Population health is an interdisciplinary field that integrates clinical care and public health practices to prevent, reduce and manage human disease. Population health is particularly interested in the social determinants of health outcomes, and why the distribution of social health determinants is different between population groups. The changing nature of health care due to population shifts and policy reform has created a rising demand for a graduate degree in Population Health. Graduates of the MS program are trained to address the health needs of diverse communities and are equipped with data-driven strategies to help transform health care.
Both in-person and online program options are offered. Our in-person program attracts a small cohort of students desiring an intensive 1-year experience to prepare them for additional graduate educational opportunities, such as medical school or PhD programs. The online program allows individuals across the country to pursue a degree while working full time. Both the in-person and online programs allow us to train future and current health care practitioners in data analytics, research methods, and evidence-based approaches to combating health disparities. Population health is an interdisciplinary field, and our degree is beneficial for future and current health professionals, health systems administrators, and others interested in health outcomes research, evidence-based care, and health system redesign.
The 30-credit-hour Master of Science in Population Health Sciences program can be pursued completely online, allowing you the flexibility to earn your degree around your own schedule. Your curriculum can be tailored to meet individual interests. Whether they are clinical, social and behavioral in nature or you鈥檙e looking to advance the research infrastructure of your organization, our program can help you reach your goals.
This innovative program can provide you with the ability to proactively address the health care of your patients and communities in diverse settings. For the researcher, we have courses that cover essential areas such as qualitative research methods and data mining. Graduates of this program may pursue or continue leadership careers in clinics, hospitals, primary care offices and other health care settings that emphasize better health care for individuals, patients and communities.
Curriculum
This program has a thesis and a non-thesis option. Candidates under the thesis option will complete 18 semester hours of core coursework, 6 hours of elective coursework, and 6 hours of thesis research hours (POPH 599 Thesis Research). Candidates under the non-thesis option will complete 18 semester hours of core coursework, 9 hours of elective coursework, and 3 hours of a 鈥渃apstone鈥� experience (POPH 595 Population Health Applications.
September 2025
College of Community Health Sciences
850 Peter Bryce Boulevard,
TUSCALOOSA,
Alabama,
35401, United States
For applicants who have earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree within the past five years: Graduated from an accredited institution; Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0; Minimum GRE score of 300.
English Language Requirements: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): The minimum score for admission to a degree program or for non-degree admission is 550 on the paper-based TOEFL or 79 on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT); International English Language Testing System (IELTS): The minimum score for admission to a degree program or for non-degree admission is 6.5; Pearson Test of English (PTE): The minimum score of admission to a degree program or for non-degree admission is 59.
Online Application Deadline: June 15 for fall admission and November 15 for spring admission. In-person deadline: April 15 - Final deadline for fall semester start.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
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