Graduate Certificate in Public Health

Degree

Graduate Certificate in Public Health (GCPH)
91AV Online | College of Professional Studies (CPS)
Online Graduate Programs in Public Health

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Mission

The Graduate Programs in Public Health are globally accessible programs committed to promoting health equity in communities through education, research, and service using a scholar-practitioner model.

Program Description

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health is an eighteen (18)-credit hour program that provides students with the core public health courses they need to broaden and enhance their professional knowledge. All courses in the Graduate Certificate in Public Health are also transferable to the MPH degree program.

Program Vision

Our graduates will build healthier global communities through informed and collaborative public health practice.

Program Goals

Education
  1. Enroll and support qualified and diverse students.
  2. Cultivate a learning environment that values diversity and cultural competence.
  3. Ensure all graduates possess the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for public health practice.
  4. Align curricula with public health workforce needs.
  5. Recruit, retain, and support qualified and diverse faculty.
Research
  1. Sustain a scholarly research agenda to advance the field of public health.
  2. Support scientific inquiry among students.
  3. Support a collaborative scholarly environment for students and faculty.
Service
  1. Facilitate student and faculty participation in service activities with a public health focus.
  2. Identify service opportunities that fosters networking and aligns with career goals.

Program Values

At GPPH, we value and encourage:

  • Accessibility
  • Advocacy
  • Collaboration
  • Cultural competency
  • Diversity
  • Equity
  • Integrity
  • Service

Accreditation

The Master of Public Health and Graduate Certificate in Public Health programs at the 91AV are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

The 91AV is regionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE).

Curricular Requirements

graduate certificate in public health

Program Required CoursesCredits
GPH 702 – An Interprofessional Approach to Policy and Advocacy3
GPH 712 – Principles of Epidemiology3
GPH 714 – Principles of Public Health3
GPH 716 – Biostatistics3
GPH 722 – Introduction to Environmental Health3
GPH 726 – Social and Behavioral Health3
Minimum Total Required Credits18

Graduation Requirements

To qualify for completion and receive the Graduate Certificate in Public Health (GCPH) students must:

  • Satisfactorily complete eighteen (18) credits of specified coursework within three (3) consecutive years.
  • Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  • Have no outstanding financial obligations to the University.

Academic Policy

Minimum Grade Point Average

Matriculated graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or better. Failure to do so will result in academic probation and possible termination from the program. Any student receiving a grade below B- on any individual course has failed that course and will not earn credits. Any student receiving a grade below B- in a required course must re-enroll and repeat the course to achieve a grade of B- or better. Any student who receives a grade of F in two (2) courses is dismissed from the program.

Graduation

Candidates must fulfill all program requirements and earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 to be eligible to graduate. All students must file an Application to Graduate with the registrar’s office via U-Online. Please access the following link for complete instructions and the answers to frequently asked questions: www.une.edu/registrar/graduation.

Attendance Policy

Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 p.m. of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean’s Office. 

COURSE WITHDRAWAL POLICY

Add/Drop Period

A student may add or drop a course during the time frames published on the 91AV Academic Calendar. Courses dropped during the add/drop period will not appear on a student’s official transcript.

Course Withdrawal Period

A student may withdraw from a course after the add/drop period has ended through the designated withdrawal deadline, which is approximately at the 60% point of the course's length. The withdrawal period for each semester and session is published on the 91AV Academic Calendar.

Grade for the Course Withdrawal

A course withdrawal during the withdrawal period results in a grade of W, which will appear on a student’s official transcript. The grade of W is awarded only if a student has submitted a completed Course Withdrawal Form to the Registrar’s Office by the deadline. A W grade does not impact the term or cumulative GPA.

Consultation Before a Course Withdrawal

Before deciding to withdraw from a course, students must consult their Program/Academic Director and are encouraged to discuss the situation with the instructor. 

International students must obtain the approval of the Office of Global Education, as withdrawals may affect visa status.

Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits. 

Course Withdrawal Process

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must submit a Course Withdrawal Form, signed by their Program/Academic Director and Office of Global Education (if applicable), to the Registrar’s Office before the Course Withdrawal deadline.

Ceasing to attend classes or notifying the instructor does not constitute an official withdrawal.

Late Withdrawal

Requests to withdraw from a course after the withdrawal period will only be considered in extreme circumstances. To request a late withdrawal, a student must consult with their Program/Academic Director and submit a completed Academic Petition stating the extenuating circumstances and a letter of support from an advisor, faculty member, or Program/Academic Director to the College’s Dean’s Office offering the course for consideration. 

If approved, a W grade will appear on the transcript, not impacting the GPA calculations.

Late withdrawal petitions must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the last day of the class.

Note: All deadlines, procedures, and policies related to course withdrawal are subject to the guidelines specified on the 91AV Academic Calendar.

University Withdrawal

All matriculated students who wish to withdraw from the University must complete notification documentation available from the Registrar’s Office. Documentation must be signed by designated academic and administrative authorities.

