The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston 2009-2011 Catalog For Fall 2011 – Summer 2012 Entering Students The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award 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. The provisions of this 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 or The Uni- versity of Texas System. The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston reserves the right to withdraw courses at any time, 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 students and those already enrolled. TABLE OF CONTENTS School of Public Health 91 Doctor of Philosophy 92 Courses of Instruction 1 Dean’s Welcome 101 Faculty 2 Academic Year – 2011-2012 104 Health Promotion and Behavioral 3 Administrative Officers Sciences 4 General Information 105 Master of Public Health 4 History 105 Doctor of Public Health 5 Mission and Goals 106 Doctor of Philosophy 5 Accreditation 107 Courses of Instruction 5 Non-discrimination Policy 124 Faculty 6 Degree Programs 130 Management, Policy and Community 7 Time Limits on Degree Programs Health 8 Master of Public Health 130 Master of Public Health 10 Core Requirements for M.P.H. 132 Doctor of Public Health 12 Doctor of Public Health 133 Doctor of Philosophy 15 Master of Science 136 Courses of Instruction 17 Doctor of Philosophy 147 Faculty 21 Dual Degree Programs 152 Interdivisional Programs and 27 Non-Degree Programs Courses 30 Special Programs 164 Regional Campuses 31 Just In Time Courses 165 Austin Regional Campus 34 Application Procedures and 166 Brownsville Regional Campus Deadline Dates 167 Dallas Regional Campus 37 Admissions Process 168 El Paso Regional Campus 40 Tuition and Fees 169 San Antonio Regional Campus 44 Fees 170 Distance Education 46 Address Change 171 Institutes, Centers, Collaborating 47 Student Communication Centers, and Programs 48 Divisions, Courses of Instruction 184 Student Services and Faculty 184 Financial Assistance 48 Academic Term Structure 184 Traineeships 49 Academic Divisions 185 Scholarships 50 Biostatistics 189 Fellowships 50 Master of Public Health 189 Career Services 51 Master of Science 189 School Organizations 52 Doctor of Philosophy 190 Diversity Program 53 Courses of Instruction 191 Grading, Conduct and Satisfactory 62 Faculty Progress Policies 65 Epidemiology, Human Genetics, 191 Grades and Environmental Sciences 191 Academic Conflict Resolution 65 Epidemiology and Disease Control 191 Satisfactory Progress 66 Master of Public Health 192 Long Term Absences 67 Doctor of Public Health 193 Required Review 68 Master of Science 193 Student Conduct and Discipline 69 Doctor of Philosophy 195 Facilities and Resources 70 Courses of Instruction 195 Building 81 Faculty 195 Library Facilities and Services 88 Environmental and Occupational 196 Educational Media Resources Health Sciences 196 Computer Services and Facilities 88 Master of Public Health 198 Geographic Distribution of Alumni 89 Doctor of Public Health 200 Accredited Schools of Public Health DEAN’S WELCOME Welcome to The University of Texas School of Public Health. We are committed to making health happen through visionary teaching, research, and public health service programs. This school ranks among the top in the nation and has established a state, national, and international reputation as a leader in education and research. In addition to being an outstanding venue for your public health education and research, The University of Texas School of Public Health has the lowest tuition and fees among the top schools of public health in the country. Health is among the most important conditions of life and is needed to achieve well-being and happiness. From vaccinations to prevent dis- eases that devastated past generations, health departments monitoring disease outbreaks, restaurant inspections preventing food poisoning outbreaks, seat belt and drunk driving laws, water systems to fluoridate drinking water, regulations to control pollution in our environ- ment, safer workplaces, family planning programs, school programs to prevent heart disease by teaching children about healthy diets and promoting physical activity, adolescents learning in school about safer sex practices to minimize exposure to and prevent sexually transmitted diseases and avoid unwanted pregnancies, the use of sunscreen to protect our skin, smoke- free public places, to smoking prevention and smoking cessation programs, public health touches our lives every day. Public health as a profession has made