University of Texas School of Public Health

Minors

Choosing a Minor

MS, DrPH and PhD students must choose a minor in a public health discipline outside of their major. The following minor requirements are listed for each public health discipline. For further discussion about how your minor can help you meet your career goals, please contact your faculty advisor.

BIOSTATISTICS MINOR

Course of study – required:

• At least nine semester credit hours (9) for MS, DrPH and PhD students majoring in other public health disciplines;
• Courses required for the minor:
• For MS students, minor requirements are: PH 1700 (Intermediate Biostatistics) and two biostatistics courses above PH1700.
• For doctoral students, minor requirements are: PH 1700 (Intermediate Biostatistics) and three biostatistics courses above PH1700.

PH 1820 (Applied Statistical Analysis I) is strongly recommended for the minor for all degree program.

EPIDEMIOLOGY MINOR

Course of study – required:

• Nine semester credit hours (9) for MS, DrPH, and PhD students majoring in other public health disciplines.
  • For MS students, minor requirements are:
    • PHM 2612 – Epidemiology I (3 hrs)
    • Two electives in Epidemiology
  • For doctoral students, minor requirements are:
    • PH 2615 – Epidemiology II (3 hrs)
    • PH 2710 – Epidemiology III (3 hrs)
    • At least one additional course in Epidemiology (Epidemiology IV, 3 hrs, recommended)

ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SCIENCES MINOR

Course of study – required:

• Minimum nine semester credit hours (9) for MS, DrPH and PhD students majoring in other public health disciplines.
• Courses for the minor include:
• PHWM 2100 Foundations of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences (required)
• PHM 2130 Recognition of Environmental and Occupational Hazards (recommended)
• PH 2175 Toxicology I (recommended)

Course of study – required:

• Nine semester credit hours (9) for MS, DrPH and PhD students majoring in other public health disciplines.
• The specific courses for the student minoring in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences will be determined by the student’s committee with guidance from the HPBS member of the committee to meet the individual needs of the student.
• The requirements for a minor in behavioral sciences include three to four of the courses listed below, and should include primary theory and methods in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences and program evaluation and intervention development (especially for the DrPH student) and may also include a Special Topics course in the student’s area of interest.

Courses suggested for the minor include:

• PHD 1113 Advanced Methods for Planning and Implementing Health Promotion Programs
• PHM 1118 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods
• PHD 1122 Health Promotion Theory and Methods: A Teaching and Learning Experience for Doctoral Students
• PHD 1130 Measurement Theory
• PHD 1420 and PHD 1421 Research Design and Analysis in Behavioral Sciences I and II
• PHD 1425 Applied Multivariate Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
• PHD 1430 Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Evidence-Based Public Health

MANAGEMENT, POLICY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH MINOR

Course of study – required:

• Nine semester credit hours (9) for MS, DrPH, and PhD students majoring in other public health disciplines.
• Students are expected to take courses focusing in one of the following areas:
  •  Health Economics/Health Services Research, Health Policy, Healthcare Management, or Community Health Practice.
    • In general, the courses in each topic area should be chosen from the following sets of courses:
• HE/HSR:
  • PHD 3910 Health Economics
  • PH 3915 Methods for Economic Evaluation of Health
  • PHD 3930 Econometrics in Public Health
  • PH 3931 Advanced Econometrics
  • PH 3940 Healthcare Outcomes and Quality Research
  • PHD 3945 Advanced Health Services Research Methods
  • PHD 3935 Advanced Health Economics
  • PHD 3926 Health Survey Research Design
• Health Policy
  • PHD 3810 Health Policy in the United States
  • PHD3812 Comparative Healthcare Systems and Policy
  • PH 3815 Health Policy Analysis
  • PH 3738 Legal Issues in Healthcare
  • PHD 3830 Ethics and Policy
  • PH 3850 Translating Research to Policy
  • PH 3736 Healthcare Payment Systems and Policy
• Healthcare Management
  • PHD 3998 Quality Management and Improvement in Healthcare
  • PHD3720 Healthcare Finance
  • PH 3738 Legal Issues in Healthcare
  • PH 3998 Introduction to Healthcare Management Research
  • PHD 3998 Ops/Tech/Decision Management
  • PH 3747 Healthcare Operations Management
  • PH 3736 Healthcare Payment Systems and Policy
  • PHD 3998 Strategy/ Governance & Leadership
• Community Health Practice
  • MS Minor requirements (select 3)
    • PHM 3630 Health Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
    • PH 3998 Community Assessment Concepts, Methods, and Technologies
    • PHM 3922 Economic and Social Determinants of Health
    • PH 3620 Principles and Practice of Public Health
    • DrPH Minor requirements
      • PHD 1118 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods
      • PHD 3998 Diversity
      • PHD 3998 CHP Core I: Principles and Methods

