Accreditation 

CEPH Accreditation Badge: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.

Council on Education for Public Health

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health (SOPH) is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), which is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools and programs of public health.

CEPH accreditation protects the interests of students and the public by assuring that public health schools and programs produce quality graduates who have the knowledge and skills to become successful public health professionals. The ongoing process of review, reflection, and accreditation assists schools and programs in improving the quality of their instructional, research, and service efforts. CEPH grants accreditation only to schools and programs that engage in thorough, ongoing review and continuous quality improvement that meet or exceed CEPH standards.

The UAB School of Public Health has a solid history of self-assessment, evaluation, and quality improvement in pursuit of excellence in public health education. The UAB SOPH has maintained continuous accreditation since 1978 and is the only CEPH-accredited School of Public Health in Alabama.

Timeline of Accreditation Activities

At its June 2016, meeting, CEPH re-accredited the UAB SOPH for a seven-year term, extending the school's accreditation through July 1, 2023. CEPH allows a maximum of seven years for schools and programs to apply for re-accreditation. Critical aspects of re-accreditation are a self-study process of at least 18-24 months followed by a site visit.

In 2019, the UAB SOPH initiated a four-year plan of self-study to review, revise, design, and implement updated core and concentration-specific curricula, and to evaluate the overall quality of research, practice, service, administration, and cultural climate in preparation for the 2023 re-accreditation application and site-visit.

Year One: Academic Year Fall 2019 – Summer 2020 (AY 2019-20)

  • Develop CEPH re-accreditation self-study evaluation plan. Perform data inventory and plans for CEPH required data and SOPH strategic planning initiatives (research, education, practice, DEI, and finance/administration)
  • Review, revise, foundational/core curricula using the Evidence-based Public Health Framework

Year Two: Academic Year Fall 2020 – Summer 2021 (AY 2020-21)

  • Implement Evidence-based Public Health Framework foundational/core curricula
  • Review and revise concentration curricula, applied practice/internships, and capstone experiences
  • Annual report reports for AY 2019-20 on strategic planning initiatives (research, education, practice, DEI, and finance/administration)

Year Three: Academic Year Fall 2021 – Summer 2022 (AY 2021-22)

  • Foundational/core curricula evaluations of AY 2020-21
  • Solicit and assess external stakeholder feedback

Year Four: Academic Year Fall 2022 – Summer 2023 (AY 2022-23)

  • September - October 2022
    • UAB SOPH submits the preliminary self-study document to CEPH
    • CEPH provides feedback to UAB SOPH about the preliminary self-study document
  • October 2022 to January 2023
    • UAB SOPH stakeholders continue to provide feedback on the SOPH Self-Study report
    • Feedback can be submitted through an anonymous survey submission.
    • Feedback can also be submitted directly to the UAB SOPH accreditation leadership team by physical or electronic mail, phone and by virtual or in-person meetings
      UAB SOPH Accreditation Leadership Team Contact Information:
      1. Dr. Kelley Swatzell, Associate Professor, and Assistant Dean for Accreditation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (205) 975-4404
      2. Dr. Ela Austin, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (205) 975-9272
      3. Cheryl Johnson, Director of Academic Accountability at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (205) 934-4996
  • Third-Party Comments: Individuals who prefer, may submit third-party comments directly to CEPH in writing by e-mail, printed mail, or any other written form by January 8, 2023.
    • Third-party comments submitted to CEPH may take the form of e-mail, printed mail, or any other written form. Comments must be in writing and must be specific.
      1. CEPH’s mailing address:
        Council on Education for Public Health
        1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 220
        Silver Spring, MD 20910
      2. CEPH site-visit coordinator email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • December 2022 - January 2023
    • Mock Site Visits: Volunteers are sought to participate in a simulated site visit (Virtual/ On-site).
  • January 9, 2023
    • Final self-study document to be submitted to CEPH 
  • February 8-10, 2023
    • CEPH Site Visit

UAB SOPH Accreditation Leadership Team

  • Dr. Kelley Swatzell, Associate Professor, and Assistant Dean for Accreditation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (205) 975-4404
  • Dr. Ela Austin, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (205) 975-9272
  • Cheryl Johnson, Director of Academic Accountability at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (205) 934-4996
SACSCOC logo.

SACSCOC Accreditation

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, masters, doctorate, and professional degrees. Questions about the accreditation of The University of Alabama at Birmingham may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s SACSCOC accreditation reaffirmation was completed in 2015. The University of Alabama at Birmingham will be up for accreditation affirmation in 2025 and is currently preparing to ensure full documentation of its compliance with SACSCOC principles of accreditation. For a copy of the letter verifying UAB’s accreditation status, please email Katrina (Mintz) Bradley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..