K-State Master of Public Health Program receives full accreditation
Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019
MANHATTAN — The Master of Public Health program at Kansas State University has received some good news: the Council on Education for Public Health has fully accredited the program until December 2026.
Made up of faculty from 12 departments in five colleges, the interdisciplinary program provides graduate-level education for individuals currently employed in or anticipating a career in public health.
The Council on Education for Public Health is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health.
The Master of Public Health program was established at the university in 2003 and was previously accredited by the council in 2014 for five years. The current term will last seven years.
To maintain accreditation status, K-State agrees to send interim reports to the council focusing on evaluation, core public health knowledge and competencies. The program's 2015 interim report on these topics was accepted by the council as evidence of compliance. The next interim report is due in summer 2020.
Ellyn Mulcahy, director of the Master of Public Health program and associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, submits these reports to the Council on Education for Public Health.
"A seven-year full accreditation for the Master of Public Health program is very important, as it ensures that our students and graduates are receiving a nationally and internationally recognized and accredited graduate education," Mulcahy said. "It ensures that our students and graduates experience quality public health education and training. A Master of Public Health degree from an accredited program is required by many public health agencies, so this is an advantage for K-State as it will attract students looking for training in public health that has been evaluated and judged to meet standards essential for the conduct of public health educational programs."
