There have been many questions regarding the program accreditation for which the School of Community Health Sciences is currently applying. Hopefully, the following FAQ will address most of these questiosn, but please contact Dr. Dana Loomis or Dr. Mel Minarik should you still have others.
Question: Is my Master of Public Health (MPH) coming from an accredited university?
Answer: Yes. UNR is fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Question: Are any of the UNR MPH Programs accredited independently by the Commission on Education in Public Health (CEPH)?
Answer: No. However, in September 2008, we anticipated accreditation of MPH programs becoming the gold standard of accreditation for academic programs, so we began the process of Self-Study under CEPH. Our anticipated date for receiving this accreditation is Spring of 2011.
Question: Why aren’t the programs accredited yet?
Answer: The MPH Degree is comparatively new at UNR and accredited MPH programs must have academic rigor and graduates to apply to be accredited by CEPH, so several years were needed to build a strong graduate curriculum for students which will prepare them for professional public health careers. We feel that our programs have this strength now - the accreditation cycle is 3 years, so that puts us into spring 2011.
Question: Even though our MPH programs are not accredited at this point, will I be able to sit for the Public Health licensure exam (www.publichealthexam.org)?
Answer: The licensing exam is a new development (2008) and it is becoming a benchmark for public health professionals in some organizations. UNR anticipated the significant trend of this licensing exam, which is why we are pursuing the accreditation. It is important to note that the Public Health Licensure Board is “grandfathering” in students 3 years prior to their MPH Programs being accredited. As we meet our target date for accreditation in spring 2011, and if you graduated in 2008 or later, you can sit for the exam, but not until 2011. If you graduated in 2007 or earlier, there is no plan yet by this Board to allow you to sit for the exam. This is the board’s rule, not UNR’s.
Question: If I graduate in 2008 or 2009, can I say that I came from an accredited MPH Program?
Answer: No. Only if you graduate AFTER we become accredited.
Question: Why should I be concerned with accreditation with respect to the university, program, and/or eligibility to sit for the public health exam?
Answer: The answer depends on your area of interest and career goals. Board accreditation may be considered by employers, doctoral programs, or required for specific jobs. It behooves you to be informed and know what to look for and what to ask. The licensing exam is a new process, and an attempt to further “professionalize” public health professionals.
Question: If my employer pays for tuition for my graduate work at an accredited university, can I say that we are accredited?
Answer: Yes, the university is accredited and your degree comes from an accredited university.
Question: If my employer pays for tuition for my graduate work at an accredited MPH Program, can I say that we are accredited?
Answer: No, the MPH Programs are currently not accredited. But you might want to clarify that with your employer: are they asking about the university or the actual MPH Program? It can be confusing. University accreditation and MPH Program accreditation are distinct, and some employers are not always clear about the difference. You should understand and be able to explain the difference.
Question: Does the military accept the UNR MPH Programs for tuition support?
Answer: If you are active duty, we have been informed that they will not reimburse your expenses. But if you are using the GI Bill, they will. This is the current information and is subject to change.
Question: If I am applying to doctoral programs, how do I insure that my MPH courses are accepted?
Answer: Request that the school review UNR syllabuses from your courses if they have concerns about your coursework.
Question: If I am looking for jobs, and they want to know if I came from an accredited university, can I apply?
Answer: Yes. But again, are they asking about university or program? … you should be able to explain the difference.
Question: Do all jobs require that you come from an accredited MPH Program?
Answer: No. This depends on the type of job and the specific state. Some employers may want you to be eligible to take the licensing exam. This requirement is increasingly common. As noted above, our MPH students who graduate 2008 and later will be eligible to take the exam in 2011.
Question: If I am eligible to sit for the public health licensing exam, will that make me more competitive in the job market?
Answer: Yes, we believe so. In addition, CEPH accreditation of our MPH program reflects a rigorous process of quality review and improvements from the very best reviewers in the public health field. It enhances everything for the students, faculty, alumni, the public health communities, and then ultimately, the health of the citizens of Nevada.
Please ask if you need more info…these are all great things happening at UNR School of Community Health Sciences and the MPH Programs!