Degree Programs
Master of Public Health
Program
Doctor of Public Health Program
Dual
Degrees
Degree Plan Forms
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Program see brochureConcentrations: Behavioral Sciences / Biostatistics / Clinical Research / Community Health / Environmental Health / Epidemiology /Health Informatics / Health Management / Health Policy / Occupational Health Practice / Social Sciences
The goal of the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) program is to prepare
students to be effective public health professionals. Public health
professionals work in a variety of organizations and agencies to contribute the
common aim of promoting and protecting health in human populations. Students in
the M.P.H. program elect a concentration in one of eleven areas. The areas of
concentration include behavioral sciences, biostatistics, clinical research,
community health, environmental health, epidemiology, health informatics, health
management, health policy, occupational health practice and social sciences.
Department of
Biostatistics
Karan Singh, Ph.D.,
Department Chair
817-735-2173, ksingh@hsc.unt.edu
Biostatistics
see curriculum
The biostatistics concentration is
intended for students wishing to pursue careers in local, state, and federal
health agencies; health and medical centers; research institutions; health and
pharmaceutical industries. The M.P.H. degree in biostatistics is a professional
degree that is designed to train students in data management, statistical
analysis, interpretation, and presentation of analytical results using computing
technology. The courses in the program emphasize the methodology and procedures
of statistical analysis and research designs. In addition to a wide variety of
exciting applications, there are excellent career opportunities in
biostatistics. Applicants to this program are expected to have a background in
college algebra and calculus.
Clinical Research
see
curriculum
The Master of Public
Health (M.P.H.) degree in clinical research is primarily designed for those who
are currently working in the health care professions. The program is for
professionals who wish to prepare for roles in clinical research, health care
research, medical database management, or statistical consulting in medical or
public health settings. The Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) is oriented toward
applied clinical research, outcome measurement, and applied biostatistics.
Department of Environmental and Occupational
Health
Eric Johnson, Ph.D.,
Department Chair
817-735-2362, ejohnson@hsc.unt.edu
Environmental Health see
curriculum
The environmental health
concentration accommodates students with various backgrounds and interests, who
desire careers related to the environmental aspects of public health.
Specifically, this area of concentration provides the expertise and experience
to analyze, monitor, interpret and mitigate the effects of chemical and physical
contaminants, and microbial pathogens in water, air, soil, and food on public
health. It prepares students in the M.P.H. program for technical and
administrative jobs in the governmental and private sectors.
Occupational Health Practice see
curriculum
The occupational health
practice concentration is intended for students interested in applied
occupational health program design, development and management. This
concentration is not a clinical or medical program. Graduates will be prepared
to practice occupational health in a variety of settings with a
multidisciplinary approach to the design, implementation, management, and
evaluation of occupational health programs and services. The occupational health
practice concentration is primarily designed for those individuals who are
currently working in an occupational setting, who requires an M.P.H. for
eligibility for board certification or for those who are interested in exploring
the science of occupational health. The program is for individuals who wish to
augment, enhance, or expand their current training or who wish to prepare for
roles in health occupational health, including, but not limited to, the
following areas: safety professionals, industrial hygienists, health
practitioners (physicians, nurses, physician assistants) and human resource
personnel (program management and procurement). This concentration is also
designed for public health or occupational health professionals who wish to
become knowledgeable in occupational health research, occupational health data
management, and applied occupational health programs or management.
Department of Epidemiology
Eric Johnson, Ph.D., Department
Chair
817-735-5029, ejohnson@hsc.unt.edu
Epidemiology see
curriculum
The epidemiology concentration is
designed for students seeking to acquire skills in the fundamental methods of
disease investigation and prevention in large populations. Concentration courses
emphasize basic and advanced epidemiologic principles and their application to
current problems in public health and related disciplines. Students in the
epidemiology concentration are expected to use appropriate methods to plan,
implement, and conduct epidemiologic research. Students are also expected to
critically evaluate research methodology to assess validity and potential
sources of bias. Skills in computer use and statistics acquired in the public
health program are used to analyze, interpret, and disseminate the results of
epidemiologic investigations.
