Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is there an additional website for the MPH program?
Yes. More specific information about the MPH program can be found at http://www.swmed.edu/utsw/publichealth
2. How long will it take to get a MPH degree?
It will take full-time students two years to earn their MPH degree through the K-30 program.
3. Are all classes that count toward the MPH paid for by the Training Curriculum in Patient-Oriented Research (POR)?
Only MPH courses which are required by the POR program will be funded - through a reimbursement process.
4. Can I audit classes?
Auditing a class may be done but only with the permission of the professor teaching the course.
5. What courses are involved and when are they offered? What costs are involved?
There are five core courses in the Dallas MPH Program that are required for the MPH degree:
- Introduction to Biostatistics - 4 credits
- Introduction to Epidemiology - 4 credits
- Overview of Environmental Sciences - 4 credits
- Administration and Public Health - 4 credits
- Social Cultural Aspects of Public Health - 3 credits
Tuition for Texas state residents (minimum 3 hours) is $415.36*
Tuition for non-residents (minimum 3 hours) is $1169.36*
*This fee does not include the health insurance coverage premium. Proof should be submitted at registration.
6. Who are the contacts for the Patient-Oriented Research (POR) program and the MPH program?
7. Can I enroll in individual MPH classes? What is the enrollment procedure?
MPH classes may be audited if you are obtaining a certificate. Four credit hours may be obtained for Biostatistics since this course is offered through the Graduate Program at UT Southwestern. A one-page application is required.
8. How long is my application valid?
Your application is valid for one year. However, you must send a letter to the Registrar to "activate" your application if you were not admitted to the Program the previous semester for reason of incomplete application.
9. How do you "activate" your application?
You may activate an application that you submitted for the previous semester by sending a letter to the Registrar's office in Houston. Include your name and social security number for identification. The address is:
Office of the Registrar
UT-Houston Health Science Center
P. O. Box 22036
Houston, TX 77225
Registrar's Office phone number: 713-500-3333
10. Who sends your approval letter and how long does it take after I apply?
You will receive an Admit or Deny letter from the UT-Houston School of Public Health. The letter is sent about three months after the deadline, i.e., November for August 1 deadline and May for February 1 deadline.
11. What is the tuition reimbursement procedure?
Courses/workshops/symposia will be reimbursed to the department by IDR with proof of student attendance. When registering for MPH courses, tuition will be reimbursed to the student when receipts are presented. For tuition reimbursements, contact Vicki Lucido at (214) 648-2342.
12. If I just want to obtain a Certificate, do I have to apply for the MPH degree?
No.
13. What is the time commitment, financial commitment, and mentorship time commitment?
MPH time commitment: 1-1/2 to 2 years, and includes a thesis and a practicum or internship in public health. The financial commitment varies depending on residency (see #6 above).
Mentorship commitment: senior clinical investigators will be available for trainees who are committed to spending a year conducting clinical research. An additional year of research may be added if needed. Each trainee must have personally identified a research project. Fellows should meet with their assigned mentor throughout the year with a minimum of biweekly meetings.
14. Can I take courses without applying for the MPH degree?
Yes, but any MPH course required for the Certificates should be audited (with the exception of Biostatistics).
15. Is a resident application important?
Yes, otherwise you will be charged out-of-state tuition.
16. How do you register for classes?
You may register for classes only after you have been admitted as a student in the MPH Program. Before you are allowed to register for the first time you must have submitted your Immunization and State Residency forms to the UT-Houston Registrar's office.
Registration may be done either on the Internet at http://UTLINK.uth.tmc.edu or by phone: 1-800-575-8710. Only touchtone telephones can be used with UTLINK. Do not use pulse, rotary, cellular or cordless phones.
17. Are all classes going to be scheduled during the normal workweek?
All MPH classes are scheduled during the week, Monday through Friday. Some classes are scheduled in the evenings and some are held during the day only. Class times are subject to change.
18. Do I apply to all UT-Houston Schools of Public Health or just the Dallas campus?
You should check the "Dallas MPH" box on the application. Do not check any of the disciplines -- these are for UT-Houston SPH students only. The degree received from the Dallas Satellite is in Community Health.
19. What is the GRE?
The GRE is the Graduate Record Exam. More information can be found at their website (http://www.gre.org/). The GRE will be waived for applicants holding a United States-earned doctorate.
