MBA – Public Health

The specialized Public Health track in our online MBA program helps you gain skills in core areas of business while building a foundational knowledge in public health.

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MBA – Public Health

8 Weeks

8-week terms allow for start dates throughout the year

12 Months

Finish this track in as little as 12 months at the Accelerated program pace

36 Credits

Complete 36 credits to earn your MBA – Public Heath degree

MBA – Public Health Track Highlights

Graduate-level classes in the different foundational areas of business administration

Partners

Specialized courses in public health, including environmental and occupational health

Flexible Schedule

100% online coursework with mobile-friendly content and innovative learning tools

Complimentary access to LinkedIn Learning so you can bolster your online professional profile

Why Pursue an MBA in Public Health at WCU?

Through our online MBA – Public Health program, you will take classes in core areas of business — such as organizational behavior, business ethics, managerial accounting, and finance — while also taking complementary courses in public health.

Gain a foundational knowledge of public health and build the managerial and leadership skills that are needed to help shape the industry.

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Overview: Online MBA – Public Health Track

Program Details

Accelerated Pace

Distance Education/Online

36 Credits

12 Months

3 Trimesters

Working Professional Pace

Distance Education/Online

36 Credits

24 Months

6 Trimesters

Curriculum

To achieve the graduation requirement of 36 credits, all students must complete 36 credits of core and track courses. Core courses provide students with the specific discipline experience required for the degree. All students will complete at least 27 core course credits as detailed below. The remaining 9 credits are based on the program track the student is enrolled in. The currently available programs are:

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

  • MBA – Health Administration & Leadership Track
  • MBA – Public Health Track
  • MBA – Project Management Track
Core courses to be completed if no track chosen (9 credits)
Core courses to be completed if no track chosen (9 credits)
BUS 520Principles of Economics3
BUS 530Business Statistics and Analytics3
BUS 540Business Information Support Systems3
Total Credit Hours:9

Track Courses:

Health Administration & Leadership Track

Track courses to be completed in the Health Administration & Leadership Track (9 credits)
Track courses to be completed in the Health Administration & Leadership Track (9 credits)
HA 540Strategic Planning in Health Care Organizations3
HA 545Hospital Administration and Management3
HA 550Leadership Models for Health Care Managers3
Total Credit Hours:9

Public Health Track

Track courses to be completed in the Public Health Track (9 credits)
Track courses to be completed in the Public Health Track (9 credits)
PH 500Foundations of Public Health3
PH 536Environmental and Occupational Health3
PH 546Leadership Principles and Policies in Public Health3
Total Credit Hours:9

Project Management Track

Track courses to be completed in the Health Administration & Leadership Track (9 credits)
Track courses to be completed in the Health Administration & Leadership Track (9 credits)
BUS 540Business Information Support Systems3
HA 555Project Management3
HA 557Project Management II3
Total Credit Hours:9

Core Courses:

Core Courses to be completed by all students (27 credits)
Core Courses to be completed by all students (27 credits)
BUS 500Business and Administrative Communications3
BUS 505Managerial Accounting3
BUS 510Business Law and Ethics3
BUS 515Finance Application and Theory3
BUS 525Principles of Management3
BUS 535Organizational Behavior and Leadership3
BUS 545Fundamentals of Operations Management3
BUS 550Marketing Analysis and Trends3
BUS 555Strategic Management3
Total Credit Hours:27
Tuition & Financial Aid

How Much Does the MBA – Public Health Track Cost?

We know school is a substantial commitment. At WCU, we want to equip you with all the information you need to make the right decision for your future.

Our goal is to give you a clear understanding of MBA – Public Health online tuition costs so you can be well-informed as you navigate the application and enrollment process. To assist you in your decision, we provide a breakdown below of the MBA – Public Health track costs at West Coast University.

We offer several financial aid options — including scholarships, grants, and loan access — to help support you through your studies. We also offer reduced tuition rates for military personnel and their spouses. For more information about your financial support options, visit our financial aid page.

