Plan Description
The Master of Public Health Degree Program is designed to prepare students to be Public Health professionals in the private and public sectors with the overall goal of promoting and protecting the health of individuals in our society.
Educational Objectives
The purpose of the MPH Program is to prepare individuals to become effective health care practitioners, researchers and teachers who will competently identify public health problems and needs, develop effective strategies to address those needs, and promote appropriate services to be available for the protection of human health.
At a minimum, the following criteria should be met to assure each student a) develops an understanding of the areas of knowledge that are basic to public health, b) acquires skills and experience in the application of basic public health concepts and of specialty knowledge to the solution of community health problems, and c) demonstrates integration of knowledge through a capstone experience.
For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degree Directory.
Plan Admission Requirements
Application deadlines
Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
To be considered for admission to the MPH, an applicant must:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from a regionally accredited institution and have adequate preparation in the biological, physical, or social sciences. A criterion for admission is at least a B (3.0) grade-point average or the equivalent in work completed after the first two years of a bachelor’s degree program and in all post-baccalaureate course work.
- Completion of the school’s application process.
- Submit a personal essay describing what you perceive to be pressing public health issues, why a career in the field appeals to you, and how it will use your strengths and commitment.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Take and submit scores for the Personal Potential Index (PPI) exam.
- All applicants to the MPH program who do not have a master’s degree or higher will be required to submit GRE or equivalent (e.g., MCAT, LSAT) test scores no more than 5 years old.
- All applicants will submit the ETS Personal Potential Index (PPI) exam.
- Unofficial copies to the School of Public Health.
- All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
Dental Fast Track Program
The Doctorate of Dental Medicine-Fast Track Masters of Public Health program is designed for those who seek a deeper understanding of disease prevention, medical delivery, and health promotion at both an individual and population level within the field of dentistry. The program enables students who graduate with both the Masters of Public Health and the Doctorate of Dental Medicine to become leaders in oral health research, education, and community dental health promotion. After completing the program, graduates will be eligible to apply for a position within a dental public health residency program.
Students interested in applying for the DMD-Fast Track MPH program should begin by applying for admissions to the UNLV School of Dental Medicine. Please see the School of Dental Medicine website for specific requirements and deadlines.
Current dental students interested in the Fast Track MPH program are encouraged to submit an application for permission to enter the program to the UNLV School of Dental Medicine Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs. This request form must accompany the Graduate College application for admissions into the MPH program. Completed packets will be submitted to the Graduate College for admissions to the Masters of Public Health program.
Students must indicate on their Graduate College application form that they are registering for the DMD-Fast Track MPH program and present evidence of being a current dental student in good standing by submitting a signed SDM application for permission to enter the program. While a dental student may apply for the fast track program at any time, they may not register for classes within the College of Community Health Sciences until the Fall semester of their sophomore year. Students will also be limited in the number of MPH classes they are allowed to pursue during their sophomore year of dental school. A cap of one MPH class a semester will be enforced. The junior and senior year of dental school, students in the fast track program will be allowed to take heavier course loads unless specifically stated otherwise by the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs at the School of Dental Medicine.
MD Fast Track Program
The MD Fast Track is designed for physicians and residents who seek professional development in the area of public health and public health research.
- Applicants for the Medical Professional Fast Track must have an M.D., O.D., DMD, DDS or equivalent professional medical degree from an accredited Institution and/or be a practicing physician or dentist at an area hospital or Medical Facility.
- Applicants will apply through the current Graduate College application system.
- In addition to Graduate College Requirements applicants will submit a resume/CV and a statement of purpose.
Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.
