Prepare to lead, innovate and make a lasting impact on communities.
Love collaborating with a variety of people — from clients with low health literacy to government officials and CEOs — to promote healthier communities and drive meaningful change? Concordia University Wisconsin is launching a new online MPH in Applied Community and Population Health in fall 2026.
The American Public Health Association states, “Public health promotes and protects the health of all people and their communities. This science-based, evidence-backed field strives to give everyone a safe place to live, learn, work and play.”
A degree that transforms lives
An MPH degree is extremely versatile; graduates are poised to make an impact in a variety of areas, including governmental, nonprofit, healthcare and private sectors. Growth in public health jobs is expected to be strong, at rates faster than average. For example, health education specialists are expected to grow by 4%, epidemiologists by 16%, and health services managers by 23% in the next 10 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are just a few examples of jobs you may consider with a degree in public health.
“The public health infrastructure is undergoing revitalization and expansion. The field provides many exciting opportunities for new graduates to be at the forefront of change in this profession,” says Sandy Slater, PhD, MS, professor and MPH director.
Junior Joshua Liston-Zawadi has already been making a significant impact in the world of public health and will graduate with his bachelor’s degree in December 2026. Zawadi currently owns three businesses in the public health sector: Dad Doula University, Life Redefined MKE and Conscious Community Curators. He has also been ministering for the last five years.
Not wanting to feel like just a number, Liston-Zawadi chose to attend CUW because the people here made him feel seen and valued.
“They saw me and that’s a big deal for me,” Liston-Zawadi says. “At Concordia, you can feel that people actually care about you. For example, I was in the hospital for a week and missed class, and my professors called me every day to make sure I understood the assignments. You don’t get that at a regular college.”
He continues, “Public health is the one arena where everything I do can be used.” Zawadi is a minister, a father, a doula, a community health worker — and soon a CUW alumnus. The master’s program is appealing to him because he eventually plans to pursue a doctorate, which he hopes will help him work in policy.
Heart of a servant, mindset of a leader
“We are looking for thought leaders — students who are creative, committed to public health, and ready to challenge the way things have always been done,” says Audrey Kostrzewa, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, professor and MPH assistant director.
CUW’s MPH program will nurture a servant’s heart and equip students with the skills to develop effective, evidence-based strategies that improve population health. Courses are intentionally designed to teach evidence-based practice, management and servant leadership, research methods, systems thinking, and informatics. These courses provide students with practical tools to address real public health problems.
One of the unique courses students will take, “Leadership and Advocacy in Public Health,” will focus on servant leadership development within the context of public health, and its relation to meeting the needs of others, and advancing the profession of public health through advocacy.
A degree that opens doors — and hearts
“Public health’s goal is to ensure people can achieve the healthiest lives possible,” Slater says. “That means meeting people where they are, working with them and caring for them — values that align deeply with faith and what it means to be a Christian.”
Graduates of this program will be capable of:
- Demonstrating strong knowledge and communication skills
- Leading and collaborating effectively
- Exhibiting technological and digital fluency
- Advocating for public health
- Applying creative, out-of-the-box thinking to drive change
There are many pressing health challenges throughout the country and around the world.
“Public health needs people who can think outside the box and advocate for positive change,” Kostrzewa says.
Choose your path — purposefully
Driven to serve others and strengthen communities? Public health could be the right fit for you.
As a multifaceted field, career opportunities exist in:
- Health systems
- Insurance companies
- Nonprofits such as the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society
- Digital health organizations
With these versatile career possibilities, CUW’s public health program offers an exceptional path for people from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds. Take that bachelor’s degree to the next level.
Want in?
Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body and spirit for service to Christ in the church and the world. Public health professionals are on the front lines of creating healthier, stronger and more resilient communities. CUW’s Master of Public Health in applied community and population health equips students with the knowledge, skills and evidence-based perspective to promote health, prevent disease and serve others.
Rooted in Concordia’s mission to prepare students to serve “Christ in the church and the world,” the MPH program integrates science, service and stewardship. Students gain practical tools to address today’s complex public health challenges while grounding their work in compassion, ethics and faith.