Master of Public Health
The MPH program follows a cohort model, where students progress through their curriculum together.
The goal of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program is to prepare students to be effective public health professionals. Students will be trained in a variety of disciplines related to the development and provision of public health services; learn to recognize the social, economic, cultural and environmental factors that affect the health of the public; have the knowledge to take a leading role in developing social policies that encourage and foster healthy group and individual behaviors in a community. Public health professionals work in a variety of organizations and agencies to contribute to the common aim of promoting and protecting health in human populations. The following represent the core concentrations of the master of public health degree.
Public Health Leadership: Combines the core components of Community Health, Health Management & Policy, Environmental Health Sciences, Biostatistics, and Epidemiology to equip graduates with an interdisciplinary skill-set that will enable them to emerge as prominent leaders in the field.
Epidemiology: Investigates the demographic and social trends of diseases and injury to determine their causes, their risk factors, who is at risk, and how to prevent further incidences.
Maternal and Child Health: Identifies and evaluates major determinants of maternal health and child health, and strategies for improving the health of families and children, including program planning and evaluation, epidemiological and research methods, and policy analysis at the local, state, nationa,l and international levels.
Biostatistics: Collects, manages, analyzes, and interprets data using computing technology to communicate findings to educated lay audiences in public health, biomedical, pharmaceutical, and clinical research settings.
Master of Science
Epidemiology
The Master of Science (MS) concentration in Epidemiology (36 credit hours) is designed for students who wish to pursue research careers in public health or other health related fields. By the end of the program, students will have a foundational understanding of epidemiologic methods, causal theories and causal inference, applications of biostatistics, the design and conduct of epidemiologic studies, and the ability to communicate scientific information to lay and professional audiences. As the culminating experience of the program, students will write a discovery-based paper that meets current standards for publication in refereed journals. Graduates of the program will be prepared to apply to doctoral degree programs in epidemiology or to pursue research staff positions in health and medical centers, public health departments, governmental agencies, and the private sector.
Health Behavior Research
The Master of Science (MS) in Public Health Sciences with a concentration in Health Behavior Research (36 credit hours) is designed for students who wish to pursue research careers in public health or other health related fields. By the end of the program, students will have a foundational understanding of multi-level health behavior theory, data analysis, quantitative and qualitative research methods, community needs assessment, program planning and evaluation, and the ability to communicate scientific information to lay and professional audiences. As the culminating experience of the program, students will write a discovery-based paper that meets current standards for publication in refereed journals. Graduates of the program will be prepared to apply to doctoral degree programs in health behavior research or to pursue research staff positions in health and medical centers, public health departments, governmental agencies, and the private sector.
Students in the MS degree program in Public Health Sciences are admitted in fall semesters as a cohort.
Master of Health Administration
MHA Cohort- The Master of Health Administration Cohort program is designed to prepare full-time students for entry or mid-level healthcare management positions in such settings as hospitals; managed care organizations; medical group practices; ambulatory, long-term care, insurance and pharmaceutical companies; consulting firms; government agencies; and for-profit and nonprofit sector organizations.
The curriculum is guided by the UNTHSC MHA Competency Model which addresses the complexity and dynamic qualities of the health leader’s role and reflects the realities in health leadership today. Through an internship and a final integrative experience, students are expected to incorporate, synthesize, and apply their knowledge within both an operational and a community context. The result is an organizational perspective that encourages students to integrate knowledge from a range of management disciplines while emphasizing accountability for effective performance.
Each student in the UNTHSC-SPH MHA Cohort Program is required to complete a full-time internship in an approved health services organization under the guidance of a qualified preceptor. The purpose of this internship is to provide the student with a “real world” experience in which to apply concepts and models learned in the classroom; to enable an appreciation of the complexity of organizations and the individuals that comprise them; and to provide insights for further development of skills and knowledge during the student’s remaining time in the program. The MHA internship program is managed under the direction of the MHA Program Director in cooperation with program faculty, students, and preceptors in the field.
MHA Online-The Master of Health Administration Online program is designed to prepare part-time students with a minimum of two years of relevant healthcare management or clinical experience for positions of increasing responsibility in healthcare organizations such as hospitals; managed care organizations; medical group practices; ambulatory, long-term care, insurance and pharmaceutical companies; consulting firms; government agencies; and for-profit and nonprofit sector organizations.
