Date: 12/12/11
To: Robert Goldstein, Associate Provost
From: Peter L. Walton, Associate Dean
Subject: Proposal to change MPH program to v2011.11.30
The above-named program is proposed to be modified as follows, to be effective Spring 2012:
· Add public health and urban planning track (p. 4). The track is described in detail in the dual MUP-MPH program revision, which has been concurrently submitted for approval.
· Replace required core course PHMS-618 “Introduction to Public Health Informatics” with PHPH-610 “Data and Statistics Management for Public Health using SPSS” (Fall I, p. 5). The syllabus for the newly included PHPH-610 has been concurrently submitted for approval.
The proposed program has been approved by the MPH Program, SPHIS Curriculum Committee, Faculty Forum, and the dean’s office.
Upon your approval, I will make corresponding editorial changes to the MD-MPH and Bachelor-MPH programs. The MUP-MPH submitted concurrently already includes the course change.
Attachments:
· Proposed program
· Mark-up of changed pages
· Currently approved program
Page 2 of 2
MPH Program
Master of Public Health
Program Director: Robert R. Jacobs, Ph.D.
Program Administrator: Tammi A. Thomas
Website: http://louisville.edu/sphis/academics/master-of-public-health.html
Introduction
The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program is a school-based program designed to graduate students each with core competencies in public health and additional competencies in one of the following: a concentration in biostatistics, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, health management, or health promotion and behavior; or an individual track in public health that is approved by the program.
Graduates of the MPH program are prepared for positions in the public health work force, in health-related industries, and in academic organizations and for further professional or academic education.
Competencies
The MPH program has adopted the competencies published by the Association of Schools of Public Health. (ASPH Education Committee. “Master’s Degree in Public Health Core Competency Development Project, Version 2.3.” http://www.asph.org/userfiles/version2.3.pdf.)
The learning objectives for each course in the MPH curriculum are mapped to these ASPH competencies.
Admission
The ideal candidate for admission to the MPH program has received the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree or higher, has education or training in one or more health-related fields, has worked or studied in a public health-related situation, can comprehend and communicate effectively in English, has the recommendations of at least three persons in a health-related or advanced education field, has performed satisfactorily in one or more standardized test, and is very interested in pursuing a career in public health or a related field.
The requirements for admission to the MPH program are:
· Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or its equivalent
· Recommended minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
· If candidate’s primary language is not English, one of the following:
o Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam with a minimum score of 250 (after conversion for test type)
o Passing the exit examination for the advanced level of the Intensive English as a Second Language Program at the University of Louisville
o Degree from an accredited U.S. institution (requires provisional admission with evaluation of English language competency and potential requirement to pass the exit examination for the advanced level of the Intensive English as a Second Language Program at the University of Louisville)
An application is considered once all of the following requirements have been received:
· Graduate application and payment of application fee.
· Three letters of recommendation written within the last twelve months.
· Official transcripts of all degrees.
· Resume or curriculum vitae.
· One-page personal statement written by the application that is a clear, substantive description of his or her goals in public health, noting any professional or research experience.
· Official score from any of the following standardized tests: GRE, MCAT, DAT, GMAT, or LSAT.
· International applicants: Foreign credential evaluation of all degrees from non-U.S. institutions. Please contact the MPH program prior to completing this requirement.
For information on the application process, please contact:
MPH Program
School of Public Health and Information Sciences
University of Louisville
485 East Gray Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: 502-852-3289
Fax: 502-852-3294
Concentrations
Concentrations are offered in each of the five basic areas of public health by the department that focuses on the area. Each concentration is designed to develop the competencies needed by a public health worker in the corresponding area.
Concentration / DepartmentBiostatistics / Bioinformatics and Biostatistics
Environmental and Occupational Health / Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
Epidemiology / Epidemiology and Population Health
Health Management / Health Management and Systems Sciences
Health Promotion and Behavior / Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences
Requirements for acceptance to the concentrations in the MPH program are:
Concentration / Concentration Acceptance Requirements /All / · Student in good standing in MPH program
· Successful completion of core courses
Biostatistics / · Grade from PHST-500 Introduction to Biostatistics
· Other evidence of analytic ability, for example:
- Quantitative score from at least one of these exams: GRE, GMAT, or DAT
- Transcripts showing other college-level mathematics or statistics course
- Instructor recommendation
- Participation in or successful completion of a research project with analytical component
· Exceptions may be granted.
Environmental and occupational health / No additional requirements.
Epidemiology / · Grade from PHEP-501 Introduction to Epidemiology
· Grade from PHST-500 Introduction to Biostatistics
· Exceptions may be granted.
Health management / No additional requirements.
Health promotion and behavior / No additional requirements.
Individual Track Option
A student may complete an individual track in place of completing a concentration. The individual track option is designed for students who meet the requirements and wish to study areas of public health that are not directly addressed by one of the available concentrations or who are enrolled in a dual master’s degree program with the MPH. A student’s program of study in an individual track is established as part of admission to the individual track option.
Requirements for admission to the individual track option are the following:
· GPA of 3.25 or higher in required first-year MPH program courses
· One of:
o Enrollment in a dual master’s degree program with the MPH
o Personal statement of purpose and reasons for an individual track
· Program director approval of a faculty member to serve as the student’s advisor for the track application process and, if admitted, for the track and practicum
· An acceptable program of study for an individual track recommended by the student’s advisor
· Competitive selection of student’s application using rankings of the above requirements among all applicants for an individual track at that time
The program may limit the number of admissions to the individual track option in any one year based on the total number of MPH students and dual degree students. In addition the program director may seek review and advice from the MPH Advisory Committee on some or all of the applications. If a student is not admitted to the individual track option, he or she must choose and be admitted to an existing concentration.