great achievements and major advances are imminent, especially from the development and application of population- based health promotion and disease prevention programs, improving health service delivery systems, and improving environmental and occupational health. The interdisciplinary nature of public health makes it a very appealing profession. Public health has several core areas that work together. Public health professionals collaborate with physi- cians, nurses, dentists, teachers, schools, education agencies, legislators, government agen- cies, and the media to improve the health of people. Our students have the advantage of being a part of an excellent health science center located in the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world. We have regional cam- puses in Austin, Brownsville, Dallas, El Paso and San Antonio, where we serve as a resource for the entire state of Texas. We serve a very diverse population in Texas. This diversity is reflect- ed in the make-up of our student body. Our students have abundant opportunities for student employment, student research, and practicum experiences to enrich their education in public health. Our mission 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 the world. No matter where you plan to pursue your public health career, the UT School of Public Health is an excellent place to obtain an education in public health. We have an outstanding faculty ready to assist you in your studies and involve you in research and community service activi- ties. I am confident that you will find the School a friendly, supportive, and intellectually stimu- lating environment for your studies. Roberta B. Ness, M.D., M.P.H. Dean of the School of Public Health M. David Low Chair in Public Health THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT HOUSTON ACADEMIC CALENDAR YEAR 2011-2012 Fall Semester 2011 Semester Begins August 29, 2011 Classes End December 9, 2011 Exams December 12 - 16, 2011 Blackboard Holiday December 27 - 30, 2011 Spring Semester 2012 Semester Begins January 9, 2012 Classes End April 27, 2012 Exams April 30 - May 4, 2012 Spring Break March 5 - 9, 2012 Summer Sessions 2012 12 Weeks Session Begins May 21, 2012 Classes End August 10, 2012 Exams August 13 - 14, 2012 1st 6 Weeks, 2012 Session Begins May 21, 2012 Classes End June 29, 2012 Exams July 2, 2012 Blackboard Holiday June 5 - 6, 2012 2nd 6 weeks, 2012 Session Begins July 5, 2012 Classes End August 13, 2012 Exams August 14, 2012 Holidays will be announced in the schedule of classes. For the complete calendar please go to the Registrar’s Office website. 2 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS Roberta B. Ness, M.D., M.P.H. Eric Boerwinkle, Ph.D. Dean Director, Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences L. Kay Bartholomew, Ed.D., M.P.H. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Barbara C. Tilley, Ph.D. Director, Division of Biostatistics David R. Carnahan, M.B.A. Associate Dean for Management Luisa Franzini, Ph.D. Director, Division of Management, Policy Linda E. Lloyd, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.S.W. and Community Health Associate Dean for Public Health Practice Sally W. Vernon, Ph.D. Laura E. Mitchell, Ph.D. Director, Division of Health Promotion Associate Dean for Research and Behavioral Sciences Mary Ann Smith, Ph.D. Maria E. Fernandez, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Student Affairs Director of Diversity Programs Derek D. Drawhorn, M.C.S. Sandra J. Fisbeck Assistant Dean, Information Technology Director of Administrative Services Hector G. Balcazar, Ph.D. Mary Pastore, B.S. Regional Dean, Director of Accounting Services El Paso Regional Campus Sylvia A. Salas, M.P.H. Raul Caetano, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D. Director of Academic Affairs Regional Dean, Dallas Regional Campus Anne Baronitis Director of Student and Alumni Affairs Sharon P. Cooper, Ph.D. Regional Dean, Helena M. VonVille, M.L.S., M.P.H. San Antonio Regional Campus Director of Library Services Joseph B. McCormick, M.D. Regional Dean, Brownsville Regional Campus Cheryl L. Perry, Ph.D. Regional Dean, Austin Regional Campus 3 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 child- ren. Early practical applications of these roots were the adoption of formal quaran- tine regulations in the 1300s by the 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 ex- plosion of knowledge during the last half of the nineteenth century promised relief.