Master of Science in Population Health Sciences Degree:  Bridging the Gap Between Research and Clinical Practice

Benefits of a Degree in Population Health

The changing landscape of health care will require intellectual investments in the future of health. Those interested in acquiring a degree in Population Health from The University of Alabama will benefit from a value-based culture that embraces diversity, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative thinking. The Master of Science in Population Health Sciences degree is designed to suit the educational needs of professionals from diverse backgrounds, including:

• Social and behavioral scientists interested in health outcomes research.
• Providers seeking additional training in the structure and delivery of health care in an evolving system.
• Hospital administrators and office managers looking to expand current roles and responsibilities in clinical settings.
• Anyone in the health care field interested in identifying best practices to adhere to value-based payment systems in an effort to increase reimbursement rates and improve health outcomes.

Attributes of our Program

• Offers flexibility with the majority of our classes offered in-person and online for students who wish to pursue a degree while working.
• Specifically designed to prepare graduates to succeed in a value-based healthcare system.
• Led by diverse faculty with backgrounds in medicine, nursing, public health, psychology, business, exercise, health education, economics and health policy.
• Features a variety of electives to allow tailoring of the program to students’ individual interests.
• Provides hands-on training in classes that range from qualitative research methods to database management.

Benefits of Joining Us

The Department of Community Medicine and Population Health is housed in the College of Community Health Sciences, which is the Tuscaloosa Regional Campus of the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Other College departments include Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine; Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Sports Medicine; and Surgery. The College has incorporated faculty from UA’s Culverhouse College of Business to expand the depth and breadth of our program. Our faculty are passionate about research, teaching and service, as well as addressing the needs of our patients and the community we serve. The multidisciplinary training and partnerships with various content experts enable us to:

• Address the needs of our diverse clientele
• Provide service learning for involved parties
• Establish new relationships with communities, clinicians and local partners
• Solidify existing relationships

For more information about our program, visit the Graduate Catalog or contact the Academic Program Coordinator Abbie Ray at anray2@ua.edu or the Program Director, Dr. Mercedes Morales-Alemán at mmmoralesaleman@ua.edu.

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Ideal Applicants

Population health is an interdisciplinary field and our degree is beneficial for licensed health professionals, systems administrators and others interested in health outcomes research, evidence-based care and health system redesign.

Application Requirements

• Academic transcripts from all institutions attended
• Three letters of recommendation
• Curriculum vitae

Statement of Purpose that addresses all of the following items:

• Description of your interest in population health.
• Explanation of how a population health degree fits into your career plans.
• Summarize your specific population health topics of interest and identification of a possible faculty mentor from our department.
• Please note that you do not need to contact a prospective faculty member before admission into the program.
• Describe how your current or future work advances our College’s mission and reflect upon the values of the College that are most important to you and your planned career in population health.
• If applicable, address weaknesses within your academic or professional background and explain how you will apply lessons learned from these challenges to help you succeed in graduate school.

The GRE or MCAT is not required for admission into our program. Please note that for applicants with a GPA below a 3.0, an admission test score is strongly recommended in order to be considered for admission. International applicants will need to demonstrate English proficiency with the TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or meet other requirements established by the Graduate School.   Apply Today  

Application Deadlines

 

Scholarships and Fellowships

Prospective applicants should direct all questions about funding opportunities to the Academic Program Coordinator Abbie Ray at anray2@ua.edu or the Program Director, Dr. Mercedes Morales-Alemán at mmmoralesaleman@ua.edu.

Faculty and Staff