MPH in Disaster Management MD/MPH Program Requirements

The MPH in Disaster Management program, housed in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, prepares professionals to apply scientific principles to prevent, detect, and mitigate environmental public health problems and threats associated with natural and technological disasters–locally to globally. Students gain skills to implement population-based interventions to protect communities, particularly vulnerable populations, from natural, accidental, and intentional disasters. This MPH offering is intended for both pre-professionals and mid-career individuals. Students typically have a background in a life or physical science or engineering.

Program Competencies

For MPH in Disaster Management (most common track for MD/MPH students):

  • Apply scientific principles to prevent, detect, respond to, and mitigate local and global threats to environmental health that are associated with natural and technological disasters.
  • Integrate public health strategies in each core component of disaster management: prevention, preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery.
  • Implement population-based interventions to protect communities and particularly vulnerable populations from natural, accidental, and intentional disasters that affect personal and community health.
  • Evaluate the capacity of public health systems to effectively respond to natural and intentional disasters.
  • Apply international, federal, and state regulatory policies, guidelines, and authorities to address public health needs during disasters.
Admission Requirements

Students applying to the Master of Public Health in Disaster Management program must meet the school's general admission requirements.

Degree Program Requirements

The MPH Degree in Disaster management requires 42 credits that includes:

SPHTM Foundational Requirements (15 credits)

  • SPHL 6020 Foundations of Public Health (3)
  • SPHL 6050 Biostatistics for Public Health (3)
  • SPHL 6060 Epidemiology for Public Health (3)
  • SPHL 6070 Health Systems Policy and Management (3)
  • SPHL 6080 Design Strategies for Public Health Programs (3)

Program Course Requirements (17-21 credits total)

  • ENHS 6030 Survey of Environmental Health (3)
  • ENHS 6600 Principles of Toxicology (3)
  • ENHS 6910 Environmental Aspects of Disaster Response (3)
  • ENHS 6930 Planning & Implementation in Disaster Management (3)
  • ENHS 6950 Psychosocial Aspects of Disasters (3)
  • ENHS 7620 Environmental Health Risk Assessment (3)
  • ENHS 7750 Environmental Policy (3)

Other Elective Credits (10 credits)

MD/MPH students receive 10 credits transferred from the Tulane SOM for successfully completing specific coursework with public health relevance.

MD/MPH Rotation Applied Practice Experience (SPHL 9980) 

The Applied Practice Experience (APE) (formerly practicum) is a supervised practice experience conducted in an agency or organization external to the university to gain practical experience. The APE allows students to demonstrate attainment of at least five competencies, including at least 3 from the foundational competencies (CEPH Criterion D2). The APE is conducted after completion of the foundational courses. After identifying the APE setting and defining the competencies, students enter the information into Terra Dotta. An APE report is required that summarizes the field experiences. (See APE Handbook - coming soon).

Integrative Learning Experience (SPHL 7950)

All students must complete an Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) (formerly culminating experience) that demonstrates the synthesis of foundational and concentration competencies. Students in the MSPH in Biostatistics conduct a public health analysis. See ILE handbook - coming soon.

Contact Us

MD/MPH Director: Adam Maese

MD/MPH Senior Program Coordinator: Rachael Ruiz Currier

Email: mdmph@tulane.edu

Phone: (504) 988-7055