Catalog 2012-2013
MPH Concentrations
Department of Behavioral and Community Health (BACH)
Dennis Thombs, PhD
Department Chair
UNT Health Science Center
School of Public Health
Education and Administration Building 711F
817-735-5439
Email: dennis.thombs@unthsc.edu
MPH in Behavioral and Community Health
The community health concentration prepares students from a variety of undergraduate majors (nursing, medicine, dentistry, allied health, social work, health education, nutrition, psychology, anthropology, communication) 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, and health care settings. 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.hsc.unt.edu.
By the conclusion of the MPH program, a student in the community health concentration will be able to:
- Identify theories, concepts and models from a range of social and behavioral disciplines that are used in the solution of public health problems affecting the health of populations and individuals.
- Identify and apply methods from a range of social and behavioral disciplines that are used in the solution of public health problems affecting the health of populations and individuals. These methods include qualitative and quantitative approaches.
- Identify needs and assets for social and behavioral science interventions, including analyses of relevant stakeholder and policymaker priorities.
- Analyze social and behavioral factors contributing to disparities in population health.
- Apply evidence-based approaches in planning, implementing, and evaluating community health programs and policies in culturally diverse settings and populations.
- Specify multiple targets and levels of intervention for community health programs and policies.
- Interact sensitively, effectively, and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, and professional backgrounds and with persons of all ages.
- Demonstrate communication skills necessary for public health advocacy, including the ability to describe the merits of social and behavioral science interventions.
- Apply social justice and human rights principles and values when addressing community needs and use collaborative methods to achieve organizational and community health goals.
| Core Courses | 15 | |
| BIOS 5300 | Biostatistics for Public Health 1 | 3 |
| EOHS 5300 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPID 5300 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HMAP 5300 | Introduction to Health Management and Policy | 3 |
| BACH 5300 | Theoretical Foundations of Individual & Community Health | 3 |
| Required Courses | 12 | |
| BACH 5310 | Community Assessment | 3 |
| BACH 5312 | Community Program Planning | 3 |
| BACH 5314 | Social and Behavioral Research Methods | 3 |
| BACH 5316 | Community Program Evaluation and Interventions | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 18 | |
| Practice Experience | 3 | |
| BACH 5397 | Public Health Practice Experience | 3 |
| Culminating Experience | 0 | |
| BACH 5000 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Total SCH | 48 | |
Department of Biostatistics (BIOS)
Karan P. Singh, PhD
Department Chair
UNT Health Science Center
School of Public Health
Center for BioHealth 334
817-735-2173
Email: karan.singh@unthsc.edu
MPH in Biostatistics
The MPH in Biostatistics curriculum is constructed so students are able to choose either an emphasis in biometry or clinical research depending on their interests. There are excellent career opportunities for students wishing to pursue positions in local, state and federal health agencies, health and medical centers, health care and clinical research institutions, the healthcare/pharmaceutical industry, and consulting. Applicants to this program are expected to have a background in college algebra and calculus.
Biometry Emphasis
The biometry emphasis is designed to train students in data management, statistical analysis, interpretation, and presentation of analytical results using computing technology. This emphasis focuses on methodologies and procedures of statistical analysis and research design. Students in the biometry emphasis 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.hsc.unt.edu.
By the conclusion of the MPH program, a student in biometry emphasis will be able to:
- Identify and develop appropriate data collection strategies for a corresponding statistical method;
- Review statistical analyses and results critically in public health literature;
- Disseminate statistical results to public health constituents;
- Identify, develop, apply, and modify an appropriate statistical approach to a public health problem based on constraints and available resources;
- Analyze and solve public health issues by applying statistical methodology;
- Assist in the planning, development, and evaluation of health systems, health programs, and surveillance systems;
- Conduct independent research focusing on the analysis and solution of a problem in public health.
| Core Courses | 15 | |
| BIOS 5300 | Biostatistics for Public Health | 3 |
| EOHS 5300 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPID 5300 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HMAP 5300 | Introduction to Health Management and Policy | 3 |
| BACH 5300 | Theoretical Foundations of Individual and Community Health | 3 |
| Required Courses | 9 | |
| BIOS 5310 | Biostatistics for Public Health 2 | 3 |
| BIOS 5312 | Regression Analysis | 3 |
| BIOS 5314 | Introduction to Statistical Packages | 3 |
| Biostatistics Elective Courses | 21 | |
| Practice Experience | 3 | |
| BIOS 5397 | Public Health Practice Experience | 3 |
| Culminating Experience | 0 | |
| BIOS 5000 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Total SCH | 48 | |
Clinical Research
The clinical research emphasis 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 emphasis is oriented toward applied clinical research, outcome measurement, and applied biostatistics. Students in the clinical research emphasis 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.hsc.unt.edu.
