About this Concentration

ODU's Master of Public Health program combines knowledge and skills that you can use in healthcare management, population-based research, and the community practice of public health.

Our MPH concentration in Health Behavior and Health Promotion focuses on disease and injury prevention. Your coursework will teach you how to promote healthy behavior through education, communication, research, and publication.

Your online classes are the same ones offered to students at our main campus in Norfolk, Va. Your classmates may be a mix of students from Virginia and across the U.S.

Accreditation Information

ODU's online Master of Public Health degree program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredited the Old Dominion University MPH Program. The program was initially accredited on June 6, 2000, and its most recent accreditation term concluded on December 31, 2025. The MPH Program holds continuing accreditation and is not under probation. If an accredited school or program complies with all procedural requirements and hosts a site visit before the end of the accreditation term, the accreditation term automatically continues until the Council meets to consider reaccreditation. The program has complied with all procedural requirements and hosted a site visit on November 10-12, 2025, as part of the Old Dominion University & Norfolk State University Joint School of Public Health, an applicant for initial accreditation. The Council will review the school and all of its programs for accreditation during the spring meeting on June 11-12, 2026.

The Old Dominion University & Norfolk State University Joint School of Public Health is listed as an applicant for accreditation on the CEPH webpage: https://ceph.org/about/org-info/who-we-accredit/applicants/

For more information about CEPH, please visit www.ceph.org. For questions about CEPH accreditation please contact Dr. Ewers, Director of Accreditation at sewers@odu.edu.

Careers in Public Health Behavior and Health Promotion

Health behavior scientists and health promotion professionals:

  • are active in community health improvement and behavioral health research;
  • are successful health educators, community health planners and program evaluators;
  • work in the public and private sectors;
  • serve as health promotion leaders, directors and managers and behavioral health scientists in academic, government, private industry and private practice settings;
  • work to prevent disease and injury and promote healthy behaviors through education, communication, research, and publication.
Community Health Workers
Growth
13.1%
Median Salary
$48,200
Health Education Specialists
Growth
7.0%
Median Salary
$62,860
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
Growth
11.4%
Median Salary
$57,920
Social and Community Service Managers
Growth
8.2%
Median Salary
$77,030

Bright Outlook

Employment of health education specialists and community health workers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.
— Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, March 2023

Helpful Resources

Find more helpful resources

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