Leadership in Practice Concentration
Our strong curriculum, supportive and interdisciplinary faculty, robust mentoring program, and active alumni network provide our students and new graduates with a formidable advantage and lifelong connections as they work to address the complex, multi-factorial, transdisciplinary public health challenges that the Leadership in Practice concentration was designed to address.
What You'll Learn
Leadership MPH students gain expertise in areas that are fundamentally important to public health practice in diverse contexts and across local, national and global settings. Understanding your leadership style and priorities and how to engage effectively and equitably with communities, knowing how to co-design systems and develop policies, being able to improve the quality and performance of health programs – all of these are foundational to the Leadership in Practice curriculum.
Required Courses & Sample Plan of Study
In addition to the interdisciplinary, 14-credit Gillings MPH Core, you will take six concentration-specific courses covering topics including quality improvement, community engagement and systems design.
PUBH 718: Systems Design Thinking for Public Health Leaders
PUBH 730: Leading Quality Improvement in Public Health
PUBH 748: Leadership in Health Policy for Social Justice
PUBH 781: Community Engagement and Leadership in Health
PUBH 791: Core Principles in Public Health Leadership
PUBH 992: Leadership in Practice MPH Culminating Experience
Fall 2023 Cohort: Leadership in Practice Degree Requirements and Study Plan (PDF)
Fall 2024 Cohort: Leadership in Practice Degree Requirements and Study Plan (PDF)
An integral part of the Gillings School’s Department of Public Health Leadership and Practice , the Leadership in Practice concentration is designed to educate and support public health professionals in all areas of public health practice, at every level of their leadership journey, from entry-level public health practitioners to public health executives, and everyone in between. As a graduate of this concentration, you will be well-equipped to move into a variety of roles commensurate with your level of work experience.
The next generation of public health leaders needs to build strong relationships, not only with members of their team but also with leaders from other sectors, political parties, and disciplines. Skills in public health leadership are needed at every level in clinical, community-based, and workplace settings. Public health professionals who possess strong skills and fresh perspectives are a hiring priority for nongovernmental and governmental clinical and public health organizations.
Upon graduation, you will be prepared to:
- Step into leadership roles in global, national, state, and local public health agencies.
- Work with multidisciplinary leadership teams, governing boards, and system partners.
- Lead, manage, and supervise organizations that focus on community and inter-organizational collaborations.
- Think innovatively to address difficult public health challenges in government, non-governmental organizations, academia, and in the private sector.
Career Opportunities
99% of Gillings graduates have a job or continue their education within one year of graduating.
Learn more about the opportunities that await you with an MPH from the Gillings School.
Students fund their education through a combination of sources, including loans, fellowships and awards, assistantships and grants. Several awards and scholarships are supported by generous contributions to the School and University who value the current and future contributions of our students.
Contact: Sarah Kitchens, Funding and Awards Coordinator, sarah_kitchens@unc.edu
Looking for more flexibility?
Explore the online version of our Leadership in Practice concentration by filling out the form below.
