The Master of Public Health (MPH) program aims to achieve academic excellence and foster the development of health technologies while advancing innovative ideas and leadership qualities in the public health field. This program is designed to produce highly competent public health professionals capable of contributing to healthier living environments by promoting health, preventing illnesses, and protecting against diseases. Graduates of the MPH program will be well-equipped to educate people on health promotion and manage public health services effectively.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to conduct independent or collaborative research and contribute to the development of evidence-based health policies, plans, and programs. They will play a vital role in shaping public health practices that enhance the well-being of individuals and communities alike.

Program Objectives of MPH

The MPH program is designed to achieve the following specific objectives:

1. Broad-Based Public Health Education: Equip students with an advanced and integrated understanding of public health concepts, including health promotion and education, through practical applications.
2. Professional Management Development: Prepare students to become professional managers capable of leading public and private health organizations in dynamic and competitive environments.
3. Student-Centered Learning: Provide a learning environment focused on modern public health service skills, enhancing students’ managerial capabilities and promoting a career-focused mindset.
4. Research Skills: Develop strong research skills for students to seek empirical solutions to public health issues.
5. Evidence-Based Health Practices: Encourage the development of evidence-based health policy, planning, and practice.

Curricular Structure

The curriculum is designed to give students the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for public health service roles. The program consists of the following components:

1. Core Courses: These cover advanced analytical concepts in public health, essential for decision-making in public health planning, implementation, and evaluation.
2. Specialization Courses: Focused study in specific public health areas such as health promotion, education, or public health service management.
3. Thesis: A 9-credit hour thesis based on either primary or secondary data, reflecting the student’s specialization.

Program Features

• A two-year, four-semester regular program requiring the successful completion of 75 credit hours.
• A competitive learning environment driven by the demands of the public health sector.
• Flexible study options, with on-campus and off-campus learning opportunities.
• Critical pedagogy, including classroom discussions, group work, and practical skill development (PSD).

Admission Requirements of MPH

Eligible candidates must hold a relevant degree (such as BPH, PBN, or BSc Nursing with community specialization) and a minimum CGPA of 2.5 or 55%. Additionally, one year of professional experience in health-related organizations is required. Admission is granted based on entrance examination results.

Evaluation System

• Internal Evaluation: Counts for 60% of the final grade, including project work, quizzes, presentations, and written exams.
• External Evaluation: Counts for 40%, based on semester-end exams.
• A minimum of 60% is required in both internal and external evaluations to pass a course.

Grading System

Pokhara University follows a 4.0 grade point system, with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 required for graduation. A CGPA of 3.75 or higher earns the student a distinction, while a CGPA of 3.8 or higher qualifies them for the Dean’s List.

Degree Requirements

To earn the MPH degree, students must complete all coursework, practical assignments, and thesis work and maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.0.

Grading System

Pokhara University follows a four point (4.0) letter/ grade system. The letter /grades awarded to students will be as follows:

If a student cannot finish all the assigned works for the course, he/she will be given an incomplete grade ‘I’. If all the required assignments are not completed within the following semester, the grade of ‘I’ will automatically be converted into ‘F’.

The performance of a student is evaluated in terms of two indices: (a) Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) which is the grade point average of the particular semester, and (b) Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) which is the grade point average of all the semesters.

SGPA = Total honor points earned in a semester / Total number of credit registered in a semester
CGPA = Total honor points earned / Total number of credits completed

Where,
Honor Point = Grade point earned in a subject × Number of credits assigned to that subject

Degree Requirements

To earn graduate degree from the MPH program,

• a student should have a ‘C’ or better grade in each of the courses as specified in the curricular structure section;
• completed all the courses, practical work and thesis as specified in the curricular structure section within the maximum time period specified in the normal and maximum duration of the study section;
• have a final CGPA of 3 or better on the university’s 4.0 grade scale, and
• No outstanding financial obligations to the university.

Distinction and Dean’s List

A student who obtains a CGPA of 3.75 or better will receive the MPH degree with distinction. The Dean’s list recognizes outstanding academic performance in the program. To qualify to this list, a student must have a CGPA of 3.80 or better.

Award of Degree

On completion of all the requirements with CGPA of 3.0 or better, the student will be awarded a degree of Master of Public Health with respective specialization. Thus the Degree will be read as:

• Master of Public Health (Public Health Service Management)
• Master of Public Health (Health Promotion and Education)

Repeating a Course

A course may be taken only once for grade. Since passing of all courses individually is a degree requirement, the student must retake the failing course when offered and must successfully complete the course. A student will be allowed to retake maximum of two courses to achieve a minimum CGPA of 3.0. The grade earned on the retake examination will substitute the earlier grade earned by the student in that course. A student can retake a course only when it is offered by the college/university.

Credit Transfer

A maximum of 25% of the total credit hours of course work completed by a student in an equivalent program of a recognized university/institution may be transferred / waived for credit by the Dean on the recommendation of the principal/head of the school/college. However, for such transfer of credit, a student must have received a grade ‘B’ or better in the respective course. Courses taken more than two years earlier than the date of application will not be accepted for transfer of credit.

Credit transfers will also be allowed from different programs of Pokhara University. In such cases, all credits earned by students in compatible courses with a minimum grade of B may be transferred to the new program.

Unfair Means and Dismissal from the Program

Students are strictly forbidden from plagiarism and adopting unfair means in class assignments, tests, report-writing, and internal and final examination.

The following would be considered as adoption of unfair means during examination:

• Communication with fellow students for obtaining help.
• Copying from another student’s script/report/paper.
• Copying from disk, palm of hand, mobile phone, or other incriminating documents.
• Possession of any incriminating documents or electronic gadget, whether used or not.
• Any approach in direct or indirect form to influence teacher concerning grade.
• Unruly behavior which disrupts academic program.

Adoption of unfair means may result in the dismissal of the student from the program and expulsion of the student from the school/college and as such from Pokhara University.

Dismissal from the Program

A student is normally expected to obtain a GPA of 3.0 in the semester-end examinations of the MPH program. If a student’s performance falls short of maintaining this CGPA continuously over the semesters, he/she may be advised to leave the program or dismissed from the program.

Detailed Curricular Structure

Pokhara University may offer several career-focused concentrations in the field of public health. These courses allow students to gain specialized knowledge and skills on specific concentration in public health areas. Currently, students are required to select any one of the following concentration areas besides studying core public health courses:

1. Public Health Service Management
2. Health Promotion and Education

Curriculum of Master of Public Health according to Pokhara University