Public Health Degrees at the University of North Texas
The University of North Texas appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Cheapest MPH Degrees Online.
The Master of Health Administration (MHA) at the University of North Texas is a full-time, on-campus program that students can complete within five to six semesters. The degree is designed to prepare students for effective organizational management and is committed to the improvement of health services through community engagement and research. The 60-semester-credit-hour program is geared toward committed and aspiring professionals who are interested in health services administration careers in settings such as nonprofit organizations, hospitals, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, and managed care organizations. Through a final integrative experience, student portfolio, and internship, students are asked to apply, synthesize, and incorporate their knowledge within both a community and an operational context. Coursework covers topics such as financial skills, human resource management, information technology management, organizational awareness, project management, and statistical methods for health administration.
The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree offers several concentrations in public health practice, epidemiology, and maternal and child health. Students take nine to 12 hours of courses each semester during the on-campus program, and they may earn their degree within two years. UNT also offers a fully online, 42-credit MPH option as well as the option to blend online and on-campus courses. Students will engage with a range of public health competencies, including health policy management, biostatistics, ethical issues, and community health. Elective tracks focus on geographic information systems or global health.
The Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) allows students to focus on health behavior research, specialize in epidemiology, or dive deep into biostatistics. Students take nine hours per semester, and this degree carries a heavy public and research expectation as well as professional development hours. As a result, students are not permitted to work while earning the degree. Students may complete the program within five semesters, or two years of full-time study. The degree culminates in a master’s thesis, which will meet journal standards and be submitted for publication.
The Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Sciences is the final step toward a career in higher academics and research, with the goal of growing future research faculty in the public health field. Students may focus on health behavior research or specialize in epidemiology, and students will gain intensive publishing, writing, and research experience. Students are expected to complete the program in three to five years, and those with a master’s degree that aligns with their doctoral concentration will complete their degree more quickly.
About the University of North Texas
The University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton, Texas is a public research university that offers degree programs in public policy, humanities, performing arts, fine arts, liberal arts, engineering, and social, formal, and natural sciences. UNT operates a library system, two schools, 11 colleges, and an early admissions science and math academy for exceptional high school students. UNT is the flagship school of the University of North Texas System, which includes additional institutions in Fort Worth and Dallas. UNT also operates a satellite campus in Frisco.
Founded in 1890, UNT’s 875-acre campus is located in the largest populated region in the state. The Denton campus is situated within the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. The school reports a total undergraduate enrollment of more than 36,000 students who can choose from more than 100 majors. Noteworthy options include jazz studies and aviation logistics. In fact, UNT’s degree in jazz studies was the first of its kind in the U.S. Several notable alumni of UNT include singing sensations Roy Orbison and Norah Jones as well as NFL Hall of Famer “Mean” Joe Greene.
University of North Texas Accreditation Details
The University of North Texas is regionally accredited to award doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). UNT also offers programs that are recognized by their respective accrediting bodies. Within the Health Science Center’s School of Public Health, the Master of Health Administration and the Master of Public Health are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). The MHA degree is the only CAHME-accredited program in North Texas. The School of Public Health itself is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
University of North Texas Application Requirements
In order to pursue a master’s degree in public health from UNT’s Health Science Center, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. However, UNT does not require minimum test scores or a minimum grade point average (GPA) for admission. Entry into the School of Public Health’s master’s programs does not require completion of any specific undergraduate courses. Students must, however, submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions, official graduate test scores, and a current resume that reflects the applicant’s full history, including relevant work experience, conference presentations, research, clubs, and volunteer activities. Other required documents include three letters of recommendation from employment/internship supervisors, academic advisors and/or academic professors as well as a personal statement in which the applicants describe their career goals, their interest in the field of study to which they are applying, and how the degree will help them reach their goals. Applicants may expect a response within four to eight weeks.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The total tuition for the MHA program for Texas residents is $14,397 and $43,797 for nonresidents. Texas residents pursuing the MPH will pay $13,952 in tuition, and nonresidents will pay $37,472. The online MPH degree costs $16,744 for Texas residents and $39,430 for nonresidents. In-state students pursuing the MS degree will pay $10,882 for their tuition, whereas out-of-state students will pay $28,522 for the same degree. Finally, the Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences costs $23,543 for Texas residents and $54,143 for non-residents.
All applicants who submit the required documents for admission by March 15th will be automatically considered for the Dean’s Incoming Student Scholarship. Selected students will then receive $1,000 for each year of study, and non-resident students may be eligible to receive in-state tuition rates via this award. Online students must take at least one three-hour course per online session in order to be eligible for financial aid. Additional work opportunities and teaching assistant opportunities are available to graduate students throughout the year. Approximately 35 percent of students pursuing a degree within the School of Public Health are employed on-campus while earning their degree. The University of North Texas offers other types of financial aid as well as military benefits to support living expenses, fees, and tuition, and average loans taken for the UNTHSC School of Public Health is $20,563.
