Master of Public Health

Program Coordinator: Daphne S. Fulton, DrPH, 936-294-2668

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 are offered 100% online. 

MPH Concentrations

Social Determinants and Community Health

The Social Determinants and Community Health concentration prepares job-ready professionals to address public health workforce gaps in rural and underserved communities. Students learn to identify and address social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health outcomes in diverse populations. 

Core Competencies

• Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) - Collaborative research approaches engaging community members as equal partners
• Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNA) - Systematic evaluation of community health status and priority identification
• Rural Health - Specialized preparation for addressing unique challenges in rural and geographically isolated communities
• Program Evaluation - Design, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs and interventions

Career Opportunities

• Local health departments
• Community health organizations
• Rural health clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
• Nonprofit organizations focused on health equity
• Healthcare systems serving underserved populations

Program Features

• Enhanced Online Delivery - Eliminates transportation barriers while maintaining educational quality
• 4+1 Accelerated Pathway - Undergraduate public health students can complete MPH in one and a half additional year
• Student-Centered Approach - Designed for SHSU's diverse demographics, including first-generation and immigrant students

Workforce Development

This concentration addresses documented community workforce needs in social determinants of health practice, ensuring graduates possess practical skills and theoretical knowledge required by today's public health employers while contributing to improved health outcomes in underserved communities.

Health Education and Promotion Concentration

The Health Education and Promotion concentration incorporates the principles, practices, and development of a working philosophy of health education to prepare students for engagement across diverse health settings. Students receive comprehensive training in public health promotion and interventions, learning to address factors in the broader social, economic, and policy environments to improve population health.

Core Practice Areas

• Community Health - Population-level health promotion strategies and community-based interventions
• Medical/Clinical Health - Health education in healthcare settings and patient education programs
• School Health - Educational approaches to promote health behaviors in academic environments
• Worksite Health Promotion - Occupational health programs and employee wellness initiatives

Core Competencies

• Program Development - Design evidence-based health education programs for diverse populations
• Implementation and Evaluation - Execute and assess the effectiveness of health promotion interventions
• Health Disparities Assessment - Recognize and evaluate inequities in health outcomes across populations
• Health Communication - Effectively communicate health information to diverse audiences and stakeholders

Career Opportunities

• Community health organizations and nonprofits
• Healthcare systems and clinical settings
• School districts and educational institutions
• Corporate wellness programs and employee health services
• Public health departments and government agencies
• Health promotion consulting firms

Program Features

• Enhanced Online Delivery - Eliminates transportation barriers while maintaining educational quality
• 4+1 Accelerated Pathway - Undergraduate public health students can complete MPH in one and a half additional year
• Student-Centered Approach - Designed for SHSU's diverse demographics, including first-generation and immigrant students

Professional Impact

Graduates are prepared to serve as leaders in health promotion, equipped with the knowledge and skills to create meaningful change in community health outcomes through education, advocacy, and evidence-based intervention strategies across multiple professional settings.

Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.

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.
• Contact information for two to three potential references. This list should include the full names, emails, phone numbers, professional titles, and relationship to the applicant.
• 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).

Additional requirements for International Applicants:

• Official scores for the TOEFL or IETLS.
• English translation and evaluation of official transcripts for applicants with undergraduate degrees from non-U.S. institutions.
• The program does consider international students, however, SHSU will not be able to issue an I-20 to students seeking an F-1 Student Visa.  

 Non-Thesis Track

¹

All required concentration courses (9 SCH) must be taken from one concentration either Social Determinants and Community Health 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 Public Health Policy and Administration OR Health Education and Promotion.  

²

The thesis track requires a more academically-focused research thesis (in addition to 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

Social Determinants and Community Health

 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:

Social Determinants and Community Health Concentration

Research & Assessment Skills

• Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) design and implementation
• Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) planning and execution
• Data collection and analysis in diverse community settings
• Stakeholder engagement and partnership development
• Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies

Program Development & Evaluation

• Evidence-based intervention design for underserved populations
• Program planning and implementation in resource-limited settings
• Outcome evaluation and impact measurement
• Grant writing and funding acquisition
• Policy analysis and advocacy

Community Engagement & Cultural Competency

• Rural health service delivery and outreach strategies
• Cross-cultural communication and relationship building
• Health equity promotion and social justice advocacy
• Community mobilization and coalition building
• Culturally appropriate health promotion strategies

Health Education and Promotion Concentration

Program Management & Leadership

• Health education program development and implementation
• Multi-site program coordination and management
• Budget development and resource allocation
• Team leadership and staff supervision
• Strategic planning and organizational development

Communication & Education Skills

• Health communication strategy development
• Multi-audience messaging and materials creation
• Public speaking and presentation delivery
• Digital media and social marketing expertise
• Behavior change theory application

Workplace & Institutional Health

• Corporate wellness program design and management
• Occupational health and safety program development
• School-based health education curriculum development
• Clinical patient education program creation
• Policy development and implementation

Universal Marketable Skills (Both Concentrations)

Data & Technology Proficiency

• Statistical software proficiency (SPSS, R, SAS)
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping
• Electronic health record systems navigation
• Database management and reporting
• Survey design and administration platforms

Professional Development & Compliance

• Project management and timeline coordination
• Regulatory compliance and accreditation standards
• Professional networking and partnership building
• Continuing education and professional development planning
• Quality improvement and performance monitoring

Communication & Advocacy

• Technical report writing and documentation
• Grant proposal development and submission
• Media relations and public communication
• Legislative testimony and policy briefings
• Community presentation and workshop facilitation