Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine must ensure that all degree-seeking students are grounded in foundational public health knowledge. These foundational learning objectives are taught in SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health. All SPHTM students (all degree programs) that meet the criteria for option 1 or 2 below are eligible to apply for a course waiver.
Option #1 – Previous Public Health Degree:
Students with a previous Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a CEPH-accredited public health program or school can request a waiver from SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health and do not have to take the challenge exam. A list of CEPH-accredited schools and programs can be found here: https://ceph.org/about/org-info/who-we-accredit/accredited/.
If you think you are eligible for a waiver, please complete the table below and email it to sphl6020challengeexam@tulane.edu. Type "SPHL 6020 Course Waiver" in the subject line. You should receive a response within 2 business days of receipt to accept or deny your waiver. Please note that students who receive a waiver for SPHL 6020 are required to take an additional elective to fulfill the 3 credit hours.
INFORMATION NEEDED TO REQUEST A WAIVER TO SPHL 6020
| Last Name | First Name | Student ID | Tulane Email | Department | Advisor | Program of Study | Previous Degree/Institution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Option #2 – Challenge Exam:
The challenge exam assesses student mastery of foundational public health knowledge. Students who successfully pass the exam receive a course waiver from SPHL 6020. Students who have taken a graduate-level foundational public health course but do not have a public health degree from a CEPH-accredited public health school or program can take the challenge exam.
All students have the option to take the exam in person OR online. Please make sure when you register to specify if you plan to take the test in person or online.
If you plan to take the Challenge Exam, please complete the table below and email to sphl6020challengeexam@tulane.edu. Type "Challenge Exam Registration" in the subject line. You should receive a confirmation response within 2 business days of receipt. Your confirmation will have instructions for sign-in and will restate the date, time, and online or room number. If you need special accommodations, contact Avery Peterson at SPHL6020ChallengeExam@tulane.edu.
Please email sphl6020challengeexam@tulane.edu if your question was not answered here.
| Last Name | First Name | Student ID | Tulane Email | Department | Advisor | Program of Study | In person/Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Students can register and take the challenge exam one time only. Students will receive official notification of Pass/No Pass within 2 business days of taking the exam. Students must score at least 70% to pass. Students who score below 70% must register for SPHL 6020. Students that receive a waiver for SPHL 6020 much are required to take an additional elective to fulfill the 3 credit hours.
Upcoming Exam Dates
- Spring 2025: January 8, 2025
- Summer 2025: May 14, 2025
- Fall 2025: August 8, 2025
The Challenge Exam measures foundational public health knowledge based on these 12 learning objectives:
Profession & Science of Public Health
- Explain public health history, philosophy, and values
- Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Services
- Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health
- List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. or other community relevant to the school or program
- Discuss the science of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc.
- Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge
Factors Related to Human Health
- Explain the effects of environmental factors on a population’s health
- Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population’s health
- Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population’s health
- Explain the social, political, and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities
- Explain how globalization affects the global burdens of disease
- Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health, and ecosystem health (e.g., One Health)
Please email sphl6020challengeexam@tulane.edu if your question was not answered here.
