Entry-Level Requirements
Natural Sciences students declare a degree and a major after receiving passing grades in key courses. For public health, these are typically:
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Math: Differential and Integral Calculus (M 408C)
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Chemistry: Principles of Chemistry (CH 301/302)
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Biology: Introductory Biology I (BIO 311C)
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Public Health: Introduction to Public Health (PBH 317)
Examples of Courses
Students take additional courses in public health and other disciplines, such as:
- Fundamentals of Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Introduction to Nutritional Sciences
- Human Systems Physiology
- Epidemiology
- Health Policy and Practice Systems
- Global Health
- Environmental Health Sciences
- Elements of Statistics
Advanced Courses
Students select nine (9) hours from a selection of upper-division courses to round out their degree. Sample courses include Epidemiology II, Maternal and Child Health, Global Health in Action, and Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Capstone Experience
Putting it all together. All students complete a cumulative, integrative scholarly or applied experience or inquiry project as a capstone to the education experience. The courses that will satisfy this requirement include PBH 341R, Public Health Research; PBH 366, Global Health in Action; PBH 379H, Honors Tutorial Course; or PBH 137, the capstone course. Students may choose to take one of these capstone courses or a combination of courses depending on their interests and career plans.
Research: Public Health Research (PBH 341R) or Honors Tutorial Course (PBH 379H)
PBH 341R prepares students for domestic public health careers. Recruited community mentors submit internship descriptions. Students are then matched to internships based on their interests and skill sets. Internships are offered by both governmental and non-governmental agencies primarily in the local area and include a spectrum of public health activities–mental health promotion, social determinants of health support, injury and infectious disease epidemiology, nutrition education, and others. Grades are based on mentor evaluations and instructor-assigned grades for discussion board participation and final rapid-fire presentations to course members and mentors.
PBH 379H prepares students for graduate research. Students identify and recruit a faculty mentor with expertise in the student’s topic of interest. Student research may consist of original data collection or a literature review. The student meets with the faculty mentor frequently throughout the semester for guidance. The grade is based on the quality of the final research paper.
Practice: Global Health in Action (PBH 366)
PBH 366 prepares students for careers in global health by completing projects requested by non-profit organizations offering services in Guatemala and Nicaragua. Students experience evolving circumstances that require changes in priorities, interact with non-English speaking staff, and work through challenges of interacting remotely with areas of limited technology. Students who complete this course are eligible for a 6-week, non-credit internship in Guatemala. The instructor grades scaffolded assignments culminating in a final deliverable submitted to the organization director.
E-portfolio: Senior Seminar in Public Health (PBH137)
PBH137 prepares students for career or educational advancement. Students will prepare an e-portfolio.
Accelerated Master’s Program
Earn credit towards your Master’s of Public Health (MPH) during your last year at UT Austin. Students with a minimum GPA of 3.4 may apply upon completion of their junior year(usually 6th semester) for the accelerated master’s program at UTHealth Houston at their Austin or other reginal campuses through online course work. Students must only have 18 hours remaining in their final academic year.