MPH Degree Requirements

Transcription

1 MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE REQUIREMENTS T he Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health (NOCPH) MPH students typically designate a major (also known as a concentration or track) prior to or upon matriculation into the program. A major must be declared upon completion of a maximum of 12 credits. There are five MPH majors: Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety Science (EOHS), Public Health Administration (PHA), Health Promotion and Education (HPE), Public Health Epidemiology (PHE), and Public Health Nutrition (PHN). The program is a 45 credit curriculum. These credits consist of 24 credits of core courses completed by all MPH students regardless of declared major; plus 12 credits of major-specific courses; and 9 credits of advised electives approved for the major. All students must complete a Plan of Study form and submit it to the applicable program coordinator for his/her review, approval and signature. Accreditation Combined MPH Major Program The MPH degree program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Pursuit and completion of the requirements for two majors (i.e., combined major) is another option for the NOCPH MPH student. The option is intended for individuals who desire the combined education and training related to one specific major of the MPH with another major within the MPH program to expand their overall knowledge and expertise. Any combination of MPH majors can be declared as a combined major program. Students must meet all application, retention and graduation requirements for the MPH degree. Individuals interested in completing the combined major option must be simultaneously registered for both majors for at least one semester. Combined major MPH students must complete the 45 credit curriculum that is required for one of the declared majors, plus 12 credits of major specific courses for the second declared major and 9 credits advised electives approved for the second declared major (45 credits + 21 credits = 66 credits total). All students must complete a Plan of Study form and submit it to the applicable program coordinator for his/her review, approval and signature. 180

2 MPH Majors Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Science Students graduating from this major will be prepared to address a combination of scientific, technical, regulatory and administrative aspects of public health that pertain to the recognition, evaluation and control of hazardous physical (e.g., radiation, noise), chemical (e.g., toxic), biological (e.g., infectious) and mechanical agents and factors in occupational and nonoccupational environments. Environmental and occupational health and safety specialists have the knowledge, comprehension and skills to work as professionals involved with development, implementation, delivery and management of applicable programs such as environmental investigation, monitoring (e.g., water, air, soil, and food quality), assessment and control; community and/or worker awareness education and training; and, regulatory compliance. They are prepared to objectively and subjectively assess environmental and occupational health and safety hazards; collect and analytically interpret epidemiological and monitoring data; make administrative decisions based on recommended measures to reduce or eliminate hazardous conditions; and write scientific reports. Employment is available in government, industry, healthcare, labor and consulting. Health Promotion and Education Students graduating from this major will be prepared to assist communities, organizations and individuals in working towards a healthier society by using appropriate educational, behavioral, and social change strategies. Public Health Administration Students graduating from this major will be prepared to assume administrative roles in government and community agencies, healthcare facilities, and private industry. Public Health Nutrition Students graduating from this major will be prepared to assess community nutrition needs and plan, direct and evaluate the nutrition component of health promotion and disease prevention efforts. Public health nutritionists hold positions in a wide variety of settings and at various levels of responsibility. The settings for employment often include health departments, federal and private food assistance programs, worksite health promotion programs, nutrition advocacy organizations, health centers and schools. 181

3 Public Health Epidemiology Students graduating from this major will be prepared to study the distribution of disease in large groups or from a population-based perspective. Epidemiologists attempt to quantify the distribution and establish the determinants of health problems by describing and analyzing the biological, environmental, social and behavioral factors affecting health, illness and premature death. Epidemiologists often work for local, state and federal governments, healthcare organizations, private industry and institutions of higher education. A minimum of 16 months typically is required to complete the MPH degree as a full-time student. Part-time students can complete the degree in 30 months, depending on course-load each semester. Curriculum The 45 credit curriculum incorporates courses from the consortium institutions to offer what is truly a collaborative program. Students are required to complete a common core of courses totaling 24 credits. In addition, students will complete 12 credits in one of the specified majors and 9 credits of elective courses selected by the student with their advisor s approval. Core Courses (24 credits) Course # Credits Course Title PUBH600 3 Public Health Statistics PUBH601 3 Public Health Epidemiology PUBH604 3 Public Health Administration PUBH660 3 Health Behavior (formerly HEAL6600) PUBH605 * 3 Concepts and Issues in Environmental Health PUBH664 3 Issues in Public Health (formerly HEAL6640) 3 Internship or Scholarly Project 3 Seminar in Public Health * EOHS Science students substitute PUBH516 for PUBH605) Major Courses (12 credits per major) Environmental and Occupational Health (required) PUBH516 3 Environmental Health Science, Regulations and Management PUBH502 3 Occupational Health Science, Regulations and Management 182

