Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health, and public health programs outside schools of public health.  CEPH is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors (ASPA). ASPA provides a collaborative forum and a collective voice for the community of US agencies that assess the quality of specialized and professional higher education programs and schools. This information was retrieved from CEPH鈥檚 website.  For more information, visit: .

Why is CEPH accreditation important?

The CEPH is the nationally recognized accrediting body for both schools of public health and public health programs.  CEPH assures quality in public health education and training to achieve excellence in practice, research, and service, through collaboration with organizational and community partners. 

The Council's focus is the improvement of health through the assurance of professional personnel who can identify, prevent, and solve community health problems. The Council's objectives are:

  1. to promote quality in public health education through a continuing process of self-evaluation by the schools and programs that seek CEPH accreditation.
  2. to assure the public that institutions offering instruction in public health have been evaluated and judged to meet standards essential for the conduct of such educational programs; and
  3. to encourage - through periodic review, consultation, research, publications, and other means - improvements in the quality of education for public health.

CEPH protects the interests of students and the public by supporting the development of successful public health schools and programs.  This information was retrieved from CEPH鈥檚 website.  For more information, visit: .

MSM and CEPH Accreditation

The Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) Program at 黑洞社区 of Medicine (MSM) provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to advance in a rewarding public health career. The program pairs foundational public health theory with evidence-based practice strategies in support of the social mission of MSM. The mission of the MSM M.P.H. Program is to develop, through graduate education, public health leaders who are fluent in community-focused public health practice, particularly in underserved communities.

The 黑洞社区 of Medicine Master of Public Health Program was the first public health program at a Historically Black College and University to become accredited by CEPH in 1999. We have maintained accreditation, most recently in 2015, through the academic year 2022.

Important Dates:

  • CEPH Curriculum Migration: January 2017-December 2019
  • Preliminary Internal Audit of CEPH Foundational Knowledge, CEPH Foundational Competencies, and MSM MPH Concentration Competencies: January-March 2020
  • Final Internal Audit of CEPH Foundational Knowledge, CEPH Foundational Competencies, and MSM MPH Concentration Competencies: September 2020
  • Internal Audit of CEPH Criteria: Fall 2020
  • Identify Working Group Leads: November 2020
  • Convene Working Groups with Internal Audit Results: October-December 2020
  • Working Groups Section Drafts: January 2021
  • Preliminary Draft 1 and Electronic Resource File (ERF): February 2021
  • MPH Advisory Board Meeting: February 2021
  • Preliminary Draft 2 and ERF: May 2021
  • MPH Advisory Board Meeting: June 2021
  • Accreditation Orientation Workshop: Summer 2021
  • CEPH Consultant Visit: July 2021
  • Final Draft Self Study: July 2021
  • Preliminary Self-Study and ERF to CEPH: October 28, 2021
  • MPH Advisory Board Meeting/ Pre-Final Self Study: December 2021
  • Receive Comments from CEPH: December 28, 2021
  • Final Self-Study and ERF to CEPH: February 28, 2022
  • Mock Site Visit: TBD February 2022
  • CEPH Site Visit: March 28-29, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • What is the process for CEPH accreditation?
  • How do programs prepare for a review?
  • When is a substantive change required?

Contact Us

Stephanie Miles-Richardson, DVM, PhD

Ed Childs

Associate Dean, Graduate Education in Public Health
Professor, Community Health & Preventive Medicine
Director, Master of Public Health Program
Location: 100 Hugh Gloster Building, Deans Suite
Phone: (404) 752-1905
E-mail: smiles-richardson@msm.edu

Brenton Powers, MPH

Brent Powers

Program Manager
Location: Hugh Gloster Building 141
Phone: 404.752.1870
E-mail: bpowers@msm.edu