Health and nursing - Public health or global health

Health care today needs leaders who are passionate about prevention, health equity and improving access for all communities. Our Master of Public Health (Public Health Technology) program enables you to be a leader who has the expertise to understand and improve complex issues such as chronic disease, environmental threats and disparities in community conditions. You’ll learn to think critically about how these issues impact populations and how to create interventions that make a measurable difference.

In this program, you’ll learn how to effectively navigate policy, business, and technology environments to drive meaningful public health change. The curriculum teaches you how systems operate and how policy decisions shape health outcomes, so you can be prepared to influence those systems from within. With an emphasis on technology, you’ll also explore how data and digital tools can create scalable, sustainable solutions for addressing public health challenges.

Build skills at the intersection of public health and technology

As one of the first of its kind, this degree program places you at the leading edge of public health and technology. You’ll learn to apply artificial intelligence, design thinking, engineering and entrepreneurship tools and mindsets to improve health outcomes and empower communities. 

The program helps you turn innovation into impact, preparing you to create healthy and resilient communities. Coursework and projects will help you reimagine how technology can advance health equity, from creating wearable devices that promote physical activity to designing apps that deliver real-time health insights. Additional examples include the development of systems that monitor wastewater to detect early signs of disease or explore new ways to ensure everyday technology is fair, ethical and accessible for everyone.

How our two online public health master’s degrees compare

ASU offers two distinct online graduate pathways in public health and technology. 

• This program, the Master of Public Health (Public Health Technology), is a comprehensive, two-year program designed for individuals who want to deepen their understanding of public health with a variety of technology and engineering tools and mindsets, while exploring implications for policy, ethics, economics and health outcomes.
• The Master of Science in public health technology, is a one-year program created for students who want to bring their technology passion to public health. This program is best for students who may have technical expertise and wish to apply that knowledge to health systems and scenarios. Clinicians, aspiring physicians or anyone seeking a broader view of how technology and health policy influence population well-being are encouraged to apply to this brief program.

While both programs emphasize innovation, the Master of Public Health (Public Health Technology) provides a more in-depth foundation in public health principles, making it an excellent choice if you’re pursuing a long-term career in health leadership or preparing for further study in medicine or public health.
 

Public health technology uses modern tools and innovation to promote community health, both locally and globally at scale. Emerging technology is creating new ways to address public health challenges, and this program aims to prepare tomorrow’s leaders with the skills needed to deliver fast, equitable and efficient strategies for improving public health. 

You’ll gain skills in core areas, such as data science, health policy and equity. Plus, the curriculum focuses on how to apply technology and engineering tools and mindsets, including systems design, wearable devices, mobile apps and artificial intelligence, to solve public health problems quickly and efficiently. 

Become a public health innovator

A new generation of public health innovators is needed. Completing this program gives you the tools necessary to bridge the gap between public health and technology, so you can help prevent the spread of illness and promote wellbeing within communities around the world.

Whether you’re a technology professional seeking to apply your skills to public health or someone already in this space eager to integrate technology more effectively, this online public health technology degree will prepare you to lead meaningful change. You’ll gain the knowledge and perspective necessary for designing impactful solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities at scale.

How our two public health technology master’s degrees compare

The School of Technology for Public Health within ASU Health offers two distinct programs in this field. Both programs are seeking students with broad backgrounds in health, communication, computer science, engineering and GIS who want to apply their unique skills in public health, so they can make meaningful impact at scale. The programs are: 

• Master of Science in public health technology: This one-year program is designed for students from all backgrounds who want to gain technical expertise to apply to public health challenges. Clinicians, aspiring physicians, or anyone seeking a broader view of how technology and health policy influence population well-being are encouraged to apply. If you have technical expertise and are interested in supporting public health, then this program can help you gain a foundation in health systems and the tools needed to address social and health issues using innovative technologies.
• Master of Public Health (Public Health Technology): This intensive, two-year program is ideal for students who want to deepen their understanding of public and population health, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, health policy and the broader health ecosystem. This program combines foundational public health learnings for those interested in becoming a public health practitioner with a deep understanding of how emerging technologies can support population health outcomes. 

While both degrees prepare you to improve health outcomes through technology, this Master of Science program has an emphasis on technical and design-based solutions, and the Master of Public Health emphasizes public health practice, research and policy.

This program combines statistics, mathematics and health sciences to prepare you for a meaningful career analyzing medical research and delivering insights that inform health decisions. With advanced biostatistical skills, you can evaluate treatment options, track disease outbreaks, predict health trends and implement emerging technologies such as AI.

