The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston 2018-2020 Catalog
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The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston 2018-2020 Catalog The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award certificate, baccalaureate, masters, doctorate and special professional degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. This catalog is a general information publication only. It is not intended to nor does it contain all regulations that relate to students. Applicants, students, and faculty are referred to The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) General Catalog. The provisions of this catalog and/or the General Catalog do not constitute a contract, express or implied, between any applicant, student, or faculty member and The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston (UTHealth School of Public Health) or The University of Texas System. The UTHealth School of Public Health reserves the right to withdraw courses at any time, and to change fees or tuition, calendar, curriculum, degree requirements, graduation procedures, and any other requirements affecting students. Changes will become effective whenever the proper authorities so determine and will apply to both prospective and current students. To the extent provided by applicable law, no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by UTHealth on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law. TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome from Dean Eric Boerwinkle, PhD 2 UTHealth School of Public Health, Academic Calendars 2018-2020 4 Administrative Officers 6 General Information 7 Campuses 9 Degree Programs 11 Degree Locations 13 Master of Public Health 14 Master of Science 17 Doctor of Public Health 19 Doctor of Philosophy 22 Dual Degree Programs 26 Graduate Certificates and Accelerated Master’s Program (4+1 Program) 27 Special Programs 30 Application Procedures and Deadline Dates 32 Admissions Process 35 Tuition and Fees 38 Academic Term Structure 39 Academic Departments 40 Biostatistics and Data Science 41 Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences 50 Epidemiology 50 Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences 61 Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences 69 Management, Policy and Community Health 82 Interdepartmental Courses 97 Research Centers & Faculty Directory 102 Academic Affairs and Student Services 103 Grading, Conduct, and Satisfactory Progress Policies 105 Test Security 109 Facilities and Resources 110 1 WELCOME FROM DEAN ERIC BOERWINKLE, PHD I am honored to be the Dean of UTHealth School of Public Health. Here, we offer advanced degrees in the diverse field of public health including behavior sciences, genetics, and health care management. Our accomplished graduates are innovative leaders at the forefront of population health programs in universities, the private sector, and government organizations in Texas and across the nation. We are continuously challenging ourselves to broaden our educational mission to meet the growing demands of the workforce, and to expand our repertoire of excellence to lead the ever-changing field of health care. What is public health? Public health is a science that aims to keep people and communities healthy by preventing disease and ensuring better health care outcomes. Public health is also a profession. UTHealth School of Public Health is here to improve the health of the people of Texas, the nation and the world — our faculty, students and alumni have been doing so for nearly 50 years. We are conducting exciting and innovative research to identify new ways to keep people healthy and to reduce their risk of future disease. This includes investigating new ways to get young people to eat healthier; new ways to prevent teen pregnancy through better education; new ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases; and new ways to identify the genes that may make some of us more susceptible to or protected from disease. And finally, in the event that you or a loved one gets sick and needs to go to a hospital, it is the people from UTHealth School of Public Health who are leading the way through research and training to ensure that best practices are being used to achieve the best possible health care outcomes. What sets us apart from other public health programs? Texas is a big and diverse state — both ethnically and economically. UTHealth School of Public Health has six campuses that span the entire state: from Houston to El Paso; from Brownsville to Dallas; and with San Antonio and Austin in the center. We can — and we do — touch virtually the entire population of Texas. At each campus, we have strong ties to health care organizations, but our strongest ties are to the local communities. We are working side-by-side with partners in clinics, schools, and in people’s