Unique Public Health Degree Opportunities at the University of Colorado-Denver
University of Colorado – Denver appears in our ranking of the 10 Best MPH Degrees in the West.
The University of Colorado-Denver ( also known as CU Denver) is included in a cooperative institution with two other universities, Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado, known as The Colorado School of Public Health. Each of the universities involved offers a different area of study that is dependent upon the expertise and specialization areas of their faculties. Students choose the institution that offers the program best suiting their career and educational goals. The university also offers degree programs separate from the CSPH degrees.
The BA/BS in Public Health is offered through the School of Health and Behavioral Sciences. Both degrees require 120 credit-hours of study for graduation. Students who want to earn a BA in Public Health have a specialty in Social Sciences and Public Health. They are required to have 43 credit hours in the major plus the university requisites and electives. The BS in Public Health carries a specialization in natural sciences and public health, and students take 73 hours in the major. Both programs are offered only on campus. Students can also earn a minor in Public Health and Demography. The minor requires 18 hours of study. A five-year BA/BS in Public Health-to-Master’s in Public Health is available as well.
The Colorado School of Public Health, CU-Denver offers several degrees in Epidemiology. The programs involve research in cancer prevention, studies in diabetes and genetic epidemiology and more.
The Master of Public Health is available as a generalist degree as well as several specialized degrees. The MPH in Public Health- Applied Biostatistics is intended for students who want a greater span of knowledge in statistics and informatics. It includes 15 to 24 credit hours in biostatistics courses.
The MPH in Global Health and Applied Biostatistics allows students to examine research methods and apply statistical and data skills to solving world health problems. Students take the university requisites, core classes, and a practicum as well as completing a capstone experience.
There is also an MS in Biostatics and an MS minor in Statistical Genomics and Genetics. Students in this program take eight credits of electives from a list of approved courses in genetics/genomics and write a thesis or publishable paper.
The only online public health program available through the University of Colorado- Denver is an MPH in Leadership and Public Health Practice. There are 21 credit-hours in core classes, 12 in the concentration and nine hours of concentration electives. Courses are offered in both synchronous and asynchronous formats, and students may take a course on campus if they wish.
About The University of Colorado-Denver
While many people associate the University of Colorado with Boulder and the Colorado mountains, CU-Denver is an excellent place to study business and other urban-centered careers. It is also a great place to earn a medical or health degree because of the secondary Anschutz Campus and its affiliation with Children’s Hospital as well as the University of Colorado Hospital. The unique cooperative public health school is another asset to the institution.
CU-Denver began in 1883 as the Extension Center of the University of Colorado Department of Correspondence and Extension. The school’s name was changed in 2004 when it merged with the Colorado Health Sciences Center to the University of Colorado Denver and Health Sciences Center but it reverted to the University of Colorado-Denver in 2007.
With more than 18,000 students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1, CU-Denver grants more graduate degrees than any other Colorado school. Most classes have between 20 and 49 students. The US News and World Report ranks the University of Colorado-Denver as # 205 of National Universities and #112 of Top Public Schools.
University of Colorado-Denver Accreditation Details
- The Higher Education Commission
- Council on Education for Public Health
University of Colorado-Denver Application Requirements
Freshmen apply online and pay a non-refundable application fee of $50. They must arrange for their high schools to send their official transcripts to the university. Students who earned a GED must have the agency awarding that credential to submit verification of graduation from the program as well. The agency which administered the SAT or ACT, whichever the student took, must send those official results directly to CU-Denver.
Graduate students apply directly to the program offering their desired degree. They, too, apply online and pay a $50 application fee. They must also have official transcripts sent from each institution where they earned credits. Beyond that, requisites vary by department. Some other possible requirements are resumes, letters of recommendation and GRE/GMAT scores.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition at CU-Denver is $424 per credit hour, but the Colorado Opportunity Fund brings that amount down to $330. There are also fees and other expenses. On average, this school is somewhat more expensive than other public schools in Colorado. Graduate students pay $377 per credit hour plus fees. Housing at the University of Colorado-Denver averages about $5,000 for a four-bedroom suite per semester. Meal plans for freshman students average $2,075 for the same period. Freshman students are not required to live on campus.
In addition to tuition, fees and room/board, there are personal expenditures and books and supplies. Students opting to earn degrees online as well as traditional students will need a reliable internet connection and a laptop, pc or tablet.
Earning a degree is expensive, and most students need help to pay for their degree programs. This help comes in the form of government grants and loans, school assistance and privately funded scholarships and grants. The first step is completing the FAFSA form. This program awards aid according to financial need. Additionally, students who meet the federal poverty guidelines may qualify for the CU Promise which arranges aid packages of grants, scholarships and work opportunities to guarantee that students in the program will graduate without debt.
Colorado offers tuition assistance to all resident students. CU-Denver has several needs-based grants as well as scholarships for academic merit and many departmental awards. There are also scholarships for participation in activities. All of these may be located on the school website. In addition, private individuals, service and religious organizations and corporations often fund scholarships. These can be found through an Internet search.
Part-time jobs and work-study opportunities are often last-sought resources, but they offer work experience and flesh out resumes as they help students pay for their degrees. Loans should be used sparingly as a method of paying for a degree program at the University of Colorado-Denver.