Master of Public Health

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program prepares professionals with the knowledge, skills, and practices to manage the health and safety concerns of local and global communities. Students study the impact of recent public health issues, policy and procedures, and develop hands-on experience through a culminating experience such as a practicum with a public health agency.  The MPH program offers a thesis and non-thesis option for the degree.  

MPH Concentrations

The Global Health and Social Justice concentration, which includes the rural health aspect, teaches students about health issues that impact public health on a local as well as global scale.  Many public health issues are found in rural settings, whether it be in the U.S. or other countries.  The poor, the unemployed, the homeless, and those with limited or no access to healthcare constitute some of the challenges for health policy and public health solutions.  These issues span countries and influence healthcare within a local and global context.

A graduate of this program will function as a public health specialist or manager of health services in accordance with national standards.  He/she will be expected to provide leadership roles in improving the health of populations, oversee clinical health care delivery, promote health, prevent disease, and supervise provision of health services.  Competencies gained will enable graduates to specifically interpret national health data and use relevant information to plan for policy changes and advocate for improved quality management methods in the healthcare industry.

The Health Education and Promotion concentration incorporates the principles, practices, and development of a working philosophy of health education to prepare students for engagement in four broad areas: community health, medical or clinical health, school health, and worksite health promotion. Students receive training in public health promotion and interventions.  They learn to address factors in the broader social, economic, and policy environments to improve the health of populations.  Students develop practice and research skills for population-level interventions, including program development, implementation and evaluation. A graduate of this program will be able to effectively recognize and assess health disparities, communicate health information, promote health equity, and mobilize resources for social change.

Students must meet the following requirements for admittance to the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program:

  • Graduate Admissions Application (submitted online through ApplyTexas).
  • Application Fee.
  • An earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 credit hours.
  • Official transcripts of bachelor and any graduate degrees.
  • Three letters of recommendation (from professors and/or employers).
  • A written summary (minimum 500 words) on why you seek an MPH, and how you plan to use the degree.
  • A resume (to include all professional, employment, and volunteer activities).
  • An interview by Skype (or other means).

Additional requirements for International Applicants:

  • Official scores for the TOEFL or IETLS and proof of immigration status for international students.
  • English translation and evaluation of official transcripts for applicants with undergraduate degrees from non-U.S. institutions.
  • The applicant submits, as appropriate, a status report through the Certification Validation Service of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates confirming they hold ECFMG certification.
  • International applicants under consideration for admission will require a telephone or virtual interview with the Admissions Committee.

 Non-Thesis Track

Master of Public Health in Public Health (Non-Thesis)
Required Courses
HLTH 5318Current Topics in Env Health3
HLTH 5353Epidemiology3
HLTH 5355Health Services Administration3
HLTH 5361Theoretical Foundations of Health Promotion3
HLTH 5376Population Hlth Biostatistics3
HLTH 6352Public Health Grant Writing3
HLTH 6396Health Prog Planning/Internshp3
HLTH 6397Internship3
Required Concentration Courses 112
Choose one of the following concentrations:
Global Health and Social Justice
Publ Health & Social Justice
Immigrant and Refugee Health
Management and Leadership for Health Professionals
Health Care Policy
Health Education and Promotion
Foundation of Community Hlth
Human Ecology
Comm Theory Prac Health Prof
Research Seminar
Prescribed Electives 26
Total Hours42

Thesis Track

Master of Public Health in Public Health (Thesis)
Required Courses
HLTH 5318Current Topics in Env Health3
HLTH 5353Epidemiology3
HLTH 5355Health Services Administration3
HLTH 5361Theoretical Foundations of Health Promotion3
HLTH 5376Population Hlth Biostatistics3
HLTH 6352Public Health Grant Writing3
HLTH 6396Health Prog Planning/Internshp3
HLTH 6397Internship3
Required Concertation Courses 112
Choose one of the following concentrations:
Global Health and Social Justice
Publ Health & Social Justice
Immigrant and Refugee Health
Management and Leadership for Health Professionals
Aging and Health Promotion
Health Education and Promotion
Foundation of Community Hlth
Human Ecology
Comm Theory Prac Health Prof
Research Seminar
Thesis Option 2
HLTH 6098Thesis I3
HLTH 6099Thesis II3
Total Hours42

Concentration Options

Global Health and Social Justice

Concentration Prescribed Electives: Global Health and Social Justice 2
HLTH 5317Case Studies in Occup Epidem3
HLTH 6371Advanced Concepts in Health Care Quality3
HLTH 5373Risk Mgmt in Health Care Orgs3
HLTH 5378Health Care Informatics3
HLTH 5380Global Health Partnerships3
SCST 5335Global Perspec in Homeland Sec3
SOCI 5355Seminar in Social Inequality3
SOCI 5338Sociology of Disasters3
Graduate level courses in related disciplines approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator3-6

 Health Education and Promotion

Concentration Prescribed Electives: Health Education and Promotion 2
HLTH 5333Colloq in Human Sexuality3
HLTH 5334Colloq in Use & Abuse of Drugs3
HLTH 5338Colloq in Consumer Hlth Edu3
HLTH 5350Publ Health & Social Justice3
HLTH 5351Immigrant and Refugee Health3
HLTH 5363Management and Leadership for Health Professionals3
HLTH 5365Aging and Health Promotion3
HLTH 5378Health Care Informatics3
HLTH 5380Global Health Partnerships3
HLTH 6365Health Care Policy3
SOCI 5322Seminar In Medical Sociology3
Graduate level courses in related disciplines approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator3-6

At the conclusion of the program, MPH non-thesis students are required to pass a comprehensive examination covering content from select courses. The comprehensive examination can be taken when the student is within his/her final 6-hours of coursework and must be completed at least three weeks prior to before the graduation date. Students must be enrolled during the semester in which the comprehensive examinations are taken. Please contact the Master of Public Health Graduate Coordinator for more information.

The MPH program has a capstone/internship course at, or near the end of the program of study (e.g., in the final year or term), that incorporates both the applied practical experience and the integrative learning experience (ILE). The course includes an internship that generates a practice-based project and culminates with an essay-based comprehensive exam, which assesses knowledge and mastery of foundational and concentration courses. HLTH 6397 may serve as the comprehensive exam component for the MPH program.  Students must earn a grade of "B" or higher in HLTH 6397 to be eligible for graduation. Please contact the Master of Public Health Graduate Coordinator for more information.

As an alternative to the comprehensive examinations, students may opt to take the professional Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam (for the Health Education and Promotion concentration) or the Certified in Public Health (CPH) exam (for the Global Health and Social Justice concentration). Proof of certification must be provided to the Master of Public Health Graduate Coordinator at least 5 business days prior to the last class day of the graduating semester. The internship will satisfy the applied practical experience requirement. The practice-based project, plus the comprehensive exam or the professional exams, will satisfy the ILE.  

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers.  Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.

The MPH is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:

  • Prepare to be community leaders to increase public and social awareness of public health topics.
  • Serve in important roles in the overall well-being of communities (including under-served and unserved portions of the population).
  • Acquire communication and leadership skills.
  • Develop analytical and assessment skills.
  • Employ critical thinking and system skills.
  • Demonstrate cultural competency.
  • Gain knowledge of the history and current structure of the inequality of local, national, and global health trends and disparities, particularly for the immigrant and refugee populations.
  • Participate in group and collaborative projects, some in concert with community agencies.