Public Health
Become a public health leader equipped with the knowledge and skills to strengthen health systems, analyze population health challenges, design evidence-based interventions, manage public health programs, and improve health outcomes across diverse settings.
Program Overview
The Master's Program in Public Health is a rigorous professional graduate program designed to equip professionals with advanced competencies to address complex public health challenges and drive positive change in population health.
The program prepares participants to analyze public health issues, strengthen health systems, conduct operational research, develop health policies, and implement evidence-based interventions.
The curriculum integrates foundational public health knowledge with leadership, management, research, and emerging technologies to prepare graduates for senior public health roles.
It covers key areas including epidemiology, biostatistics, communicable and non-communicable diseases, health economics, governance, health promotion, women's health, environmental health, quality improvement, and artificial intelligence applications in public health.
Graduates are prepared for leadership positions in ministries of health, healthcare organizations, public health institutions, international agencies, NGOs, academic institutions, and research settings.
Why Choose this Program?
- Earn an accredited master's degree jointly delivered by RAKMHSU and IAPH.
- Study while you work through a flexible online learning model.
- Build expertise across core and emerging public health disciplines.
- Develop leadership and management competencies for senior public health roles.
- Explore innovative topics including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Public Health
- Learn through practical case studies, applied assignments, and operational research.
- Complete an applied master's thesis addressing a real public health challenge.
- Learn from experienced regional and international faculty.
Thesis
A key component of the program, the thesis allows participants to apply their learning to a real-world public health issue.
Participants will:
- Develop a research proposal
- Conduct data collection and analysis
- Produce a structured thesis report
- Present and defend their findings
Duration
3-4 semesters
Program Structure
- Duration: 3 semesters
- Total Credits: 36 credit hours
- Delivery Mode: Self-paced online learning with a supervised thesis component
The program combines interactive self-paced online learning modules, case studies, practical assignments, and a supervised thesis project to ensure the application of knowledge to real-world public health challenges.
Semester Breakdown
Semester 1
- Foundations of Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Non-Communicable Diseases
- Communicable Diseases
Semester 2
- Biostatistics
- Health Economics in Public Health
- 2 Elective Courses (Choose 2):
- Health Promotion & Disease Prevention
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in Public Health
- Governance of Population Health and Well-being
- Women’s Health
- Environmental and Occupational Health
- Primary Community Health Care and Quality of Service
Semester 3
- Research Methods and Writing
- Thesis
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:
- Critically evaluate public health approaches to address complex health challenges at local, national, and global levels.
- Manage and analyze public health data to support evidence-based decision-making.
- Apply epidemiological methods to investigate, manage, and prevent diseases and public health concerns.
- Design and conduct operational research to improve public health programs and outcomes.
- Analyze and evaluate health systems and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Develop strategies for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
- Integrate social determinants of health and gender perspectives into public health interventions.
- Apply Total Quality Management principles to strengthen healthcare services.
- Plan and implement communicable disease prevention and control programs.
- Apply public health principles in humanitarian emergencies and resource-limited settings.
- Develop and implement health promotion and disease prevention initiatives.
- Analyze women's health issues and develop policy and programmatic solutions.
- Assess environmental and occupational health risks and implement mitigation measures.
- Evaluate the economic impact of health interventions and support efficient resource allocation.
- Assess workforce and organizational factors influencing public health system performance.
Who Should Apply
This program is designed for professionals seeking to strengthen their public health competencies and advance into leadership and management roles within health systems and public health organizations.
Ideal applicants include:
- Public health professionals working in health programs, policy, planning, and management
- Physicians and medical doctors involved in clinical and public health practice
- Nurses and allied health professionals seeking leadership and management skills
- Staff from ministries of health and other government sectors
- Professionals working in NGOs, international organizations, and humanitarian settings
- Health program managers and health system administrators
- Researchers and analysts involved in public health data and policy
- Professionals interested in advancing their careers in population health and health systems strengthening
Admission Requirements
Applicants should meet the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution in health and medical sciences, behavioral sciences, social sciences, or another public health-related field.
- Demonstrate proficiency in English sufficient to engage with course materials and complete academic requirements.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the program are equipped to take on leadership, technical, and management roles across public health systems and organizations.
Graduates can work as:
- Public Health Specialists
- Public Health Program Managers
- Health Policy Advisors
- Health Systems Analysts
- Epidemiologists
- Monitoring and Evaluation Specialists
- Health Promotion Specialists
- Health Governance Officers
- Health Economists
- Public Health Researchers
- Quality Improvement Specialists
- Environmental Health Officers
- Women's Health Program Coordinators
- NGO and Humanitarian Health Program Managers
- Public Health Consultants
