The MPH Program faculty members have generated and approved a list of 11 broad competencies for Program graduates.  These broad competencies guide curriculum improvement and program review by the faculty and provide students with additional focus in skills development.

MPH Program Student Competencies

To prepare for careers in which they will actively contribute to the protection and promotion of health in human populations, graduates of the UTMB MPH program are expected to master the following competencies:

1. Demonstrate statistical thinking in formulating and answering questions concerning biomedical research and the health of human populations.

2. Employ statistical methods to draw quantitative inferences and construct formal models in biomedicine and human populations.

3. Apply epidemiological principles and methods to describe the distribution and occurrence of disease in human populations, to identify targets for intervention and prevention, and to appraise health programs and policies.

4. Analyze physical environmental factors and conditions that impact human health and propose solutions for the prevention or remediation of environmental problems.

5. Critique health care finances, delivery systems, and policies for the purpose of formulating effective operations management approaches.

6. Assess social and behavioral determinants of health and apply socio-behavioral theories and methods to the formulation and evaluation of population health interventions and policies.

7. Conduct empirical studies of community health problems and interpret and summarize the related scholarly literature.

8. Synthesize and evaluate disciplinary specific information in practice oriented applied research.

9. Utilize concepts and theories of public health in addressing specific population health problems in community-based practice settings.

10. Effectively communicate public health topics to both lay and professional audiences.

11. Consistently employ high ethical and professional standards in public health practice and research activities.

Public Health Competency Sets

The MPH Program uses additional more specific competency sets to guide program planning and evaluation and to assess student and alumni performance.  Those competency sets are: