School of Public Health Profile

History and Purpose
The Texas State Legislature authorized a School of Public Health within The University of Texas System in 1947, but funding was delayed until 1967. The first class, admitted in the fall of 1969, occupied rented and borrowed space. Enrollment doubled in the second year and again in the third year. By the end of August 2004, the school had more than 4,000 graduates who were serving the public in every phase of public health. The mission of the school is to improve and sustain the health of people by providing the highest quality graduate education, research and community service for Texas, the nation and internationally. The school’s first responsibility is to provide present and future practitioners, teachers and scientists the highest quality graduate education in the theory and practice of public health. The school is committed to the pursuit of knowledge that enhances both the theory and practice of public health. Faculty support and engage in research directed toward such activities as health promotion, environmental health, disease control and health care delivery. Faculty provide service to local, state, national and international health agencies and develop public policy, contribute to the activities of these agencies and enhance the well-being of the public.

Instructional Programs
Master of Public Health
The master of public health (MPH) degree is the basic professional degree in the field. Many supervisory and managerial positions in public health require this degree. Areas of specialization open to those pursuing an MPH include: community health practice, disease control, health promotion and health education, health services organization, global health, and occupational and environmental health. The Houston campus also offers dual degree programs: MD/MPH, JD/MPH, MSN/MPH and MSW/MPH.

The School of Public Health has MPH programs at the San Antonio, El Paso, Dallas and Brownsville regional campuses under the direction of a core group of resident faculty in each location. Interactive television courses are offered at all five SPH campus locations.

Master of Science
The master of science in public health (MS) degree is offered with the following fields of concentration: biological sciences, biostatistics, environmental sciences and epidemiology. The school expects the student to concentrate in one or a few areas and gain an understanding of the interrelations within the array of disciplines. Students are encouraged to draw on the resources of other institutions of higher learning in Houston and elsewhere as necessary.

Doctor of Public Health
The doctor of public health (DrPH) degree in community health signifies distinguished scholarly accomplishment in the professional field. It is primarily designed for those who plan careers involving professional practice, teaching or research. The major clusters of teaching and research activities are the same as those open to MPH degree students.

Doctor of Philosophy
The doctor of philosophy in public health (PhD) degree requires scholarly attainment and a capacity for independent research. It is primarily a research and teaching degree. Curricula leading to the degree are offered in behavioral sciences, biological sciences, biostatistics, environmental sciences, epidemiology and management and policy sciences.

Facilities
The main campus of the school is in the Reuel A. Stallones building, named for the founding dean who served from 1967 until 1986. The 10-story, 220,000 gross-square-foot building is located in a park setting with outstanding library, computer and research laboratory facilities. To address the need for graduate public health education in other geographic areas of the state, the school established regional campus programs in San Antonio (1979), El Paso (1992), Dallas (1998), and Brownsville (2001).

Organization Chart