Medical College of Wisconsin MPH Program Competencies

MPH Program Competency Set

Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health

Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice
Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context
Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate
Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice

Public Health & Health Care Systems

Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings
Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels

Planning & Management to Promote Health

Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health
Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs
Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention
Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
Select methods to evaluate public health programs

Policy in Public Health

Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity

Leadership

Apply leadership and/or management principles to address a relevant issue
Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges

Communication

Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
Communicate audience-appropriate (i.e. non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content

Interprofessional Practice

Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health

Systems Thinking

Apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative

Apply basic theories and models from behavioral science disciplines that are used in public health practice
Demonstrate strategic planning and program planning in the contextual setting for when it is appropriate to use each process
Design a logic model as a component of program planning that addresses short, medium, and long term outcomes
Conduct outcome and impact analysis using evaluation design and data
Apply methods for evaluating efficiency, cost benefit, and cost effectiveness analyses