Schedule
Principles of Public Health runs September 1 - November 1, 2026. Registration closes September 8.
Have Questions? We have answers.
Contact Us
Learn Public Health Online and Gain Career-Ready Skills
Public health is a fast-paced, critical component of our healthcare system that promotes and protects the health of people and their communities. The Principles of Public Health course offers fundamental guidelines and practices to improve each community’s well-being and prevent health problems. At a most basic level, these health initiatives include promoting good hygiene, ensuring clean water, preventing diseases, and encouraging people to learn about and adopt healthy lifestyles.
The online public health course provides a historical context for the development of the public health field, reviews the public health infrastructure and workforce, and explores the application of evidence-based health practices that address the public health issues our communities face today.
MSU Denver’s Principles of Public Health course offers career paths in government, nonprofit organizations, healthcare, and education. After successfully completing this public health course, you can jump right into the workforce with an entry-level position or continue on to a degree in Public Health at MSU Denver.
This course serves as an ideal starting point for those eager to pursue careers in public health and can stack into an MSU Denver credential or degree.
Format
Self-paced and online, allowing education to fit within your busy schedule. Learners have up to 8 weeks to complete the course.
Cost
$450 per student plus a $35 transaction fee per payment. All learning materials are included with tuition. Group discounts available.
Course Details and Learning Outcomes
The Principles of Public Health course will introduce you to the field of public health by providing a broad overview of strategies and interventions that regulate population-level health. The course will examine health disparities, quality, and accessibility as well as the best practices that have been taken by the public health workforce to promote health equity and healthy lifestyles, taking a focused approach to current issues and strategies in the field.
The course also provides an overview of the history and achievements of public health. You’ll learn health laws, policies, and principles of ethics in public health practice in relation to public health issues, and more.
Once you successfully complete the Principles of Public Health online course, you can immediately enter the workforce with newly learned skills. You will receive a digital badge embedded with the competencies learned. You can include this badge on your resume, LinkedIn page, portfolio, or share it with an employer. Students will also receive a certificate of completion.
Students can also expand their education by converting the course to three credits and continue to an MSU Denver certificate or degree, bolster their resume, advance their career, or uncover a new passion in the realm of public health principles. See FAQs for more information.
Learning objectives:
- Identify the key features of the historical development of public health, including the most important achievements of public health.
- Distinguish differences between federal, state, and local public health organizations.
- Describe a public health approach using a structured framework and apply it to a new public health problem.
- Identify characteristics of reputable sources of evidence-based public health literature.
- Describe the basic principles of epidemiology, including rates, risk factors, disease determinants, causation, and statistical analysis.
- Learn the categories of health determinants, basic health behavior models, and behavior change frameworks and theories.
- Identify the scope of health law, and policy, and learn the principles of ethics in public health in relation to a public health issue.
- Identify the needs of vulnerable as well as at-risk populations in relation to the most important public health problems.
Competencies to be gained:
- Students will be able to describe the history and philosophy of public health principles as well as its core values, concepts, and functions across the globe and in society.
- Students will be able to communicate concepts of population health, and the basic processes, approaches, and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
- Students will be able to define basic concepts of public health investigation, population health data, and health behavior theory models, and analyze the application of evidence-based approaches essential to public health practice.
Why take Principles of Public Health?
Professional Career Advisement
Receive a personal advising session with your instructor and gain confidence in your future career.
What students are saying about Principles of Public Health*
✓ Increased knowledge, skills, and understanding of the subject matter.
✓ Were highly satisfied with the overall experience of the course.
✓ Agreed that the subject matter was organized and presented effectively.
*Fall 2025 post-course survey results.
Are you interested in taking the Community Health Worker state exam?
The MSU Denver Community Health Worker Certificate will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill established Colorado Community Health Worker Core/Professional Competencies in the field and practice of Community Health Workers.
About your Principles of Public Health course instructors
Kristin Klein
Dr. Klein has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector as an operational leader and expert in quality and performance improvement. Currently, she is a Senior Director at DaVita, where she leads a national performance improvement team that supports independent nephrology practices as they transition to value-based care. Before joining DaVita, Dr. Klein worked at Kaiser Permanente for 13 years in various leadership capacities, including population health, primary and specialty care operations, and health services research. Kristin holds a Doctorate of Public Health from the University of Colorado, a Master of Public Health from Boston University, and a Black Belt in Process Improvement.
Shane Walker
Shane Walker, MHA, was born and raised in Colorado. He enjoys doing typical Colorado activities such as snowboarding, fishing, and hiking and is an avid fan of the local sports teams.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado Mesa University in Kinesiology and Health Promotion in 2017. and a Master’s degree in Health Administration from MSU Denver in 2021. His thesis focused on what factors affected Colorado’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution strategy.
He previously served as a Community Relations Coordinator for Keystone Health and Wellness and now works for Children’s Hospital of Colorado as a Physician Relations Representative.
Register Now
Register for Principles of Public HealthRequest more information
Request more informationCareer Launchpad Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questionsContact us
Email usPhone: 303-615-1234
Office Location:
Jordan Student Success Building
3rd Floor – #330
Auraria Campus
Mailing Address:
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Innovative and Lifelong Learning
P.O. Box 173362
Campus Box 6
Denver, CO 80217-3362