DEPARTMENT OF TROPICAL MEDICINE, TULANE UNIVERSITY MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND TROPICAL MEDICINE (MPH&TM) PROGRAM

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1 DEPARTMENT OF TROPICAL MEDICINE, TULANE UNIVERSITY MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND TROPICAL MEDICINE (MPH&TM) PROGRAM The Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (MPH&TM) program prepares health professionals with clinical backgrounds to deal effectively with the important public health problems of the tropical developing world. By combining a core public health curriculum with coursework on the clinical, epidemiological, and control aspects of tropical diseases, this program prepares physicians and health professionals to assess tropical medicine issues as well as to plan and evaluate disease prevention and control programs. It also offers a comprehensive curriculum for clinicians planning to work in the tropics or in travel and tropical medicine clinics. In addition, candidates acquire training & skills in the basic public health core areas. The Tulane MPH&TM degree is accredited by the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene. Therefore, a student having a Tulane MPH&TM degree is eligible to sit for the ASTMH certification examination (see page 5 for details). The program has two types of students: MPH&TM students and combined degree MD/MPH&TM students. Students denoted as MD/MPH&TM are those that are concurrently enrolled at Tulane School of Medicine. More information about the programs can be found on the Tropical Medicine departmental webpage ( or by contacting the department at (504) or tropmed@tulane.edu. Information about the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (SPHTM), including programs, courses, and academic policies can be found on the school webpage ( Program Requirements MPH&TM students must complete at least 42 credit hours to graduate. MD/MPH&TM combined degree medical students must complete at least 32 credit hours in the SPHTM to receive the MPH&TM degree. Program requirements include: public health core courses, program specialty courses, elective courses (including optional independent study), a practicum, and a culminating experience. 1

2 School Core Public Health Requirements (18 credits). All Masters students in the school must take required school courses in the Public Health core areas. MPH&TM students are required to take core courses in all six public health core areas, as below. Multiple sections of all core courses are available each semester (Fall, Spring and Summer). Course # Name Cr. BIOS 6030 Introductory Biostatistics 3 EPID 6030 Epidemiologic Methods I 3 GCHB 6030 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Global Health 3 GEHS 6030 Survey of Environmental Health 3 GHSD 6030 Principles of Health Systems Administration and Management 3 TRMD 6010* Biological Basis of Disease 3 *Note: MPH&TM students may be eligible to request a waiver out of the 6 th school core course requirement, which is TRMD 6010: Biological Basis of Disease. Any student at the school who has sufficient relevant background may apply for waiver of any school core course. Eligibility for waiver requires either equivalent graduate level coursework or passing a challenge examination. Requests for waivers based on prior coursework must be approved by the primary department in charge of the course in question. Consult the Program Manager, Kasi Guillot for more information. Program Specialty Requirements (16 credits). Students are required to take the following specialty courses focusing on parasitology and other infectious diseases of the tropics: Course # Name (semester offered) Cr. TRMD 6050 Medical Helminthology (Fall) 2 TRMD 6070 Medical Protozoology (Fall) 2 TRMD 6090 Parasitology Laboratory (Fall) 1 TRMD 6310 Clinical Tropical Medicine (Fall) 2 TRMD 6330 Microbial Diseases of the Tropics (Fall) 2 TRMD 6340 Diagnostic Laboratory Methods in Microbiology (Fall, Spring) 2 TRMD 6350 Disease Prevention and Control in Dev. Countries (Fall, Spring) 2 TRMD 6360 Clinical Tropical Medicine Case Presentations (Fall) 1 TRMD 7000* Tropical Medicine Seminar (Fall, Spring) 1+1 TOTAL 16 *TRMD 7000 is a one credit hour course. All MPH&TM students are required to take TWO semesters of seminar. In some cases, TRMD 7020 (Parasitology Seminar) may be substituted for one semester, with permission of advisor. 2

