Health Management & Policy, MPH/MSN

Dual Degree Programs

The School of Public Health offers three dual degree programs: MSN/MPH in Health Management & Policy offered through the School of Public Health and the University of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing; MS in Applied Anthropology/MPH offered through the School of Public Health and the University of North Texas Department of Anthropology and the DO/MPH offered through the School of Public Health and the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. The applicants in these programs are evaluated and admitted separately to each school and must meet all requirements for each degree separately. Admission to one program does not assure admission to the other. Students completing a dual degree program receive diplomas and transcripts from each of the participating schools. Thus, they are not joint degree programs where one diploma lists both schools, but rather dual degree programs.

In each of the following programs, students must complete the curriculum plan as defined for the specific dual degree, which includes courses in biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health management and policy and behavioral and community health. Additional information about required curriculum is located on the School of Public Health website. With the use of transfer credit and dual credit, students are required to complete 48 semester credit hours, which includes 3 SCH of practice experience and 6 SCH of a culminating experience (thesis or comprehensive examination/2 additional electives).

The School of Public Health admits dual degree students during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The admission priority deadlines are as follows:

It is recommended that non-U.S. citizens apply well in advance of these deadlines to allow for the preparation of immigration documents.

Applicants to the dual degree programs will fall under one of the following admissions categories:

1. Full Admission: Accepted without reservation to the dual degree program.
2. Denied: Not admitted to the program because application was not competitive.
3. Non-review: Not reviewed due to an incomplete application file.
4. Provisional Admissions: In rare instances, the SPH may admit a student on a provisional basis where one of the credentials is below the average of the applicant pool, providing that all other admission criteria are met or exceeded. This admittance requires the approval of the Master’s Admission Committee. Upon successful completion of the provisional requirements, the student may be granted full admission into the School.

Dual Degree Admission Requirements for MPH/MSN Applicants

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognized institution.
• Submit an application to SOPHAS (School of Public Health Application Service) at www.sophas.org.
• Students in the MSN program must apply to the MPH program prior to the completion of 24 SCH in the MSN program. Conversely, students in the MPH program must apply to the MSN program prior to the completion of 24 SCH in the MPH program.
• Submit complete, official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.
• Submit official scores from one of the following graduate admissions examinations: Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT), Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or Pharmacy School Admissions Test (PCAT). The examination requirement is waived for applicants possessing a professional doctoral degree with a license to practice in the United States.
• Applicants with foreign transcripts must also include an official WES or ECE transcript evaluation report listing course-by-course U.S. grade point equivalencies.
• International applicants must demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in oral and written English before being granted admission. Minimum TOEFL exam requirements: written=550; computer-based= 213; internet-based=79. The TOEFL is waived if the applicant has earned a high school diploma or a bachelor or master degree from an accredited institution within the United States or Canada.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages)
• Current resume or curriculum vita
• If invited for an interview, applicants are expected to participate in either an on-campus interview or a technology-assisted interview. Interviews at the student’s request are always welcome.

Once an offer of admissions has been extended to a student, official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended must be re-submitted directly to the SPH Office of Admission and Academic Services, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699.

Once an offer of admission has been extended to an international applicant, the Health Science Center will not issue immigration papers for student visas until the following documents have been received and approved by the Health Science Center:

• Proof of financial resources
• Official transcripts from each college or university attended should be re-submitted both in English and the student’s native language

Admissions Decisions and Deferments for Dual Degree Applicants

Applicants will be furnished written notification regarding their admission status by the SPH Office of Admission and Academic Services. Statements by other Health Science Center personnel concerning the applicant’s admissibility are not valid until confirmed in writing by the Office of Admission and Academic Services.

Students who are admitted to a degree program and plan to enroll are required to submit an Admissions Decision Form along with a non-refundable $200 assurance fee that will be used toward tuition upon arrival. Applicants admitted to a degree program that do not intend to enroll in the semester for which they applied must contact the Office of Admission and Academic Services to request deferment. Deferments must be made in writing and cannot exceed one year from the original acceptance date. There is a non-refundable deferment fee of $300; the deferment fee is due at the time the request is made.

Information submitted in the application materials must be complete and correct. Prospective and current students must notify the proper institution officials regarding any changes in the information provided on their application. Falsification or omission of any information on the application documents will void a student’s admission, cancel their enrollment, and/or result in appropriate disciplinary action.

All materials submitted during the application process become the property of the Health Science Center and cannot be returned.

Financial Assistance

To be eligible for scholarships and assistantships offered by the School of Public Health, applicants must complete the admissions application by March 15, 2014. For more information, please contact the Office of Admission and Academic Services 817-735-2401.