The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Office of Public Health Studies (OPHS) has achieved a seven-year re-accreditation, through 2030, from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This marks the first accreditation renewal since OPHS became part of the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health in 2016.
“The accreditation is a testament to what we are doing and the quality of all of our programs,” said Eric Hurwitz, OPHS director.
The accreditation process required OPHS to conduct a thorough self-study, starting in 2021, with the collaboration of faculty, staff, students and community partners. In March 2023, a CEPH team visited the campus to review the report and meet with various stakeholders.
OPHS serves more than 270 students across its programs, including a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health, Masters in Public Health in four specializations (health policy and management, epidemiology, social and behavioral health sciences, and Native Hawaiian and Indigenous health), Masters in Science (epidemiology), and two PhDs (community-based and translational research and epidemiology).
“We’re thrilled to have met the criteria, solidifying our place as a beacon of quality in public health education,” Hurwitz added. “We look forward to continuing our work on creating a positive impact on our community!”
