At the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy (CUNY SPH), students are turning their passion for public health into careers and a commitment to making a difference. They’re gaining a solid understanding of the social justice principles behind preventing diseases while exploring how, socio-political contexts, environments, and policies influence public health. With this new knowledge and skills, they’re building the competencies to spark meaningful change that impacts populations in New York City (NYC) and beyond.
Graduate Hondo Martinez, now a Sales Director at VNS Health, credits his career success to the MPH in Health Policy and Management, which provided him with a deep understanding of how to plan and manage public health programmes in various urban settings. “CUNY SPH helped me grow into the professional I am today,” he says. “If you were considering a degree here, I would definitely recommend it. It’s going to be a lifelong experience and very rewarding.”
CUNY SPH welcomes applicants from all backgrounds, especially those who have historically been excluded from higher education. The school celebrates the rich diversity of its community of learners, creating an inclusive environment where students and faculty build meaningful relationships that promote student success. It’s something that has made a lasting impression on students both personally and academically.
“CUNY SPH has impacted my life because we get to work with people from all diverse communities,” says graduate Kosisochukwu Okonkwo who pursued an MPH in Health Policy Management. “The professors are very nice. They share many career skills, on how to build up your resume, how to network, how to find jobs and further your career. ”
Kosisochukwu Okonkwo is a full-time care coordinator at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre. Source: CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
CUNY SPH stands out for the impact it’s made on many careers — all at half the cost of other top public health schools in the US. This affordability makes it possible for students from all backgrounds to pursue their education without financial strain. Yet, this affordability does not compromise its quality. It is the #1 public school of public health in New York City, ranked sixth among 129 public health schools and programmes nationwide and #15 among all public health schools.
Diverse programmes for future public health leaders
CUNY SPH offers a range of public health degree programmes tailored to tackle today’s most pressing challenges. Beyond the MPH in Health Policy and Management that Martinez pursued, the school offers an MPH in Community Health. This programme centres on the social and behavioural sciences, training students to promote health in urban settings effectively. For those interested in environmental issues, the MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences prepares you to identify and manage health risks associated with environmental and occupational factors.
The MPH in Public Health Nutrition is another great option, guiding students in assessing nutritional needs and managing programmes that support the health of various populations. Students looking to dive into research may find the MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics appealing. This programme equips students to design and conduct public health research, applying their findings to enhance community health.
CUNY SPH graduate programmes can be completed online or on-site. Source: CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy
Other programmes include the MS in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, the MS in Health Communication for Social Change, and the MS in Population Health Informatics.
All CUNY SPH graduate programmes are available fully online. This way, you get to balance your career, family commitments and studies with a certain degree of flexibility.
Whichever programme or mode of delivery you choose, you’ll receive advanced training that blends theory with hands-on learning from a faculty of seasoned leaders who bring their real-world experiences into the classroom. For instance, Associate Professor Elizabeth Kelvin, an infectious disease epidemiologist with a focus on global health, captivated her Applied Research: Data Management and Analysis students with her wealth of knowledge. In her class, students develop original research questions, clean and analyse real data, and write manuscripts based on their findings. If their research leads to unanswered questions, students are encouraged to share their results outside the classroom.
“To date, nine papers have been published, and 10 students have presented their work from class at a conference, including one presentation at the Congreso Iberoamericano de Nutrición in Montevideo, Uruguay, by one of our bilingual students,” she says.
Such endeavours have positively impacted students in all programmes including Okonkwo. “CUNY SPH has a lot of opportunities and resources for you to do well,” she says. “If you’re considering applying here, you should take the step and apply today because it’s one of the best and most affordable schools in NYC.”
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