University General Course Catalog 2016-2017 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.
Public Health, M.P.H.
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 Return to: Graduate Programs in the Division of Health Sciences
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I. Contact Information
School of Community Health Sciences
203 Lombardi
(775) 784-1857
Dr. Roy F. Oman, Graduate Program Director
(775) 682-7087
roman@unr.edu
II. Brief Introduction
The School of Community Health Sciences offers a graduate degree program leading to a master of public health (M.P.H.). Emphases in the MPH in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Administration and Policy, and Social and Behavioral Health; as well as dual degrees of MSN/MPH and MD/MPH are currently offered. Students are admitted to the master in public health degree program on a competitive basis. They must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university to be accepted to the graduate program. No specific undergraduate major is required, but in order to be accepted in full standing to the graduate program, the applicant should demonstrate evidence of course-work in health-related disciplines and/or health-related professional experience. Examples include courses in anatomy, physiology, epidemiology, health care ethics, exercise physiology, health communication, health policy, gerontology, kinesiology, nutrition, physical education, and recreation. Given the transdisciplinary nature of the program, students are encouraged to make their best case for the relevance of the undergraduate work they would like to be considered as meeting the above requirement. III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes
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 to the common aim of promoting and protecting health in human populations. IV. Admission Requirements
A. On Campus Program
Admissions Deadline
The application deadline for the MPH program is April 15. However, to receive full consideration for graduate scholarship funding, applicants are encouraged to submit their application by February 1. MPH applications are accepted once per year (summer admission). If you miss the deadline and would like to discuss enrolling in graduate special coursework that could be applied to the MPH program, please contact Dr. Roy Oman, Graduate Director, at roman@unr.edu.
Admissions Requirements
The Admissions Committee places emphasis on the diversity of our graduate students who have the qualifications and credentials to succeed in public health practice. The multi-faceted nature of the public health profession now demands students from diverse educational as well as professional backgrounds. We welcome inquiries and applications from anyone who has a passion for improving the health of our communities. Therefore, while we seek students who meet BOTH University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and School of Community Health Sciences (SCHS) public health requirements for graduate status, we consider other important attributes such as volunteer and professional experiences, career objectives, and potential to contribute to the public health profession.
An applicant who has one or more deficiencies in admission requirements or in prerequisite coursework may be admitted on a provisional basis. Provisional admits can become regular admits after making up the deficiency and obtaining above a 3.0 GPA in coursework.
Prospective students must meet BOTH University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and School of Community Health Sciences (public health) (SCHS) requirements for graduate status.
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, with an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale. If you graduated from an international college or university, please contact the Graduate School for approval of your undergraduate degree for graduate studies at UNR.
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) combined score of 300 (verbal plus quantitative scores), with both verbal and quantitative scores above the 40th percentile. Other graduate entrance examinations are also acceptable (e.g. MCAT, DAT, GMAT, LSAT, OAT, USMLE and NBVME) with a score equivalent to the GRE combined score of 300. The GRE is not required for applicants who have already obtained a Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., Dr.PH, or Master Degrees from approved institutions.
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with prior academic and/or professional performance.
- Written statement of purpose. The essay should be at least 500 words in length, outlining the student’s interest in public health, potential research interests, and specifying the MPH track of interest (Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Social Behavioral Health, or Health Administration and Policy).
- Current resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which demonstrates evidence of professional and/or educational health-related experience.
- Academic health-related writing sample.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for applicants from non-English speaking nations with a minimum score of 550 for the TOEFL paper exam, 80 for the internet-based exam, or IELTS score of 6.5.
Prerequisite Coursework
- Completion in an undergraduate or graduate course in statistics. The statistics requirement must be met prior to taking CHS 780: Biostatistics in Public Health and CHS 712: MPH Epidemiology.
- Completion of an undergraduate or graduate course in pathophysiology. Students not meeting this requirement must complete an equivalent course before the first semester of study.
Application Process
There are two separate applications necessary for admission to the Master of Public Health program: 1) one set of materials is to be submitted directly to SOPHAS and 2) the other submitted directly to the Graduate School of the University of Nevada, Reno. Before applying for admission, please note the admission requirements.
Application 1:
The following materials are required for consideration for admission to the Master of Public Health program. These materials should be sent directly to SOPHAS at: http://sophas.org/
- One official copy of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with prior academic and/or professional performance.
- Written statement of purpose. This statement should be at least 500 words in length, outlining your desire to undertake graduate study in public health, the specific MPH program you are applying to (Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Social Behavioral Health, or Health Administration and Policy), your research interests, and your career objective.
- Current resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which demonstrates evidence of professional and/or educational health-related experience.
Application 2:
The following materials should be sent directly to the Graduate School of the University of Nevada, Reno at: http://www.unr.edu/grad/admissions
Online Graduate School Application
- Standardized test scores (other than GRE). Applicants that have already achieved a Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., Dr.PH., or other masters degree from an approved institution will not need to take the GRE.
