Public Health Technology, MS
Apply technology and innovation to improve health and support the development of healthier, more equitable communities along the way.
Quick facts
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
International students (F1) can extend U.S. work experience by 24 months.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Locally and globally, nothing is more important than protecting the public's health. With issues such as extreme heat, misinformation, infectious and noncommunicable diseases, and reproductive and mental health, public health affects everyone.
However, public health systems --- which are responsible for protecting the health and well-being of the communities they serve --- are not structured in ways that empower them to swiftly and effectively respond to these layered and evolving threats.
The School of Technology for Public Health at ASU is creating a revolutionary approach in an emerging field to modernize and transform public health through the Master of Science program in public health technology. In addition to foundational public health knowledge, you are trained in the skills, tools, mindsets and strategies from technology and engineering fields to create and implement novel technology solutions to measure, screen, prevent and mitigate public health-related outcomes.
Serving as a catalyst to build and deploy the products, programs and systems needed to shape public health now and into the future, you design and deploy public health technologies such as:
- biosensors and wearables to promote health behavior and literacy
- geospatial technologies to better understand and improve social determinants at the neighborhood and community levels
- novel diagnostics and wastewater-based epidemiology for early threat detection
- remote monitoring equipment to prevent hospital readmissions
- smartphone apps to deliver just-in-time interventions
This transdisciplinary degree weaves together focused coursework from complementary fields such as computer science, geographic information science, data science and visualization, engineering, and global or population health to seamlessly integrate core public health competencies with elements of human-centered technology, systems engineering, data science and design.
The MS program in public health technology welcomes you, whether you are a full-time student or working professional, or are from a background with technology or engineering experience, with little prior health experience.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (TPH 593)
Required Core (27 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
TPH 501 Foundations of Public Health I (3)
TPH 550 Data Science for Public Health (3)
TPH 551 Public Health Technologies (3)
TPH 552 Systems Design and Engineering for Public Health (3)
TPH 553 Health Technology and Equity (3)
TPH 554 Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Public Health (3)
TPH 555 Health Communication, Behavior and Technology (3)
TPH 556 Public Health Technology Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Leadership (3)
TPH 557 Public Health Technology Ethics, Policy and Law (3)
TPH 593 Applied Project (3)
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Critically evaluate technology and engineering solutions when addressing complex problems in public health through a classroom project and an applied project
- Communicate complex public health concepts to diverse audiences effectively through an applied project
- Proficiently apply data science methodologies to public health data to support evidence-based public health research, policy, and practice
Critically evaluate technology and engineering solutions when addressing complex problems in public health through a classroom project and an applied projectAdmission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the School of Technology for Public Health. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in public health, medical sciences, engineering, computer science, liberal arts or related field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 credit hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. Applicants are required to submit: Additional Admission Information The personal statement should articulate the applicant's reasons for wanting to enroll in the MS program at ASU and explain how they intend to use their degree in their future career in public health technology. Personal statements are generally expected to be between one and two pages, single-spaced, in length. This personal statement offers applicants an opportunity to express their personal motivations and demonstrate how the MS program aligns with their professional aspirations. Letters of recommendation must be from academic or professional sources who are familiar with the applicant's potential to be successful in the field of public health or public health technologies.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 08/02 | Final* |
| Session A/C | In Person | 03/15 | Priority* |
| Session A/C | Online | 08/02 | Final* |
| Session A/C | Online | 03/15 | Priority* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
*A priority deadline means that applications submitted and completed before the priority deadline will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadlines will be reviewed in the order in which they were completed and on a space-available basis. An application is complete after all materials are received by Admission Services.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Graduates with a MS in public health technology are prepared for leadership roles in various sectors, including federal, state and local government; the private sector; and national, global and community-based organizations.
Career opportunities include:
- corporate wellness officer
- data scientist and data visualization analyst
- device and software developer
- health data manager
- health policy analyst
- health technologist and related positions
- industry health technology officer
- lecturer in public health
Graduates can be employed in health-related organizations including:
- academic institutions
- county and state health departments
- for-profit industries
- national governmental health organizations
- nongovernmental organizations
- nonprofits
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
