No matter whether you're completing your undergraduate degree or advancing in your career, UAA’s fully online public health graduate programs offer the flexibility to support your goals.
graduate public health programs
Whether you are completing your bachelor’s degree or advancing an established career, the Graduate Public Health Programs at the University of Alaska Anchorage are designed to meet you where you are and help you make a lasting difference. Our flexible online programs prepare students to lead, innovate, and create healthier communities in Alaska, across the nation, and throughout the circumpolar North.
The Graduate Certificate in Public Health provides a strong foundation in the essential areas of public health, including:
This 18-credit, online program is ideal for professionals seeking to strengthen their skills and expand their impact in health-related organizations. It also serves as a direct pathway to the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, with all certificate credits transferring seamlessly toward the MPH degree.
The MPH in Public Health Practice prepares professionals to protect and promote the health of entire communities. Focused on Alaska and the Circumpolar North, the 42-credit curriculum integrates coursework in:
Students complete an Applied Practice Experience (APE) and an Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) that translates coursework into action through direct community engagement. Those seeking a deeper research focus may pursue a thesis option, developing original scholarship that advances public health practice in Alaska, the Arctic, and beyond.
The Dual MSW/MPH program integrates the perspectives of public health and social work to prepare leaders who address the social, environmental, and behavioral determinants of health. Students develop the expertise to design and implement programs that strengthen individuals, families, and communities while influencing systems-level change. Graduates are equipped to bridge health and human services in ways that promote equity, resilience, and well-being across Alaska and beyond.
Current Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) students at UAA can apply for the Accelerated MPH in Public Health Practice during their junior year. This pathway allows students to begin graduate coursework while completing their undergraduate degree, saving both time and tuition. The accelerated option provides a smooth transition into graduate study and an early start toward a career in public health leadership. Interested students are encouraged to speak with a BSHS or MPH academic advisor to learn more.
WHY CHOOSE PUBLIC HEALTH AT UAA?
The one-year job placement rate for public health graduates alumni is 100%.
Public health graduates can work in a variety of fields such as health education and planning, program evaluation, research, policy analysis, environmental health, and occupational safety and health.
Work with faculty on community-engaged projects and graduate research. Experience public health practice in action while making a direct impact on the field.
Pursue your graduate degree full time or part time while working and balancing other responsibilities. Course requirements are offered as online classes, so you can gain real-world experiences while staying in your community.
MPH alumni are making an impact across Alaska and beyond, including at:
NEWS & Stories
Almost half of UAA students have experienced food insecurity. UAA offers several resources to combat hunger and food insecurity, including the Seawolf Food Pantry, which supplies non-perishable foods, as well as three-day emergency food support.
Dr. Corrie Whitmore, an associate professor in the Division of Population Health Sciences, and her team at UAA’s Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services are celebrating the recent publication of a new article. The paper, which was published in the Dec. 2025 issue of Nursing for Women’s Health, offers a framework and actionable strategies for nurses to improve communication and patient experience in discussions around substance use and contraception.
Philippe Amstislavski, a scientist with a passion for sustainable innovation, is pioneering the use of mycelium insulation to help Alaska’s remote communities combat extreme cold and climate change.
From campus food pantries to statewide health initiatives, Keely Livingston is turning passion into purpose. Keely’s journey into public health began with hands-on work in food security during her undergrad years at Montana State and led her to enroll in UAA's Master of Public Health Program.
DPHS Public Health Professor Philippe Amstislavski leads research using spruce and fungi to create biodegradable alternatives to plastic, addressing Alaska’s pollution challenges.
Message from the PROGRAM CHAIR
Welcome to the Graduate Public Health Programs at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Established in 2003, our Master of Public Health is Alaska’s first and only graduate public health program and is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Grounded in the realities of life in the North, our program engages directly with the health challenges and opportunities that shape Alaska and the broader circumpolar world. From the resilience of rural communities to the rapid transformations occurring across Arctic and sub-Arctic environments, we prepare professionals to navigate the intersections of policy, environment, equity, and well-being.
At UAA, applied learning is at the heart of our mission, linking classroom discovery with real-world change. Students engage with community partners and agencies across Alaska to turn ideas into action and build public health solutions grounded in collaboration and equity.
With flexible online courses and an engaged community of full- and part-time students, you can study from anywhere while staying connected to a network dedicated to improving health in Alaska and beyond. Whether you are beginning your public health journey or advancing an established career, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of health in Alaska and the Arctic.
-Dr. Eduardo Piqueiras
Chair, Graduate Public Health Programs
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Contact Us
Phone: (907) 786-6545
Email: dphs@alaska.edu
UAA Div. of Population Health Sciences
UAA Professional Studies Building
2533 Providence Dr., Suite 206
Anchorage, AK 99508
Mailing Address
UAA Div. of Population Health Sciences
3211 Providence Dr., PSB 206
Anchorage, AK 99508