Demand for graduate-level statistical expertise continues to rise, and your specialized knowledge will make you even more competitive in the job market. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for data scientists is projected to grow 36% from 2023 to 2033, making it one of the nation’s fastest-growing jobs. Employment for mathematicians and statisticians is projected to increase by 11%, also faster than average. These roles are just a few of the many paths available to you.

The knowledge and skills you’ll develop

The rigorous, applied curriculum trains you in the statistical methods and data analysis techniques essential to health research. You’ll learn how to design and conduct clinical trials, analyze large health data sets and apply biostatistical models to real data. Key skills you’ll gain include:

• Applied clinical trial design and analysis
  • Design and evaluate clinical trials to ensure reliable health research outcomes.
• Applied multilevel and longitudinal data analysis
  • Analyze complex health data over time.
• Biostatistical data analysis
  • Gain hands-on experience with real-world health datasets.
• Biostatistical theory and inference
  • Understand the fundamental principles of statistical reasoning.
• Categorical data analysis in health sciences
  • Analyze categorical outcome data using generalized linear models.
• Computational biostatistics
  • Learn and apply statistical programming languages including R, SAS, Stata and SPSS.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

This program is ideal if you want to transform mathematical and statistical precision into a high-impact career. A solid foundation in quantitative skills is required, but that experience can come from education or professional work in social or life sciences, math, data science, public health and more. Throughout the program, you’ll also build on your background and apply it to biostatistics.

Courses emphasize hands-on learning and practical experience in statistical programming and data visualization. You’ll work alongside faculty and research teams on applied projects that address real health challenges. Industry and government partnerships also offer opportunities to network and plan for the next step in your career.

Integrating principles from social work, nonprofit leadership, therapeutic recreation and physical education teaching methodologies, this program allows you to gain an appreciation for all individuals. The curriculum cultivates systems-level thinking, encourages a reimagining of health and disease management and informs the development of health programming. You’ll also learn how to leverage the social, physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions of wellness to enhance health and quality of life.

Upon completing the program, you’ll be prepared to design, implement and assess education and health promotion initiatives. Your work can lead you to help others adopt healthy lifestyles and a proactive approach to improving overall well-being.

The skills you’ll develop

This program focuses on building interdisciplinary skills and exploring theoretical perspectives from education and public service. Throughout your courses, you’ll gain the confidence to empower others to pursue proactive wellness and adopt healthy lifestyles. As a graduate, you’ll also be prepared to:

• Apply team-based interprofessional practice.
• Critique social issues facing community health.
• Design proactive and innovative solutions to address community health issues.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

If your career goals include educating others on improving their health in community health programs, community organizations and schools, this program is ideal for you. You’ll develop interprofessional competencies in youth development, behavioral health, integrated health, education, recreation nonprofit management, leisure and community resources.

This program is interdisciplinary at its core. Individuals with bachelor’s degrees in any field can be excellent candidates if they’re passionate about making a positive impact on community well-being. Please note this program does not lead to professional teaching, social work or recreational therapy certification or licensure. These professions require additional education and training.

In this program, you’ll gain the foundational knowledge and practical skills for impactful global health work. Through coursework that engages global health partners and the applied internship, you’ll engage with critical health issues, including ONE Health, nutrition, maternal and child health, and infectious disease. You’ll also develop cross-cutting competencies in epidemiology, research design, monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL), crafting policy briefs, qualitative data analysis and more. The program emphasizes developing sustainable, culturally appropriate solutions and cultivating the ability to critically assess programs and research within diverse global contexts.

What can you do with a master’s in global health?

You’ll graduate well-positioned for careers across a variety of sectors, including roles with governmental and policy agencies, domestic and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), global research initiatives and innovative private-sector health companies. You may:

• Use this degree as a launchpad into new career paths focused on health equity, global health research or community-based interventions.
• Continue working in your current organization with the goal to advance into a new role.
• Combine what you learn in this program with previous work to pivot into consulting.

By earning this degree, you can bring cultural insight and analytical rigor to the work of improving lives worldwide — whether advancing policy, evaluating programs, managing health initiatives or conducting global health research.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

Ideal global health master’s candidates for the global health master’s program are intellectually curious and motivated by a desire to address the root causes of global health inequities. This program aligns with your interests if you’re eager to explore not only the physical aspects of disease, but also the social, cultural, historical and evolutionary factors that influence health. You’re also an excellent fit if you seek to develop new frameworks and skills to approach health challenges in dynamic and context-specific ways. 

The program’s flexibility and relevance support established professionals and career changers who want to bring a more holistic perspective to health and well-being. You may currently be working in health care, public health, nonprofit, governmental or academic settings — or may be seeking a career shift into the global health field. In this program, you can build upon your professional experience or learn how to drive meaningful change if your background is unrelated.