CEPH Accreditation

Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

The Master of Public Health program at West Chester University is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). CEPH evaluates schools and programs of public health to ensure their quality so that students can identify, prevent and solve community health problems by the time they graduate. It was established in 1974 by the American Public Health Association (APHA).

The West Chester University MPH Program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Accreditation was awarded on June 18, 2016 for a seven year term extending to July 1, 2023.

Electronic copies of the CEPH Final Accreditation Report and the Final Self-Study are available below:

CEPH Final Accreditation Report, June 18, 2016

WCU MPH Program: Final Self-Study, September 22, 2015

Objectives of CEPH

  1. To promote quality in public health education through a continuing process of self-evaluation by the schools and programs that seek accreditation;
  2. 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;
  3. 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?

  1. Accreditation provides assurance that the school or program has been evaluated and has met accepted standards established by and with the profession.
  2. It provides assurance that the curriculum covers essential skills and knowledge needed for today's jobs.
  3. It enhances employment opportunities in positions that base eligibility upon graduation from an accredited school or program.
  4. It assures that educational requirements reflect the current training needs of the profession.
  5. Accreditation enhances its national reputation and represents peer recognition.

Complete List of Benefits

After completion of an accredited MPH program's requirements, students can sit for the Certified in Public Health Examination (CPH Exam)

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