Temple University is reimagining the future of Public Health

Public health is a rapidly-growing field of study that promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live. It seeks to prevent disease and encourage healthy behaviours and environments, reducing the need for an individual to seek direct medical care at a hospital or physician’s office.

Temple University’s College of Public Health (CPH) is one of the largest and most diverse colleges of its kind in the United States. The college incorporates traditional public health programs like epidemiology and environmental health, but also includes healthcare and health services disciplines like rehabilitation sciences and nursing. This makes the college unique among its peers, and gives students unparalleled opportunities for learning and research that spans across different fields.

At Temple’s College of Public Health, students and professors are creating solutions to some of the biggest health issues facing the planet. They are addressing rising healthcare costs and creating better health policy, preventing obesity, cancer and infectious diseases, providing better therapies for physical injuries and language disorders, promoting access to mental health services, and more. The work that happens at the college improves health outcomes for individuals and increases well-being across populations, both in the community surrounding the university and beyond.

This year the college has seen remarkable growth. The college received full accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), making it one of only two accredited schools of public health in the region. Additionally, the college has recently opened brand new, cutting-edge clinical education spaces for its physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training and other clinical programs.

Temple breaks away from traditional public health schools

The College of Public Health prepares students to be leaders in today’s healthcare teams. Across its 17 academic disciplines, the college focuses on innovative education and practice—especially in its esteemed graduate programs.

In Temple’s Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, students gain a solid foundation in general public health study, then specialize in one of five programs: social and behavioural sciences, health policy and management, epidemiology, environmental health, or applied biostatistics. No matter what program they choose, Temple’s MPH students gain invaluable experience by applying their classroom learning to fieldwork placements in the community. The Master of Public Health is available as an in-person program, or as a fully online option.

For more than 30 years, Temple’s Athletic Training (AT) program has had a reputation as one of the elite programs of its kind in the United States. Top-tier clinical fieldwork opportunities are among its highlights: Students in the Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) are guaranteed a fieldwork placement with an NCAA Division I university sports team, something that no other MSAT program offers. Students also appreciate the gender and ethnic diversity of their colleagues and professors.

Students in the Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI) program learn to become leaders in health IT—a field that is vital to the healthcare industry in the United States, where health records are now almost entirely electronic. The program is one of just five in the United States that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM). Students can choose concentrations in cybersecurity, data analytics and population health management—all areas of growing importance in the field of health IT.

Temple’s renowned Master of Social Work (MSW) program teaches students the theory and practice of transforming societal systems in order to promote social, political and economic justice. Unlike many other MSW programs, which focus only on clinical social work, Temple offers the option to concentrate either in clinical social work (interacting directly with individual clients) or in macro-level social work, which focuses on organizations, communities and social welfare policy. The program is flexible: Part-time, Saturday and fully online options are available.

Temple doesn’t just teach students in the classroom

Education at the College of Public Health expands beyond the classroom. Nearly every student at the college completes extensive fieldwork or internship requirements as part of their degree. This gives them unique hands-on experience in their field, allows them to apply classroom learning to real-world environments, and prepares them for successful careers after graduation.

Students can build professional networks from the start

The college works with more than 500 organizational partners in Philadelphia and beyond, including local health agencies, non-governmental organizations and community groups. Thanks to its urban location and emphasis on community partnerships, students can begin developing valuable professional networks early in their program.

Opportunities in Philadelphia, on the East Coast and beyond

Temple University resides in the North Philadelphia neighbourhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the United States. Despite the university’s large student body—39,000 students—Temple’s Main Campus is relatively compact, so it’s easy to navigate to classes and activities. In downtown Philadelphia, just a mile and a half from campus, you’ll find plenty of stores, museums, theatres and more. Philadelphia is located in the centre of the East Coast metropolitan corridor, just a two-hour train or bus ride from both New York City and Washington, D.C.

Temple University’s reputation in Philadelphia is unparalleled. One in seven college graduates living in Philadelphia has a Temple degree. Temple is the largest provider of professional education in the state of Pennsylvania, and its alumni network is among the largest of any university in the United States. The university hosts a diverse student body and is committed to welcoming students from all backgrounds.

The College of Public Health leads the way for cutting-edge, hands-on learning. With nearly 50 different programs across many academic disciplines, the college is reimagining the future of public health.

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