MPH in Lifestyle Medicine

Key Facts

Duration
1.5 - 2 Yrs
Mode
Online
CREDITS
138 ECTS
Dual Degree
Optional

Overview

Lifestyle Medicine is a dynamic public health discipline that incorporates evidence-based lifestyle preventive and therapeutic interventions for the general wellbeing of an individual, family, and society at large. The vast spectrum of lifestyle interventions is influenced by socio-cultural and demographic patterns and may include the management of nutrition, physical activity, stress, substance abuse, sleep hygiene, and relationships.

The MPH Lifestyle Medicine program equips public health professionals with relevant knowledge to suggest and support lifestyle modifying interventions and promote healthy behaviors for patients having chronic ailments or risk of chronic diseases understanding the population determinants of wellness, health, and disease. The curriculum of the lifestyle medicine specialization emphasizes interventions based on current scientific data, well-established behavioral and learning theories that promote holistic public health through the processes of education, behavioral change, and health promotion. The program focuses on practice-oriented scientific knowledge about exercise sciences, nutrition management, addiction medicine, chronic disease risk reduction, weight management, and health behavior-change techniques.

This program will enable you to focus your clinical knowledge and skills in medicine, nursing, psychology, osteopathy, pharmacy, or other public health professions towards lifestyle diseases. You will be academically prepared to apply preventive strategies to chronic diseases and risk factors; conduct individual health assessments; correctly evaluate and suggest lifestyle medicine-related research outcomes, and lead and evaluate health promotion projects. Health professionals who are not physicians are not able to practice medicine with this MPH degree.

What You Will Study

The program is comprised of 138 ECTS credits and can be completed in about 18 months. For a detailed list of courses taught in this program, please refer to the curriculum.

After completion of 42 credits, an interim qualification of Advanced Diploma in Public Health Management is awarded. This part of your studies only includes coursework.  This is followed by the completion of additional 72 credits via coursework and 24 credits via dissertation under the guidance of a mentor.

See Curriculum

Curriculum

Introduction To Public Health and Healthcare

This course introduces the principles, history, and practice of public health and healthcare. It covers preventive medicine, healthcare systems across developed, developing, and transition countries, and key global health challenges including disease control and health inequalities. Learners explore the role of public health in health promotion, disease prevention, and improving population health through lectures, case studies, videos, and supplementary resources.

Community Medicine

This course introduces the fundamental concepts of health, disease, and disease prevention, covering the natural history of diseases, levels of prevention, globalization and health, and the determinants and indicators of health. It also explores health assessment methods, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10 and ICD-11), healthcare strategies, and evidence-based public health. Through lectures, presentations, videos, and supplementary reading materials, learners develop an understanding of public health challenges and strategies for improving population health and health equity.

Epidemiology

This course introduces the fundamentals of epidemiology, covering the concepts of disease occurrence, causation, epidemiological study designs, and statistical analysis. It also explores evidence-based medicine, disease patterns, and the application of epidemiological methods in public health research. Through lectures, presentations, videos, and supplementary reading materials, learners develop a foundational understanding of epidemiology and its role in disease prevention and population health.

Health Planning and Hospital Management

This course explores the principles of health planning, management, and hospital administration, covering managerial planning and forecasting, planning tools, staffing and selection processes, organizational structures, delegation, time management, and control techniques. It also examines hospital planning and design, linen and laundry services, hospital waste disposal, medical records, quality assurance, medical audits, marketing of health services, and evaluation of hospital services. Learners develop an understanding of effective healthcare management and strategies for improving hospital operations and service quality.

Health Economics

This course introduces the fundamental principles of health economics, covering economic concepts, health economics, demand and supply in healthcare, healthcare markets, and externalities. It explores the role of competition, regulation, and government intervention in healthcare, along with healthcare financing and affordability. Through lectures, presentations, and supplementary readings, learners develop an understanding of how economic principles influence healthcare resource allocation, service delivery, and decision-making.

Biostatistics

This course introduces the fundamental principles of biostatistics, covering data handling, data presentation, tests of significance, categorical data analysis, and non-parametric methods. It also explores statistical applications in clinical trials, sample size estimation, metabolomics, and public health research. Through lectures, presentations, and assignments, learners develop the skills to interpret data, apply statistical methods, and support evidence-based decision-making in healthcare and research.

Nutrition

This course explores the fundamental principles of nutrition, covering nutritional screening and assessment, nutritional counselling, micronutrient and macronutrient deficiencies, metabolic disorders, and medical nutrition therapy (MNT). It also examines nutrition in non-communicable and infectious diseases, food hygiene and safety, pregnancy and lactation, nutrition policies and programs, and food processing. Learners develop an understanding of the role of nutrition in disease prevention, health promotion, and improving health outcomes across different stages of life.

Data and Communication
Environmental Health
Mental Health
Introduction to Surveillance
Preventive Medicine and Population Health
Resources and Administration
Infectious Diseases
Immunization
Global Health Policy and Development
Planetary Health
Fundamentals of Sexual and Reproductive Health
Health and Human Rights
Research Methods
Occupational Health
Evaluating International Public Health Issues
Public Health Disasters: A Global Ethical Framework
Public Health Risk Assessment for Human Exposure to Chemicals
Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Urban Living and Public Health
Pharmaceuticals in Global Public Health
Geospatial Analysis of Public Health
Global Health Security
Global Health Collaboration

Specialization Courses:

Mind-Body Interactions and Health Outcomes
Lifestyle Diseases and Risk Reduction
Obesity, Weight Management, and Disordered Eating
Addiction Medicine
Kinesiology and exercise medicine

Dissertation

How You Will Study

This program is conducted fully online in an asyncronous format.

Once you are enrolled you will be provided a username and password to login to our e-Campus. All the courses that you are supposed to study will be available in your account. You can log in and complete your courses at any time of your convenience. Study materials are provided in the form of lectures, reading materials, additional videos, research papers, and so on. The faculty can be contacted for any assistance when required. All tests and assignment submissions also take place via the e-Campus. For more information please refer to the online learning section of the website.

EXPECTED TIMELINE
Start

Start Your Program

About 6 to 8 months

Complete 42 Credits

Provisional Certificate Issued

Interim Award - Advanced Diploma in Public Health Management

About 8 to 10 months

Complete Additional MPH and Specialization Courses (72 Credits)

About 4 to 6 months

Submit Dissertation - 24 Credits

Graduated

Master's Degree Awarded