Graduate Certificate in Public Health
Certificate Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Public Health provides advanced education in skills and topics relevant to the growing field of public health. Trained public health professionals, including nurses, are needed to serve diverse populations in our state and region, particularly in rural and resource poor areas. The Certificate in Public Health addresses this growing demand and will provide a timely response to the emerging societal need for specialized, interprofessional education in public health. There is also a critical need for continuing education in public health for health professionals (1-3).
The certificate will use distance delivery and a flexible curriculum to meet the needs of interdisciplinary and interprofessional students, and it will include coursework that can be applied to future graduate studies at WSU. The certificate will prepare graduates to:
- Understand the core functions and essential services of public health
- Apply public health concepts, tools, and methods to address public health challenges
General Public Health Nurse
Currently, there is no certification specific to public health nursing at the generalist level. However, nurses with a baccalaureate degree and at least five years of public health experience can obtain the Certification in Public Health (CPH). See more information on the CPH.
Admission Criteria for Public Health Certificate
- Bachelor’s degree
- Admitted to the MN program, any WSU graduate health program, or for graduate certificate
- A minimum 3.00 grade point average in undergraduate work (exceptions may be made based on substantial evidence of extra-scholastic qualifications)
- Successful completion of a basic statistics course
- Favorable recommendations regarding practice and potential for graduate work in nursing
- RN license to practice nursing in Washington state or state of residency (for nursing students)
- Written goal statement congruent with program’s philosophy and focus
- Complete a written interview
Curriculum
| Course | Title | Credits | Semester Offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| NURS 584 | Health Care Law, Policy and Analysis | 3 | Spring |
| NURS 554 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics for Health Professions | 3 | Spring |
| NURS 471 or 492 | Foundations of Occupational and Environmental Health Practice Note: Nurs 492 Disaster Preparedness for Health Professions may substitute for NURS 471 | 3 | 471 fall semesters, 492 summer semesters |
| NURS 564* OR NURS 566* | Health Promotion OR Community Analysis & Grant Development (*Need 1 of the above 2 courses) (Other WSU graduate (500-level) courses will be considered based on student interests (e.g., health management, advanced biostatistics) | 3 OR 2 | Fall |
| NURS 597 Capstone | Advanced Topics in Nursing | 1 | Fall, spring, summer |
| Total Credits | 12-13 |