By the conclusion of the MPH program, a student in clinical research emphasis will be able to:
- Conduct experimental research in public health such as community trials and clinical trials in collaboration with other health professionals.
- Communicate findings of the analysis and solution of a problem of health care and public health importance in professional journals.
- Analyze and solve public health issues by applying statistical methodology.
- Assist in the planning, development, and evaluation of health systems using biostatistics procedures.
- Plan and conduct independent research focusing on the analysis and solution of a problem in public health practice.
- Assist in the planning, development, and evaluation of treatment outcome data collection in a broad array of health care facilities.
| Core Courses | 15 | |
| BIOS 5300 | Biostatistics for Public Health 1 | 3 |
| EOHS 5300 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPID 5300 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HMAP 5300 | Introduction to Health Management and Policy | 3 |
| BACH 5300 | Theoretical Foundations of Individual & Community Health | 3 |
| Required Courses | 9 | |
| BIOS 5310 | Biostatistics for Public Health 2 | 3 |
| BIOS 5312 | Regression Analysis | 3 |
| BIOS 6318 | Clinical Trials and Survival Analysis | 3 |
| Non-Biostatistics Lower-Level Elective Courses | 6 | |
| (Choose 2 from the following list) | ||
| EOHS 5340 | Exposure and Risk Assessment | 3 |
| EPID 5310 | Intermediate Epidemiology | 3 |
| EPID 5312 | Survey Research & Questionnaire Design | 3 |
| EPID 5318 | Chronic Disease Epidemiology | 3 |
| EPID 5320 | Infectious Disease Epidemiology | 3 |
| Non-Biostatistics Upper-Level Elective Courses | 3 | |
| (Choose 1 from the following list) | ||
| EPID 6314 | Experimental Methods in Epidemiology | 3 |
| HMAP 6380 | Health Service Research 1 | 3 |
| BACH 6310 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| Biostatistics Electives | 12 | |
| Practice Experience | 3 | |
| BIOS 5397 | Public Health Practice Experience | 3 |
| Culminating Experience | 0 | |
| BIOS 5000 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Total SCH | 48 | |
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (EOHS)
David A. Sterling, PhD, CIH
Department Chair
UNT Health Science Center
School of Public Health
Center for BioHealth 359
817-735-5029
Email: david.sterling@unthsc.edu
MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
Natural environmental processes and human interaction affect the micro and macro environment we live in, and directly effects or influences health. The MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health Science prepares present and future public health scientists and practitioners to recognize and evaluate physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial, and ergonomic stressors in the environments people live and work, and identify and develop effective intervention and control methodologies. Interaction with a diverse faculty and competency-based curriculum exposes students to sound scientific theory and methodology in several disciplines and applies them to the field of environmental and occupational health. Students in this concentration are provided with the unique opportunity to translate knowledge acquired in the classroom and laboratory into practical applications in the real world through participation in faculty research; internships in industry, state or national agencies; and visits to these organizations. In addition to required courses such as environmental and occupational toxicology, hazard recognition, and evaluation and control, coursework can be taken for additional focus in areas such as occupational health practice/industrial hygiene; exposure and risk assessment; geographic information systems (GIS), epidemiology; global environmental health; policy; and air pollution. For professionals already in the field of environmental and occupational health, this MPH concentration provides students with an excellent opportunity to enhance their knowledge and expertise in specific areas of interest by working alongside faculty researchers and environmental and occupational professionals at the local, state, national and international level.
Students in the environmental and occupational health concentration take an average of two years to complete a minimum of 48 semester credit hours to earn the MPH degree. For the culminating experience, students may choose between the thesis option or comprehensive examination option. Students selecting the comprehensive examination option will complete 15 semester credit hours of elective courses and students selecting the thesis option will complete 12 semester credit hours of elective courses to earn the MPH degree. Course requirements are available on the School of Public Health website at www.hsc.unt.edu.
