Master of Public Health
Admissions Requirements
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or proof of an equivalent degree from a foreign institution.
- A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester hours.
- Official transcripts from each college/university currently and previously attended that reflect completed and/or in-progress coursework.
- Transcripts from institutions outside the United States must be submitted in the original language and evaluated by an approved National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) organization.
- International applicants whose native language is not English or those from countries exempted from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Duolingo English Test requirements must present evidence of proficiency in English by satisfactorily completing either the TOEFL with a minimum score of 84, the IELTS with a minimum score of 7.0, or a Duolingo English Test with a minimum score of 115. Scores on TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo tests taken more than two years before the date of application are unacceptable. A waiver of this requirement may be requested if the individual has graduated from a high school or a higher education degree program (associate degree or higher) in the United States or another country where English is the official language.
- Required immunizations, criminal background and sanction checks, and technical and additional requirements per UTSPHSA and/or UT Health San Antonio regulatory guidelines.
- Current resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
- A writing sample in response to the prompts provided by the Admissions Committee.
- Two letters of recommendation from professional, academic, or community sources highlighting the applicant's leadership skills, community service, the potential for success in the MPH Program, and/or the likelihood of contributing to the field of public health. At least one of the two letters of recommendation must be an academic reference if the applicant has attended a university within the past five years.
- Interview with Admissions Committee.
Degree Requirements
The MPH degree program requires at least 45 semester credit hours of graduate courses, including foundational, concentration, elective, applied practice experience (APE), and integrative learning experience (ILE) courses. Within the 45 credit hours, students must complete 3 credit hours of a supervised, hands-on, real-world public health practice (APE or practicum) course outside the classroom. The APE requires at least 180 hours of practical and real-world field experiences focused on local community and regional health challenges or issues of public health importance that are directly relevant to the public health workforce. In addition, the ILE is a 3 credit hours course that requires students to integrate and synthesize foundational and concentration competencies into a single, high-quality written product.
To graduate, students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and no incomplete grades in any coursework.
All coursework must be completed within five years of enrollment in the MPH program.
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PHEA 6001 | Concepts in Public Health - From Person to Population | 3 |
| PHEA 6002 | Perspectives and Decisions Through Public Health Data | 3 |
| PHEA 6003 | Designing Public Health Inquiry: Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 | |
| Spring | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PHEA 6004 | Health Promotion and Health Behaviors | 3 |
| PHEA 6005 | Health Policy and Public Health Advocacy | 3 |
| PHEA 6006 | Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 | |
| Summer | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PHEA 6007 | Leadership in Public Health | 3 |
| PHEA 6397 | Applied Practice Experience-Practicum | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 | |
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PHEA 6009 | Public Health Systems Administration | 3 |
| PHEA 6011 | Continuous Quality Improvement in Public Health | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 | |
| Spring | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| PHEA 6099 or 6098 | Capstone Experience | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 | |
Elective options:
| PHEA 6008 | Creating Mechanisms for Prevention and Intervention in Public Health | 3 |
| PHEA 6010 | Structural and Social Determinants of Health | 3 |
| PHEA 6012 | Communicating Applied Data Science | 3 |
| PHEA 6013 | Community Engagement and Health Communication | 3 |
| PHEA 6014 | Global Health-Current Health Issues Facing Our World | 3 |
| PHEA 6015 | Program Management, Assessment, and Evaluation | 3 |
| PHEA 6095 | Special Topics in Public Health | 3 |
| PHEA 6096 | Seminar in Public Health | 3 |
MPH Program Competencies
Students in the MPH program are expected to have disciplinary-specific knowledge and abilities. Through the foundational curriculum, every MPH student will receive training in 12 learning objectives and 22 foundational competencies established by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Each MPH student will acquire five concentration-specific competencies based on the chosen concentration. Every MPH student will complete an Applied Practice Experience (to demonstrate attainment of at least five competencies, of which at least three must be foundational competencies) and an Integrative Learning Experience (to demonstrate synthesis and integration of one concentration competency and at least one foundational competency).
CEPH Foundational Public Health Knowledge
Profession & Science of Public Health
LO 1. Explain public health history, philosophy, and values.
LO 2. Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Services
LO 3. Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health.
LO 4. List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. or other communities relevant to the program.
LO 5. Discuss the science of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc.
LO 6. Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge.
Factors Related to Human Health
LO 7. Explain the effects of environmental factors on a population’s health.