Master of Business Administration - Public Health Track

Tuition and Fees

Prior to Spring I 2024

Accelerated*

Degree TypeMaster of Science
Total Program Credits36
Program Length (full time)3 trimesters
Non-Military RateMilitary Rate1
Core Courses (per credit x 36 credits)$775$659
Total Tuition Cost $27,900$23,724
STRF2$72.50$62.50
Technology Fee3 $1,500 $1,500
Estimate for Program Supply Fees4 $50 $50
Estimated Total Program Costs (Texas)$29,450$25,274
Estimated Total Program Costs (California)$29,522.50$25,336.50

Working Professional*

Degree Type Master of Science
Total Program Credits 36
Program Length (full time)6 trimesters
Non-Military RateMilitary Rate1
Core Courses (per credit x 36 credits) $775 $659
Total Tuition Cost $27,900 $23,724
STRF2 $77.50 $67.50
Technology Fee3 $3,000 $3,000
Estimate for Program Supply Fees4 $50 $50
Estimated Total Program Costs (Texas)$30,950 $26,774
Estimated Total Program Costs (California)$31,027.50$26,841.50

Effective Spring I 2024

Accelerated*

Degree TypeMaster of Science
Total Program Credits36
Program Length(full time)3 trimesters
Core Courses(per credit x 36 credits)$775
Total Tuition Cost$27,900
STRF2$72.50
Technology Fee3$1,500
Estimate for Program Supply Fees4$50
Estimated Total Program Costs (Texas)$29,450
Estimated Total Program Costs (California)$29,522.50

Working Professional*

Degree TypeMaster of Science
Total Program Credits36
Program Length(full time)6 trimesters
Core Courses(per credit x 36 credits)$775
Total Tuition Cost$27,900
STRF2$77.50
Technology Fee3$3,000
Estimate for Program Supply Fees4$50
Estimated Total Program Costs (Texas)$30,950
Estimated Total Program Costs (California)$31,027.50

 

Indirect Costs

8 Month Academic Year5
with parentsoff campus
Federal Student Loan Fee $220 $220 
Living Expenses (Food & Housing)$2,384$7,936
Transportation$1,648$1,648
Miscellaneous Personal Expenses$5,392$5,392
Total$9,644$15,196

* Upon enrollment, students select Accelerated or Working Professional, which will determine the pace at which students complete their degree. In most cases, students that select Accelerated will attempt two courses per term, and students that select Working Professional will attempt one course a term.

1 Rate provided to Active Duty, Active Duty Spouse, Reserve, Reserve Spouse, Veterans, Veteran Spouse, Department of Defense employees, dependents utilizing parent's veteran's education benefits, and Veterans Affairs employees.  The military rate will no longer be offered after Fall II 2023.

2 Effective April 1, 2022, the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) assessment rate will be two dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) per one thousand dollars ($1,000) of institutional charges.

The State of California established the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student in an educational program at a qualifying institution, who is or was a California resident while enrolled, or was enrolled in a residency program, if the student enrolled in the institution, prepaid tuition, and suffered an economic loss. Unless relieved of the obligation to do so, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for the STRF, or it must be paid on your behalf, if you are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition.

You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment, if you are not a California resident, or are not enrolled in a residency program.

It is important that you keep copies of your enrollment agreement, financial aid documents, receipts, or any other information that documents the amount paid to the school. Questions regarding the STRF may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, 1747 N. Market Blvd. Ste 225 Sacramento, CA 95834, (916) 431-6959 or (888) 370-7589.

To be eligible for STRF, you must be a California resident or enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid or deemed to have paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

  1. The institution, a location of the institution, or an educational program offered by the institution was closed or discontinued, and you did not choose to participate in a teach-out plan approved by the Bureau or did not complete a chosen teach-out plan approved by the Bureau.
  2. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution within the 120-day period before the closure of the institution or location of the institution or were enrolled in an educational program within the 120-day period before the program was discontinued.
  3. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution more than 120 days before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, in an educational program offered by the institution as to which the Bureau determined there was a significant decline in the quality or value of the program more than 120 days before closure.
  4. The institution has been ordered to pay a refund by the Bureau but has failed to do so.
  5. The institution has failed to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federal student loan program as required by law or has failed to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the institution in excess of tuition and other costs.
  6. You have been awarded restitution, a refund, or other monetary award by an arbitrator or court, based on a violation of this chapter by an institution or representative of an institution, but have been unable to collect the award from the institution.
  7. You sought legal counsel that resulted in the cancellation of one or more of your student loans and have an invoice for services rendered and evidence of the cancellation of the student loan or loans.