- One official copy of TOEFL scores, if required.
B. Online Program
Applicants need to meet and/or complete the following:
- Must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited higher education institution
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Pre-requisite courses or experience (work waiver) for statistics and public health biology (other biology course)
- No GRE unless borderline GPA or if student wants to improve their chance of acceptance
- Must submit writing sample (professional topic), letter of interest in public health, 3 letters of recommendation and an updated resume
- Must have a TOEFL score from non-English speaking nations with a minimum score of 550 for the TOEFL paper exam, 80 for the internet-based exam, or IELTS score of 6.5
V. Program Requirements
The M.P.H. degree is a 45 unit minimum program that includes a core curriculum of 18 units in research methods, biostatistics, social/behavioral health, epidemiology, environmental health, and health administration. In addition, all M.P.H. students must complete a 3-unit practicum and 3 units in an M.P.H. capstone course. Students must also complete all required courses in one of the emphases and a minimum of 6 units of electives. In addition, students who have not completed a course in disease processes, pathophysiology, or a related course must complete an equivalent course before the first semester of study such as CHS 200 - Introduction to Public Health Biology (credits for this course do not count toward a graduate degree).
A. Core Curriculum Requirements (18 units)
B. Culminating Experience (3 units)
C. Practicum Requirement (3 units)
Note(s):
The practicum is an important element of the M.P.H. curriculum through which the student obtains experience in a practice setting appropriate to the development of professional practice skills. D. Emphasis–21 units minimum
Choose one of the following emphases:
i. Biostatistics Emphasis (21 units)
The Biostatistics emphasis provides training in statistical theory and methodology with applied research experience. It focuses on developing students’ skills in the statistical analysis and interpretation of health research data. Besides core MPH courses, the biostatistics curriculum further focuses on the statistical procedures, techniques and the methodology used in public health practice and research.
a) Required Courses (15 units)
b) Elective Courses (6 units)
Choose electives with advisor approval. ii. Epidemiology Emphasis (21 units)
The epidemiology emphasis is designed for students seeking to acquire skills in the fundamental methods of disease investigation and prevention in large populations. Courses emphasize basic and advanced epidemiologic principles and their application to current problems in public health and related 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.
a) Required Courses (15 units)
b) Elective Courses (6 units)
Choose two of the following courses: iii. Social and Behavioral Health Emphasis (21 units)
Social and behavioral health examines the psychological, behavioral, social, cultural, and institutional factors that affect individual and population health. The social and behavioral health MPH emphasis is designed for students interested in health promotion, health education, and the prevention and reduction of health disparities over the life course. Social/behavioral health researchers and practitioners solve public health problems through public health policy, services, and interventions at the individual, family, community, and societal level. In their concentration courses, students are trained to apply health promotion and behavior change theories to design, implement, and evaluate public health policies and programs.
a) Required Courses (15 units)
b) Elective Courses (6 units)
Choose two of the following courses (all courses are three units unless otherwise noted):
iv. Health Administration and Policy Emphasis (21 units)
The Health Administration and Policy emphasis is designed for students interested in pursuing leadership and administrative positions in a range of public health and health services organizations. The curriculum centers on management principles, information management, policy development and understanding, systems approaches, and other methods to advance the health of communities. Graduates are prepared for a full range of careers in public health and health care administration, including management, consulting, planning, and marketing positions in a variety of health-related settings (such as hospitals, government agencies, health systems, nonprofits, ambulatory care facilities, insurers, and managed care organizations).
a) Required Courses (18 units)
b) Elective Courses (3 units)
Students may sign up for electives in other departments with advisor approval. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain approval and determine if prerequisites are needed BEFORE signing up for the course.
v. Public Health Practice Emphasis (21 units, only online)
The Public Health Practice specialization provides training in program development, grant writing, and evaluation, as well as administrative knowledge of budget and finance, health policy and law, and organizational behavior. Practical applications in the use of informatics and epidemiology in surveillance will enhance data use competencies. This specialization provides core public health knowledge as well as skills that are applicable in a variety of health settings and support managerial positions.
Required courses to complete the Public Health Practice MPH include:
VI. Total Units (45 units)
VII. Notes
For the master’s program, classes are offered during the day, in the evening, and through alternative scheduling formats to accommodate full-time students and working professionals. VIII. Undergraduate Prerequisites
All applicants are required to take undergraduate courses in statistics. In addition, students who have not completed a course in disease processes, pathophysiology, or a related course must complete an equivalent course before the first semester of study such as CHS 200 - Introduction to Public Health Biology (credits for this course do not count toward a graduate degree).
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Return to: Graduate Programs in the Division of Health Sciences
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