CHAPEL HILL, N.C., June 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ: TWOU), today announced a new partnership with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health to offer a suite of online graduate degrees for public health professionals across the country. This suite, known as MPH@UNC, will be a new Domestic Graduate Program (DGP) for 2U.

MPH@UNC includes three unique degree offerings: 

• Master of Public Health: Designed for students who want to improve public health, promote individual well-being and eliminate health inequities across North Carolina and around the world.
  The Master of Public Health will develop competencies for students interested in pursuing careers in public health, where they will acquire a broad understanding of public health philosophy, methods and practices. The degree consists of a 42-credit curriculum, and will offer concentrations in epidemiology, health policy and management, health behavior, and nutrition.
• Master of Public Health with Leadership Track: Designed for professionals with 2 or more years of work experience in diverse disciplines seeking to strengthen their leadership capabilities in public health.
  Through a 42-credit curriculum, students will build on their work experiences to broaden their understanding of public health and develop effective leadership and implementation science skills within this challenging and rewarding field.
• Master of Public Health/Registered Dietitian degree in Nutrition (MPH/RD): Will prepare students for careers in public health and clinical nutrition.
  In addition to completing the competencies for the Master of Public Health with a concentration in nutrition, graduates of this 51-credit curriculum will become eligible for the entry-level registration examination for dietitians, a new requirement of the Commission on Dietetic Registration for potential Registered Dietitians (RD).

"For more than 75 years, The Gillings School has been committed to public health practice and groundbreaking research that leads to the elimination of health inequities in North Carolina and across the globe," said Dean Barbara K. Rimer. "Today, most public health solutions require an interdisciplinary approach, a strong grounding in public health competencies and broad partnerships to achieve effective public health solutions. We're excited to partner with 2U on the expansion of our online offerings as we extend our reach to the next generation of public health leaders. These students will join a strong network of students, faculty and alumni, who are working together to bring about sustainable, positive changes in global public health."

Each degree offered within MPH@UNC will match the quality and rigor of the school's on-campus offerings by adhering to the same admissions, coursework, competencies and clinical as well as public health standards. Faculty from UNC's Gillings School will teach weekly courses through live online classes, accessed through a highly interactive and mobile online campus.

About UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health is the #1-ranked public school of public health in the nation and tied for #2 overall.* The Gillings School is predicated on developing public health leaders and real-world problem-solvers. Our collaborative learning environment challenges students to become effective, innovative researchers, policy makers, educators and public health professionals who anticipate future problems and work to accelerate practical solutions to those problems. Through classroom instruction and work in the field, our students learn to solve the greatest public health challenges in North Carolina and around the globe.

*US News and World Report

About 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ:TWOU) 
2U partners with great colleges and universities to build what we believe is the world's best digital education. Our platform provides a comprehensive fusion of technology, services and data architecture to transform high-quality and rigorous campus-based universities into the best digital versions of themselves. 2U's No Back Row® approach allows qualified students and working professionals around the world to experience a first-rate university education and successful outcomes. To learn more, visit 2U.com.

Media contact:
David Pesci, UNC's Gillings School of Global Public Health
dpesci@email.unc.edu
919-962-2600

Jemila Woodson, 2U
jwoodson@2U.com
301-892-4419

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SOURCE 2U, Inc.