| Program Description and Goals | MPH/PhD Application Process | Transfer and Shared Credit | |
| Financial Assistance | Degree Requirements |
The PhD/MPH dual degree pathway program combines the PhD degree from McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston with the MPH from UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. The training and curriculum in the dual degree program will provide students and future leaders in public health the necessary skills to be leaders in the field of public health informatics. The MPH/PhD program provides an integrated curriculum that includes a number of shared courses as well as a practicum experience and/or the thesis topic in the area of public health informatics. The selection of specific academic programs and scheduling of specific courses, fieldwork, and practica for individual students is guided by an academic advisor from McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics and an advising committee, which can include faculty from both UTHealth Houston schools.
The PhD part of the program in Biomedical Informatics is conceptualized and designed to be inherently multi-disciplinary and integrative. This means that the fundamental informatics concepts that transcend and apply to all traditional healthcare disciplines will be emphasized in the PhD program. This program will identify and teach the major informatics concepts that integrate and link diverse health disciplines.
The PhD program in Biomedical Informatics is constructed as a post-baccalaureate degree that not only addresses the knowledge and skills that the student brings at admission, but allows the student to build on previous knowledge and skills in order to attain the research focus needed for the completion of the PhD program in Biomedical Informatics.
Formal study of informatics at the PhD level at UTHealth Houston is designed to accomplish these major goals:
Students in the MPH/PhD 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 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.
| Program | Required Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| PhD in Biomedical Informatics (PhD) | 93 |
| Master’s in Public Health (MPH) | 45 |
| Total Semester Credits | 138 |
| Shared Courses | -24 |
| GRAND TOTAL FOR COMBINED DEGREES | 114 |
Students in the MPH/PhD program must be admitted separately to each UTHealth Houston school. The application process for the Master of Public Health is determined by the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health (SPH), so students must contact the SPH Student Affairs office for details. The application process for the Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Informatics is determined by the McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston. Refer to the standard PhD program application process.
Transfer credit is not accepted for students enrolled in the dual degree program due to the amount ofshared 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.
Financial assistance packages and research assistantships will be available to all students on a competitive basis to facilitate full-time doctoral education.
Refer to page 56 of this catalog for the Degree Requirements, Curriculum, Required Courses, Core Competencies, Progression, Qualifying Exam, Advanced Preceptorship, Advancement to Candidacy, Dissertation, Petitioning for Extension policies for the PhD in Biomedical Informatics.
For MPH/PhD Program Information, contact:
McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics
Office of Academic Affairs
7000 Fannin Street Suite 650
Houston, Texas 77030
Telephone: (713) 500-3591
Email: SBMIAcademics@uth.tmc.edu