Master of Public Health

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The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree is the most widely recognized and highly regarded credential for public-health professionals. The MPH program at UTEP is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health and prepares students for public-health careers in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. The program is directed toward individuals with previous health experience or who have a strong commitment to public health. The Hispanic and Border Health concentration prepares students for public-health practice in Hispanic and border communities.

Students in the 42-hour MPH program take core courses designed to develop knowledge, analytical, and technical skills in five fundamental public health competencies: Social and Behavioral Sciences, Health Services Administration and Policy, Epidemiology, Environmental Health, and Biostatistics. The required practicum provides MPH students an opportunity to apply the public-health theory and skills they have learned in a practice setting. Students also learn through the completion of a “culminating experience” which requires a student to synthesize, integrate, and apply knowledge and skills gained through coursework and other learning experiences. The culminating project for the MPH Program at UTEP consists of a thesis or graduate research project.

Graduate students must maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.0 to remain in good academic standing. Grades of C or below are not considered acceptable graduate-level work. Students who receive a D, F or two C grades in their courses will be dismissed from the MPH program.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission into the MPH Program, prospective applicants must submit an application and the following documents to the UTEP Graduate School. The cohort program has fall-semester admission only.

• Completed baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution or recognized foreign institution
• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on 4.0 scale for prior degree(s)
• GRE or MCAT scores in accordance with UTEP graduate admissions requirements
• Minimum UTEP TOEFL exam score (foreign applicants) 79 (internet-based); 213 (computer-based); 550 (paper-based)
• Three letters of recommendation from professional references who have graduate degrees. At least one of these should be from an academic reference (e.g., a former professor).
• A 500-word essay describing prior health experience and reasons for pursuing the MPH
• Current curriculum vitae or professional resume

Program

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is an interdisciplinary program that requires students to complete 42 credit hours of coursework: 15 credit hours of core courses, nine (9) credit hours in the Hispanic and Border Health Concentration, six (6) hours of practicum, and the remaining credit hours from a combination of course electives and a culminating experience (thesis or graduate project). Students who participate in internships with agencies or school districts requiring background checks must successfully pass the background check to complete the practicum requirement.  Elective courses are chosen in conjunction with the faculty mentor with Graduate Advisor approval.