4 Course # Credits Course Title PUBH531 3 Chemical Agent Toxicity, Evaluation and Control PUBH552 3 Biological Agents - Pathogenicity, Evaluation and Control PUBH506 3 Occupational Safety Science, Regulations and Management Health Promotion and Education PUBH624 3 Methods & Materials in Public Health (formerly HEAL6200) PUBH650 3 Evaluation of Health Programs (formerly HEAL6800) PUBH646 3 Health Promotion Programs (formerly HEAL6560) PUBH630 3 Community Health Organization (formerly HEAL6300) Public Health Administration PUBH621 3 Management of Public Health Agencies PUBH622 3 Budget & Administration in Public Health PUBH535 3 Public Health Law Public Health Nutrition PUBH625 3 Nutritional Epidemiology (formerly HEAL6250) PUBH652 3 Public Health Nutrition (formerly HEAL6520) F&N535 3 Nutrition through Lifestyle I F&N536 3 Nutrition through Lifestyle II Public Health Epidemiology (required) PUBH606 3 Advanced Public Health Statistics PUBH603 3 Advanced Epidemiology PUBH655 3 Epidemiology of Chronic Disease (formerly HEAL6550) PUBH612 3 Epidemiology of Infectious Disease Criteria for Admission Degree: An earned baccalaureate from an accredited college or university is required. 183

5 Grade Point Average (GPA): For regular admission a GPA 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) is required. For conditional admission a GPA <3.00 and 2.70 (n a 4.00 scale) is required. After completion of 12 semester credits of MPH courses, with an average grade of 3.00, the status of conditionally accepted students will change to regular status. Special status admission applies to any students who have not been admitted in the program, but wish to take courses offered by the program. Note: Applicants with a GPA <2.70 and 2.50 (on a 4.0 scale) also may be considered for special status admission. The student is required to complete 12 semester credits of specified courses with grade point average 3.00 before being considered for acceptance into the program with regular status, pending MPH Admission Committee approval. Foundation Courses: It is expected that all applicants will have successfully completed college-level mathematics, biology and social sciences. Also, completion of college-level courses in inorganic and organic chemistry are required for Environmental and Occupational Health majors. Graduate Record Examination (GRE): The GRE is not required for graduates from a U.S. accredited institution. The GRE is required for all applicants who graduated from institutions other than those in the U.S. The total for the Verbal and Quantitative Sections be at least The Analytical Writing Section score should be at least 3.5. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Applicants who graduated from institutions other than those in the U.S. and whose primary language is not English must complete the TOEFL and receive a minimum score of 550 for the paper-based test or 213 for the computer-based test. Official Transcripts: Each applicant must submit an official transcript of courses from each institution of higher education attended by the applicant, one of which confirming that a baccalaureate or professional doctoral degree has been awarded to the applicant from an accredited college or university. For international applicants, the official transcript must be translated into English and the grades converted using a 4.00 GPA scale. Transcripts for all applicants should be submitted to the Health Science Campus College of Graduate Studies. 184

