Online Master of Public Health (MPH)
Harness your passion into a rewarding public health career.
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The Public Health Program at Fairfield University is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Why Choose an Online Master of Public Health Degree from Fairfield?
Career
Readiness
Gain practical experience while building your resume as you complete an applied public health capstone project and field experience internship.
Personal
Career Coach
Boost your success through a dedicated career coach. You’ll unlock the BELONG program, a customized coaching journey focusing on career planning and building professional skills, positioning you for success beyond graduation.
Interdisciplinary Learning
Benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of community health as you learn from – and alongside – the same types of professionals you may work with in the future.
CEPH Accredited
The Public Health Program at Fairfield University is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The accreditation review will address the Public Health Program, inclusive of the CEPH-accredited BS in Public Health and the online Master of Public Health. Other degrees and areas of study offered by this institution will not be included in the unit of accreditation review. For additional information on accreditation, please visit CEPH.
Discover the Hands-On Learning in Fairfield’s
MPH Program
Students in Fairfield’s online Master of Public Health program are gaining invaluable hands-on experience through diverse field placements. Learn how their practical work builds confidence, shapes future career paths, and demonstrates the program’s real-world impact.
Program Specifics
Why choose Fairfield? Our 100% online MPH is asynchronous (no set log-in times) and designed to provide more flexibility to learn on your schedule and at your own pace. This structure makes it an ideal choice for busy professionals, allowing you to balance work, life, and education seamlessly.
- Program Starts: Fall (September), Spring (January), Summer (May)
- Priority Deadlines: December 1, April 1, August 1
- Schedule: Full-time or Part-time
- Credits: 42
- Completion: 15-28 months
Our mission is to ensure students develop a comprehensive foundation in the theory and practice of public health with a strong emphasis on interprofessional collaboration, health equity, and evidence-based problem-solving.
The online MPH program’s goals describe strategies to accomplish the defined mission:
- Provide education, mentorship, and practice opportunities to promote students’ attainment of core competencies of public health practice.
- Contribute to public health knowledge through interdisciplinary research and practice.
- Impact public health practice through responsive and sustainable community engagement.
Tuition is $38,850 ($925 per credit hour).
Please see the Tuition and Financial Aid page for more information.
The MPH degree program at Fairfield University is open to students with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, provided you have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and a strong personal statement. It is an online MPH program with no GRE required.
Application and all supplemental materials must be received no later than three weeks before the start of each term. Applicants may be asked to participate in a Zoom interview as part of the application process.
Please note that Fairfield University cannot supply F-1 Visa I-20 documentation for international students enrolling in online or low-residency programs, like the Master of Public Health.
It’s easy to apply. Here are our requirements:
- A completed online application.
- A non-refundable $65 application fee paid by credit card. The application fee is waived for current Fairfield students and for those who attend an information session.
- A professional resume. Applicants are required to submit a current resume that includes employment and education history.
- A personal statement. Students should submit a 1–2-page statement describing why they want to undertake graduate studies in public health.
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended demonstrating a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an approved evaluating service.
- Two recommendation forms and letters, one of which, is preferably, from a current employer or supervisor. At the time of application, candidates must provide the email addresses and names of their two recommenders.
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Doughty brings extensive experience in public health research and education. She holds degrees in Nutrition & Dietetics (BS), Public Health (MPH), and Public Health Nutrition (PhD). Before joining Fairfield, she was a researcher at the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, where she co-authored studies on school-based obesity prevention and nutrition-related health outcomes. Her primary interests include maternal and infant health, with a research focus on breastfeeding and early-life weight gain. Dr. Doughty is passionate about mentoring future public health professionals.
Dr. Marybec Griffin is the Program Director for the Master of Public Health (MPH) program and Assistant Professor of the Practice at Fairfield University. She brings extensive experience in public health education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement. Before joining Fairfield, Dr. Griffin served as Assistant Professor at the Rutgers University School of Public Health, where she also held roles as Interprofessional Education Coordinator and Social and Behavioral Sciences Concentration Ambassador.
She earned a BA in International Studies and Political Science from the University of St. Thomas, an MA in International Studies from The New School, an MPH in Global Health Leadership from New York University, and a PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences, also from NYU.
Dr. Bridget Hussain is an Assistant Professor of Public Health. She is clinically trained as a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. Her research examines the diet–disease relationship, identifying how nutrition can help prevent, treat, and manage chronic health conditions. Dr. Hussain earned an MS in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics and a PhD in Epidemiology from New York University.
Most recently, Dr. Hussain was named one of 18 scholars nationwide for
Campus Compact’s Engaged Scholars Initiative, recognizing her commitment to equity and community-engaged research on food insecurity.
Dr. Schindler-Ruwisch holds a BS in Psychology and Public Health (William & Mary), an MPH from Columbia University, and a DrPH in Health Behavior from George Washington University. Her research focuses on nutrition-related diseases, obesity, smoking cessation, and maternal/child health. She has explored mobile health (mHealth) to reduce disparities and improve health outcomes. Passionate about health education and prevention, her doctoral work examined breastfeeding practices among WIC participants. She brings energy and expertise to empowering students in community and behavioral health.
Dr. Anthony J. Santella is a Professor of Public Health and Director of the DrPH program. His research helps improve the sexual health of people living with and at risk for HIV/AIDS, gender and sexual minorities, justice-involved persons, youth, and people experiencing homelessness. Dr. Santella earned a MPH in Health Policy and Management from Emory University, a DrPH in Health Systems Management from Tulane University, an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education from Hofstra University and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist.
Career Outcomes
Earning an online MPH from Fairfield University positions you for a wide range of career options in the growing public health field. You will develop a broad base of knowledge and skills that can be applied to a variety of settings to protect and improve the health of people and communities.
Degree Courses
Introduction to the United States Healthcare System
Credits – 3
This course provides an overview of the evolving structure of the US healthcare delivery system. Since the US healthcare system has been periodically changed in diverse aspects over the decades, its dynamic mechanism should be understood. Particularly the healthcare system encompasses organizations, management, finance, policy, and technology. This course introduces students to the complexity of healthcare, challenges of leadership, the key stakeholders, and the current state of healthcare in the US. As the introductory course for the MHA program, this hybrid course will allow student to acclimate to the program through multiple learning modalities and activities. Collaboration and team building, critical success factors in healthcare, will be a focus of the on-site portion of the course. The cohort will be introduced to many key aspects of healthcare administration as well as acclimating to the rich learning environment of Fairfield University.
Fairfield Mission
Visionary by nature. Jesuit through mission. Transformative by design. The driving force of Fairfield is our mission — to impact the world. It prompts us to ask important questions, to embrace our social responsibilities, and to lead by example. And it’s what has made us a premier institution in the Northeast. Let the mission be part of your journey.