Subplan 2 Requirements: Environmental and Occupational Health Track
Total Required Credits: 45
Course Requirements
Required Courses – Credits: 18
EOH 710 /HED 710 - Fundamentals of Public Health
EOH 740 - Fundamentals of Environmental Health
EAB 705 - Epidemiology and Public Health
HCA 701 - U.S. Health Care System: Programs and Policies
HED 720 - Program Planning and Grant Writing in Health Promotion
EAB 703 - Biostatistical Methods for the Health Sciences
Environmental and Occupational Health Courses – Credits: 3
EOH 601 - Advanced Environmental Toxicology
Health and Safety Courses – Credits: 6
EOH 717 - Food Safety and Public Health
EOH 747 - Transmission of Infectious Disease
Environmental Courses – Credits: 3
EOH 765 - Seminar in Environmental Justice and Public Health
Skill Development Courses – Credits: 6
EAB 700 - Research Methods for Public Health
EOH 709 - Scientific/Technical Writing for the Health and Life Sciences
Internship – Credits: 3
EOH 793 - Internship in Environmental Health
An additional 3 credits of internship may be taken as an elective for a total of 6 credits of internship.
Elective Courses – Credits: 0-3
Students completing a project must complete three credits of elective coursework. Select from the following list:
EOH 705 - Social Epidemiology
EOH 713 - Public Health Law
EOH 715 - Qualitative & Field Methods for Public Health
EOH 732 - Children, Development, Health, and the Environment
EOH 757 - Parasitology and Public Health
EOH 760 - Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health
EOH 765 - Seminar in Environmental Justice and Public Health
EOH 767 - Airborne Pathogens and Human Health
EOH 769 - Pollution and Health
EAB 716 - The Epidemiology of Obesity
EOH 777 - Emerging Infectious Disease
EOH 795 - Special Topics in Public Health
EOH 796 - Independent Study in Environmental Health
HED 705 - Theoretical Foundations in Health Promotion
Culminating Experience – 3-6
Complete one of the following:
EOH 794 - Professional Paper in Environmental Health
EOH 798 - Thesis Research (6 credits)
Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 45 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
- In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation from up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- Successfully complete the professional paper or successfully complete and defend a thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
- If a thesis is completed, the student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted document to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
Subplan 5 Requirements: Dental Fast Track - Social and Behavioral Health
Total Credits Required: 45
Course Requirements
Required Courses – Credits: 18
EOH 710 /HED 710 - Fundamentals of Public Health
EOH 740 - Fundamentals of Environmental Health
EAB 705 - Epidemiology and Public Health
HCA 701 - U.S. Health Care System: Programs and Policies
HED 720 - Program Planning and Grant Writing in Health Promotion
EAB 703 - Biostatistical Methods for the Health Sciences
Social and Behavioral Health Courses – Credits: 6
HED 705 - Theoretical Foundations in Health Promotion
HED 730 - Program Evaluation in Health Promotion
Methods Courses – Credits: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
EAB 700 - Research Methods for Public Health
EAB 785 – Qualitative Methods
Social Health Courses – Credits: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
EOH 705 - Social Epidemiology
EOH 760 - Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health
Internship – Credits: 3
EOH 793 - Internship in Environmental Health
An additional 3 credits of internship may be taken as an elective for a total of 6 credits of internship.
Elective Courses – Credits: 6-9
Students completing a thesis must complete six credits of elective coursework, and students completing a project must complete nine credits of elective coursework. Select from the following list:
Den 7151 – Healthcare Finance and Public Health (1 credit)
Den 7154 – Healthcare Delivery: Patient Record and HIPAA Regulations (1.5 credits)
Den 7160 – Research and Professional Development I (1 credit)
Den 7161 – Research and Professional Development II (1.5 credits)
Den 7162 – Biochemical Basis of Clinical Nutrition (3 credits)
Den 7252 – Community Outreach/Geriatric Population ( 3 credits)
Den 7253 – Research and Analysis Methodology (1.5 credits)
Culminating Experience – Credits: 3-6
Complete one of the following:
HED 750 - Graduate Project in Health Promotion (3 credits)
HED 755 - Thesis Research (6 credits)
Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 45 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
- Students enrolled in the DMD-Fast Track MPH program must remain in good academic/ethical standing in both the individual DMD and MPH programs or may be subject to dismissal.