Department of Health Management and Policy
Jeff Talbert, Ph.D., Department
Chair
817-735-2242, jtalbert@hsc.unt.edu
Health Informatics see curriculum
The M.P.H. degree in Health
Informatics is primarily designed for those who are currently working in the
clinical or public health professions, and those who are interested in exploring
the science of health computing. The program is for professionals who wish to
prepare for roles in health computing industries, including but not limited to
the following areas: clinical data management; health systems evaluation,
development and analysis; geographic information systems (GIS) applications in
health; and telemedicine of telehealth in medical or public health settings. The
Master of Public Health is oriented toward applied data processing and
applications, health information system design and development, and other
applied informatics in health settings. This concentration is offered jointly by
the Department of Health Management & Policy and the Department of
Biostatistics.
Health Management see
curriculum
The health management
concentration is designed to prepare students with competencies needed for
careers in health management. The curriculum addresses health systems,
quantitative methods, health economics and finance, managed care, and other
areas central to management in both private and public sectors. The
concentration provides instruction in professional competencies commonly found
in schools of business, management, or public administration.
Health Policy see curriculum
The health policy concentration is
designed to prepare students with competencies needed for careers in health
policy analysis and policy development. The curriculum addresses health systems,
quantitative methods, health economics and finance, managed care, state and
national policy, and health law. The concentration provides instruction in
professional competencies commonly found in schools of public administration and
public policy.
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Harvey Brenner, Ph.D.,
Department Chair
817-735-2371, hbrenner@hsc.unt.edu
Behavioral Sciences see
curriculum
The behavioral sciences
concentration will concentrate on fundamental psychological and
psycho-physiological processes that underlie health behaviors, with a specific
focus on stress, quality of life, and overall emotional well-being. The
application of theories in this concentration will be toward: (1) substance
abuse and addictive behaviors, especially tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use;
(2) prevention of major illnesses, especially psychiatric illnesses, obesity,
cardiovascular illnesses, malignancies, metabolic diseases, injuries and
disabilities. This will differentiate health behaviors that are the
psychological foundation of risk factors for major illnesses.
Research methods will emphasize multivariate procedures common to behavioral analysis as well as techniques useful for small group analysis, and community interventions using quasi-experimental designs, especially as pertaining to management of population health risk factors. Major attention will be given to cultural, ethnic, gender-based and economic disparities in health of population groups from the perspectives of psychology, psycho-physiology and social psychology.
Community Health see
curriculum
The community health
concentration prepares professionals from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds
and interests (e.g., medicine, nursing, allied health, social work, social
sciences, psychology, dentistry, physician assistant, health education,
nutrition, etc.) to assume public health positions. The community health
concentration uses a multidisciplinary approach and focuses on social, cultural,
political, and economic factors that influence health status and health-related
behaviors of individuals. The community health concentration emphasizes the role
of social, economic, cultural, and behavioral factors in disease prevention,
promotion of health, vulnerability to disease, and interaction with health care
systems. The curriculum concentrates on strategies for the promotion of health
and the prevention of disease in populations through public health policy and
interventions in the context of social structure, community, family, and health
care systems. Traditionally, program graduates have assumed positions in public
health as well as both public and private health care.
Social Sciences see
curriculum
The social sciences
concentration is designed to develop familiarity with basic social theories that
influence our understanding of health, including theories in social
anthropology, medical sociology and health economics. These theoretical
perspectives will be focused on health problems of the principal cultural,
socioeconomic, ethnic and regional population groups in the United States and
the global health setting. In this concentration there is a major focus on
quantitative research methods and population dynamics as a basis for
illuminating the socio-cultural, economic, and political factors that influence
the distribution of health and healthcare.
Doctor in Public Health
(Dr.PH.) Program
Concentrations: Biostatistics / Epidemiology / Health
Management and Policy / Social and Behavioral
Sciences
The Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.) degree in Public Health Practice is an
indication of distinguished scholarly accomplishment and practice in the
professional field of public health. The goal of the Dr.P.H. program is to
prepare students for leadership roles in the professional practice of public
health in governmental, private and not-for-profit organizations. Enrollment
into the program is limited to applicants who have satisfactorily completed an
M.P.H. degree or equivalent prerequisite requirements. Preference may be given
to those with professional public health work experience. Students in the
Dr.P.H. program elect an area of concentration in biostatistics, epidemiology,
health management and policy, or social and behavioral sciences.