6 Application Period: A domestic applicant may begin studies during Fall, Spring or Summer semester. Application deadlines for domestic th th applicants are June 15 for Fall admission, October 15 for Spring th admission and March 15 for Summer admission. Completed applications received after these dates may be processed for the following semester, but is not guaranteed. International applicants may apply for Fall semester only. The th deadline for international applicants is February 15. Completed applications received after these dates may be processed for the following semester, but is not guaranteed. Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required, two of which must be from persons having a graduate degree. Resume: A copy of a current resume of the applicant must be included in the application material. Letter of Interest: An applicant must submit a concise letter of interest addressed to the Senior Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies Health Science Campus of the University of Toledo stating why the applicant wants to pursue the Master of Public Health degree. Technical Standards for Admission Our objective is to increase opportunities for persons with disabilities, while maintaining the expectation that all students achieve the goals of our programs. The technical standards for admission establish the expectations and abilities considered essential for students admitted to the Masters of Public Health program in order to achieve the level of competency required for graduation. Successful candidates for the MPH degree must possess abilities and skills categorized as observational, communicative, motor function, intellectual-conceptual, behavioral and social and ethical. Observational: Candidates must be able to acquire a defined level of information presented through demonstrations and experiences. This may include information from written documents, visual information from sampling, analytical computer and other equipment, and instruments. Such observation and information acquisition necessitates the use of visual, auditory and tactile sensation. 185

7 Communicative: Candidates must be able to communicate effectively with others in verbal and written form. Communication includes the ability to speak, hear, read and write. Motor Function: Candidates must possess motor skills necessary to learn and implement the technical skills of an environmental and/or occupational health professional. This includes the ability to perform basic field and laboratory exercises, and evaluate various environmental settings. Candidates having fieldwork experiences off campus are responsible for transportation and independent mobility on campus and at fieldwork. Intellectual-Conceptual, (Integrative and Quantitative): Candidates must have problem-solving skills and be critical thinkers. More specifically, the candidate must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate and synthesize qualitative and quantitative information associated with recognition, evaluation and control of agents or factors that may cause adverse impact or illness to humans in occupational and/or non-occupational settings. Behavioral and Social: Candidates must possess good emotional health to permit full utilization of their intellectual abilities, be able to exercise good judgement, function effectively under stress, display flexibility, and be able to complete responsibilities promptly and interact with people of all races, religions and socioeconomic status. Ethical: Candidates must demonstrate professional behavior and must perform in an ethical manner. They must exhibit a respect for truth and commitment to honesty and integrity in basic and applied scientific and technical processes. In addition, they must be able to follow the ethical guidelines established by the respective and applicable national organizations and government bodies. 186

8 Candidates are urged to ask questions about the program s technical standards for clarification and to determine whether they can meet the requirements. Questions may be directed to the Program Director. Revealing a disability is voluntary; however, such disclosure is necessary before any accommodations may be considered in the learning environment or in the program s procedures. Information about disabilities is handled in a confidential manner. Reasonable accommodations will be made to qualified applicants with a disability in such circumstances and on such terms as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable accommodations require program and institutional approval. Requests for accommodations must be submitted in writing, allowing sufficient time prior to matriculation for action on these requests, pursuant to Policy Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability, Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance. Program Delivery Students complete core courses on each campus. In addition, elective courses must be completed at both institutions. Since the three campuses are in close proximity (20 to 40 minutes) travel will not be unreasonable. By completing courses at the three campuses, students will increase their access to resources such as libraries, other public health students, and faculty. MPH students will have access to parking privileges at both institutions on the three campuses. The program offers classes during evenings and weekends to facilitate graduate study for both full-time students and those engaged in full-time daily employment. Evening courses meet once per week during 15 week semesters; weekend courses meet on Saturdays. For more information on this program, please consult the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health Student Handbook for the Master of Public Health Degree. Summary of Requirements for Graduation 1. Completion of 45 semester credits. 2. Completion of the program within six calendar years. 3. Maintenance of a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. A maximum of 6 credits of C or lower may be earned by the candidate and applied to the GPA. 187

9 4. Filing of a Plan of Study developed by the graduate student and her/his advisory committee, and approved by the Program Director and the Senior Associate Dean of the College of Graduate Studies on the Health Science Campus. The Plan of Study must be submitted and approved no later than one semester prior to the semester of anticipated graduation. 5. Completion of an approved internship for students without prior applicable work experience, otherwise, completion of an approved scholarly project for those exempted from internship. Requirements for internships and scholarly projects are summarized in the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health Student Handbook for the Master of Public Health Degree. 6. Registration for at least 1 credit per semester while actively working on the internship or scholarly project, including the semester in which the scholarly project is presented. It is ultimately the responsibility of the student to assure that all academic, as well as administrative, requirements have been met. 188