3 Additional Degree Requirements: Elective Coursework Students should take elective courses that are consistent with their career goals and program objectives. The importance of electives in epidemiology and biostatistics is often stressed since good data management/analysis skills will strengthen the overall public health research capability of the student. However, students may select electives offered by any department in the school. In some cases, a student may be allowed to take a graduate course offered in another school of the university, if relevant to their program and career goals. In addition, up to 6 credits of independent study (TRMD 7990) can be counted towards the MPH&TM degree. Minimum number of elective credits for MPH&TM students: 11 credit hours Minimum number of elective credits for MD/MPH&TM students: 1 credit hour SUGGESTED ELECTIVES: These electives are suggestions only. You may take any SPHTM course as an elective. Course # Name (semester offered) Cr. TRMD 6170 Immunology (Fall) 3 TRMD 6060 Medical Entomology (Spring) 3 TRMD 6240 Molecular Biology Methods for Public Health (Fall) 2 TRMD 6420 Tropical Virology (Spring) 3 TRMD 7180 Immunoparasitology (Spring) 2 TRMD 7820 Malaria (Spring) 2 TRMD 6450 Tuberculosis: Global Issues and Interactions with HIV 2 BIOS 6230 Computer Packages for Statistical Analysis: SAS (Fall, Spring) 1 BIOS 6240 Computer Packages for Statistical Analysis: SPSS (Fall, Spring) 1 BIOS 7080 Design of Experiments (Spring) 3 EPID 7120 Epidemiological Methods II (Fall, Spring) 3 EPID 6260 Survey Methodology (Fall) 3 GHSD 6270 Monitoring of Program Interventions in Global Health (Fall, Spring) 2 GHSD 6280 Evaluation of Program Interventions in Global Health (Fall, Spring) 2 GHSD 6040 Health and Economic Development (Fall) 3 GCHB 6780 The Double Burden of Malnutrition (Spring) 2 Practicum Students are required to complete a practicum as part of the degree requirements. The practicum consists of a minimum of 200 contact hours in a work related or practice experience. The details of the practicum and the procedures for registering a practicum can be found in the Practicum Handbook online at: handbook 3

4 Students will participate in activities coordinated by local and overseas agencies providing health care or implementing disease control strategies relevant to diseases prevalent in tropical developing countries. Students may, with advisor approval, be able to combine activities based in more than one local or overseas agency for their individualized practicum. Activities available locally should be coordinated with agency contact person/s willing to mentor and supervise the student during the practicum experience. Time slots for these activities should be scheduled when there are no conflicting classes. Students should register for SPHL 9980 Practicum (0 credit) during the semester(s) in which the practicum is being carried out. Students can register for SPHL 9980 up to five semesters or until the final practicum report (form E) is submitted. A $50 registration is assessed, but no other tuition is required. Students registered for SPHL 9980 are considered as full time in the school for financial aid purposes. All of the forms in the practicum handbook need to be completed, signed and appropriately filed in the departmental office in order to receive credit for the practicum and for graduation. Please note: Practicum Forms A and B needs to be approved & on file in the Department before one can begin the Practicum Experience. Culminating Experience: Students are required to complete a culminating experience in order to satisfy graduation requirements for the MPH&TM degree. This is typically done in the final semester, with the student having an approved topic by the beginning of the final semester. During or prior to their final semester, students must register for one of the Culminating Experience (SPHL 7950, 0 credits) options. A $50 fee is assessed, but no automatic full time status is granted as with SPHL Students should make sure to turn in a completed and signed Culminating Experience Completion Form to the advisor for approval and signature. Two options are available for fulfilling the culminating experience: A public health analysis (PHA) paper or a thesis based on a research project. Most students complete this requirement by PHA. Public Health Analysis: The public health analysis paper is a substantive review and discussion of a selected topic or field important to tropical medicine and public health. Students should identity a specific question or problem related to tropical medicine and formulate a hypothesis or state goals and objectives related to this question or problem. The topic should be focused on a specific question and not a general review. Current scientific papers related to this problem should be identified and thoroughly analyzed in regards to whether the published data support or refute any stated hypotheses or contribute to the goals and objectives of the analysis. Any conclusions or recommendations should also be stated. See the handbook on the SPHTM webpage for more details on preparing this report. The academic advisor or mentor will provide guidance in selecting a topic, preparing and editing the document, and determining 4