Department of Biostatistics
Karan Singh, Ph.D., Department
Chair
817-735-2173, ksingh@hsc.unt.edu
Biostatistics see
curriculum
This concentration is
designed for health professionals who would like to become leaders in public
health, especially in biostatistics and related areas. The Department of
Biostatistics coordinates the concentration. Graduates will be able to develop
their careers in academia, public health institutions, or healthcare facilities.
The graduate of the concentration will understand public health policies and
practices, will identify key elements of quantitative nature for
decision-making, and will be able to plan and evaluate health systems and public
health programs by using biostatistical methodology. The student will also have
the opportunity to learn about community health measurements, as well as the
design and management of health data systems. The concentration provides the
expertise and experience to plan, develop, and evaluate public health programs.
The student will also gain biostatistical knowledge and skills to be able to
plan and conduct applied biostatistical research as an independent researcher or
member of research teams in public health and other biomedical sciences that use
experimental and observational techniques. A doctoral dissertation for the
concentration is required, providing the opportunity to apply the knowledge
gained during coursework and other academic activities. The dissertation is
expected to analyze and propose solutions to a problem with implications for
public health practice, often by translating and applying new theoretical and
technical advances to current problems in public health. The graduate of this
program can undertake professional, managerial or leadership position in
governmental or private institutions such as public health departments, academic
settings such as schools of public health, epidemiologic research institutions,
hospitals and other medical facilities, health care, and pharmaceutical
companies.
Department of Epidemiology
Eric Johnson, Ph.D., Department
Chair
817-735-5029, ejohnson@hsc.unt.edu
Epidemiology
see curriculum
This concentration is designed for
health professionals who would like to become leaders in public health,
specifically in epidemiology and other related areas. The Department of
Epidemiology coordinates this concentration. Graduates will be able to develop
their careers in academia, public health institutions or health-care facilities.
They will understand public health policies and practices, identify key elements
for decision-making, and be able to plan and evaluate health systems and public
health programs by using epidemiologic methodology. This concentration provides
the expertise and experience to plan, develop, and evaluate epidemiologic
surveillance systems. Students will also gain the epidemiologic knowledge and
skills to be able to plan and conduct applied epidemiologic research as
independent researchers or as members of research teams. A doctoral dissertation
is required providing the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained during
coursework and other academic activities. The dissertation is expected to
analyze and propose solutions to a problem with implications for public health
practice, often by translating and applying new theoretical and technical
advances to current problems in public health. Graduates of this program will be
able to undertake professional, managerial or leadership positions in public
health departments or academic settings, such as schools of public health,
epidemiologic research institutions, hospitals or other medical
facilities.
Department of Health Management and
Policy
Jeff Talbert, Ph.D.,
Department Chair
817-735-2242, jtalbert@hsc.unt.edu
Health Management and Policy see curriculum
This
concentration is designed for health professionals who want to become leaders in
health management and policy in the public and private, for-profit and
not-for-profit, health sectors. The Department of Health Management and Policy
coordinates this concentration. The graduate of this program will understand and
apply skills relevant to health policy development and analysis, management
practices, and health services research. Two research papers and a dissertation
will provide the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained during
coursework and a residency practice. The dissertation is expected to analyze and
propose solutions to health management or policy problems by applying new
theoretical or analytic advances to current problems in health care. Graduates
will be able to start or develop their careers in state or federal government
health programs, academia, or health care provider organizations.
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Harvey Brenner, Ph.D., Department
Chair
817-735-2371, hbrenner@hsc.unt.edu
Social and Behavioral Sciences see
curriculum
The concentration in
social and behavioral sciences in public health is designed for social and
health professionals that want to prepare themselves in research, teaching and
public health practice, and other leadership positions involving the design,
development and evaluation of public health programs, as well as application of
social and behavioral sciences to the development of intervention strategies for
health promotion and disease prevention. The first part of the coursework
training is focused on the core knowledge of public health, development of
leadership skills, and the study of ethical and economic issues in public
health. The concentration courses include quantitative and qualitative research
methods as applied to social and behavioral sciences in public health. The
program also relies on theoretical perspectives in sociology and psychology.
