RIVERSIDE (Nov. 19, 2013) – The College of Allied Health (CAH) at California Baptist University announces a new Master of Public Health (MPH) degree designed for health care practitioners, administrators, policy makers and others.

Dr. Chuck Sands, dean of the College of Allied Health, said the new degree program received final approval from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges this week. The MPH degree will launch in September 2014.

"This program will allow us to impact the local community in a number of areas," Sands said. "For instance, local public health practitioners and clinical health care professionals will be given the opportunity to be trained in public health at the graduate level. Public health typically is about serving large populations, and with significant health needs in the community graduates of this program will be able to make an immediate impact."

Sands expressed gratitude for community health care partners whose support was "integral to the creation, development and approval" of the MPH program.

The CBU College of Allied Health seeks to 'transform lives through the health professions' and includes programs ranging from sport management to health science to communication disorders. The new MPH degree brings to 13 the number of programs offered by the CAH at California Baptist University. For more information, visit www.calbaptist.edu/mph.