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Program Description

The Public Health Leadership (PHL) Certificate Program provides graduate students skills and a working knowledge of administrative principles necessary in applied public health and related professional settings.  Those who complete the prescribed coursework in this certificate program will have achieved advanced competencies in strategy, leadership, and organizational effectiveness.  In addition, certificate students will have the flexibility to focus their study in budgeting, ethics, communications, grant writing or management.

Application Process

To be admitted to the program, students must first be accepted into the WSU Graduate School.  At a minimum, applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. 

If you are not currently enrolled at WSU, you can apply as a non-degree student online through the WSU Graduate School.  During the online application process, you will have an opportunity to select the certificate program and to submit required documents.

Wright State University graduate degree-seeking students are also eligible for the certificate provided they apply before satisfying more than half of the certificate program's required credit hours.  “Students in this status must have a 3.0 cumulative graduate grade point average the semester in which they complete nine semester hours of graduate credit.” (Policy 5010)

*Apply online to the Public Health Leadership Certificate Program

All applicants should submit the online certificate program application* along with a one- to two-page personal statement describing your professional background and interest in the program.

For More Information

Public Health Leadership Certificate Program

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM COST

The cost of the PHL Certificate program will be graduate tuition.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to apply leadership strategies and management principles to public health and health care settings.
• Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge and skills of leadership principles.
• Students will be able to understand the concepts of organizational design, behavior, and culture.
• Students will be able to apply strategic analysis and thinking to decisions made in health care organizations.
• Students will be able to describe and use behavioral strategies to improve leadership, interpersonal, and general management skills.

Program Requirements

To achieve the PHL certificate a student must receive a grade of B or higher in all courses.  Public Health Leadership students must successfully complete Strategic Leadership in Health Care (PPH 7510) AND one of the following three courses:  PPH 6200, PPH 6300, or PPH 6400.  Two electives must be chosen from two different subject areas:  Communications, Ethics, Finance and Budgeting, Grant Writing, Management, or Marketing.  Below is a list of approved courses.

Required: 6 Hours

• PPH 7510 - Strategic Leadership in Health Care Organizations Credit Hour(s): 3

• Student must also choose one of the following three courses:

  • PPH 6200 - Public Health Epidemiology
  • PPH 6300 - Environmental Health
  • PPH 6400 - Social & Behavioral Determinants

Two Electives: 6 hours

Choose two electives from two different categories below:

COMMUNICATIONS:

• PPH 7430 - Health Awareness and Advocacy Communications Credit Hour(s): 3

ETHICS:

• MBA 7500 - Leadership and Ethics Credit Hour(s): 3
• PPH 7310 - Public Health Ethics and Policy Credit Hour(s): 3
• URS 6230 - Ethics and Leadership in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3
• LDR 7050 - Moral Leadership: Ethics, Authenticity, and Social Responsibility Credit Hour(s): 3

FINANCE AND BUDGETING:

• FIN 7500 - Financial Management of Health Service Organizations Credit Hour(s): 3
• URS 7010 - Public Budgeting and Fiscal Management Credit Hour(s): 3

GRANT WRITING:

• URS 6340 - Fundraising and Grant Writing Credit Hour(s): 3

MANAGEMENT:

• PPH 7420 - Health Program Planning and Evaluation Credit Hour(s): 3
• PPH 7520 - Problems in Population Health Credit Hour(s): 3
• MGT 7030 - Seminar in Human Resource Management Credit Hour(s): 3
• MGT 7060 - Organizational Development and Change Credit Hour(s): 3
• MGT 7710 - Fundamentals of Project Management Credit Hour(s): 3
• URS 7020 - Strategic Planning and Program Evaluation Credit Hour(s): 3
• URS 7040 - Managing Human Resources in Public Service Credit Hour(s): 3

MARKETING:

• MBA 7600 - Marketing Strategy Credit Hour(s): 3

•  

  In addition to these recommended courses, Wright State graduate courses that complement the leadership principles and skills covered in PPH 7510 (the only course required of all certificate students) can be considered as potential electives for the PHL certificate.  If a student proposes a WSU course not on the list above, then the student must provide a rationale for taking the elective prior to enrolling.  The PHL certificate director will make the final decision on whether the course is approved.

  Note that some courses are not offered regularly and others may be subject to capacity constraints and prerequisite conditions.

Total: 12 Hours