Master in Public Health (MPH)

Program Structure

• Duration of the program: 2-years (4-semesters)
• Total Credits: 44
• Program learning outcomes are aligned to Level 9 in the NQF Standards (National Qualification Framework)
• Aligned with the Council of Education in Public Health (CEPH) outcomes.
• The core curriculum is covered in the first three semesters (34 credits).
• In the fourth semester, the students have Practicum (4 credits) and an independent thesis (6 credits).

The student will be recommended for the award of Master in Public Health upon:

• Completion of 44 credits
• Obtaining a minimum CGPA of 3.0
• Obtaining a minimum pass mark of 80% (Grade B) for each course
• Submitting and defending a thesis to the satisfaction of the thesis evaluation committee with a minimum pass mark of 80%

Study Plan

Course Description

Semester – 1

MPH 601: Epidemiology and Demography

The course provides the concepts, perspectives of epidemiology.  It provides highly   specialized   knowledge   in   the   field   of   epidemiology, emphasizing methods for assessing factors associated with the distribution and etiology of health and disease. Skills include methods for identifying and evaluating sources of health information, calculation of key epidemiologic measures, epidemiological investigation techniques, and evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of different study designs.

MPH 602: Public Health Program Management

This course translates the key concepts, principles and methods in public health policy development, assessment, evaluation, economics, management and quality into practice.  It provides opportunity to link the political, economic, professional, social and legislative issues together, and develop leadership skills in public health management in the context of a multidisciplinary approach in a multicultural context.

MPH 603: Social and Behavioral Health

This course will equip the student with both the theoretical and empirical foundations of medical sociology, social and cultural determinants of health, social problems and its impact on the health of populations, importance of a balanced state of mind in health promotion and disease prevention, use of behavioral sciences to understand and intervene upon current public health problems; imparts the skills required in the application of behavioral science to current public health problems.

MPH 604: Biostatistics

This course will equip the student with advanced knowledge in the application of descriptive and   inferential   statistics   in   public   health   context.   The   focus   will   be   on   numerical computation and interpretation of outcome from a given data set. This course will help students to develop advanced skills in analyzing and interpreting data from Health, Allied Health, Public Health settings through classroom demonstrations and ‘hands on’ experience with MS Excel for data management and statistical analysis software such as Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for analysis. This course will give focus to communicating complex statistical information effectively.

Semester – 2

MPH 605: Environmental Health

This course provides an overview of environmental health, the variety and extent of environmental issues affecting human health, effects of exposure to biological and chemical agents, radiation, noise, excessive heat and cold, air pollution, water pollution, effects of global warming, and relevant environmental regulations and risk assessment strategies.

MPH 606: Introduction to research

This course is structured to provide fundamental skills to protocol development. The students will have a hands-on experience in developing research question; writing research hypothesis, research objectives, selecting the appropriate study design, choosing study subjects, measurement methods and planning for data management and analysis. At the end of this course the student will submit a research protocol.

MPH 607: Health Promotion Practice

This course is designed to help students learn how to apply the theoretical frameworks of health promotion toward step-by-step practical approaches for engaging with individuals, families, groups and communities.  As a practice planning course, students will explore health promotion strategies among different sections of the community for various health behaviors. They will be addressed bearing in mind the political, social, and economic influences and examining the future of health promotion in the context of health disparities by gender, ethnicity, and rural and urban, socio-economic classes.  The course seeks to enable the students to integrate and apply the theoretical knowledge from all the courses in the program, in planning health promotion in the public health contexts.

MPH 610: Occupational Health

This course focuses on occupational health hazards.  Industrial exposures, which may produce work-related disorders and diseases, are explored including their management in the primary setting, referral service and rehabilitation.  It covers industrial hygiene and control of occupational health and safety hazards, which includes administrative, training and engineering measures; safety, prevention, ergonomics; and systematic approaches to the evaluation and management of work-related injury and illness. It covers occupational health policies, the legal aspects and welfare management.