By the conclusion of the MPH program, a student in the environmental and occupational health science concentration will be able to apply their knowledge and skills to:
- Identify and discuss health, safety, and ecological impacts of environmental agents
- Recognize and describe factors that modify exposures to environmental hazards
- Perform the processes of recognizing, evaluating, and controlling hazards
- Identify and understand environmental and occupational health policies, regulations and standards/guidelines
- Develop, apply and evaluate programs in environmental and occupational health
| Core Courses | 15 | |
| BIOS 5300 | Biostatistics for Public Health 1 | 3 |
| EOHS 5300 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPID 5300 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HMAP 5300 | Introduction to Health Management and Policy | 3 |
| BACH 5300 | Theoretical Foundations of Individual & Community Health | 3 |
| Required Courses | 15 | |
| BIOS 5310 | Biostatistics for Public Health 2 | 3 |
| EOHS 5310 | Evaluation and Control of Biological Agents & Infectious Disease | 3 |
| EOHS 5330 | Recognition, Evaluation and Control of Environmental Hazards | 3 |
| EOHS 5331 | Environmental & Occupational Sampling and Analytical Methods | 3 |
| EOHS 5350 | Environmental & Occupational Toxicology | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 12-15 | |
| 12 SCH-Thesis; 15 SCH-Comprehensive Exam | ||
| (Elective courses must be approved by the advisor) | ||
| Practice Experience | 3 | |
| EOHS 5397 | Public Health Practice Experience | 3 |
| Culminating Experience (Non Thesis) | 0 | |
| EOHS 5000 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
|
Or EOHS 5395 |
Thesis | 3 |
| Total SCH | 48 | |
Department of Epidemiology (EPID)
David A. Sterling, PhD, CIH
Interim Department Chair
UNT Health Science Center
School of Public Health
Center for BioHealth 359
817-735-5029
Email: david.sterling@unthsc.edu
MPH Epidemiology
The epidemiology concentration is designed for students seeking to acquire skills in the fundamental methods of epidemiologic investigation and prevention in 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. For the culminating experience, students may choose between the thesis option or comprehensive examination option. Students selecting the comprehensive examination option will complete a minimum of 15 semester credit hours of elective courses and 48 total semester credit hours. Students selecting the thesis option will complete 12 semester credit hours of elective courses and 51 total semester credit hours to earn the MPH degree. Course requirements are available on the School of Public Health website at www.hsc.unt.edu.
By the conclusion of the MPH program, a student in the epidemiology concentration will be able to:
- Describe a public health problem in terms or magnitude, person, time and place
- Identify key sources of data for epidemiologic purposes
- Use data collection methods appropriate for epidemiologic research
- Design appropriate epidemiologic studies
- Apply analytic methods to answer epidemiologic questions
- Design and use survey tools
- Identify the principles and limitations of public health screening programs
- Critically evaluate epidemiologic evidence
- Communicate epidemiologic information to lay and professional audiences
- Comprehend basic ethical principles pertaining to the collection, maintenance, use and dissemination of epidemiologic data
- Demonstrate proficiency in using statistical software to manage and analyze health related data
| Core Courses | 15 | |
| BIOS 5300 |
Biostatistics for Public Health 1 | 3 |
| EOHS 5300 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPID 5300 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HMAP 5300 |
Introduction to Health Management and Policy | 3 |
| BACH 5300 | Theoretical Foundations of Individual & Community Health | 3 |
| Required Courses | 15 | |
| BIOS 5310 | Biostatistics for Public Health 2 | 3 |
| EPID 5313 | Database Management and SAS Programming | 3 |
| EPID 5310 | Intermediate Epidemiology | 3 |
| EPID 5312 | Survey Research and Questionnaire Design | 3 |
| EPID 5314 | Applied Data Analysis in Epidemiology | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 12-15 | |
| 12 SCH - Thesis; 15 SCH - Comprehensive Exam | ||
| (Elective courses must be approved by the advisor.) | ||
| EPID 5318 | Chronic Disease Epidemiology | 3 |
| EPID 5320 | Infectious Disease Epidemiology | 3 |
| (Choose 3 from the following list if completing the Thesis or 4 from the | ||
| following list if completing the Comprehensive Exam) | ||
| Practice Experience | 3 | |
| EPID 5397 | Public Health Practice Experience | 3 |
| Culminating Experience (Non Thesis) | 0 | |
| EPID 5000 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Or EPID 5395 | Thesis | 6 |
| Total SCH | 48-51 | |
Department of Health Management and Policy (HMAP)
José A. Pagán, PhD
Department Chair
UNT Health Science Center
School of Public Health
Education and Administration Building 709
817-735-2242
Email: jose.pagan@unthsc.edu
MPH in Health Management and Policy
The health management and policy concentration is designed to prepare students with competencies needed for careers in policy development, policy analysis and health management. The curriculum addresses health systems, quantitative methods, health economics and finance, managed care, private and public sector management, state and national policy, and health law. The concentration provides instruction in professional competencies commonly found in schools of public policy, public administration, business and management. Students in the health management and policy 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.hsc.unt.edu.
