For many graduate students, earning a master’s degree means making difficult tradeoffs between career, family and education. At Georgia State University’s School of Public Health, the online Master of Public Health (MPH) program is designed to remove those barriers—giving students the flexibility to advance their education while gaining the practical skills and real-world experiences needed to build meaningful public health careers.
Students in Georgia State’s online MPH program come from diverse professional and academic backgrounds, but many share a common goal: making a measurable impact on the health of communities.
For Stacey Binford, an online MPH student pursuing a concentration in Epidemiology, flexibility was a deciding factor. Already working full time, Binford wanted a program that would allow her to continue growing professionally while pursuing her passion for public health.
“I chose Georgia State’s School of Public Health because of its location in the heart of Atlanta and its proximity to health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” she said. “I was also drawn to the diverse community and hands-on opportunities in public health. Additionally, the program’s flexibility allows me to balance working full time while pursuing my MPH.”
Learning in a Global Hub of Public Health Expertise
Georgia State’s location in the heart of Atlanta offers students a distinct advantage. Situated near leading health care organizations, state and federal agencies, and local and international non-profits, the university connects students to one of the nation’s most dynamic public health ecosystems.
Students in the online MPH program benefit from these connections through faculty-led projects, internships and professional networking opportunities that extend beyond the virtual classroom. This blend of online accessibility and geographic advantage gives students the best of both worlds: flexibility and proximity to influential public health organizations.
For Brianna Harris, who recently earned her MPH in the online Health Promotion and Behavior concentration, Georgia State’s research opportunities were a major draw.
As a Graduate Research Assistant, Harris worked alongside faculty members on community-engaged research projects, gaining firsthand experience in community based research.
Her advice to students considering earning an MPH: “Be prepared to be a part of something bigger than you! Getting an MPH at Georgia State is all about gaining hands-on experiences, collaborating with your peers and serving your local communities.”
Preparing Students for Purpose-Driven Careers
Kayla Osmon, who recently earned her MPH online, said she benefited from experiential learning opportunities through an internship with Georgia State’s Prevention Research Center. Her work supported initiatives focused on refugee, immigrant and migrant communities, including substance misuse prevention and access to mental health resources.
“After researching several different schools of public health, I felt that Georgia State would provide me with quality education, great opportunities and the flexibility to prioritize my own health,” she said.
Across concentrations, students say the curriculum equips them with practical tools they can immediately apply in professional settings. Courses such as “Public Health Intervention Development,” “Global Health,” “Health Behavior Theory,” and “Fundamentals of Health Systems, Leadership and Policy” help students understand how to design effective interventions, navigate complex health systems, and address local and global public health challenges.
These experiences are shaping graduates’ ambitions in areas ranging from epidemiology and community health to maternal and child health and chronic disease prevention. With six online concentrations to choose from—as well as online certificate programs in Applied Biostatistics and Global Health—the MPH program allows students to choose the focus that fits their career goals.
“Explore all the different routes and opportunities that exist within the field of public health—find something that really excites you,” Osmon said. “Use that excitement and turn it into a passion to motivate you. The public health field needs dedicated professionals who are committed to making this world a better one. Don’t limit yourself and know that you can make a true impact on the health, safety and well-being of others.”