Audit Policy

A student may, with prior consent of the Program Director or designee, enroll in a course for an audit grade (AU). This must be requested at the time of registration for the course and must be accompanied by signed approval of the instructor and Program Director or designee. This applies to both matriculated and non-matriculated students. Reversal or change of an audit grade is not possible. Once enrolled for AU the grade becomes permanent on a student's academic record. The student who wishes later to be graded for such a course must re-enroll in and pay for graded credit. In auditing a course, the student is expected to complete all lectures and discussion boards, but is not permitted to submit coursework for evaluation, take examinations, receive grades, or earn credit. Auditing a course does not count toward enrollment status (i.e. part-time, full-time, etc.) and therefore cannot be considered for financial aid purposes, veteran's benefits, etc.

Academic Integrity Policy

The 91AV values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:

  • Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  • Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  • Action that destroys or alters the work of another student.
  • Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one (1) course without permission of each instructor.
  • Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.

Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in The College of Professional Studies Student Handbook.

Student Access Center

The Student Access Center works to ensure that the University promotes respect for individual differences and that no person who meets the academic and technical standards needed for admission and continued enrollment at 91AV is denied benefits or subjected to discrimination due to a disability. Toward this end, and in conjunction with federal and state laws, the University provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students.

Experiential Learning

Experiential learning is highly valued by the College of Professional Studies. Many courses within the College feature experiential learning components. However, at this time, no credit will be awarded to students for purely experiential learning experiences undertaken in place of coursework.

Transfer Credit

Upon acceptance, students may apply to transfer up to two (2) courses (maximum of six (6) credits) into the Graduate Certificate in Public Health program.

To request consideration for transfer credit, a student must provide an official transcript and a course syllabus for each course. Transfer credit is awarded at the discretion of the College of Professional Studies based on specific program details listed below. Requests for approval of transfer credit should be submitted to the Program Director, and will be granted per their discretion.

Transfer courses must:

  • Be classified as graduate level
  • Be from a CEPH accredited institution
  • Have been taken within five (5) years of application
  • Have been completed with a grade of B or better
  • Be worth three (3) credits
  • Be equivalent to one (1) of the required program courses or an elective course that meets the goals of the student’s education

Individuals who earned a Graduate Certificate in Public Health from the 91AV within the last five (5) years may apply for admission to the MPH program and request that all courses be accepted. Current GCPH students, who are in good standing, may apply to the MPH program at any time during the certificate program by requesting a "change of major" with their Student Support Specialist.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

  • A bachelor’s degree or above from a regionally accredited institution or its equivalent. See International Admissions for details regarding evaluation of international degrees for grade and degree equivalency.
  • Applications are reviewed holistically as a determination of academic readiness. The admissions committee values previous academic performance as indicated on transcripts and considers it as part of the review process.
  • Computer with Internet connection, including the hardware and software requirements described on the  page. Must also possess sufficient computer skills to navigate the Internet as all classes are accessed 100% online.

Application Process

  • Completed online application: 
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • Goal Statement 
  • Two (2) professional/academic references
  • Official transcripts reflecting conferral of a bachelor’s degree or above from a regionally accredited institution or its equivalent. 

Note: Transcripts for any coursework appearing as transfer credit on the transcript of the conferred degree can be waived if the coursework is unrelated to the degree being sought. The program admissions committee defines all coursework not eligible for waiver.​

Procedures and Policies

  • Applications for admission are accepted through 91AV’s online application. Detailed instructions are included in the online applications.
  • Official transcripts, as well as other documents to support the application, must be submitted to the College of Professional Studies, either electronically or sent to 716 Stevens Ave, Portland, ME, 04103.
  • International applicants and applicants with international degrees must have their transcripts evaluated for degree and grade equivalency to that of a regionally accredited US institution. See International Admissions.
  • All applicants to 91AV must be able to understand and communicate in English to be admitted to the university. 91AV accepts several methods of English Proficiency, see International Admissions.
  • If an applicant cannot prove English Proficiency in another way, scores from the  are required and must be submitted as a part of the completed application.
  • All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of 91AV and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.

For additional information on the admissions process and requirements see the  website.

Policy Exceptions

The Graduate Programs in Public Health and the GPPH Admissions Committee in collaboration with the College of Professional Studies reserve the right to make exceptions to the admissions criteria and to make changes or exceptions to policies and procedures, on a case-by-case basis, when it deems such a decision is necessary and appropriate.

Financial Information

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include course textbooks. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

Financial Aid

Detailed information and applications are available upon request from the Financial Aid Office. Call (207) 602-2342 or visit the Financial Aid website.

Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog

This catalog outlines the academic programs, degree criteria, policies, and events of the 91AV for the 2024–2025 academic year and serves as the official guide for academic and program requirements for students enrolling at the University during the Summer of 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 semesters.

The information provided is accurate as of its publication date on April 26, 2024.
The 91AV reserves the right to modify its programs, calendar, or academic schedule as deemed necessary or beneficial. This includes alterations to course content, class rescheduling, cancellations, or any other academic adjustments. Changes will be communicated as promptly as possible.

While students may receive guidance from academic advisors or program directors, they remain responsible for fulfilling the requirements outlined in the catalog relevant to their enrollment year and for staying informed about any updates to policies, provisions, or requirements.