At the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Public and Population Health, you’re part of a community focused on real-world impact. This page brings together the resources you may need along the way—from program information and policies to student support across UTMB—so you can stay on track and make the most of your experience here.
Incoming Students:
Congratulations on your acceptance to the SPPH! We look forward to welcoming you on campus. More information about next steps to prepare for your arrival is only a click away.
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- Crisis Line: (409) 747-HELP (4357)
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- Student Health Website
The Student Health Website is an inclusive resource, offering excellent medical care through a full range of primary care services with specialists. If you need healthcare or general wellbeing assistance, this should be one of your first stops!

Academic Journey
Milestones are a helpful guide for planning your time in the program. While every student’s path looks a little different, these timelines show the common steps and when they typically occur.
Concentrations:
Bioethics
Bioethics
42 credit hours
- Foundations of Bioethics (Fall)
- Histories of Health & Bioethics (Fall)
- Analytical Methods (Fall)
- Policy & Equity (Spring)
- Public Health Ethics (Spring)
- Electives (Spring, Summer, Fall)
- Applied Practice Experience (Summer)
- Applied Public Health Leadership (Summer)
- Integrative Learning Experience (Fall)
- Assessment, Planning & Evaluation (Fall)
Biostatistics
Biostatistics
43 credit hours
- Intro to Epidemiology (Fall)
- Biostatistics (Fall)
- Analytical Methods (Fall)
- Policy & Equity (Spring)
- Intro to Linear Models (Spring)
- Data Management (Spring)
- Categorical Data Management (Summer)
- Applied Public Health Leadership (Summer)
- Statistical Consulting (Summer)
- Elective (Summer)
- Assessment, Planning & Evaluation (Fall)
- Survival Data Analysis (Fall)
- Applied Practice Experience (Spring)
- Integrative Learning Experience (Spring)
- Consulting Practicum (Spring)
Biostatistics (Online)
Biostatistics (Online)
43 credit hours
- Intro to Epidemiology (Fall)
- Biostatistics (Fall)
- Applied Public Health Leadership (Fall)
- Analytical Methods (Spring)
- Intro to Linear Models (Spring)
- Data Management (Spring)
- Categorical Data Analysis (Summer)
- Statistical Consulting (Summer)
- Intro to Machine Learning (Summer)
- Policy & Equity (Fall)
- Survival Data Analysis (Fall)
- Applied Practice Experience (Fall)
- Assessment, Planning & Evaluation (Spring)
- Integrative Learning Experience (Spring)
- Consulting Practicum (Spring)
Epidemiology
Epidemiology
42 credit hours
- Intro to Epidemiology (Fall)
- Analytical Methods (Fall)
- Biostatistics & Data Management (Fall)
- Biostatistics Lab (Fall, Spring)
- Multivariable Data Analysis (Spring)
- Policy & Equity (Spring)
- Epidemiological Methods (Spring)
- Applied Epidemiology (Summer)
- Applied Public Health Leadership (Summer)
- Assessment, Planning & Evaluation (Fall)
- Elective (Fall)
- Applied Practice Experience (Spring)
- Integrative Learning Experience (Spring)
Public Health Leadership
Public Health Leadership
This concentration is for JSSOM dual degree students only
- Professional Development (Spring)
- Public Health Research 101 (Spring)
- Evidence-based Practice (Summer)
- Collaborative Approaches to Public Health (Summer)
- Policy & Equity (Fall)
- Applied Public Health Leadership (Fall)
- Leading Change for Public Health Impact (Fall)
- Analytical Methods (Spring)
- Research Rotation (Spring)
- APE/ILE Prep Class (Summer)
- Advocacy & Communication for Health Equity (Fall)
- Applied Practice Experience (Fall, Spring)
- Assessment, Planning & Evaluation (Spring)
Public Health Practice
Public Health Practice
42 credit hours
- Assessment, Planning & Evaluation (Fall)
- Public Health Practice I (Fall)
- Public Health Practice II
