The Online Student Experience: Same Gillings School of Global Public Health, Different Format

Learn, Practice and Network

Our online Master of Public Health (MPH) program delivers the UNC Gillings School’s commitment to quality through a flexible online modality.

Regardless of where you live, you can expect classes, coursework and experiential learning opportunities that immerse you in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s culture of interdisciplinary collaboration. When the time comes to translate your expertise into action, you’ll be ready.

“The combination of asynchronous and synchronous content was really helpful for my learning. I also appreciated the varied academic, professional and social backgrounds of the instructors and students across the program, as this really broadened my perspective on how to address public health problems in an interdisciplinary way. It was also helpful to learn more about global health issues in each class and to hear examples of impactful work being done all over the world.”

Chase A.
MPH Class of 2025

Get to Know the MPH Experience:

Interactive global classroom

Sophisticated digital campus

Networking and career services

Academic and career support

Interactive Global Classroom

This MPH program goes way beyond discussion boards. Your live, online classes, hosted on Zoom, connect you with professionally diverse peers and accomplished faculty who are on the front lines of public health.

Communicate seamlessly

Get to know your instructors and classmates as you engage in lively, face-to-face discussions and tackle real-world challenges.

Get immediate feedback

Live chat and presentation features make it easy to share insights, ask questions and review content collaboratively.

Rewatch if you missed something

Need to revisit a concept or discussion point? All your live classes are recorded and available on demand.

Accessible, User-Friendly Digital Campus

Your student dashboard — available on mobile, tablet and desktop — is more than just a message board or chat room. It gives you a comprehensive view of your coursework, grades and degree progress.

Complete multimedia assignments

Sharpen your understanding of public health issues with video case studies, interactive content, recorded lectures and more.

Adjust settings to your needs

Tailor your learning with video playback settings, captioning, focus, and searchable course transcripts.

Access technical support

On-call technical experts are available 24 hours a day to resolve any IT issues and streamline your virtual experience.

Networking and Career Services

As an online student, you’ll have access to groups, events and services. We encourage you to take full advantage of these resources to forge lasting relationships with faculty, classmates and the larger UNC community.

Join student organizations

Get involved with groups and clubs that cater to interests such as leadership, diversity and inclusion, global health issues and more.

Adjust settings to your needs

Meet the UNC Gillings School community at digital and in-person events, including the MPH Immersion and the Minority Health Conference.

Receive 1:1 career coaching

Our comprehensive career services include personal career consulting as well as access to free events, trainings and job boards.

“The program played a meaningful role in supporting both my academic and professional growth, especially as I navigated a fully remote learning environment. Initially, I was uncertain about how connected I would feel and whether I would receive the level of support I needed. However, those concerns quickly disappeared. I was genuinely surprised by how supported and connected I felt, despite the virtual setting — it truly felt like a community I could rely on.”

Christie K.
MPH Class of 2024

Take the Next Step in
Your Public Health Career.

Ready to get to work? Learn more about the MPH program and the UNC Gillings School, ranked the No. 1 public school of public health.1

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Support From Application to Graduation

We work with you at every turn so you can stay focused on cultivating relationships, broadening your skill set and planning your career.

Academic and Program Support

You’ll work with a team dedicated to your success in the program, including the following:

  • Student success advisers provide coaching and success planning. They’ll guide you through onboarding, learning platforms, technical resources and even work/life balance.
  • Academic coordinators will help you navigate program policies, campus resources, course planning, leaves of absence and your progress toward graduation.
  • Tutors are available as needed at no cost for “SPHG 711: Data Analysis for Public Health” and “SPHG 712: Methods and Measures for Public Health Practice.”

Faculty Support

The Gillings School faculty are not only experts in their fields — they’re dedicated to your growth during the program and beyond. You can stay in touch outside of class by attending virtual office hours.

In addition to interacting with your classroom instructors, you’ll be paired with a faculty mentor in your concentration who offers discipline-specific guidance. They will:

  • Help you select courses based on your career goals
  • Suggest professional development and job opportunities
  • Support you during your practicum

Practicum Support

The MPH program’s in-person experiences empower you to apply classroom lessons in the real world. Our team of dedicated practicum specialists help you navigate the process and assist in identifying practicum opportunities that accommodate your location preferences and professional interests.

  • MPH Leadership in Practice; MPH Nutrition, Food Systems and Health; MPH Health Policy; and MPH Applied Epidemiology students complete 200 hours in the Gillings practicum (a mentored work experience).

Concentration practicum advisers are available to support students throughout the practicum experience.

“Having completed my MPH at such a respected School has helped me connect with potential collaborators and network with an ever-growing group of alumni. I really enjoyed the program and am grateful for the experiences I had during my time here.”

Hans Carlo R.
MPH Class of 2025

This Is Online Learning for Public Health Leaders

Your path to making meaningful change starts here. Ready to begin?

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  1. Best Public Health Schools. (2026). U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved May 7, 2026. ↩︎