LO 8. Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population’s health.
LO 9. Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population’s health.
LO 10. Explain the social, political, and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities.
LO 11. Explain how globalization affects the global burdens of disease.
LO 12. Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health, and ecosystem health (e.g., One Health).
MPH Foundational Competencies
Evidence-based Approaches to Public Health
FC 1. Apply epidemiological methods to settings and situations in public health practice.
FC 2. Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
FC3. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as appropriate.
FC4. Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.
Public Health & Health Care Systems
FC 5. Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
FC 6. Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community, and systemic levels.
Planning & Management to Promote Health
FC 7. Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.
FC 8. Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
FC 9. Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention.
FC 10. Explain the basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
FC 11. Select methods to evaluate public health programs.
Policy in Public Health
FC 12. Discuss the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
FC 13. Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
FC 14. Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
FC 15. Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
Leadership
FC 16. Apply leadership and/or management principles to address a relevant issue.
FC 17. Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
Communication
FC 18. Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
FC 19. Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
FC 20. Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.
Interprofessional and/or Intersectoral Practice
FC 21. Integrate perspectives from other sectors and/or professions to promote and advance population health.
Systems Thinking
FC 22. Apply a systems thinking tool to visually represent a public health issue in a format other than a standard narrative.
Concentration – Public Health Practice and Administration
The Public Health Practice and Administration concentration is designed to prepare students to lead and administer public health programs and interventions. Students will gain the skills and knowledge needed to evaluate and implement public health policies and programs. Students will master skills in evidence-based leadership and management practices, principles, and practices of managing public health systems, and systems approaches to improve the quality of public health services.
Competencies – Public Health Practice and Administration Concentration
- Create a strategic plan or evaluate a strategic planning process in a public health setting.
- Construct a budget and evaluation framework to monitor budget performance and identify key trends or patterns in resource allocation.
- Formulate a plan to manage teams, allocate resources, and develop partnerships for a given public health program or intervention.
- Design or modify an evidence-based ethical, legal, or regulatory standard or practice to improve the quality of public health services provided in an organization.
- Evaluate a strategy for quality improvement of a public health program or intervention that addresses the specific health needs of a vulnerable population.
Concentration – Health Systems in the Community Context (HSCC)
The Health Systems in the Community Context (HSCC) concentration is designed to prepare students to lead at the nexus of health care and public health. Students will learn to communicate health information effectively, advocate for data-driven healthcare and health systems, and utilize data to develop community-responsive interventions that target the underlying factors influencing community health across the continuum of public health and healthcare. Students will learn to lead to create equitable health outcomes, use data to drive impactful research and interventions, and collaborate to effect change in health systems toward effective healthcare access and delivery in the community context.
Competencies – Health Systems in the Community Context (HSCC)
- Formulate an adaptive communication plan to disseminate health systems and public health information to community members, patients, or other stakeholders.
- Investigate a structural and systems-level leadership challenge facing a complex health organization and propose potential solutions.
- Propose evidence-based solutions to promote health or prevent diseases, injuries, or deaths in data-informed public health or healthcare settings.
- Evaluate the impact of asset-based versus needs-based approaches to health systems collaborations within the community context.
- Develop strategies to identify barriers to collaboration in healthcare that arise within a community context, such as communication challenges or culturally related contexts, and propose solutions to the barriers.
Concentration – Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the scientific study of patterns of disease and health, the differential impact on populations based on various factors, and disease spread. Scientists can work toward disease prevention, control, and health promotion by understanding the factors contributing to disease. Epidemiologists can work in different settings including communities, health departments, non-profits, hospitals, and other clinical settings. Epidemiology is an important subfield of public health as the discoveries can lead to evidence-based interventions, practices, and treatments, and inform health policy.
A Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology will include strong training in methods and data analysis. Measurement is at the core of this field. These skills are applied in cases of new diseases and spread, and in long-term monitoring or surveillance of various factors. Time trends can reveal the impact of prevention efforts and policies.
At UTSPHSA, students in the Epidemiology concentration will be taught methodological skills that can be applied across multiple content areas. The concentration will also include applying methodological and data techniques to timely and relevant topics for the local community, region, and beyond.
Competencies – Epidemiology
- Design and critically evaluate study protocols in the health sciences.
- Critique study designs, identifying the strengths and limitations as applied in a real-world setting.
- Evaluate population-level patterns of health by person, place, and time.
- Appraise the scientific basis for the connection between climate and public health.