To qualify for STRF reimbursement, the application must be received within four (4) years from the date of the action or event that made the student eligible for recovery from STRF.

A student whose loan is revived by a loan holder or debt collector after a period of noncollection may, at any time, file a written application for recovery from STRF for the debt that would have otherwise been eligible for recovery. If it has been more than four (4) years since the action or event that made the student eligible, the student must have filed a written application for recovery within the original four (4) year period, unless the period has been extended by another act of law.

However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.

3 Technology Fee includes student technical support, Office 365, blended and online course delivery/learning management system, mobile app, student portal technology and access, and required electronic course materials/software.

4 Program supplies include WCU identification card and background check.  

5 The purpose of the Cost of Attendance (COA) is to provide students and families with an estimated cost to attend West Coast University. The COA includes both direct and indirect cost estimates. Direct costs are paid directly to West Coast University and are shown separately for each program. Indirect costs are not paid to West Coast University and are estimates students may use to budget expenses they may incur while attending school. While actual indirect costs may vary, West Coast University estimates these amounts based on the number of months in an academic year and whether students will live with parents or off campus.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the Master of Business Administration Program must meet the following admissions requirements:

    1. Complete an online application for admissions.
    2. Participate in an interview with a University Admissions Advisor.
    3. Complete an enrollment agreement, consisting of program policies, costs, completion requirements, and other student obligations.
    4. Have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a 2.7 cumulative GPA or higher.
      1. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 2.00-2.69 may be considered for probationary admission after meeting the following admissions requirements:
        1. The applicant must provide a letter of intent.
        2. The applicant must be approved for admission following an interview with the Program Director/Dean.
        3. The applicant must satisfy program prerequisites.
        4. A student admitted under the probationary admissions pathway must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on all coursework attempted over the first trimester (two terms). Students who meet this standard will be converted to a full admit status and will be subject to the standard Satisfactory Academic Progress requirement for the duration of their program.  Students failing to meet this requirement by the end of the first trimester (two terms) will be withdrawn from the university.
        5. Students accepted under the probationary admissions pathway will be considered regular students and eligible for Title IV, if the student otherwise qualifies for funding, for the first trimester of their program of study while completing the requirements for full admission to their program.
    5. Provide official undergraduate transcripts of a baccalaureate degree prior to the end of the add/drop period of the first term.
      1. Applicants submitting non-U.S. or non-English transcripts will be required to have their coursework evaluated by a transcript evaluation service to determine the equivalency to a U.S. degree/course. If the transcript evaluation is unclear as to the equivalency to a U.S. degree/course, the Program Dean will evaluate transcripts to determine if a minimum of 3 academic years of undergraduate coursework has been completed for admission.
      2. Applicants submitting advanced degrees will be reviewed by the Program Dean to determine if a minimum of 3 academic years of undergraduate coursework has been completed for admission.
      3. Master of Business Administration Transfer Credit Evaluation:  Only graduate level courses in which a grade of B- or better was received, taken in a program similar to the Master of Business Administration will be evaluated for transfer credit.  A maximum of nine (9) credit hours will be considered for transfer, and must reflect the same content and course credit as the course for which transfer credit is requested.

For more information on admission requirements, including information about transferring from another institution, please visit our catalog.

Academic Calendar

New academic terms usually start every eight weeks. Review our Academic Calendar for term start and completion dates.

Career Services

Career Services

Supporting Students Beyond Graduation

At WCU, we want to help you build a rewarding career. That’s why we offer WCU students and graduates extensive resources and support through our Career Services department.1

We offer professional development workshops on topics such as resume writing and interview etiquette, one-on-one career planning sessions, assistance with finding job leads, help connecting with industry recruiters, and more.

Placement Opportunities

With competencies in both management and public health, graduates of the MBA – Public Health program will have the skills to take on various types of roles and settings. For example, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health education specialists, community health workers, and health services managers can work in:

  • Government facilities
  • Individual and family services
  • Hospitals (state, local, and private)
  • Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
  • Outpatient care centers
  • Offices of physicians
  • Nursing and residential care facilities2, 3

Speak with the Career Services team about how they can help with your job search.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning Available to Students at No Cost

In addition to receiving a robust education in the areas of business administration and public health, you will also gain complimentary access to LinkedIn Learning, which includes an extensive library of educational content. For every core MBA course you take, you will have dedicated time to complete a LinkedIn Learning module that teaches on a topic aligning with your current WCU coursework.