The curriculum is guided by the UNTHSC MHA Competency Model which addresses the complexity and dynamic qualities of the health leader’s role and reflects the realities in health leadership today. Through an internship and a final integrative experience, students are expected to incorporate, synthesize, and apply their knowledge within both an operational and a community context. The result is an organizational perspective that encourages students to integrate knowledge from a range of management disciplines while emphasizing accountability for effective performance.
All students pursuing an MHA Online degree at the UNTHSC SPH are required to complete an integrative capstone course prior to graduation. This culminating experience is managed under the direction of the MHA Program Director in cooperation with program faculty, students, and preceptors in the field. Under the supervision of an institutional sponsor, the student will integrate knowledge and skills acquired and apply these to a “real world” experience outside their typical scope of work.
Full-time enrollment is required for all cohort programs, i.e., MPH, MS, and MHA. Students in the MPH and MS programs are expected to graduate in five consecutive semesters. Students in the MHA program are expected to graduate in either five or six consecutive semesters, depending upon when they decide, with advising, to complete their internship. Students follow a weekly calendar of curricular and co-curricular activity that occupies 8-hour blocks of time, Monday through Friday. Students are strictly prohibited from holding employment off-campus during semesters in which they are enrolled in courses.
The Health Science Center is a member of SOPHAS (Schools of Public Health Application Service). Students may apply online at www.sophas.org. The School of Public Health (SPH) admits in the fall term only with the exception of the online programs. MPH Public Health Leadership delivered online allows admit year round.
The admission priority deadlines are outlined below. It is recommended that non-U.S. citizens apply well in advance of these deadlines to allow for the preparation of immigration documents.
Campus MPH
| Semester |
Admission Priority Deadline |
Final Deadline |
| Fall |
March 15 |
June 1 |
Online MPH
| Semester |
Admission Deadline |
| Fall I |
July 15 |
| Fall II |
September 15 |
| Spring I |
December 1 |
| Spring II |
February 15 |
| Summer |
May 1 |
Online MHA
| Semester |
Admission Deadline |
| Fall |
July 15 |
| Spring |
December |
Admission Requirements
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 SPH via SOPHAS (Schools of Public Health Application Service) at www.sophas.org, or HAMPCAS (Healthcare Administration, Management & Policy Centralized Application Services) at www.hampcas.org for Health Administration applicants.
- Submit complete, official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.
- Submit official scores from one of the following graduate admission 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, or who have completed a masters degree with a 3.2 GPA at a regionally accredited college.
- Applicants with foreign transcripts must also include an official WES 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=85. 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.
- Submit three (3) letters of recommendation
- Submit a Statement of Purpose (referencing the chosen concentration of study)
- Submit a current Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
In addition to the MPH admissions requirements above, applicants to the 42 credit hour Online program must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:
- Applicants with an advanced degree e.g., PhD, DO, MD, JD, MSN, MBA, PA; or
- Applicants currently enrolled in a master’s degree program other than an MPH; or
- Applicants currently enrolled in a doctoral degree program; or
- Three years of work experience in the health professions.
In addition to the MHA admissions requirements above, applicants to the Online program:
- must have at least 2 years of health-related work experience, in either a clinical or management position and currently employed full-time in healthcare.
- should have the support of a current supervisor stating opportunity to conduct experiential learning project outside of current scope of work.
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
Admissions Decisions and Deferments for Applicants
Applicants will be furnished written notification regarding their admission status by the SPH Office of Admissions. Statements by other Health Science Center personnel concerning the applicant’s admissibility are not valid until confirmed in writing by the SPH Office of Admissions.
Applicants who are admitted to a degree program and plan to enroll are required to submit an Admission Decision Form along with a non-refundable $200 assurance fee that will be used toward tuition upon arrival. Applicants admitted to a degree program who do not intend to enroll in the semester for which they applied must contact the SPH Office of Admissions to request a 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 that will be used toward tuition upon arrival; 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
The SPH Dean offers a limited number of competitive scholarships & graduate assistantships positions to new incoming students each fall semester. To be considered applicants must have completed and submitted their fall admission application through SOPHAS by the March 15th priority application deadline. Please note that all application materials must be received by the application service well enough in advance for the service to complete the coursework verification process to meet the March 15 deadline. Other financial assistance may be available through the Office of Financial Aid.