- Assess a maternal and child health issue by considering its trends, magnitude, severity, and distribution.
PHEA 6001. Concepts in Public Health - From Person to Population. 3 Credit Hours.
This introductory, interdisciplinary Foundational Course will examine public health in the US, focusing on our unique local/regional issues. It will emphasize the importance of health promotion, access, and opportunity at both the individual and population levels. The course will cover foundational elements of public health, including its history, development, and impact; careers in public health; core values, leadership, and ethics; concepts and functions of essential public health services; population health and health improvement. The course will also build a sense of community for entering students to learn together and to work effectively in interprofessional teams.
PHEA 6002. Perspectives and Decisions Through Public Health Data. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will introduce students to analytical methods commonly used in public health. The course will provide skills related to epidemiology, data management, sampling procedures, analysis, hypothesis testing, interpretation, and communication of results. Common computer software will be used to apply analytical methods to both quantitative and qualitative data. Relevant epidemiological, biostatistical, and qualitative data from local and regional sources will be used to illustrate methods where available.
PHEA 6003. Designing Public Health Inquiry: Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will introduce the fundamentals of research methods in public health settings. Topics will include principles of research investigation, reviewing scientific literature, research design, research-related epidemiological concepts, sampling methods, measurement, and data collection. Topics will cover quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methods. Issues and problems commonly encountered in public health research will be discussed using real-world examples, emphasizing local and regional examples where applicable.
PHEA 6004. Health Promotion and Health Behaviors. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will provide foundational information about health theory, applications, and strategies to affect positive health behaviors in individuals and communities. Course content will include primary health theories and constructs grounded in non-medical determinants of health, and the social-ecological model. Students will examine and apply strategies to real-world public health challenges at all levels of the social-ecological model.
PHEA 6005. Health Policy and Public Health Advocacy. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will provide foundational information about the health policy development process and public health advocacy in the United States. Students will understand how health policies are made at all levels of government, as well as the role of the media and various stakeholder groups in influencing health policy. Students will gain practical experience designing and implementing an advocacy campaign to change health policy on current public health issues at local, state, regional, or national levels.
PHEA 6006. Introduction to Environmental and Occupational Health. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will provide an overview of the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of occupational and environmental hazards. An introduction to the various physical, chemical, radiological, and biological hazards impacting public health are reviewed. Topics covered will include local and global issues, including One Health and planetary health-related concepts.
PHEA 6007. Leadership in Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will provide students with a deep dive into the core leadership theories and principles that can be applied in the context of public health. By the end of the course, students will have developed the knowledge and critical thinking skills required to become effective public health practitioners, leaders, or administrators. Key topics covered in this course will include leadership skills development, strategic planning, stakeholder identification, partnership and collaboration building, organizational leadership and management, communication, and systems thinking. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001.
PHEA 6008. Creating Mechanisms for Prevention and Intervention in Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will introduce students to methods used to identify and prioritize community needs, concerns, preferences, and assets to inform the development of public health interventions. It will exemplify the most important health issues affecting our South Texas communities and the process of public health programming in this arena, including assessment, design, planning and implementation, coordination, and evaluation across multiple levels. Topics covered will include an introduction to planning models, stakeholder identification, coalition building, engagement, data collection methods, analysis, and framing for communities to enhance the health and well-being of individuals, families, priority groups, and the community. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001 or consent of the course instructor.
PHEA 6009. Public Health Systems Administration. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will provide students with an exploration of the principles and practices of managing public health systems, including organizational structures, management processes, and policy frameworks of public health systems at local, state, and national levels. By the end of the course, students will be able to manage teams, allocate resources, develop partnerships, and coordinate programs and interventions in a public health setting, with a particular emphasis on local, state, and non-profit public health entities and organizations. Key topics in this course will include securing and managing fiscal resources, developing grant proposals tailored to specific stakeholders, developing and managing a workforce, and promoting health and well-being through public health programs and policies. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001 or consent of the course instructor.
PHEA 6010. Structural and Social Determinants of Health. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will introduce concepts related to structural and non-medical determinants of health, including frameworks for studying structural and non-medical determinants of health, challenges, and best practices related to measuring structural and non-medical determinants of health and understanding the intersection of various social and structural factors on individuals and their communities. Concepts will include the social gradient, healthcare access barriers, and health and disease disparities. This course will also address structural and non-medical determinants of health downstream and upstream and build on concepts covered in Health Policy and Public Health Advocacy. Must complete the listed prerequisites or consent of the course instructor to enroll. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001 and PHEA 6005.
