Medical & Health Sciences
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MPH
9 Colleges
MPH Syllabus 2026
The MPH (MPH) syllabus covers a structured programme designed to build both foundational knowledge and specialised expertise. Below is the detailed semester-wise subject breakdown and programme structure.
MPH Semester-wise Subjects
MPH Syllabus - Core & Elective Subjects
The MPH programme spans 2 years (4 semesters) with a combination of core public health subjects, elective specialisations, and a mandatory field practicum. The curriculum is designed to build competencies in epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, environmental health, and programme management.
Core Subjects
| Subject | Key Topics | Typical Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Epidemiology | Study design, disease frequency measures, outbreak investigation, screening, causal inference, systematic reviews | 1-2 |
| Biostatistics | Descriptive statistics, probability, hypothesis testing, regression analysis, survival analysis, SPSS/Stata/R | 1-2 |
| Health Policy & Management | Health systems, financing, health economics, policy analysis, governance, strategic planning, leadership | 1-2 |
| Environmental Health | Water and sanitation, air quality, climate change and health, occupational health, toxicology, waste management | 2 |
| Social & Behavioural Sciences | Health behaviour theories, social determinants of health, health communication, community engagement, health promotion | 1 |
| Research Methods | Qualitative and quantitative methods, mixed-methods research, sampling, data collection, ethics in research | 1 |
| Nutrition & Public Health | Malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, food security, nutrition surveillance, national nutrition programmes | 2 |
| Maternal & Child Health | Reproductive health, antenatal/postnatal care, child survival strategies, immunisation, RMNCH+A | 2 |
Elective / Specialisation Tracks
| Specialisation | Focus Areas | Offered At |
|---|---|---|
| Epidemiology & Biostatistics | Advanced epidemiological methods, clinical epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, GIS in health | AIIMS, IIPH, CMC Vellore |
| Health Policy & Health Economics | Health financing, economic evaluation, cost-effectiveness analysis, universal health coverage | IIPH (PHFI), TISS |
| Health Systems Management | Hospital management, quality improvement, human resources for health, health informatics | TISS, Manipal, SRM |
| Environmental & Occupational Health | Industrial hygiene, environmental impact assessment, climate change adaptation, occupational safety | IIPH, AIIMS |
| Communicable Disease Control | Infectious disease epidemiology, vaccination, antimicrobial resistance, pandemic preparedness | PGIMER, JIPMER |
| Non-Communicable Diseases | Chronic disease prevention, cancer epidemiology, cardiovascular risk, mental health, tobacco control | IIPH, CMC Vellore |
Practical & Field Components
| Component | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Field Practicum | 8-12 weeks | Placement in public health agencies, NGOs, WHO offices, or government health departments. Hands-on experience in programme implementation and evaluation. |
| Dissertation / Thesis | Semester 3-4 | Independent research project on a public health topic. Involves proposal writing, ethics committee approval, data collection, analysis, and thesis defence. |
| Community Postings | 2-4 weeks | Rural and urban health centre visits, community health assessments, data collection in field settings. |
MPH Programme Structure & Credit Distribution
MPH Year-wise Curriculum Structure
Year 1 - Core Public Health Foundations (Semesters 1-2)
- Semester 1 Focus: Principles of Epidemiology, Biostatistics I, Health Policy & Systems, Social & Behavioural Sciences in Public Health, Research Methods, Introduction to Public Health
- Semester 2 Focus: Advanced Epidemiology, Biostatistics II (Multivariate Analysis), Environmental & Occupational Health, Nutrition & Public Health, Maternal & Child Health, Health Economics
- Software Training: SPSS, Stata, R, EpiInfo - statistical software for epidemiological and biostatistical analysis
- Assignments: Epidemiological case studies, critical appraisal of research papers, health programme evaluations, policy briefs
- Community Posting: Short visits to Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and urban health centres during Semester 2
Year 2 - Specialisation, Practicum & Research (Semesters 3-4)
- Semester 3 Focus: Elective specialisation courses (2-3 electives from the chosen track), Advanced Research Methods, Health Communication, Programme Monitoring & Evaluation, Global Health
- Field Practicum (8-12 weeks): Placement at public health organisations - WHO India offices, state health departments, ICMR institutes, PHFI projects, international NGOs (PATH, Clinton Health Access Initiative, MSF), or hospital public health departments
- Semester 4 Focus: Dissertation research - data collection, analysis, and thesis writing. Seminar presentations and thesis defence.
- Practicum Deliverables: Field report, practicum presentation, supervisor evaluation, reflective journal
- Dissertation: Original research on a public health topic - involves Institutional Ethics Committee approval, structured data collection, statistical analysis, and written thesis (typically 15,000-25,000 words)
Teaching Methodology
Classroom-Based
- Lectures by faculty and visiting public health experts
- Case-based learning (outbreak investigations, policy analysis)
- Journal clubs and critical appraisal sessions
- Group projects and presentations
Field & Applied
- Community health assessments and surveys
- Hospital-based infection control and quality audits
- Statistical software lab sessions (Stata, R, SPSS)
- Practicum at public health agencies and NGOs
Skills Developed in MPH
Skills Required & Acquired in MPH
Skills Required (Before Joining)
Academic & Analytical
- Basic understanding of biology and health sciences (stronger for medical graduates)
- Ability to interpret numerical data and basic statistics
- Strong reading comprehension - MPH involves extensive literature review
- Scientific writing ability in English
Personal & Interpersonal
- Interest in community health and population-level thinking
- Cultural sensitivity - public health work involves diverse communities
- Team collaboration - public health is inherently multidisciplinary
- Willingness to work in field settings including rural and resource-limited areas
Skills Acquired During MPH
Epidemiological Study Design
Biostatistical Analysis
SPSS / Stata / R Programming
Outbreak Investigation
Health Policy Analysis
Health Economics & Financing
Programme Monitoring & Evaluation
Qualitative Research Methods
Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis
GIS & Spatial Epidemiology
Health Communication
Grant Writing & Proposal Development
Ethics Committee Submissions
Data Visualisation & Dashboards
Leadership in Health Systems
Community Needs Assessment
Technical Competencies by Domain
Epidemiology & Biostatistics
- Design and conduct cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies
- Perform regression analysis, survival analysis, and multivariate modelling
- Conduct outbreak investigations using standard protocols
- Critically appraise published research for validity and bias
Health Policy & Management
- Analyse health financing systems and insurance models
- Evaluate health programme effectiveness using M&E frameworks
- Write policy briefs and stakeholder communication documents
- Manage health projects with budgeting and timeline planning
Communication & Research
- Write research proposals and secure ethics committee approvals
- Conduct qualitative research (interviews, focus groups, thematic analysis)
- Present findings at conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals
- Design health education materials for diverse audiences