By the conclusion of the MPH program, a student in the health management and policy concentration will be able to:
- Identify the main components and issues of the organization, financing and delivery of health services and public health systems in the US.
- Describe the legal and ethical bases for public health and health services.
- Discuss the policy process for improving the health status of populations.
- Apply the principles of program planning, development, budgeting, management and evaluation in organizational and community initiatives.
- Apply quality and performance improvement concepts to address organizational performance issues.
| Core Courses | 15 | |
| BIOS 5300 | Biostatistics for Public Health 1 | 3 |
| EOHS 5300 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPID 5300 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HMAP 5300 | Introduction to Health Management and Policy | 3 |
| BACH 5300 | Theoretical Foundations of Individual & Community Health | 3 |
| Required Courses | 18 | |
| HMAP 5310 | Health Politics and Policy | 3 |
| HMAP 5320 | Health Services Management | 3 |
| HMAP 5326 | Public Health Program Planning & Evaluation | 3 |
| HMAP 5330 | Health Finance 1 | 3 |
| HMAP 5340 | Public Health Law | 3 |
| HMAP 5350 | Health Economics | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 12 | |
| Practice Experience | 3 | |
| HMAP 5397 | Public Health Practice Experience | 3 |
| Culminating Experience | 0 | |
| HMAP 5000 | Comprehensive Exam | 0 |
| Total SCH | 48 | |
Department of Public Health Education (PHED)
Christine Moranetz, PhD, FAWHP
Department Chair
UNT Health Science Center
School of Public Health
Education and Administration Building 747
817-735-5074
Email: christine.moranetz@unthsc.edu
MPH Professional Option
The Master of Public Health (MPH) Professional Option is an interdisciplinary degree that provides education and training for professionals in any field who want to strengthen their general knowledge and skills in public health. Students in this “generalist,” practice-oriented curriculum will complete a common set of required courses and then have the opportunity to tailor their electives to meet their individual career goals. Students will gain knowledge, skills and approaches that emphasize the core functions of public health, including the assessment of health risks and current levels of disease; the development of public health policies; the assurance of health improvement through health promotion, disease prevention and health services; and the management of health systems and settings. Ultimately, graduates of this program will contribute to the expansion and enhancement of a competent public health workforce that is advancing the well-being of Texas’ citizens and beyond.
Applicants 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
| Core Courses | 15 | |
| BIOS 5300 | Biostatistics for Public Health 1 | 3 |
| EOHS 5300 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPID 5300 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
| HMAP 5300 | Introduction to Health Management and Policy | 3 |
| BACH 5300 | Theoretical Foundations of Individual & Community Health | 3 |
| Required Courses |
9 |
|
| HMAP 5320 | Health Services Management | 3 |
| HMAP 6320 | Leadership for Public Health | 3 |
| PHED 6360 | Ethical Issues in Public Health | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 15 |
|
| Practice Experience | 3 | |
| PHED 5397 | Public Health Practice Experience | 3 |
| Culminating Experience | 0 | |
| PHED 5000 | Comprehensive Examination - Certified in Public Health (CPH) Examination |
0 |
|
Total SCH |
42 | |
This page last modified February 13, 2012