Public Health
Graduate Certificate in Health Sciences

Leverage your passion for building stronger communities while you earn a credential that can help you stand out from the crowd. The online Graduate Certificate in Public Health helps you build foundational knowledge and skills in key areas of the field including epidemiology, biostatistics and environmental health. If you want to continue your educational journey in public health, you can apply your certificate credits toward a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, or toward the admission requirement for a DrPH at Capella.

Engage and inspire action

Manage health information to improve community and population health outcomes.

Immersive learning experiences

In our virtual simulated healthcare environment, you’ll practice real-life public health skills in a safe environment.

Address community challenges

Expand your ability to assess and lead in executing solutions to public health problems.

Classes start October 7

Apply today with no application fee.

At a glance

100% Online
5 Core courses

Reduce your tuition by $1,000

Enroll in a qualified program and apply for a $1K Capella Progress Reward, a scholarship to help fund your certificate. Eligibility rules apply. Connect with us for details.

Apply now

Explore public health courses

This certificate requires a total of 20 program credits
You’ll need to complete five courses

Show all descriptions

MPH5500 Introduction to Public Health Administrative Systems 4 quarter credits This course provides an overview of the elements of the public health system and reviews the administrative processes that foster integration and managerial effectiveness across the system. Learners study the organizational, financial, and managerial structure and function of the public health system and analyze the impact of health policy on administrative systems, including health insurance and reimbursement policy. 4 quarter credits

MPH5503 Environmental Health Concepts in Public Health 4 quarter credits This course surveys the major issues related to environmental and occupational health and health hazards. Learners identify the sources of biological, chemical, and physical agents found in the environment and analyze their effects on water, food, and land resources in community and occupational settings. Learners also examine concepts about climate change, as well as the legal framework, policies, and practices associated with controlling environmental and occupational hazards. 4 quarter credits

MPH5506 Social and Behavioral Foundations in Public Health 4 quarter credits Learners in this course explore social and behavioral science theories and concepts applied to population health. Learners identify and increase their understanding of the biological, social, economic, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence the health of individuals, populations, and subgroups. Learners also examine the resources needed to develop social and behavioral evidenced-based programs to reduce disparities and improve health. 4 quarter credits

MPH5509 Principles of Biostatistics 4 quarter credits This course provides an introduction to the objectives, principles, and methods of biostatistics for health sciences. Topics include statistical vocabulary; methods for descriptive data analysis; fundamentals of probability and sampling distribution; methods for statistical inference and hypothesis testing; and data analysis and linear regression for continuous, binary, and survival data. 4 quarter credits

MPH5512 Principles of Epidemiology 4 quarter credits This course provides an overview of epidemiology, including an evaluation of the nature of disease, the interaction among agent, host, and environment, and the chain of transmission. Learners examine epidemiological research methods for identifying and describing variables, evaluate measures of disease occurrence, determine key data sources, and formulating interventions to control disease occurrence and transmission. Prerequisite(s): MPH5509. 4 quarter credits

*Course has prerequisite(s). See catalog for details.

What you’ll learn

Explore public health concepts like health administration, environmental health, biostatistics and behavioral health
Evaluate effectiveness of public health initiatives on population outcomes
Apply evidence to change public health practice and policy
Gain the skills and knowledge to design, manage and evaluate public health programs
Expand your ability to assess and lead in executing solutions to public health problems
Manage health information to improve community and population health outcomes

Turn your certification into credits

Get a head start on your MPH

By earning your graduate certificate in public health from Capella University, you will have already completed a third of the work toward earning a Capella master’s in public health.

How much does a graduate certificate in public health cost?

The total cost of your certificate will depend on academic performance, transfer credits, tuition discounts and other factors. See cost information below.

A structured learning format with an active peer community and faculty guidance. We’ll set the schedule, you meet the deadlines.

Learn more about GuidedPath »

Based on the quarter system; 1–3 courses per 10-week quarter
1 semester credit = 1.5 quarter credits
Weekly assignments and courseroom discussions
Pay for what you take, price varies by courseload or quarter

$10,300 NO TRANSFER CREDITS

$515 per credit, $125 resource kit fee, 20 total quarter credits, 8 max transfer credits

*This is only an estimate, effective July 8, 2024, and is subject to change. Your tuition amount will vary depending on your unique circumstances, such as your program specialization, transfer credits and any applicable tuition discounts. This estimate does not include the cost of books, course materials, supplies, equipment and other expenses. Tuition estimates shown for the GuidedPath learning format depend on the number of credits accepted for transfer. New or recently revised program tuition estimates are based on comparable programs.

Capella is committed to transparency in tuition and pricing. You will be responsible for costs in addition to tuition, which may include travel expenses and practicum costs. You will be charged $50-$200 each quarter or billing session for your resource kit, which includes required books, software and other course materials. Click here to review program-specific fee amounts in our University Catalog.

Find out more about financing and payment options to help you complete your program. Federal aid also is available to help manage the costs of higher education. Learn more about financing your education.

Get the details

Connect with an enrollment counselor to further discuss the cost of the program and explore your eligibility for scholarships and discounts.

Are there scholarships available for certificates?

Your education is an investment in your future. There are more ways to save than you might think.

Employer and association discounts

If your employer or organization is a partner with Capella, you may be eligible for a tuition discount.

$1K toward your certificate

Apply for a $1K Capella Progress Reward, a scholarship to help fund your certificate. Eligibility rules apply. Connect with us for details.

10% military discount

Capella offers a tuition discount to active-duty service members, guard and reserve members, veterans, their spouses* and dependents.
*Starting in July, spouses of veterans can now benefit from a 10% discount on eligible certificates, master’s and doctoral programs and a 15% discount on eligible bachelor’s programs.

Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Accreditation and recognitions provide evidence that we meet standards for quality of faculty, curriculum, learner services, and fiscal stability.

See all our accreditations and recognitions.

What are the graduate certificate in public health admission requirements?

Admission requirements

Applicants to the Graduate Certificate in Health Sciences, Public Health program must provide the following information for admission:

Bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting agency or an internationally recognized institution
Your official bachelor’s transcripts, with a grade point average of 2.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale
Admission application – no application fee required
A valid, government-issued form of photo identification

GRE and GMAT are not required for admission.

International student requirements

If you completed your most recent academic coursework, degree, or credential at an institution outside the United States, regardless of your citizenship or where you currently live, you are considered an international applicant.

In addition to the above admission requirements, you will need to submit these materials:

Minimum score on acceptable test for proof of English proficiency
Transcript evaluation

Learn more about international student admissions.

What support does Capella offer online students?

Our programs are designed to meet the unique needs of a certificate student. We’ve structured the experience in manageable pieces to help you earn your certificate with support from faculty, staff and online resources.

Faculty

Our courses are taught by distinguished faculty members who hold top credentials and have hands-on expertise in their fields.

Enrollment counselors

These experts will help you find the right degree and program and answer all your questions about Capella. They can also help you with the admissions process.