Accreditation

Council on Education for Public Health

The U.S. Department of Education recognizes the Council on Education for Public Health as the accrediting body for school and programs of public health at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels, including those offered via distance education. The council works to promote quality in public health education through continuing self-evaluation processes, to assure the public that institutions offering instruction in public health have been evaluated and judged to meet essential standards, and to encourage improvements in the quality of education for public health through periodic review, consultation, research, and publications. To achieve and maintain accreditation, schools and programs must meet Accreditation Criteria established by the council, which includes professional competencies designed to ensure graduates have the knowledge and skills needed to be successful members of the public health workforce.

The council Board of Councilors approved the College of Public Health's request to initiate the process to obtain college-wide accreditation in October 2009, and the College received initial accreditation in October 2011. In July 2017, the council acted to accredit the College for a seven-year term. In December 2021, the council extended this term through July 1, 2025. The College will have its reaccreditation site visit in March 2025.

Prior to the College’s 2011 accreditation, the Master of Public Health Program, a joint program between the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Nebraska-Omaha, had been continuously accredited by the council since 2002.

Below are links to the College’s 2016 Final Self-Study document and the council's Final Report.

2016 Final Self-Study      2017 Final Report

The UNMC College of Public Health is undergoing a review by the Council on Education for Public Health for re-accreditation, with a site visit scheduled for March 2025.  

Part of this process includes the provision of a third-party comment period, which allows anyone, including students, alumni, faculty, staff, community and practice partners, and members of the public, to share relevant information about the College directly with CEPH. 

If you have any information about the College you would like to share with CEPH to inform their review, send your comments to submissions@ceph.org by February 5, 2025.  

Below is a link to the College’s Preliminary Self-Study document. If you have any feedback related specifically to this document, please contact Lacey Merica by December 6, 2024.  

2024-25 COPH Preliminary Self-Study

Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education

The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation to grant accreditation to individual academic programs offering a professional Master’s degree in health care management education. The commission works to advance the quality of health care management education by setting measurable, competency-based criteria and promoting a culture of continuous improvement for academic programs. The commission's accreditation is a benchmark for students and employers to ensure students are prepared to be leaders in the health care management field.

The College’s Master of Health Administration degree was approved as a Candidate for accreditation with the commission in April in 2023. This degree program is currently in the process of applying for full accreditation, with a site visit expected in Fall 2024.