The UNMC College of Public Health has been busy developing new degree programs and adding additional concentrations. While you may have seen some of these updates, Nicole Kolm-Valdivia, PhD, assistant dean of academic affairs for the COPH and assistant professor, has put together a comprehensive summary below.
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
New DrPH concentrations in Advocacy and Leadership (fall 2024) and Maternal and Child Health (fall 2026)
- Our DrPH program is fully online and asynchronous. This allows you to work while completing your degree in as few as four years without ever being required to visit campus. Designed for public health professionals with three or more years of experience, our program offers you the flexibility to design an individualized educational experience to meet your career goals. Students also have the options to complete the practicum and practice-based dissertation in their own work setting, if that fits with their career goals.
Master of Public Health (MPH)
New concentration in Population Health Informatics (fall 2026)
- Includes courses in population health information systems, applied data management, data standards and interoperability, data visualization.
New accelerated MPH program (fall 2026)
- This new program format is the Health Promotion concentration curriculum, but the program is designed to be completed in one academic year. This intensive program provides a rigorous curriculum that is designed for students with a well-defined career goal, strong time management and study skills, and comfort with a fast-paced learning environment. Applications close April 1 for fall 2026 admission.
Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH)
- COPH is developing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree. It is currently going through the approval process, but may be available by fall 2027. It would be fully online and asynchronous. Students would transfer in 80 credit hours of general education courses, and complete 40 hours of public health core courses through COPH. The curriculum is a rural health lens.
Reminder: Alumni can register for COPH courses (must meet any pre-requisites requirements) as a non-degree seeking student. Reach out to coph@unmc.edu for more info!