5 if it meets the requirements and is of sufficient quality to merit graduation. The paper is signed by student and academic advisor and is filed in the departmental office. Thesis or report based on a research project or a field based project: The thesis is a formal, professional written document that describes the student s original basic research that will contribute to the scope of knowledge in the field of public health. The report should thoroughly and completely address the project undertaken. The final report should be presented to the faculty advisor by the appropriate deadline. This option may be arranged with individual faculty of the department. See the handbook on the SPHTM webpage for more details on preparing this report. The mentor and/or academic advisor provides guidance in preparing and editing the document and should approve the final version. The final report should be signed by the student and either the preceptor, mentor, or advisor and is kept on file in the departmental office. Additional information on the Culminating Experience can be found on the SPHTM webpage: guidelines Culminating Experience Form: exp comp form Culminating Experience Handbook: exphandbook ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTIFICATION IN CLINICAL TROPICAL MEDICINE AND TRAVELER'S HEALTH ADMINISTERED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE (ASTMH): Students who complete the MPH&TM program will meet the eligibility requirement for an ASTMH approved Tropical Medicine Training Program, which is required for the certification exam in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Traveler s Health offered by ASTMH. The MPH&TM is equivalent to the Diploma course in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Traveler s Health for ASTMH certificate exam eligibility purposes. NOTE: DIPLOMA COURSE CERTIFICATES WILL ONLY BE GIVEN TO DIPLOMA COURSE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT RECEIVING THE MPH&TM. STUDENT ADVISING: Temporary faculty advisors are assigned to students at orientation. Students can request a particular advisor or change advisors during their time in the program. The advisor generally meets with the student during orientation, and regularly thereafter to 5

6 guide the student in scheduling classes and to monitor academic progress. The advisor will also guide the student in choosing a practicum and culminating experience and sign the necessary forms. It is critical that the student maintains contact with the advisor and seeks a meeting at least once a semester. If your advisor is not available and the matter is urgent, please contact another faculty member or the Program Manager; Ms. Kasi Guillot. (kguillo@tulane.edu) The advisor monitors progress toward completion of the degree requirements and can offer advice on career goals and opportunities. Students are also encouraged to meet with a variety of faculty within and outside the department, as needed, for further academic and career guidance. For more information contact your advisor or Ms. Kasi Guillot (kguillo@tulane.edu), Program Manager, Department of Tropical Medicine 6

7 Appendix 1 Sample Schedule: MPH&TM Degree Program The following schedule is the recommended plan for students in the MPH&TM program. The credit hours are estimates only and will vary with individual student schedules. Please consult your advisor for individual scheduling. Fall Semester TRMD 6050 Medical Helminthology 2 TRMD 6070 Medical Protozoology 2 TRMD 6090 Parasitology Lab 1 TRMD 6330 Microbial Diseases of the Tropics 2 TRMD 6340 Diagnostic Laboratory Methods in Microbiology 2 TRMD 7000 Tropical Medicine Seminar 1 One to two school core courses 3 6 Total Spring Semester TRMD 7000 Tropical Medicine Seminar 1 Complete school core courses / Elective courses 3 6 Total Summer Semester SPHL 9980 Practicum 0 Complete school core courses +/ elective courses 0 6 Total 0 6 Second Fall Semester TRMD 6310 Clinical Tropical Medicine 2 TRMD 6350 Disease Prevention & Control in Developing Countries 2 TRMD 6360 Clinical Tropical Medicine Case Presentations 1 +/ Elective courses 6 10 SPHL 7950 Culminating Experience 0 SPHL 9980 Practicum, if necessary 0 Total Total credits towards degree 42 7

8 Sample Schedule: MD/MPH&TM Degree Program Semester/Courses # Credits Freshman year, Spring Semester TRMD 6350 Disease Prevention & Control in Developing Countries 2 One school core course 3 Total 5 Summer between Freshman and Sophomore Year (or summer before Freshman year) One to two school core courses 3 6 Total 3 6 Sophomore year, Fall Semester TRMD 6050 Medical Helminthology 2 TRMD 6070 Medical Protozoology 2 TRMD 6090 Parasitology Lab 1 One to two school core courses 3 6 Total 5 8 Sophomore year, Spring Semester TRMD 7000 Tropical Medicine Seminar 1 GCHB 6030 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Global Health 3 GEHS 6030 Survey of Environmental Health 3 Elective course or Independent Study 1 Total 8 Senior Year, Fall Semester TRMD 6310 Clinical Tropical Medicine 2 TRMD 6330 Microbial Diseases of the Tropics 2 TRMD 6340 Diagnostic Laboratory Methods in Microbiology 2 TRMD 6360 Clinical Tropical Medicine Case Presentations 1 TRMD 7000 Tropical Medicine Seminar 1 Total 8 Total credits 32 Note: It is recommended that BIOS 6030 and EPID 6030 be taken as early as possible. 8