CEPH Accreditation
Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
West Chester University’s MPH program is accredited by the Council on Public Health Education (CEPH). Our program earned reaccreditation in December 2023 for the maximum term of seven years. View our final report from CEPH and a copy of our final self-study . CEPH is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit Schools of Public Health and Public Health Programs. Contact MPH Program Director Dr. Stacie Metz, if you wish to obtain a copy of the CEPH final report or our final self-study document.
Objectives of CEPH
- To promote quality in public health education through a continuing process of self-evaluation by the schools and programs that seek accreditation;
- To assure the public that institutions offering graduate instruction in public health have been evaluated and judged to meet standards essential for the conduct of such educational programs;
- To encourage - through periodic review, consultation, research, publications, and other means - improvements in the quality of education for public health.
Accreditation Process
West Chester University’s Master of Public Health Program had to apply for accreditation through CEPH. It received pre-accreditation in 2003, for a 2 year period, and then applied for full accreditation in 2005.
Accreditation requires that the program be evaluated at least every seven years and that it submits to several reviewing processes to ensure the quality of the program. These processes include a self-evaluation, submitting a self-study and hosting a team of qualified peer reviewers who validate the self-study during an on-site visit to the campus.
Why is Accreditation by CEPH Beneficial?
- Accreditation provides assurance that the school or program has been evaluated and has met accepted standards established by and with the profession.
- It provides assurance that the curriculum covers essential skills and knowledge needed for today's jobs.
- It enhances employment opportunities in positions that base eligibility upon graduation from an accredited school or program.
- It assures that educational requirements reflect the current training needs of the profession.
- Accreditation enhances its national reputation and represents peer recognition.
After completion of an accredited MPH program's requirements, students can sit for the Certified in Public Health Examination (CPH Exam)