Students may also further develop their training in medical anthropology, health
education, latino health, community health, social marketing and health
communication by taking further elective coursework and research. One research
paper and a dissertation will provide the opportunity to apply the knowledge and
skills gained during coursework and a residency practice. Graduates will be able
to develop their careers in state or federal government health programs,
academia, or health care provider organizations.
Dual Degree
Programs
D.O./M.P.H. Doctor of Osteopathis
Medicine/Master in Public Health
M.S./M.P.H.
Master in Science-Applied Anthropology/Master in Public
Health-Health Management & Policy
M.S.N./M.P.H. Masters of Science in
Nursing/Masters in Public Health-Community Health
The UNT Health Science Center School of Public Health offers three dual degree programs: M.S.N./M.P.H. in Health Management & Policy, M.S. in Applied Anthropology/M.P.H. in Community Health, and the D.O./M.P.H.. The students 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 M.P.H. core
curriculum, which includes a course in biostatistics, epidemiology,
environmental health, health management and policy and social and behavioral
sciences. With the use of transfer credit and dual credit, students are required
to complete 45 semester credit hours, which includes 3 SCH of practice
experience and 6 semester credit hours of a culminating experience (thesis or
non-thesis option).
D.O./M.P.H. Dual Degree see curriculum
The primary goal of the D.O./M.P.H. program is to
provide clinical professionals with specialized public health training to
develop, integrate, and apply culturally competent social, psychological, and
biomedical approaches to the promotion and preservation of health. Physicians
with training in public health may work in a wide range of positions in public,
private, or academic settings. The M.P.H. degree offers the physician a
significant advantage when seeking jobs which involve planning and managing
health systems, performing clinical research, determining the causes of disease,
or planning and implementing disease control strategies. Physicians with the
M.P.H. degree work in health departments, federal agencies, managed care and
other health provider organizations, schools of public health and medicine, in
the private practice arena, and in many other federal and international
agencies. See
Powerpoint Presentation
Combining the two degrees,
medicine and public health:
- fosters a better appreciation of the interplay between community factors and individual behaviors on the health status of patients;
- creates a better understanding of the basis of treatment and treatment outcomes for individual patients; and
- provides an understanding of the delivery of health services, including
the economic and legal aspects.
M.S. in Applied Anthropology/M.P.H. in Community
Health see
curriculum
The School of Public
Health and the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Texas have
developed a cooperative agreement that allows students to pursue the M.P.H. and
a graduate degree in anthropology. The dual degree program in Applied
Anthropology and Public Health offers an opportunity to strengthen collaboration
in public health, anthropology and social science research and practice. Medical
anthropology is a field that uses anthropological theories as a framework to
understand public health issues. Its emphasis on social and cultural influences
on health, illness, and healing are central to the shared goals of improving
health and social justice to eliminate local and global disparities. This
program prepares students for careers in research, public health, and public
policy planning relating to health and health care in the U.S. or in an
international setting. Students pursuing an M.S. in Applied Anthropology may
count their approved concentration courses in public health as part of their
major field in anthropology. The following curriculum outlines the dual degree
requirements:
M.S.N./M.P.H. in Health Management & Policy see
curriculum
The M.P.H./M.S.N. i s a cooperative program offered by
the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health and
the University of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing (UTA-SON). The Health
Management & Policy concentration is oriented toward nursing professionals
who want to supplement their training with practical public health experience
specifically geared toward management and policy.
Thirty (30) SCH are
completed within the School of Public Health and fifteen (15) SCH will be
transferred in from the M.S.N. curriculum as dual credit coursework. The M.P.H.
curriculum consists of four components. These include: (1) the core masters
curriculum which provides knowledge, skills and experience in the area of public
health; (2) the departmental/concentration curriculum which provides knowledge,
skills and experience in the area of health management and policy; 3) the
practicum which allows the student to apply their knowledge in the field of
health management and policy in a public health setting; and 4) the culminating
experience of Thesis or Capstone/Professional Report in the concentration area
which provides an in-depth research opportunity for nursing professionals in the
field of health management and policy.
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