Description: The course is designed to enable students to integrate concepts and skills from the core public health disciplines in the context of applied public health.  Competencies to be reinforced in the course include leadership, systems thinking, communication, the basic public health sciences, analytical skills applied to public health problems, public health policy development and program planning, ethical issues in public health, professionalism, financial planning and management, and the skills to work in the setting of diverse cultures.  This course will serve to integrate what students have learned throughout their degree programs and prepare them for their professional careers in public health.

Course Structure: The core comprehensive exam is part of this course; however the grade obtained on the exam will be averaged in with the other assignment grades students receive in the course.   Students will complete a team project and writing assignments plus the core exam.  Students must make a C or higher in the class to pass the course.

Eligibility: This course is offered for MPH and MSPH students. Prerequisites for this course include satisfactory completion of all core courses and 75% of required concentration courses.  This course should be the last or near to the last course students take in their academic programs.  Students who meet these requirements and who need to retake sections of the core comprehensive examination will retake the failed sections of the exam during the regular administration of the core exam; however, the grade from this retake will be averaged in along with the other grades from the capstone course.

Points to Note:

• This course is also open to students who have successfully passed the core comprehensive examination.
• If students have already satisfactorily completed the core comprehensive exam, they are not required to take this course in order to graduate.  
• The core comprehensive exam given as it is now will still be offered in addition to the capstone course.  
• EOH students should consult their department about information pertaining to the concentration comprehensive exams.
• The capstone course will be offered in the fall and spring semesters.  Please confirm course availability with the COPH Schedule of Classes.

or more information, please contact COPH Academic and Student Affairs Office.