The APTR Council of Graduate Programs in Public Health is the organization for the accredited and emerging graduate programs across the U.S. that grant public health degrees and therefore prepare students for professional careers in public health.

Mission

To advance the role of public health programs in promoting excellence in education, research and community service.

Vision

Be the voice for graduate public health programs in promoting the public's health.

Values

• Educational excellence: advancing life-long learning in public health
• Scientific inquiry: advancing public health sciences and innovation
• Commitment to public health practice: promoting health in our communities
• Collaboration: fostering inclusiveness and cultural awareness on local and global levels
• Social justice: promoting health equity, advocacy, and ethical practice

The Council facilitates collaboration and partnerships among leadership of diverse public health graduate programs, which positions CEPH-accredited member programs to mentor developing programs. Membership in the Council and participation in its activities provides programs with information, support, and resources unavailable elsewhere, and access to federal funding opportunities and services. By uniting with other members, graduate programs in public health benefit from a unified voice and more influence in decisions that directly affect the public health community.

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APTR advocates for the Council member programs through representation to the MPH accrediting body (CEPH), the National Board of Public Health Examiners, the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research Board of Directors, and other agency committees that develop, monitor and evaluate national education standards for public health.

Members have a significant role in national organizations and coalitions that:

• Develop competencies for MPH program graduates
• Work to improve the linkages between academia and public health practice
• Advocate for adequate resources and support

Membership in the Council is open to accredited and developing graduate programs in public health education.

Benefits of Membership

As a Council member of APTR, you receive all the advantages of APTR institutional membership plus the benefits listed below:

Resources

• Assistance with implementing new public health education recommendations, including undergraduate education.
• Knowledge base of the most current resources on public health graduate programs including data reports, directories and curriculum materials.
• Access to CDC, ODPHP and other federal agency education and training opportunities for you and your students.

Networking and Career Development

• Workshops and meetings designed specifically around the needs of public health faculty and their programs.
• Connection to other faculty from MPH programs and related disciplines.
• Increased visibility for your program through the Council Website and APHA Exhibit Booth.
• Eligibility to represent Graduate Programs and APTR on national boards, councils and committees.

Access to Federal Funds

Council members are eligible to participate in CDC and ODPHP Cooperative Agreement-sponsored activites and workforce projects of APTR.  For example, through the Collaborative Integration of Public Health Content into Undergraduate Education project, APTR provided funding to 8 members of the APTR Council of Graduate Programs in Public Health to facilitate increased involvement of graduate level public health programs in the advancement of undergraduate public health curricula. Qualifying Council member programs collaborated with faculty from undergraduate colleges within the same institution or neighboring or regional liberal education institutions to develop, pilot and evaluate undergraduate public health, global health, and epidemiology courses.