At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Part Time
  • Delivery Options
    | On Campus
  • Degree
    Certificate

The field of public health is ever changing and expanding. It has played a major role in promoting the health of the nation and the world, and in extending life expectancy. It is expected that the growing demand for public health professionals will confront a critical shortage in the near future.听

UMass Lowell Department of Public Health offers the following certificate programs:

A four-course certificate program is available to individuals who are not ready to pursue a master's degree. The certificates are designed to help professionals take advantage of advanced studies beyond the bachelor's degree and acquire new knowledge and skills. It gives other individuals the opportunity to explore graduate education without committing to a full course of study for a master's degree. A bachelor's degree is a requirement for admission.

Courses completed in the certificate programs can be applied to graduate degrees.

Health Informatics

The management of information in health care is growing in importance. Applications include: electronic medical records, physician order entry systems, pharmaceutical systems and financial applications. This certificate is intended for individuals with a background in health and health care who wish to apply current computer technology to the management of health care services in clinical, financial and record-keeping areas.听Available Online:听

Health Service听Management

The certificate is designed to meet the growth in management opportunities arising in the health care industry due to medical-technological development, the increasing percentage of older people in our society, and the demands to provide efficient yet high-quality patient care. Employment opportunities for trained managers in teaching and community hospitals as well as with other providers such as rehabilitation hospitals, nursing homes, and homecare agencies are increasing. Positions are also opening in ambulatory clinics, insurance companies and health maintenance organizations. Each of these organizations provides expanding employment opportunities and career paths for professional growth for clinicians and non-clinicians alike. The certificate program is designed to provide students with a solid foundation to go on for a master's degree.听Available Online:听

Population Health and Behavioral Sciences

This four-course, 12-credit Graduate Certificate Program in Population Health and Behavioral Sciences will prepare individuals with the necessary skills to make a meaningful impact on public health, promoting wellness and mitigating the financial burden on the healthcare system. Students will gain advance knowledge and practical skills to identify and intervene in the social determinants that significantly influence health outcomes. Specifically, this certificate will prepare professionals to assess community health needs, plan and implement culturally appropriate evidence-based programs, evaluate their effectiveness, and communicate effectively with the public. They will be able to lead efforts to promote healthy communities and foster environments that enhance health equity.听Available Online: Learn more and apply.

Public Health Informatics and Technology

This four-course, 12-credit Graduate Certificate Program in Public Health Informatics and Technology is intended for individuals interested in gaining an educational foundation in both public health and health informatics. The certificate is expected to serve as a stand-alone credential for students who want to enter the PHIT field that merges these two growing fields. It can also serve as a conduit for students who want to test which UMass Lowell master鈥檚 degree program would be most suitable for them鈥攖he Master of Public Health degree, or the Master of Science in Health Information Management.听Available Online:听

Public Health Studies

A four-course, 12-credit Graduate Certificate Program in Public Health Studies is intended for individuals with diverse health, natural science, and social science backgrounds who are interested in careers in public health. The听courses offered in the certificate program are foundation courses in the Master of Public Health program. The certificate is expected to serve as a conduit into the MPH program for students who are not yet ready for application/admission. The certificate program will enable students to decide whether they should apply to a 42-credit MPH program. The graduate certificate will also provide students in the health care field with the additional course work to advance careers in the area of public health.听Available Online, On-Campus and Blended Online/On-Campus:听