- Students in the DMD-Fast Track MPH program are subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to all students at the School of Dental Medicine and the School of Community Health Sciences.
- Upon date of entry into the MPH program, students will be given a maximum time frame of five years in which they must satisfy the degree requirements for the Masters in Public Health degree.
- In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- Successfully complete the graduate project or successfully complete and defend a thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
- If a thesis is completed, the student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted document to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
Subplan 6 Requirements: Dental Fast Track - Environmental and Occupational Health
Total Required Credits: 45
Course Requirements
Required Courses – Credits: 18
EOH 710 /HED 710 - Fundamentals of Public Health
EOH 740 - Fundamentals of Environmental Health
EAB 705 - Epidemiology and Public Health
HCA 701 - U.S. Health Care System: Programs and Policies
HED 720 - Program Planning and Grant Writing in Health Promotion
EAB 703 - Biostatistical Methods for the Health Sciences
Environmental and Occupational Health Courses – Credits: 3
EOH 601 - Advanced Environmental Toxicology
Health and Safety Courses – Credits: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
EOH 717 - Food Safety and Public Health
EOH 747 - Transmission of Infectious Disease
Environmental Courses – Credits: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
EOH 765 - Seminar in Environmental Justice and Public Health
EOH 732 - Children, Development, Health, and the Environment
Skill Development Courses – Credits: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
EAB 700 - Research Methods for Public Health
EOH 709 - Scientific/Technical Writing for the Health and Life Sciences
Internship – Credits: 3
EOH 793 - Internship in Environmental Health
An additional 3 credits of internship may be taken as an elective for a total of 6 credits of internship.
Elective Courses – Credits: 6-9
Students completing a thesis must complete six credits of elective coursework, and students completing a project must complete nine credits of elective coursework. Select from the following list:
Den 7151 – Healthcare Finance and Public Health (1 credit)
Den 7154 – Healthcare Delivery: Patient Record and HIPAA Regulations (1.5 credits)
Den 7160 – Research and Professional Development I (1 credit)
Den 7161 – Research and Professional Development II (1.5 credits)
Den 7162 – Biochemical Basis of Clinical Nutrition (3 credits)
Den 7253 – Research and Analysis Methodology (1.5 credits)
Culminating Experience – Credits: 3-6
Complete one of the following:
EOH 794 - Professional Paper in Environmental Health (3 credits)
EOH 798 - Thesis Research (6 credits)
Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 45 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
- Students enrolled in the DMD-Fast Track MPH program must remain in good academic/ethical standing in both the individual DMD and MPH programs or may be subject to dismissal.
- Students in the DMD-Fast Track MPH program are subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to all students at the School of Dental Medicine and the School of Community Health Sciences.
- Upon date of entry into the MPH program, students will be given a maximum time frame of five years in which they must satisfy the degree requirements for the Masters in Public Health degree.
- In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation from up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- Successfully complete the professional paper or successfully complete and defend a thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
- If a thesis is completed, the student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted document to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
Subplan 7 Requirements: Dental Fast Track - Health Care Administration and Policy
Total Required Credits: 45
Course Requirements
Required Courses – Credits: 18
EOH 710 /HED 710 - Fundamentals of Public Health
EOH 740 - Fundamentals of Environmental Health
EAB 705 - Epidemiology and Public Health
HCA 701 - U.S. Health Care System: Programs and Policies
HED 720 - Program Planning and Grant Writing in Health Promotion
EAB 703 - Biostatistical Methods for the Health Sciences
Health Care Admin & Policy Courses – Credits: 15
HCA 703 - Management of Health Service Organizations and Systems
HCA 716 - Health Care Accounting and Finance
HCA 730 - Strategic Management of Health Services
HCA 719 - Operations and Quality Management of Health Services
HCA 720 - Information Systems in Health Services Management
Internship – Credits: 3
HCA 793 - Internship in Health Care Administration
An additional 3 credits of internship may be taken as an elective for a total of 6 credits of internship.
