PA/MPH – Dual Degree Option
You look forward to making an impact with your individual patients in your future clinical career. Public Health can help you expand your impact to a larger population, improving health at the community level. Best of all this can be completed through online courses during your PA program.
Expand beyond your clinical skills to encompass specialized public health training to develop, integrate and apply culturally competent social, psychological and biomedical approaches to health promotion and preservation. Gain an advantage when seeking roles that involve planning and managing health systems, performing clinical research, determining the cause of disease, or planning and implementation disease control strategies.
Take advantage of UNTHSC’s unique MPAS / Master of Public Health dual degree option. Utilize our online MPH courses to connect your medical career with opportunities in Public Health.
PA students can begin the MPH the spring or summer prior to their medical courses and then continue with courses as their load allows. Note: Students must have completed their bachelor’s degree to begin the MPH courses. PA faculty advisors assist in maintaining the enrollment balance and primary focus on medical classes. Timing allows students to complete the MPH during their PA studies or complete the MPH 1 year following the MPAS degree.
PA's with an MPH
- Broaden your perspective in how to bring healthcare to a community.
- Increase your training in evaluating medical literature.
- Advance your skills in assessing community factors that affect your patients’ health.
- Enhance your expertise in healthcare administration and policy.
- Improve your prospects as a future PA faculty member.
About the Program
Part-time Students work with advisors in both programs to arrange an enrollment plan arranging MPH classes around PA heavy periods. Students take 1 course in an 8 week period.
5 Starts a Year Online classes take place in 5 sessions of 8 weeks each year. Those sessions are:
- Fall I
- Fall II
- Spring I
- Spring II
- Summer
Flexible Program Work is divided by week and students must keep in pace with the weekly schedule. Class activity – content review, discussion boards, and written assignments – often require going online to participate in the class multiple times each week. We recommend students be prepared to spend 12-15 hours a week on each course due to the accelerated pace. Make changes to your progress as needed. Our online program allows students to easily stop out for a term or two should work or life changes make it necessary.
Co-Curricular Programs Students are required to participate in 4 hours of co-curricular programming each 8-week session. Events interlude opportunities in career preparation, cross-discipline collaboration, and self-care programs. Activities are coordinated and participation tracked by the SPH Office of Academic Services.
Community Service Students are encouraged to complete 2 hours of community service each month they are active in SPH classes. Faculty, staff and students in the School of Public Health regularly contribute their talents and skills to support solutions for a healthier community. Service work can be completed with current organization relationships or opportunities in the DFW area are regularly provided by the Office of Academic Services. The Associate Dean for Community Engagement will send communications for reporting and tracking of any volunteer activities each term.
Practicum experience is arranged by students and advised by graduate faculty. Students local to the Fort Worth and DFW area may take advantage of UNTHSC relationships in the local community. Students in other locations will be coached on how to connect with potential practicum sites, to develop their project goals and to gain the most from their practicum experience. Practicum experiences often last 6 months to 1 year and include about 600 hours from conception to completion. Students who have substantial prior professional experience that aligns with MPH competencies may apply for a waiver of up to 300 of these hours.
Estimated Cost / Financial Support
Total program tuition and fees cost estimates are available via the Office of Student Finance. Note the available pre-calculated charts by college and degree plan.
UNTHSC administers federal, state and institutional financial aid programs including scholarships, loans and college work study. Contact the office of Financial Aid at: finaid@unthsc.edu or 817-735-2505
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
We’re glad you have questions. Graduate school is a big step and requires careful consideration. You’re always welcome to email or call us for answers, but for your convenience, we’ve curated our responses to the most common questions from our applicants. You may view our “Frequently Asked Questions” page by following this link: unthscstaging.wpengine.com/college-of-public-health/faq.
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