PHEA 6011. Continuous Quality Improvement in Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will provide students with an in-depth study into the systems approach to quality improvement in public health to improve health outcomes and optimize resource utilization. The course is designed to equip students to use data and metrics to apply systems thinking and process improvement methodologies to identify and address complex problems in public health settings. Throughout the course, students will learn how to identify trends, patterns, and variations in public health processes, how to develop and implement effective solutions using a variety of process improvement methodologies, how to manage change effectively, and how to communicate changes to stakeholders to achieve sustainable results. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001 or consent of the course instructor.
PHEA 6012. Communicating Applied Data Science. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will introduce the key skills in modern data visualization and methods for gathering, displaying, and interpreting public health data. Effective visualizations will be tailored to engage and empower key stakeholders such as the research community, public health leaders, and the public. Different data will be used, including epidemiological trends and non-medical determinants of health. Data may come from various sources, including static or dynamic databases and large- and small-scale data. This variety of sources and audiences presents both challenges and opportunities. Must complete the listed prerequisites or consent of the course instructor to enroll. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001 and PHEA 6002.
PHEA 6013. Community Engagement and Health Communication. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical experience in community engagement and stakeholder collaboration. This course will focus on how to apply principles of community engagement in public health programs and organizational settings. Students will learn how to effectively engage with different stakeholder sectors, collaboratively lead and design strategic plans, promote cohesion at multiple levels, and communicate to varying audiences in a culturally competent manner. By the end of the course, students will have gained the skills needed to impact their communities and organizations positively. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001 or consent of the course instructor.
PHEA 6014. Global Health-Current Health Issues Facing Our World. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will explore various key issues and current topics in global health. It will cover various topics, such as measuring the global disease burden, identifying key health problems and determinants worldwide, analyzing health systems, and examining international public health organizations. The course will also explore communicable and non-communicable diseases, examine the impact of climate change on human health, and address how to respond to health crises. Additionally, students will acquire technical knowledge, skills, and vocabulary essential for working in global health. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001 or consent of the course instructor.
PHEA 6015. Program Management, Assessment, and Evaluation. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will introduce multiple methods for program planning and evaluation. Students will learn about needs assessment and developing program priorities to address community needs. Students will also learn the models and concepts for evaluation plans applied to public health interventions and programs. Topics will include recruitment strategies and evaluation techniques. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001.
PHEA 6095. Special Topics in Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is designed for special or emerging topics related to public health. The learning objectives, course materials, and formats will vary depending on the topic and semester, as specified in the course syllabus. This course may be repeated as the topics will differ. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001 or consent of the course instructor.
PHEA 6096. Seminar in Public Health. 3 Credit Hours.
This course will offer a series of presentations and discussions led by faculty, guest speakers, and graduate students. The topics covered will be focused on current issues in public health practice. Throughout this course, students will learn, analyze, and evaluate scientific and non-scientific information on crucial and timely public health issues. The course topics will vary based on timely and relevant Public Health topics. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001 or consent of the course instructor.
PHEA 6098. Discovery-Based Paper or Project. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is specifically designed for students pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree to provide enough time for a discovery-based paper or project under the guidance of a faculty advisor. This course is an integrative learning experience drawing on all competencies presented in the MPH program. Students may only add this course after the student has been approved for MPH degree candidacy, the faculty advisor is approved, and the faculty advisor approves the discovery-based paper or project. Credit will not be given until the discovery-based paper or project is completed. Must complete the listed prerequisites or consent of the course instructor to enroll. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001, PHEA 6002, PHEA 6003, PHEA 6004, PHEA 6005, and PHEA 6006.
PHEA 6099. Capstone Experience. 3 Credit Hours.
As a requirement for the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, this course will enable students to examine a public health issue using the lens of public health practice. This course is an integrative learning experience drawing on all competencies presented in the MPH program. Students may only add this course after the student has been approved for MPH degree candidacy. Throughout the course, students will learn and implement a problem-solving methodology to analyze current public health issues, collaborate to make recommendations on interventions and apply evaluation methods to address specific problems. Must complete the listed prerequisites or consent of the instructor to enroll. Prerequisites: PHEA 6001, PHEA 6002, PHEA 6003, PHEA 6004, PHEA 6005, and PHEA 6006.