Foundational Competencies
All students in the MPH program are expected to master a set of public health competencies during their studies. UVA MPH Program competencies align with those foundational competencies defined by the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH, 2024), the accrediting body for public health schools and programs.
Foundational Competencies
1. Apply epidemiological methods to settings and situations in public health practice.
2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.
4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.
5. Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
7. Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.
8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design, implementation, or critique of public health policies or programs.
9. Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
10. Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
11. Select methods to evaluate public health programs.
12. Discuss the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
13. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
14. Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health.
15. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health.
16. Apply leadership and/or management principles to address a relevant issue.
17. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
18. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
19. Communicate audience-appropriate (i.e., non-academic, non-peer audience) public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
20. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content
21. Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health.
22. Apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than standard narrative.