Semester –3

MPH 611: Epidemiology of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases

This course provides an overview and understanding of the fundamentals and trends of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Emphasis will be placed on the diseases that are a public health problem in the region, that produce an adverse impact on morbidity, disability or mortality, that could be specifically targeted for control, elimination or eradication, that have an epidemic potential and new or re-emerging infectious diseases. The course will provide a basic overview of the infectious disease process, including disease agents, transmission routes, immunity and public health significance. The course focuses on principles of infectious disease epidemiology, financial, medical, and social effects, principles of prevention at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. The course also provides an up-to-date epidemiological perspective on important chronic non-communicable diseases; concepts include distribution, determinants, diagnosis; prognosis and quality of care measures, screening, treatment modalities and surveillance measures.  The course will also review current and proposed prevention and control measures and related issues in non-communicable diseases.

MPH 609: Research Methods and Ethics

The course focuses on principles of qualitative and quantitative research, developing a research question; choosing study subjects, measurement methods, study designs; planning for data management and analysis; and principles of writing and analyzing a research paper. The course also focuses on basic ethical and legal principles pertaining to research, and also presents issues in the ethical conduct of research, including data management, research fraud, academic misconduct, confidentiality and conflict of interest. The course covers international, national and institutional guidelines regarding research in human beings, animals and vulnerable populations.

MPH 612: Health Services

This course will include the health services provided in the UAE and compare it with the services provided in other countries. The student will know the functioning and practice at the primary health center, referral levels and health care provided to the various groups such as Maternal and Child health, School health services, rural health services, and geriatric health services. This course also examines the definition of quality in healthcare from the perspective of providers, health planners, and consumers.  It focuses on evaluating health care using routine data, evaluating health care technologies, evaluating health care processes and health care outcomes.

MPH 614: Public health Seminar

This course is intended to prepare and present a variety of public health practice topics by the students. Students will take the seminar after they complete the other courses related to Public Health practice. Topics such as Evidence based public health practice, public health and health care systems, policy in public health, leadership etc. will be covered in this course.

Semester –4

MPH 608: Integrated Practicum (Field placement)

This Course encompass the knowledge, techniques and skills acquired during the previous semesters in epidemiology, biostatistics, Social and behavioral sciences, Environmental health, Health services, Health promotion, Public health management, Occupational Health, Research and ethics, demography into real life practice in a public health setup. This Course will enable the student to gain hands on practical experience under the direct supervision and guidance of a qualified preceptor in public health in order to apply the acquired knowledge into practice. This course focuses on the synthesis and application of the core and interdisciplinary cross-cutting areas of public health in solving problems identified which will facilitate smooth transition from being a student of public health to becoming a public health professional.

MPH 613: Thesis

A requirement of the Master in Public Health degree is the satisfactory completion of an independent research project. The project will serve as a culminating experience to demonstrate application of the knowledge acquired in the graduate program. Thesis will be based on original research in the field of Public Health; study will be within the resources and the time available to the student and should conform to accepted scientific and ethical standards. All research projects must be human-based and involve data analysis. The data may consist of existing data sets or data collected by the student specifically for the research project. The completed project will be presented orally on an allotted day to demonstrate understanding of the topic and ability to defend the study design and interpretation of results.

• Demonstrate specialized knowledge and competencies in the areas basic to public health (social and behavioural sciences, biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health science, and public health management) to practice essential public health services.
• Integrate the advances of research and evidence-based practices, and contribute to scientific knowledge through independent and collaborative research projects and publications.
• Develop professional skills required to analyze the regional needs, programs and policies in public health services, education and research, and to contribute in policy making and program planning.
• Collaborate with appropriate community professionals and organizations to provide, enhance or support service activities to meet the health needs of the different sections of the community

Admission Requirement
Gulf Medical University (GMU) applicants

• Applicants shall meet all admission criteria for entry into the higher education programs offered by the University, as laid down in the Standards (2019) published by the Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA), Ministry of Education – Higher Education Affairs, UAE.
• The applicant shall be a Graduate of Science / Health or Biological Sciences in an accredited school in the UAE or an IMED-listed medical school outside the UAE with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its established equivalent.
• The Applicant must have proficiency in spoken and written English. The applicant can fulfil the English proficiency requirement via the Emsat or TOEFL or IELTS. Furthermore UA CESL Endorsement Exam (only for Arizona track) minimum requirements are listed below. TOEFL and IELTS test scores must be dated within two years of the year of enrolment.

