About OOMPH

The Online Master of Public Health (OOMPH) at UC Berkeley was launched in 2012 to expand access to public health education, catering to working professionals around the globe. OOMPH offers a flexible yet rigorous program that brings Berkeley’s esteemed public health expertise to an online format, making it accessible for those balancing careers, family, and other commitments.

Program Leadership and Development

Founded by Dr. Nap Hosang, we sought to provide a quality education that would be both flexible and academically robust. His vision was supported by a dedicated faculty team, who continue to shape the program to adapt to emerging needs in public health. Today, Dr. Deborah Barnett serves as the chief of curriculum and instruction, maintaining a high standard of excellence that aligns with Berkeley’s legacy.

Curriculum and Specializations

OOMPH’s curriculum is designed to be comprehensive, covering essential areas such as:

• Epidemiology & Biostatistics
• Health Policy & Management
• Environmental Health Sciences
• Data Science for Public Health
• Nutrition

These specializations allow students to tailor their education to their career goals and interests, preparing them for leadership roles across public health sectors.

Program Highlights

• Flexible Learning: Courses are fully online, with options for synchronous and asynchronous participation, allowing students worldwide to join.
• Global Impact: The program attracts a diverse student body, fostering a learning environment enriched by a range of experiences and perspectives.
• Interdisciplinary Approach: The curriculum draws on Berkeley’s broad expertise, preparing students to address real-world health challenges.

Mission and Values

The OOMPH program at UC Berkeley strives to broaden access to high-quality public health education for a diverse, global audience. With a commitment to addressing complex public health challenges, the program seeks to empower future leaders who will improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities.

Mission

Healthy People, Locally and Globally

Extending Berkeley’s reach to improve population health, especially for the most vulnerable, and providing the tools to address the pressing public health challenges of our time through:

• Innovative and transformative online learning with a rigorous and interactive curriculum
• A flexible educational experience that aligns with the needs of working professionals
• Empowering public health changemakers to improve health where they live and in real-time.

Values

Service In Community

We center our public health work from a place of service and cultural humility and a commitment to work in community towards the collective production of healthy social and built environments. 

Showing Up with Authenticity

We welcome our learning community to bring their full selves, our professional and lived experience, to think critically about the history of our discipline and innovate public health practice on a path to sustainable and creative changemaking.

Growth Rooted in Justice and Equity

We strive to grow our program and honor our students, staff, and faculty from a place rooted in justice and equity and charge/invite all members of our community to lead from a pledge to unlearn and dismantle oppression in our efforts to promote health equity.

Cultivating Connection Through Learning

We cultivate connection through creating a collegial learning environment without walls, embracing the rigor of scientific inquiry together, and sharing the implementation of public health solutions in real time and around the world.

Centering Wellness

We honor and respect boundaries around personal time, well-being, caregiving, and rest. We support our community around prioritizing joy, not work, when and where you can. We protect space for investment in professional growth and sense of purpose in our work.

Find the UC Berkeley School of Public Health About Us page here