The Ohio State University College of Public Health

The Ohio State University College of Public Health
Name	The Ohio State University College of Public Health
Established	2017
Type	Public
Parent	The Ohio State University
City	Columbus
State	Ohio
Country	United States

The Ohio State University College of Public Health is the public health college within The Ohio State University. It combines faculty and programs from multiple campuses and disciplines to offer professional degrees and research opportunities in public health practice, policy, and population health. The college serves metropolitan Columbus and statewide constituencies through partnerships with major health systems, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

History

The college was established following a reorganization at The Ohio State University that united programs previously housed in units associated with Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine (The Ohio State University), College of Nursing (The Ohio State University), and the former Ohio State University Graduate Program in Public Health. Its formation reflected national trends driven by initiatives such as the Institute of Medicine (US) report "The Future of Public Health" and federal legislation including the Affordable Care Act that reshaped public health training. Early leadership drew on scholars with prior affiliations to institutions like Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and University of Michigan School of Public Health. The college expanded degree offerings amid collaborations with state entities such as the Ohio Department of Health, local partners like Columbus Public Health, and national organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Academic Programs

Programs span undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees including the Bachelor of Science, Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Areas of concentration reflect faculty expertise connected to legacy programs from College of Medicine (The Ohio State University), College of Nursing (The Ohio State University), and College of Social Work (The Ohio State University), with tracks in epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, environmental health sciences, and community health. Dual-degree and interdisciplinary pathways link to the Moritz College of Law, Fisher College of Business, College of Engineering (The Ohio State University), and the College of Pharmacy (The Ohio State University). Professional development includes certificate programs modeled after initiatives from Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health and practicum placements coordinated with partners such as Nationwide Children's Hospital and OhioHealth.

Research and Centers

Research priorities include epidemiology of chronic disease, environmental exposures, health services research, and implementation science. Faculty collaborate with national research networks funded by agencies like the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Centers and institutes affiliated with the college draw on multidisciplinary resources from Wexner Medical Center, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, and partnerships with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Prevention Research Centers network. Research projects have involved collaborations with academic partners including Cleveland Clinic, University of Cincinnati, Case Western Reserve University, Penn State University, and Rutgers University.

Clinical and Community Partnerships

The college maintains clinical and community ties across Ohio through affiliations with Wexner Medical Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, OhioHealth, Cleveland Clinic, and county health departments such as Franklin County Board of Commissioners public health initiatives in Columbus, Ohio. Community-engaged work partners with nonprofit organizations including American Red Cross, United Way of Central Ohio, and advocacy groups modeled after American Public Health Association campaigns. Emergency preparedness and response collaborations involve coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency regional offices and state emergency medical services. The college supports service-learning placements in rural counties and urban neighborhoods, leveraging statewide networks such as Ohio State University Extension.

Admissions and Student Life

Admissions criteria reflect graduate and undergraduate standards consistent with practices at peer institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, University of Michigan, and University of California, Berkeley. Student life integrates with broader student organizations on campus including chapters of American Public Health Association student affiliates, Phi Delta Theta and other Greek life, and interdisciplinary groups from Fisher College of Business and College of Arts and Sciences (The Ohio State University). Career services coordinate internships with employers like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ohio Department of Health, OhioHealth, and private sector firms. Professional development events feature speakers from national entities including World Health Organization, National Institutes of Health, and leading academic centers.

Accreditation and Rankings

The college’s professional programs adhere to accreditation standards set by the Council on Education for Public Health and maintain institutional oversight consistent with regional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission. Rankings and evaluations reference national metrics published by organizations such as U.S. News & World Report, National Research Council (United States), and specialty assessments from the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. Peer comparisons often include institutions like Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Category:Public health schools in the United States Category:The Ohio State University colleges and schools