A recent study published in Public Health Reports, “An Evidence-Based Master of Public Health Curriculum,” highlights the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health’s successful redesign of its MPH core curriculum using the Evidence-Based Public Health (EBPH) framework. The approach was developed to align with the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) 2016 competency requirements while better preparing graduates for the evolving demands of the public health workforce.

Implemented in fall 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the interdisciplinary curriculum integrates health equity, community engagement, the Essential Public Health Services, and practice-based learning across six core courses. Faculty mapped CEPH competencies directly to the EBPH framework, creating a more cohesive connection between foundational knowledge and public health practice.

Evaluation findings from student surveys, focus groups, and interviews demonstrated increased self-efficacy and perceived competency attainment across core public health skills. Students also reported stronger connections between theory and practice and greater understanding of public health workforce roles.

The authors emphasize that ongoing quality improvement, standardized course design, and mixed-methods evaluation were important to the program’s success. The approach offers a replicable model for institutions seeking to modernize MPH education while maintaining a strong focus on equity, community engagement, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and workforce readiness.