Once you finish your module, you will receive a certificate of completion, which can be posted to your LinkedIn profile and included in your ePortfolio. By the time you graduate, you’ll have numerous certificates that can help you stand out to recruiters and prospective employers.

Featured Faculty

Alexandra Auslander, PhD, MPH, MS

Assistant Professor, Master of Public Health Program

Dr. Alexandra Auslander is an Assistant Professor for West Coast University’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program. Prior to joining WCU, Dr. Auslander was a lecturer for the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, as well as an adjunct professor for the Department of Physical Education at Fullerton College and Cypress College.

In addition to teaching public health courses at WCU, Dr. Auslander is working for a research team in community public health as a physical activity subject matter expert. Her team’s focus is on reducing the risk of chronic disease in underserved and vulnerable populations in Southern California. The project, which focuses on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress, is being funded by a grant from the Surgeon General of California.

Dr. Auslander earned her PhD in health promotion with a concentration in public health from Claremont Graduate University, which is where she also earned her Master of Public Health (MPH) in with a focus on biostatistics and epidemiology. She additionally has a master’s degree in kinesiology from California Polytechnic University, Pomona and a bachelor’s degree in biology from San Francisco State University.

From 2015 to 2019, Dr. Auslander completed a Community and Global Health Fellowship at Claremont Graduate University. Her academic and professional honors include the 2015-2016 Cal Poly Pomona Intercollegiate Athletics Recognition of Appreciation, the 2016 Travel Award from Claremont Graduate University, and acceptance into the 2016 Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program from the California University Chancellor’s Office. Dr. Auslander has also been awarded grants, fellowships, contracts, and research opportunities from the 2016 Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health.

With a passion for public health research, Dr. Auslander has had her work published in various health journals, and she has presented her research papers at the conventions of regional and national industry associations.

Dr, Auslander is married with two young children and a lab dog. She loves to cook, exercise, travel, and eat great food. One of her favorite sayings is “Cook with Love and Eat with Passion.”

WCU’s Online Business Programs Feature LinkedIn Learning

FAQs

How does the program prepare me for today’s public health needs?

Our MBA – Public Health track delivers a student-centric, evidence-based education that includes topics relevant to an ever-evolving public health environment. You can expect in-depth learning in the intersection of business and healthcare. Our curriculum also addresses telehealth, special populations, and upcoming trends in medicine.

Can I transfer past coursework and experience into the MBA program?

WCU considers credit transfers for the MBA program, both for previous coursework and for professional experience and certifications. You can work directly with your advisor to see which credits may be applied to your new degree and to get more information on the transfer credit process.

How long does it take to complete the MBA program?

Our Accelerated program pace allows you to earn your MBA in Public Health in as few as 12 months. The Working Professional pace lets you take fewer classes per term, allowing you to earn your degree in 24 months and providing flexibility when you need it. Your admissions advisor can help you determine which pace is right for you.

What’s the difference between the MBA – Public Health program and the MPH (Master of Public Health) program?

The Master of Public Health program is 100% focused on public health education. In contrast, the MBA – Public Health track provides a comprehensive education in business and managerial concepts with some of the student’s coursework dedicated to public health. Students who want the versatility of a well-rounded business education with the opportunity to specialize in public health may be a good fit for the MBA – Public Health program.

Is financial aid available?

Financial aid is available to those who qualify. As an online student, you may be able to take advantage of one of our online division scholarships and grants. You may also qualify for other forms of financial aid, such as student loans, military tuition reductions, employer tuition reimbursement, and more. See our Tuition and Financial Aid page for more information.

West Coast University is accredited by WASC Senior College of University Commission (WSCUC), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). 1001 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 402 Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748- 9001/ https://www.wscuc.org/

1 WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment.

2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health Education Specialists and Community Health Workers, Updated Oct. 4, 2022

3 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical and Health Services Managers, Updated Sept. 8, 2022

Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.