Program: Public Health Certificate - South Dakota State University

2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

Apr 03, 2025

Student practicing giving an injection.

Program Coordinator/Contact

Dan Hansen, Laughrey Endowed Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions
James Amell, Julie Stevens and Dale Evenson Endowed Associate Professor and MPH Coordinator
Department of Allied and Population Health
Avera Health and Science Center 133, Box 2202C
605-688-6197

Program Information

The Public Health Certificate is a collaborative degree offering of South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota. This certificate covers the five core areas of public health:

Biostatistics
Epidemiology
Health Services Administration
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Environmental Health

Course Delivery Format

Coursework is provided through distance delivery (online, DDN, etc.) using lecture formats and asynchronous presentations. The program offers student engagement through research and practice opportunities. Ongoing partnerships exist with entities such as the South Dakota Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Indian Health Services, and the South Dakota Department of Health.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing this certificate program will be able to:

Describe public health and its core functions.
Explain how various factors, including environmental factors, biological factors, psychological factors, and social determinants of health, contribute to population health and health disparities.
Apply epidemiological principles to collect and analyze public health data.
Develop public health programs or interventions based on population-needs and select appropriate methods to evaluate such programs.

Certificate Requirements

PUBH 701 - Biostatistics for Public Health Credits: 3 (USD)
PUBH 702 - Public Health Theory and Practice (COM) Credits: 3
PUBH 710 - Epidemiology Credits: 3 (USD)

Select from the following

Select two courses (six credits) from the following list. Credits: 6

PUBH 733 - Environmental Health Credits: 3
PUBH 740 - Introduction to US Health Systems and Policy Credits: 3 (USD)
PUBH 750 - Social and Behavioral Sciences in Public Health Credits: 3 (USD)
PUBH 755 - Program Planning and Evaluation Credits: 3
PUBH 760 - Public Health and Native American Communities Credits: 3 (USD)

Total Required Credits: 15

Additional Admission Requirements

TOEFL: 71 Internet-based
TOEFL Essentials: 7.5
IELTS: 6.0
Duolingo: 100

Completed Graduate Application.
$35 application fee
Official transcripts verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree.
Two letters of recommendation.
Statement of purpose for studying Public Health (include career plans relative to public health).
A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework. The Admission Committee conducts a full review of all applications and a 3.0 GPA is the preferred minimum. However, the Committee will consider other aspects and strong applications not meeting the minimum GPA will be considered. Each institution may admit students on conditional or provisional status per university policy.

Additional Information

Students enrolled in SDSU certificate programs are not eligible for federal student financial aid. The non-federal alternative loan programs may be used for students meeting the lender criteria as found at www.sdstate.edu (search alternative loans). For further information, please contact the SDSU financial aid office at 605-688-4695 or finaid@sdstate.edu.

Public Health Certificate

Location(s): OnlineClose