Specific courses can be changed to meet the individual needs of the student with the approval of the MPACH member of the student committee.  If the committee does not have a MPACH member, the student is expected to seek guidance from a MPACH faculty member in their desired Minor area in choosing Minor courses as described above.

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT BREADTH/MINOR

Course selections for a Leadership and Management minor for DrPH students (9 credits required)

Courses (Choose any three – all are 3 credits)

PH 5200 Foundations of Leadership
PH3744 Organizational Behavior in Healthcare Organization
PH 3998 Strategy/Governance
PH 3747 Healthcare Operation Management
PHD 5215 Advanced Leadership
PH 3998 Strategic Leadership

Credits

How Will Your Work Count?

A student is classified full-time if enrolled in at least nine semester credit hours during the Fall or Spring semesters, at least six semester credit hours during a 12-week Summer session, or at least three semester credit hours during each six-week Summer session. Full-time students generally enroll in 12-16 credit hours per semester. A minimum of three credit hours must be taken in each semester a student is enrolled. Students are expected to enroll in culminating experience, thesis, or dissertation hours during the time that resources are being used in this endeavor. All courses taken by students accumulate semester credit hours, but no more than a combined total of six credit hours earned for culminating/thesis/dissertation research plus the practicum experience may be counted toward the total credit hour minimum of the degree.

Courses

What Classes Will You Take?

A course generally consists of a combination of lectures, discussion periods, directed reading, and individual study and inquiry. Courses may be taken in a classroom, online or via Interactive Television when offered. Courses are letter-graded or pass/fail. All courses satisfying the MPH core requirements are letter-graded. Elective courses may be letter-graded or pass/fail at the discretion of the instructor. Credits earned at other institutions prior to enrollment at the UT School of Public Health shall not be applied to UTSPH transcripts or counted toward graduation requirements. Through reciprocal agreements, however, students enrolled at the UT School of Public Health may take courses for credit at affiliated institutions.

Enrollment

Becoming a Student

Enrollment is required in the semester in which the research proposal is submitted and continuously through the semester in which all requirements for graduation are completed. Enrollment is also required in the semester in which the qualifying examination (doctoral programs) is taken and in the semester in which the student is involved in a practicum/internship (MPH and DrPH programs). Students must maintain enrollment in the School so that any absence from the program does not exceed one calendar year (three consecutive semesters) unless a formal leave of absence is obtained. General and specific requirements for degrees may be altered in successive catalogs. A student is bound by the requirements of the catalog in force at the time of his/her admission or readmission; however, a student must complete all degree requirements within seven years or be subject to the degree requirements of the catalog in effect at the time of graduation.

A student is classified “full-time” if enrolled in at least nine semester credit hours during the Fall or Spring semesters, at least six semester credit hours during a 12-week Summer session, or at least three semester credit hours during each six-week Summer session. Full-time students generally enroll in 12-16 credit hours per semester. A minimum of three credit hours must be taken in each semester a student is enrolled. Students are expected to enroll in culminating experience, thesis, or dissertation hours during the time that resources are being used in this endeavor. All courses taken by students accumulate semester credit hours, but no more than a combined total of six credit hours earned for culminating experience plus the practicum may be counted toward the total credit hour minimum of the masters degree. Nine combined dissertation and practicum hours may be counted for the doctoral degree.

Time Limits

The Clock is Ticking…

Students are expected to complete master’s degree programs (MPH and MS) within five years and doctoral degree programs (DrPH and PhD) within seven years. In case of extenuating circumstances, a student may request a one-year extension provided there is adequate justification. The possibility of a second year of extension exists for extraordinary circumstances. Students who do not graduate within the approved time limit must be readmitted to the school in order to complete the degree program in effect at the time of readmission.