Public Health and Urban Planning Track
The public health and urban planning track is available only to students enrolled in the dual master of urban planning-master of public health degree program. (See syllabus for dual degree program at https://sharepoint.louisville.edu/sites/sphis/do/aa/apc/pubs/MUP-MPH%20program.pdf.)
Curriculum
The curriculum consists of courses in four areas: core (6 courses), concentration or individual track (5), practicum experience (2), and integrating experience (3). Core courses and two integrating experience courses are completed prior to taking courses in other areas. Toward the end of taking these courses, each student either identifies his or her area of concentration and is admitted to the department offering the concentration or applies and is admitted to the individual track option. Once admitted into the concentration or individual track option, the student takes concentration courses or course in his or her individual track program of study, completes the practicum experience, and takes the remaining integrating experience course, which includes a comprehensive written examination focused on the program’s core MPH competencies.
Full-time students are expected to complete the program and graduate in two years. Part-time students are required to complete the program and graduate within six years.
Faculty Advisor
On matriculation, each student is assigned a faculty advisor and is requested to meet at least twice each semester with his or her advisor. Advisors are available to address general academic and public health questions and to assist the student in declaration of his or her area of concentration or the individual track option.
After admission into a concentration, each student is assigned a faculty advisor who serves as academic practicum advisor, academic mentor, and counselor on career and employment opportunities, professional development, and opportunities beyond graduate school. The faculty advisor for a student in the individual track option is assigned as part of admission to the option.
Program of Study
The program of study is predetermined for courses in core, practicum experience, and integrating experience areas and in the majority of the concentration area. Concentrations have one or two elective courses. The program of study for an individual track is established as part of admission to the individual track option.
Degree Requirements
Requirements for the MPH degree are:
· Successful completion of core, concentration, practicum experience, and integrating experience coursework
· Completion of all deliverables for the practicum experience
· Minimum score of 80% on either of two tries of a comprehensive examination on MPH competencies (part of PHPH-697 Integrating Learning and Experience in Public Health) or successful completion of remediation project (part of PHPH-601 )
Coursework
47 total credit hours:
18 credit hours of core coursework
6 credit hours of practicum experience
8 credit hours of integrating experience
15 credit hours of concentration or individual track coursework
Required Coursework /Semester / Course # / Course Title (and Area, as needed) / Credit Hours /
Fall I / PHMS-501 / Introduction to Public Health Practice and Administration (core) / 3
PHST-500 / Introduction to Biostatistics (core) / 3
PHEP-501 / Introduction to Epidemiology (core) / 3
PHPH-696 / Issues in Public Health (integrating experience) / 2
Semester Total / 11
Spring I / PHEH-500 / Introduction to Environmental Health Sciences (core) / 3
PHPB-501 / Introduction to Health Behavior (core) / 3
PHPH-610 / Data and Statistics Management for Public Health using SPSS (core) / 3
PHPH-614 / Critical Thinking and Program Evaluation (integrating experience) / 3
Semester Total / 12
Fall II / Concentration or individual track course / 3
Concentration or individual track course / 3
Concentration or individual track course / 3
PHPH-679 / Public Health Practicum Experience / 3
Semester Total / 12
Spring II / Concentration or individual track course / 3
Concentration or individual track course / 3
PHPH-679 / Public Health Practicum Experience / 3
PHPH-697 / Integrating Learning and Experience in Public Health / 3
Semester Total / 12
Degree Total / 47
PHPH-696 Issues in Public Health
The Issues in Public Health course is part of the integrating experience and is a trans-disciplinary course designed to integrate what students learned in other coursework and experiences and the application of these lessons to the broader scope of public health. Working in teams and on selected public health projects or initiatives are the focus of the course.
PHPH-614 Critical Thinking and Program Evaluation
The Critical Thinking and Program Evaluation course is an integrating experience course and focuses on the identification of public health problems and planning appropriate responses and evaluations. Planning and evaluation skills are considered pivotal learning concepts for the MPH degree and for successful public health practice.
PHPH-679 Public Health Practicum Experience
The Practicum Experience places the student in a non-academic organization providing public health-related services. The practicum experience and its required deliverables must be completed to fulfill degree program requirements.
PHPH-697 Integrating Learning and Experience in Public Health
This course is designed to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in course work and other learning experiences and to apply this knowledge to situations that represent various aspects of professional public health practice. Through the evaluation of previous cases and the development of a new case from current and emerging areas of public health, students working in teams demonstrate their abilities in applying general and specific public health knowledge they have learned through their courses of study.
The course includes a comprehensive exam that assesses a student’s grasp of core public health concepts prior to graduation. The exam uses the format of the National Board of Public Health Examiners and includes questions covering the five core and cross-cutting competencies from the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH). The exam format consists exclusively of multiple-choice questions. Some questions may be grouped in a series following a short vignette, but they remain in an objective, multiple-choice format.
The exam is given twice, once in the middle of the semester and once at the end of the semester. All students are required to take the exam the first time it is given. Students who pass the exam (a grade of 80% or better) the first time are not required to take the exam the second time unless they want to try to improve their score. The higher score is used to calculate the student’s portion of the grade for the exam. Students not passing the exam the first time must retake the exam the second time.
A student failing to make a grade of 80% or better either time the exam is given receives an I (incomplete) for the course regardless of the scores on other evaluation components. The student is required to enroll in PHPH-601 for the next term or semester (usually summer term) and to successfully complete a remediation project as specified by the course instructors by the end of the term or semester in order to graduate. If the student successfully completes the project, the student’s grade of I is replaced with one calculated using an 80% score on the individual comprehensive examination. If the project is not successfully completed, the student’s grade for the course is F, which means the student does not graduate.