UTSPH Office of Student Affairs

Office of Student Affairs

Why Choose UTSPH?

Welcome to the University of Texas School of Public Health where students, faculty and staff are united in "Making health happen…every day, every where, for everyone!"

One of the outstanding and oldest schools of Public Health

Since 1969, The University of Texas School of Public Health has been making health happen through visionary teaching, research, and service programs. Located in the world-renowned Texas Medical Center, the school is one of the most respected in the nation. With multiple campuses strategically placed throughout the state and the extraordinary richness of the programs offered, the school is a leader in public health education.

The school has established a state, national, and international reputation with nationally ranked programs in health promotion and prevention research, coordination of clinical trials to test effectiveness of new treatments, and the study of human genetics for the prevention of common diseases.

Located in the largest medical center in the world

The 10-story University of Texas School of Public Health, building is located in a park setting with outstanding library, classroom, computer, and research laboratory facilities. Its location in the Texas Medical Center, the largest in the world allows faculty and students to collaborate in research and service with many outstanding health-related institutions in the world's largest medical center, as well as in the local community.

To address the need for graduate public health education in other geographic areas of the state, the School of Public Health established Regional Campus programs in San Antonio (1979), El Paso (1992), Dallas (1998), Brownsville (2001), and Austin (2007). Each campus was established to meet the public health education and research needs of their community. The regional campuses have their own resident faculty and on-site course offerings. Interactive video courses originate from and connect all six of the school's campuses.

Research provides direct service to communities

Through the school's divisions, research centers, regional campuses and the Institute for Health Policy, research efforts provide a direct service to communities. It is the school's objective to translate its discoveries through research into policies and programs that have a beneficial impact on the health of the public in Texas and beyond.

The School of Public Health's research centers have been developed by the faculty to focus and enhance areas of interdisciplinary research. The activities within the centers provide excellent opportunities for students to meet academic research requirements, and to ultimately generate employment opportunities.

Education bringing together teaching, research & practice

The school offers four degree programs leading to proficiency in the skills necessary for public health careers: the Master of Public Health (MPH), the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), the Master of Science in Public Health (MS), and the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health (PhD).

The structure of the school brings together teaching, research, and the practice of public health through five academic divisions: Biostatistics; Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences; Epidemiology and Disease Control; Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences; and Management, Policy and Community Health. Students learn to conduct research on important public health concerns while working in teams with faculty who uncover answers to urgent health issues. In addition to coursework, students participate in the practicum program which allows them to apply theoretical knowledge in settings such as public health agencies and community health organizations.

Dual degree programs include the MD/MPH in collaboration with The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, the JD/MPH in collaboration with the University of Houston Law Center, the MSN/MPH in collaboration with The University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston, the MSW/MPH in collaboration with the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work, and the MS or PhD/MPH in collaboration with The University of Texas School of Health Information Sciences at Houston. Dual degree programs within the school include the Registered Dietetics program, which is available in combination with all four public health degrees.

The certificate program is intended for public health practitioners and individuals considering a graduate degree in the field. The five courses in this non-degree program cover the core content of the disciplines that are basic to public health and are available at all campuses. A certificate is awarded to students who perform well in all five courses.

Our Students

We are very proud of our students here at the School of Public Health. They come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, adding to the richness of our academic programs. Get to know some of our graduates by reading these alumni profiles. The graduate survey results include statistics on what our students are doing after they graduate, where they are working, and how much they are making.

Looking for advice? Read these personal and professional anecdotes from some recent graduates.

Community Service

The UT School of Public Health has taken the lead in developing a training center that encourages collaboration and the collective use of shared resources by the three schools of public health in the state. It is the major force in leadership training for the state's public health workforce. The service role extends into the communities in each of the school's six campuses. Activities include needs assessments and facilitation of programs to address identified problems, extensive collaboration with school districts throughout the state, consultation to local and state health related agencies, and training of health workers to respond to bioterrorism and public health emergencies.

Accreditation

The school is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award certificates and baccalaureate, master, and doctoral degrees. In addition, the following programs at the school are accredited by their respective accrediting bodies: