Behavioral and Community Health

Master of Public Health (MPH) Program

---

The goal of the Master of Public Health (MPH) program is to prepare students to be effective public health professionals. You 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 and implementing 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. Students in the MPH program may select coursework from one of the following seven areas: Biostatistics, Community Health, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Management & Policy (available on-campus or online), Maternal & Child Health, or the Professional Option (available on-campus or online). Students in the MPH program follow a cohort model where they progress through the curriculum together, completing the program in five semesters with the exception of the online programs.

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 MPH Professional Option (MPH-PO) and the online MPH in Health Management & Policy (MPH-HMAP) that both 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
Fall 2016	March 15, 2016
Fall 2017	March, 15, 2017

Online MPH (MPH-PO and MPH-HMAP)

Semester	Admission Deadline
Fall I, 2016	June 1, 2016
Fall II, 2016	August 1, 2016
Spring I, 2017	October 1, 2016
Spring II, 2017	February 1, 2017
Summer 2017	April 1, 2017

MPH 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,
• 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.
• 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=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 (referencing the chosen concentration of study) 
• Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• 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.

In addition to the MPH admissions requirements above, applicants to the Professional Option 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

Once an offer of admission has been extended to a student, official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended must be re-submitted directly to the SPH Office of Admissions.

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 MPH 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 that 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.

MPH Core Competencies

After completion of the MPH program, the student will be able to:

1. Public Health Knowledge & Skills: The MPH student will apply basic knowledge and skills of the core public health sciences that include: biostatistics, epidemiology, health management and policy, behavioral and community health, and environmental and occupational health, to the prevention of illness and injury and the promotion of population health.
2. Integration of Theory and Practice: The MPH student will demonstrate the effective integration of theory and practice related to public health issues that affect diverse populations, through a comprehensive examination and a practice experience.
3. Communication and Informatics: The MPH student will gather, organize, and manage data and information effectively to address public health issues through oral and written communications to diverse professionals and lay audiences.
4. Diversity and Culture: The MPH student will demonstrate the ability to interact with both diverse individuals and communities to produce or impact an intended public health outcome.
5. Professionalism: The MPH student will apply ethical principles to the practice of public health in a variety of settings, demonstrating personal integrity while embracing diverse communities.

MPH Academic Procedures

Each student is responsible for the completion of the MPH program according to the procedures that follow. Each item must be completed in the sequence and time period indicated. Forms are subject to revision at any time and should be obtained from the SPH Office of Academic Services.

1. Upon acceptance into SPH, an academic advisor is assigned.
2. Students must complete a public health practice experience. Students who have maintained a 3.0 GPA are eligible to enroll for Public Health Practice Experience after the completion of a minimum of 21 SCH of core and/or departmental coursework. Students must confer with the Center for Public Health Practice prior to registration.
3. Students must successfully pass a comprehensive examination prior to graduation.
4. Students must submit an Intent to Graduate Form to the SPH Office of Academic Services prior to the semester in which they intend to graduate (see academic calendar for Intent to Graduate deadline).

Curriculum Overview	SCH Hours
Core Curriculum	15
Concentration Courses	24-30
Practice Experience	2
Professional and Academic Development Course	1
Culminating Experience (CPH Examination and Comprehensive Examination)	0
Total SCH	42-48

 

Core Courses	Hours
Principles of Biostatistics or Foundations of Biostatistics (for biostatistics concentration students only)	3
Environmental Determinants of Health	3
Principles of Epidemiology	3
Introduction to Health Management & Policy	3
Theoretical Foundations of Individual & Community Health	3
Total SCH	15

To request a waiver for a course, a student must submit a petition in writing to their advisor and the appropriate instructor outlining the class they would like to waive. The petition should also include documentation indicating that the previous coursework is comparable to the requirements of the course stated in the petition. The student’s advisor, instructor, and department chair associated with the course must approve the petition.

No credits are awarded for courses that are waived.

A waiver allows a student to substitute an elective course for a required course. For additional information regarding transfer coursework, refer to section on “Use of Transfer Credit.”

Community Health, MPH (48 SCH)

---

The community health concentration prepares students from a variety of undergraduate majors (biology, kinesiology, nutrition, nursing, psychology, anthropology, sociology, education, communication, and others) for public health careers that focus on community change and empowerment. This multidisciplinary concentration addresses the behavioral, community, socio-cultural, and economic factors that protect and undermine human health. The concentration focuses on community engagement and assessment, and community program planning and evaluation. Students will learn to design, implement, and evaluate preventive interventions, and advocate for public policy that seeks to improve community health and reduce health disparities. Students will be prepared to critically appraise findings from community-based research, effectively communicate findings to the public and policymakers, and advocate for evidence-based community health programs and policies. Traditionally, program graduates have assumed positions in public health departments, health and human service agencies, health care settings, and in community-based research projects. Students in the community health concentration will complete a minimum of 48 semester credit hours to earn the MPH degree. Course requirements are available on the School of Public Health website at www.unthsc.edu.  

By the conclusion of the MPH program, a student in the community health concentration will be able to: 

1. Comprehend, apply, and evaluate multi-level and interdisciplinary theories and models used to solve community health problems;

2. Identify and evaluate the relative contribution of ecological determinants to health outcomes among populations, including vulnerable populations and disadvantaged communities;

3. Understand, select and employ appropriate quantitative and qualitative research methods for testing community health interventions and resolving community health problems;

4. Plan, implement, administer, and evaluate community-based initiatives and programs using asset-based and data-driven approaches;

5. Understand, administer, and evaluate community-based participatory approaches for reducing health disparities and improving community health outcomes.             

MPH Practice Experience

---

All MPH students are required to complete a Public Health practice experience. This requirement is based upon the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation Criterion 2.4 (2011).

A student is eligible to enroll in the Public Health Practice Experience after the following prerequisites are satisfied: 21 semester credit hours; completion of PHED 5197; minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and academic advisor permission.

During the Public Health Practice Experience, students must complete a minimum of 200 contact hours completing a project that enhances professional skills and knowledge that address both MPH core and departmental competencies. While enrolled in the practice experience students must maintain a canvas site including an e-portfolio of their progress. Progress throughout the practice experience will be monitored by the Practice Experience instructor, Academic Advisor, and the Site Supervisor. Student work is presented at the end of the semester through both poster and oral presentations and a final reflection paper.

No exceptions will be granted for the practice experience. The practice experience is designed as a supervised experience based upon the application of competencies gained during the MPH program. As such, prior work experience does not qualify as a MPH Practice Experience. For more information, please see the Public Health Practice Experience website.