RATIONALE

The expanding and intensifying health services and programs at the national, regional and district levels and impact of globalization on health are demanding better qualified professionals. If Ethiopia is to address the aforementioned public health problems, break the intergenerational effect of public health problems and seek sustainable human and economic development, greater attention must be paid to capacity building in the field of public health problems. The shortage of trained public health professionals in the country has no doubt contributed to the rampant public health problems seen today. Producing capable and competent graduates to fill-in this gap is the responsibility of the higher learning institutions in the country.

As one of the public higher learning institutions, the College of Medicine and Health Sciences of Dire Dawa University is opening a graduate program in Master of General Public Health and Public Health Nutrition to alleviate the critical shortage of trained manpower and support program implementation and evaluation in the area of public health problems. The MPH Program in Public Health at Dire Dawa University envisions a graduate program that provides students with the knowledge and skills to improve the health of individuals, households and communities in Ethiopia by addressing the social and environmental causes of public health problems.

Moreover, this level is a transition to a more advanced academic career. It also focuses on more specific public health issues and on more advanced methodological issues pertaining to gathering and utilizing strategic information in public health practice and policy.

  ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the general admission requirements of Dire Dawa University,

• Applicants should have at least first degree from a known accredited college or University;
• Applicants to the postgraduate for Master of Public Health should have a minimum of first degree in human health and health related fields
• The applicant must satisfactorily pass a qualifying examination, when required by the Department;
• As the medium of instruction is English, applicants whose medium of instructions is not English for their first degree, would be required to produce a valid English language test;
• Preliminary screening shall be based on the following criteria:
• A minimum CGPA of 2.00 from a first degree or 3.00 from a second degree in human health and health related fields
• Two letters of recommendations (at least one should be from university academician)
• Sponsorship letter from employer/sponsor for sponsored students or declaration statement for self-sponsored applicants
• Applicants who pass the preliminary screening will be invited to sit for an entrance written and/or oral examination that will mostly have general knowledge questions related to biostatistics, epidemiology, reproductive health, nutrition, health system Research, environmental health and health promotion. The distribution of the questions will be as follows.
• Biostatistics and Epidemiology - 30%
• Environmental Health and Health Promotion - 20%
• Health System Research - 25%
• Reproductive Health and Nutrition – 25%
• The minimum qualifying mark will be set conditionally.
• Female applicants are encouraged to apply and in case of tie, female applicants will be given priority.

GRADUATE PROFILE

Upon completion of the MPH Program, the graduates should be able to:

• Provide effective technical as well as managerial leadership in large public health programs;
• Effectively advocating and promoting public health among the general public and policy makers;
• Design, implement, monitor and evaluate public health interventions;
• Generate as well as critically evaluate health and health-related evidence;
• Utilize theories and skills in public health research;
• Make evidence based decision in public health issues;
• Identify major public health problems in Ethiopia;
• Conduct high quality public health problems related researches;
• Teach public health problems courses in higher learning institutions;
• Work as public health problems specialists and counselors in healthcare teams.