OU Hudson College of Public Health Celebrates Reaccreditation from CEPH

The Hudson College of Public Health on the University of Oklahoma’s Health Sciences campus has earned reaccreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health, an achievement that reflects the college’s ongoing commitment to high standards in public health education.

Continuously accredited since 1969, the OU College of Public Health is the only CEPH-accredited school of public health in Oklahoma. CEPH is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for accrediting public health education programs at various levels, ensuring quality education and adherence to national standards.

In November 2023, the OU College of Public Health underwent a comprehensive site visit and review by a CEPH peer team to assess its reaccreditation status. Notably, of the 43 criteria evaluated in the college’s degree programs, all were met with no action needed.  The reaccreditation is effective for seven years.

“Our successful CEPH reaccreditation represents the commitment of our faculty, staff, students and leadership and their passion for public health education,” said Dale Bratzler, D.O., MPH, dean of the OU College of Public Health. “The college received consistently high marks across a multi-level review, which reflects our dedication to educating future public health professionals.”

CEPH accreditation benefits students in several ways. Graduates of CEPH-accredited programs have access to employment opportunities that may not be open to those from unaccredited institutions. This includes roles in the U.S. Public Health Service, certain U.S. military public health positions, and various state and local government agencies.

Some fellowships are exclusively available to students from CEPH-accredited schools that are also members of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. In addition, CEPH accreditation provides a pathway to eligibility for the Certified in Public Health exam that is administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.

The OU College of Public Health prepares students for public health practice in several core areas: biostatistics, epidemiology, health administration and policy, health promotion sciences, occupational and environmental health, and public health preparedness and terrorism emergency response.

The college also has several centers: the Center for American Indian Health, Center for Public Health Practice, Oklahoma Nutrition Information Education Project, Oklahoma Public Health Training Center, Research Design and Analysis Center, and Sooner Survey Center. Read more about the college at publichealth.ouhsc.edu.