• • EmSAT: Score of 1400 and above
  • TOEFL: Score of 79 on the iBT or 550 PBT (web-based) test or higher.
  • IELTS: Overall score of 6 is required, with a score of no less than 5 on any individual band or module.

Conditional Graduate Admission Read More

Required Documents

• Attested copy of the baccalaureate degree and official transcripts of credit/s earned from an accredited institution of higher education previously attended, with documentation of one course in college-level introductory biology, human biology, or general biology – grade of C or higher AND one course in college algebra, pre-calculus, or calculus – grade of C or higher (Grade C is equivalent to grade 2.0 on 4.0 scale.)
• Equivalency Certificate of the baccalaureate degree from the Ministry of Education, UAE
• Valid English Proficiency Scoresheet (IELTS/TOEFL etc.)
• Passport copy and Emirates ID Card (For UAE Nationals Family Book and Ethbara)
• 5 Passport-size Photographs
• Two letters of recommendation
• Resume or CV
• Copy of WES grading evaluation score sheet
• Mission and Value Statement

The graduates can pursue further career as:

• Medical and Health Services Manager
• Health Educator
• Community Health Worker
• Public Health Management Analyst
• Director of Programs and Services
• Health Communication Specialist
• Research Scientist
• Environmental Health Intelligence Analyst
• Epidemiologist

Dr. Danavanthi S. Bangera 
BDS, MPH
Acting Medical Director
Thumbay Dental Hospital,
Al Jurf, Thumbay Medicity, Ajman

Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow. (Anthony J. D’Angelo)

Dear Colleagues,

Being a graduate from Government Dental College, Mumbai and Masters in Public Health from Gulf Medical University, I am presently working as a Medical Director and Dental Surgeon in Thumbay Dental Hospital, Thumbay Medicity, Ajman.

Enrolling myself in Masters in Public Health Program, College of Graduate studies in Gulf Medical University in 2013, it takes me immense pleasure to tell that I had one of the most amazing experiences as being a part of MPH batch 2013. I truly appreciate the efforts of the faculty members inculcating the knowledge in an interesting way. The faculty members are competent, helpful, flexible and approachable. I admire the excellent planning of our academic syllabus, which allowed me for active involvement in the classes.

The theme and content of the course and attitude of the faculty has really provided me a widened horizon towards the significance of public health in present day society. MPH program allow students to explore in depth areas relevant to their personal career goals. Moreover, the concentrations enable students in the interdisciplinary MPH program to establish a link with one or more of the school’s academic departments.

The program prepares students to become leading public health professionals capable of addressing current global health problems through multidisciplinary approaches that apply the latest scientific knowledge. Being in field of Oral Healthcare Services, I now look up to the oral problems in a broader frame. I believe that my approach towards my patients will be far more reaching.

I would also take this opportunity to thank Sir, Founder President, Dr. Thumbay Moideen and my colleagues for their invaluable support and tremendous help.

Dr. Azza Saleh Al Matrooshi
Head of Studies, Research and Quality
Food and Environmental Lab, Ajman Municipality

The MPH program equipped me with incomparable opportunities to engage in health research and understand the health and social disparities faced by vulnerable communities both in UAE and internationally, provided me with the necessary skills and valuable knowledge in several fields of study.

It also gave me opportunities for research and career development. The most rewarding and important part of the program is the practicum, which provides students the opportunity to meet and work with public health professionals.

The rich knowledge of a diverse cohort of students added to the positive learning experience. The MPH program with its experienced faculty provides the ingredients to succeed in many different health’s related careers.

Dr. Noorah Al Shimmari
Director of Ajman Preventive Medicine

It was a great time I spent in Gulf medical University studying Master of Public Health. It has very wonderful faculty, they are very cooperative and the campus environment is positive.

The MPH degree provided me with the necessary skills and valuable knowledge in several fields of study. It also gave me opportunities for research and career development. The most rewarding and important part of the program is the practicum, which provides students the opportunity to meet and work with Public Health Professionals.

Thank you to the Public Health program faculty for the enriching education.