Master of Public Health
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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Public Health in Public Health (Non-Thesis) | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| HLTH 5318 | Current Topics in Env Health | 3 |
| HLTH 5353 | Epidemiology | 3 |
| HLTH 5355 | Health Services Administration | 3 |
| HLTH 5361 | Theoretical Foundations of Health Promotion | 3 |
| HLTH 5376 | Population Hlth Biostatistics | 3 |
| HLTH 6352 | Public Health Grant Writing | 3 |
| HLTH 6396 | Health Prog Planning/Internshp | 3 |
| HLTH 6397 | Internship | 3 |
| Required Concentration Courses 1 | 12 | |
| 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 2 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
| 1 | All required concentration courses (12 SCH) must be taken from one concentration either Global Health and Social Justice OR Health Education and Promotion. |
| 2 | Choose 2 courses from the appropriate Concentration Prescribed Electives course list below. |
Thesis Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Public Health in Public Health (Thesis) | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| HLTH 5318 | Current Topics in Env Health | 3 |
| HLTH 5353 | Epidemiology | 3 |
| HLTH 5355 | Health Services Administration | 3 |
| HLTH 5361 | Theoretical Foundations of Health Promotion | 3 |
| HLTH 5376 | Population Hlth Biostatistics | 3 |
| HLTH 6352 | Public Health Grant Writing | 3 |
| HLTH 6396 | Health Prog Planning/Internshp | 3 |
| HLTH 6397 | Internship | 3 |
| Required Concertation Courses 1 | 12 | |
| 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 6098 | Thesis I | 3 |
| HLTH 6099 | Thesis II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 42 | |
| 1 | All required concentration courses (12 SCH) must be taken from one concentration either Global Health and Social Justice OR Health Education and Promotion. |
| 2 | The thesis track requires a more academically-focused research thesis (instead of the capstone project) to be completed before awarding the degree. Those selecting the thesis option are required to successfully complete an oral defense of their research study. A successful thesis defense and approval for publication fulfill the comprehensive exams requirement for thesis students. Students must also maintain continuous enrollment in thesis courses until the thesis has been successfully completed. Please consult the Graduate Catalog for more details and visit with the Health Care Quality and Safety Graduate Coordinator for more information. |
Concentration Options
Global Health and Social Justice
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Prescribed Electives: Global Health and Social Justice 2 | ||
| HLTH 5317 | Case Studies in Occup Epidem | 3 |
| HLTH 6371 | Advanced Concepts in Health Care Quality | 3 |
| HLTH 5373 | Risk Mgmt in Health Care Orgs | 3 |
| HLTH 5378 | Health Care Informatics | 3 |
| HLTH 5380 | Global Health Partnerships | 3 |
| SCST 5335 | Global Perspec in Homeland Sec | 3 |
| SOCI 5355 | Seminar in Social Inequality | 3 |
| SOCI 5338 | Sociology of Disasters | 3 |
| Graduate level courses in related disciplines approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator | 3-6 | |
Health Education and Promotion
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Prescribed Electives: Health Education and Promotion 2 | ||
| HLTH 5333 | Colloq in Human Sexuality | 3 |
| HLTH 5334 | Colloq in Use & Abuse of Drugs | 3 |
| HLTH 5338 | Colloq in Consumer Hlth Edu | 3 |
| HLTH 5350 | Publ Health & Social Justice | 3 |
| HLTH 5351 | Immigrant and Refugee Health | 3 |
| HLTH 5363 | Management and Leadership for Health Professionals | 3 |
| HLTH 5365 | Aging and Health Promotion | 3 |
| HLTH 5378 | Health Care Informatics | 3 |
| HLTH 5380 | Global Health Partnerships | 3 |
| HLTH 6365 | Health Care Policy | 3 |
| SOCI 5322 | Seminar In Medical Sociology | 3 |
| Graduate level courses in related disciplines approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator | 3-6 | |
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.
