What is the Institute for Public Health (IPH) at San Diego State University?
Updated
The Institute for Public Health (IPH) is a unit at San Diego State University (SDSU) that has operated since 1992, according to its site at iph.sdsu.edu. Its stated focus areas are program evaluation and training, and the site also publishes public health research and assessments. It is worth browsing if you are looking for online courses in program evaluation, public health fundamentals, or program planning, or if you want to read applied public health work produced with community and academic partners.
What the site says it does
The IPH site presents itself around two core activities:
- Program evaluation — evaluating public health programs and initiatives.
- Training — delivering courses and training in public health topics.
The page's main heading lists three online courses: Program Evaluation, PH 101, and Program Planning. These are the concrete training offerings named on the site, so they are the clearest starting point if your interest is coursework rather than research.
Research and assessments
Beyond courses, the site shares public health research. A current example is the San Diego LGBTQIA+ Needs Assessment: Cancer Prevention and Healthcare (September 2025), which the site says is available. According to the page, the assessment was conducted by the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California San Diego in collaboration with the Institute for Public Health at San Diego State University, with the goal of better understanding and elevating the cancer prevention and healthcare needs of LGBTQIA+ communities in San Diego County.
That example shows the kind of work IPH highlights: applied, community-focused assessments done with partners rather than purely academic output.
Who should look at this site
| If you want to… | The site is relevant because… |
|---|---|
| Take an online course in evaluation or planning | It lists Program Evaluation, PH 101, and Program Planning |
| Understand IPH's scope | Its stated focus is program evaluation and training, active since 1992 |
| Read local public health research | It publishes assessments such as the September 2025 LGBTQIA+ cancer prevention and healthcare report |
| Contact or support the institute | The site includes a Contact Us section and a donation option |
Practical notes before you visit
- The site does not state pricing for the courses in the material available here, so check the individual course pages for cost, format, and enrollment requirements rather than assuming they are free.
- The needs assessment is described as available, but the page does not specify access conditions; follow the "Read more" link on the site to see the full document and any restrictions.
- If your goal is a specific credential or degree, confirm directly with IPH whether these courses carry credit or count toward a program, since the site describes them as online courses rather than a degree track.