Elective Courses – Credits: 3-6
Students completing a thesis must complete three credits of elective coursework, and students completing a project must complete six credits of elective coursework. Select from the following list:
Den 7151 – Healthcare Finance and Public Health (1 credit)
Den 7154 – Healthcare Delivery: Patient Record and HIPAA Regulations (1.5 credits)
Den 7160 – Research and Professional Development I (1 credit)
Den 7161 – Research and Professional Development II (1.5 credits)
Den 7162 – Biochemical Basis of Clinical Nutrition (3 credits)
Den 7253 – Research and Analysis Methodology (1.5 credits)
Culminating Experience – Credits: 3-6
Complete one of the following:
HCA 779 - Health Care Administration Capstone Course (3 credits)
HCA 799 - Thesis Research (6 credits)
Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 45 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
- Students enrolled in the DMD-Fast Track MPH program must remain in good academic/ethical standing in both the individual DMD and MPH programs or may be subject to dismissal.
- Students in the DMD-Fast Track MPH program are subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to all students at the School of Dental Medicine and the School of Community Health Sciences.
- Upon date of entry into the MPH program, students will be given a maximum time frame of five years in which they must satisfy the degree requirements for the Masters in Public Health degree.
- If the thesis option is chosen, in consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
- Students choosing to do the capstone course do not need to complete advisor or culminating experience forms.
Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- Students must receive prior approval from their committee before registering for any capstone experience.
- Successfully pass the capstone course or successfully complete and defend a thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
- If a thesis is completed, the student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted document to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.
Subplan 8 Requirements: Dental Fast Track - Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Total Required Credits: 45
Course Requirements
Required Courses – Credits: 18
EOH 710 /HED 710 - Fundamentals of Public Health
EOH 740 - Fundamentals of Environmental Health
EAB 705 - Epidemiology and Public Health
HCA 701 - U.S. Health Care System: Programs and Policies
HED 720 - Program Planning and Grant Writing in Health Promotion
EAB 703 - Biostatistical Methods for the Health Sciences
Biostatistics and Epidemiology Courses – Credits: 12
EAB 700 - Research Methods for Public Health
EAB 715 - Chronic Disease Epidemiology
EAB 725 - Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
EAB 763 - Linear Statistical Models
Internship – Credits: 3
EOH 793 - Internship in Environmental Health
An additional 3 credits of internship may be taken as an elective for a total of 6 credits of internship.
Elective Courses – Credits: 6-9
Students completing a thesis must complete six credits of elective coursework, and students completing a project must complete nine credits of elective coursework. Select from the following list:
Den 7151 – Healthcare Finance and Public Health (1 credit)
Den 7154 – Healthcare Delivery: Patient Record and HIPAA Regulations (1.5 credits)
Den 7160 – Research and Professional Development I (1 credit)
Den 7161 – Research and Professional Development II (1.5 credits)
Den 7162 – Biochemical Basis of Clinical Nutrition (3 credits)
Den 7253 – Research and Analysis Methodology (1.5 credits)
Culminating Experience – Credits: 3-6
Complete one of the following:
EAB 794 - Professional Paper in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (3 credits)
EAB 798 - Thesis Research in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (6 credits)
Degree Requirements
- Completion of a minimum of 45 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
- Students enrolled in the DMD-Fast Track MPH program must remain in good academic/ethical standing in both the individual DMD and MPH programs or may be subject to dismissal.
- Students in the DMD-Fast Track MPH program are subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to all students at the School of Dental Medicine and the School of Community Health Sciences.
- Upon date of entry into the MPH program, students will be given a maximum time frame of five years in which they must satisfy the degree requirements for the Masters in Public Health degree.
- In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a committee of at least three departmental members. In addition, a fourth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
Graduation Requirements
- The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
- Students must receive prior approval from their committee before registering for any capstone experience.
- Successfully complete the professional paper or successfully complete and defend a thesis by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
- If a thesis is completed, the student must submit his/her approved, properly formatted document to the Graduate College, and submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline.