Fall Admit: Application opens March 1st and closes April 1st
  • Spring Admit: Application opens April 16th and closes November 30th 
• Application. Visit the NAU OGPS website to complete the application prior to the deadline. From the application portal, you will be able to upload required documents and pay the application fee.
  • Application fee. The OGPS requires a $65 application processing fee (non-refundable), which is paid online when you submit your application.
  • Resume or Vita. Upload a current resume or curriculum vita to your application.
  • Personal Statement. Upload a 1-2 page personal statement that includes your career goals and reason for applying to the certificate program.
  • Transcripts. Submit transcripts from all colleges and universities attended that contributed to the baccalaureate degree as well as transcripts documenting completion of the pre-requisite course (statistics). If you have not taken a college-level statistics course, please describe your relevant statistical experience in your personal statement. If you are enrolled in a pre-requisite course the same semester you apply, please include evidence of enrollment in the pre-requisite course.

Tuition, fees and the application fee for students who are enrolled members of the Navajo Nation can be paid for through the Navajo Native American Research Centers for Health Partnership (NARCH) grant.  These funds are limited. Interested students should contact askMPH@nau.edu before applying.   Up-to-date tuition, fees, and estimated living expenses for all NAU graduate programs can be found here: https://nau.edu/admissions/tuition-and-cost/tuition-expenses/.

Q: Could a student who completes the Graduate Certificate in Public Health be automatically enrolled in the MPH program? A:  No, students who are interested in moving on to the MPH program are still required to apply to the MPH program. Q: If I complete the Graduate Certificate in Public Health, will I be automatically enrolled in the MPH program? A:  No, students who are interested in moving on to the MPH program are still required to apply to the MPH program. Q: Which terms will the Navajo NARCH Partnership funding cover? A: Navajo NARCH invites Navajo students to apply for scholarship funds. Pending approval and availability of funds, students may receive scholarships for only one course (3 credits) per semester. Q: Can I apply for funding in December 2020 for the Spring 2021 semester? A: There is no guarantee there will still be funding for those that apply after Fall 2020. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to secure funding.

To learn more about our amazing Health Sciences faculty and their research interests, click here.

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