homes to prevent or delay the onset of disease and to improve health care outcomes within these communities. Research is the engine that drives advanced education and modern health care. To achieve this, retention and recruitment of the world’s best population scientists are critical. Strong strategic partnerships across The University of Texas System and throughout Texas are also important. We are working to solidify the “third coast” as a leader in advanced biotechnologies, health care, and population sciences. The Houston Campus of UTHealth School of Public Health is nestled in the heart of the Texas Medical Center — the largest medical center in the world — but, more importantly, it is the best place in the world for biomedical research. The number of renowned institutions, highly-trained individuals, and patient visits is unsurpassed. In addition, there is a strong desire to collaborate among the physicians, scientists, and trainees at each of these institutions. Although the Texas Medical Center has grown stronger through competition, it will continue to do so through cooperation and collaboration. 2 I am the luckiest person on earth to have the privilege to work with so many passionate, dedicated, and intelligent people. I look forward to working with you to achieve these important and shared goals. Thank you, and I hope you stay healthy. Eric Boerwinkle, PhD Dean, UTHealth School of Public Health 3 UTHEALTH SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, ACADEMIC CALENDARS 2018-2020 Fall Semester 2018 Fall Semester 2019 First Day of Classes August 27 First Day of Classes August 26 Last Day of Classes December 7 Last Day of Classes December 6 Final Exams December 10 - 14 Final Exams December 9 – 13 Spring Semester 2019 Spring Semester 2020 First Day of Classes January 14 First Day of Classes January 6 Last Day of Classes May 3 Last Day of Classes April 24 Final Exams May 6 – 10 Final Exams April 27 – May 1 Spring Break March 18 – 22 Spring Break March 16 – 20 Summer Sessions 2019 Summer Sessions 2020 12 Weeks 12 Weeks First Day of Classes May 20 First Day of Classes May 18 Last Day of Classes August 12 Last Day of Classes August 7 Final Exams August 13 - 14 Final Exams August 10 – 11 6 Weeks, Session I 6 Weeks, Session I First Day of Classes May 20 First Day of Classes May 18 Last Day of Classes July 1 Last Day of Classes June 26 Final Exams July 2 Final Exams June 29 6 Weeks, Session II 6 Weeks, Session II First Day of Classes July 3 First Day of Classes June 30 Last Day of Classes August 12 Last Day of Classes August 7 Final Exams August 13 – 14 Final Exams August 10 – 11 Holidays will be announced in the schedule of classes. Academic calendars are subject to change. For the complete and most current academic calendar, please go to the Office of the Registrar’s website at https://www.uth.edu/registrar/calendars/academic-calendar-academic.htm 4 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS Eric Boerwinkle, PhD Dean Susan Emery, PhD Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Research Affairs Mary Ann Smith, PhD Alanna Morrison, PhD Assistant Dean of Students Chair Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics Deanna Hoelscher, PhD and Environmental Sciences Campus Dean Austin Campus Sally W. Vernon, PhD Chair Joseph B. McCormick, MD Department of Health Promotion and Campus Dean Behavioral Sciences Brownsville Campus Debra J. Ryan, MEd Bijal Balasubramanian, PhD, MPH, MBBS Associate Dean for Management Campus Dean Dallas Campus Krishna Sankhavaram Executive Director of Information Technology Kristina D. Mena, MSPH, PhD Interim Campus Dean Nesh Aqrawi El Paso Campus Director of Academic Affairs Melissa A. Valerio, PhD, MPH Erin Meade Campus Dean Director of Development San Antonio Campus Brian C. Miller, JD Hulin Wu, PhD Director of Research Services Chair Department of Biostatistics and Data Science Mary Pastore, BS Director of Accounting Services Robert O. Morgan, PhD Chair John T. (JT) Rayburn Department of Management, Policy and Director of Administrative Services Community Health Janelle Rios, PhD Director of Public Health Practice 6 GENERAL INFORMATION History The origins of public health can be traced to two roots: the requirement that a community protect itself from the ravages of mass disease, and an altruistic desire to ensure at least a minimal opportunity for a healthy life for underprivileged children. Early practical applications of these roots were the adoption of formal quarantine regulations in the 1300s by the Italian cities of Ragusa and Venice and the child health movements of the late 1800s. Epidemics were an inevitable result of the growth of cities, and urban populations were forced to submit helplessly to the catastrophic epidemics of smallpox, cholera, plague, diphtheria, and other diseases until an explosion of knowledge during the last half of the nineteenth century promised relief.