Master of Public Health

Program Coordinator: Dr. Praphul Joshi, PhD, 936-294-2767

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.  

Classes Conveniently Located in The Woodlands

The Master of Public Health courses are taught at The Woodlands Center Campus located in The Woodlands, Texas. 

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

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 lists below. 

Thesis Track

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 Master of Public Health Graduate Coordinator for more information.  

Concentration Options

Global Health and Social Justice

 Health Education and Promotion

The MPH program includes a capstone/practicum 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. The HLTH 6397 course includes a practicum that generates a practice-based project and culminates with an extensive student evaluation of the experience. Each student will develop a summary of the integration of the public health knowledge, skills, and dispositions they experienced during the practicum and assess their knowledge and mastery of public health foundational and concentration courses. The supervisor of the capstone/practicum will complete a comprehensive evaluation of the student’s performance during the applied experience and submit it to the MPH Coordinator for review. The HLTH 6397 course serves 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.

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.