UMD Launches Online Global Public Health Master’s Program

A new master’s degree from the University of Maryland’s Department of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health (GEOH) will deliver the knowledge and skills that tomorrow’s public health leaders will need to deploy in communities around the world.   

The fully online Master of Public Health program launching in Fall 2027 features a 45-credit, 16-course curriculum designed for a variety of career paths, including public health researchers, practitioners, administrators and consultants. 

“Our online MPH is a one-of-a-kind degree, offering a world of public health possibility,” said Leena Malayil, program director and associate research professor in GEOH. “By integrating global, environmental and occupational health, the program prepares students to understand the interconnected factors shaping health and address complex public health challenges through a broad, interdisciplinary perspective.”

GEOH’s faculty are leaders in research on airborne pathogens, chemical and microbial contaminants in water, food-energy-water systems, global health and hazards to employee well-being in the workplace.

In the new online MPH program, students will gain the skills to be nimble researchers and practitioners, solving multilayered problems. For example, how can farmers recycle purified wastewater to irrigate their crops safely, saving water resources? The answer requires expertise in microbial analysis, water reuse technologies, agricultural efficiencies and worker safety, among other skills. Students will also gain knowledge in epidemiology, biostatistics, policy planning, ethics, digital health, governance and applied practice in the field. 

Students will learn to clearly communicate research to a variety of audiences, from community stakeholders to financial donors to legislators. They’ll also gain cultural humility, a critical aspect of effective collaboration with diverse communities, whether in Maryland or around the world. 

"Our new online MPH degree is an exceptional opportunity for Marylanders, out-of-state students and international students alike,” said Amy Sapkota, MPower professor and chair of GEOH. “Because of our asynchronous online approach, students will have access to our outstanding faculty and programming at times that work with their schedules.”

Regardless of where students live, students will be eligible for in-state tuition rates. The flexible program enables students to complete a master’s degree while holding jobs, raising families, and living anywhere the internet will connect students to UMD’s online learning environment. 

By learning alongside global peers, students will gain perspectives of public health challenges from a variety of international viewpoints.