The Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics/Master of Public Health dual degree program combines the MS degree from the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston with the MPH from the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. The training and curriculum in the dual degree program will provide students and future leaders in public health with the necessary skills to be leaders in the field of Public Health Informatics. The dual degree program provides an integrated curriculum that includes a number of shared courses as well as a practicum experience.
Students in the dual degree program must be admitted separately to each UTHealth Houston school. Students must meet the requirements of each UTHealth Houston school for its respective degree. Admission to one program does not ensure admission to the other. Students in the dual degree program will receive a diploma from each degree program after meeting the individual requirements of each UTHealth Houston school. Admission does not have to be done at the same semester for each school, but must be done before reaching the maximum hours set by each school.
The applicant should present a completed application and official documentation of the following:
Applicant materials will be reviewed by the SBMI Admissions, Progression and Graduation (APG) Committee. The committee will consider such areas as:
Fall admission - July 1
Spring admission - November 1
Summer admission - March 1
Transfer credit is not accepted for students enrolled in the dual degree program due to the amount of shared credit hours between McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics and SPH.
Courses that are accepted at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics, through a dual or joint degree program, can only be transferred into the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics degree plan if the grade earned in the course is a “B” or higher. Courses for which grades of less than “B” were earned will not be accepted for transfer.
Academic Requirements
Each student follows a degree plan developed with the Dual Degree Program Coordinator. A signed degree plan will be filed each academic year that includes the required and/or elective courses as specified for the student’s Dual Degree program. A total of 40 semester credit hours must be completed prior to graduation.
A student in the dual degree MS/MPH Program in Biomedical Informatics has up to eight years (24 semesters) from the time of entry to complete the required course work. A student who has not enrolled in two consecutive registration periods (including the summer session) must submit to the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics Office of Academic Affairs a Reentry Form and new goal statement signed by the student’s advisor indicating approval for reentry to the program. A student who has not enrolled for three or more consecutive registration periods will be dismissed and must reapply for admission to the program and the School.
Each course with a BMI prefix in the Biomedical Informatics degree plan is a graduate-level course and should be passed with a grade of “B” or better. Students who earn a grade of “C” must retake the course, whether a required or elective course, and earn a grade of “B” or higher to continue on in their academic program. The course must be retaken the next semester the course is offered. The original grade of “C” will remain on the student transcript. All students who earn a grade of “C” will be placed on Academic Probation. Students are not permitted to earn more than two grades of “C”. The third grade of “C” will result in dismissal from the school. The minimum grade point average (GPA) required for graduation is 3.0 on all courses.
A maximum of six credit hours of Directed Study can be applied toward the MS in Biomedical Informatics program.
Computer Requirement
Every student is required to have reliable access to a computer that meets the minimum requirements. Students are encouraged to purchase a laptop that meets the minimum UTHealth Houston requirements.
Computer requirements are listed on the website (https://sbmi.uth.edu/current-students/student-handbook/computer-requirements.htm) and are subject to change.
The curriculum for the Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics and the Master of Public Health include required didactic courses and a practicum. Didactic courses (lecture/discussion, demonstration and student laboratories) are presented to provide facts, concepts, and theories related to the techniques and procedures of public health courses, and support courses. The public health informatics practicum is designed to give the students the opportunity to apply theory and techniques in the hospital, research, community health agencies or private laboratory setting.
Each student will develop a degree plan with written approval of their faculty advisor. A degree plan will be filed that includes a minimum of:
Changes to the degree plan must be approved in advance by the faculty advisor and the signed degree plan must be on file with the Office of Academic Affairs prior to course registration.
| Program | Required Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Master’s in Biomedical Informatics (MS) | 40 |
| Master’s in Public Health (MPH) | 45 |
| Total Semester Credits | 85 |
| Shared Courses | -25 |
| GRAND TOTAL FOR COMBINED DEGREES | 60 |
Students in the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics master’s program must select an area of interest in which to apply the knowledge and skill gained during the didactic courses while participating in the required practicum course. Students must complete at least 24 credit hours in their master’s program before participating in the practicum requirement. Students should work with the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics Practicum Coordinator for any necessary affiliation or program agreements with the practicum site, if agreements are not already in place. A practicum proposal must be submitted to the Practicum Coordinator by week three of the semester of enrollment in the practicum course, and it must be approved, in writing, by the student’s Faculty Practicum Advisor. Students can complete all required practicum credit hours during one semester or the course can be repeated for a maximum of 3 semester credit hours (for BMI 6000) to meet degree requirements. During the course of the semester(s), student must create weekly logs to chronicle their hours, tasks, and reflections on how the duties of the practicum relate to Biomedical Informatics courses taken. Once the student has logged all 135 contact hours and concluded all practicum projects, she or he must create an 18-page APA format double spaced capstone report that details the major project they completed during their practicum. This report, along with other deliverables, will be submitted in completion of the practicum. If the student receives an incomplete for practicum, the student will have the following semester to complete it or receive an “F”. If students have any questions regarding the practicum, they can contact the Practicum Coordinator or the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics Office of Academic Affairs.
For MS/MPH Dual Degree Program Information, contact:
Jeanette Broshears, PhD
Program Manager
McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics
Brownsville Campus
80 Fort Brown Street, RAC N2.200
Brownsville, Texas 778520
Telephone: 956-755-0678
Email: Jeanette.L.Broshears@uth.tmc.edu