- Policy & Equity (Spring)
- Public Health Ethics (Spring)
- Grant Writing for PH Professionals (Summer)
- In the PHield (Summer)
- Applied Public Health Leadership (Summer)
- Applied Practice Experience (Summer, Fall, Spring)
- Elective (Fall)
- Integrative Learning Experience (Spring)
MS in Aerospace Medicine
MS in Aerospace Medicine
- Principles of Aviation & Space Medicine (Summer)
- Intro to Occupational Injury & Illness (Summer)
- Biostatistics & Data Management (Fall)
- Intro to Epidemiology (Fall)
- US Health Care Systems (Fall)
- Aerospace Medicine (Fall)
- Aerospace Medicine II (Spring)
- Environmental Medicine (Spring)
- Preventive Medicine & Behavioral Health (Spring)
- Capstone (Fall, Spring, Summer)
MS in Biostatistics and Data Science
MS in Biostatistics and Data Science
- Biostatistics (Fall)
- Programming Foundations for Data Science (Fall)
- Elective (Fall)
- Intro to Probability Theory (Biostats Track)
- Public Health Informatics (Data Science Track)
- Data Mining (Spring)
- Intro to Linear Models (Spring)
- Big Data Visual Analytics in Healthcare (Spring)
- Data Management (Spring)
- Statistical Consulting (Summer)
- Categorical Data Analysis (Summer)
- Intro to Machine Learning (Summer)
- Topics in Biostatistics (Summer)
- Elective (Fall)
- Survival Data Analysis (Biostats Track)
- Intro to Modern A.I. Techniques (Data Science Track)
- Elective (Fall)
- Clinical Trials (Biostats Track)
- Deep Learning (Data Science Track)
- Consulting Practicum (Fall)
- Capstone (Fall)
Bioethics and Health Humanities
Bioethics and Health Humanities
63+ hours
- Histories of Health and Bioethics (Fall)
- Foundations of Bioethics (Fall)
- Intro to Health Humanities (Spring)
- Interdisciplinary Methods (Summer)
- Electives X 11
- Research
- Dissertation
Population Health Sciences
Population Health Sciences
63+ hours
- Biostatistics (Fall)
- Biostatistics Lab (Fall, Spring, Summer)
- Intro to Epidemiology (Fall)
- Intro to Population Health Sciences (Fall)
- Intro to Linear Models (Spring)
- Data Management (Spring)
- Epidemiological Methods (Spring)
- Professional Presentations & Teaching Strategies (Spring)
- Categorical Data Analysis (Summer)
- Social Epidemiology (Summer)
- Intro to Research Applications (Summer)
- Professional Career Development (Summer)
- Ethics of Scientific Research (Fall)
- Approaches to Academic & Professional Writing (Fall)
- Applied Research Methods I (Fall)
- Applied Research Methods II (Spring)
- Aging and Health (Spring)
- Research
- Dissertation
Rehabilitation & Health Services Research
Rehabilitation & Health Services Research
63+ hours
- Intro to Health Services Research (Fall)
- Biostatistics (Fall)
- Biostatistics Lab (Fall, Spring, Summer)
- Intro to Rehabilitation Sciences (Fall)
- Intro to Linear Models (Spring)
- Data Management (Spring)
- Evidence-based Rehabilitation (Spring)
- Professional Presentations & Teaching Strategies (Spring)
- Categorical Data Analysis (Summer)
- Intro to Research Applications (Summer)
- Professional Career Development (Summer)
- Ethics of Scientific Research (Fall)
- Approaches to Academic & Professional Writing (Fall)
- Applied Research Methods I (Fall)
- Applied Research Methods II (Spring)
- Dissemination, Implementation, & Translation Research (Spring)
- Research
- Dissertation
Bioethics and Health Humanities Certificate
Bioethics and Health Humanities Certificate
The graduate certificate in Bioethics and Health Humanities is designed for students and professionals in healthcare related fields interested in developing knowledge and skills to navigate the complex ethical and humanistic situations they face.
A certificate in Bioethics and Health Humanities provides:
- New knowledge in bioethics and health humanities
- Understandings of methodological approaches in bioethics and health humanities
- Skills in applying bioethics and health humanities expertise to diverse professional settings
- Knowledge of history, social movements, literature, theory, and regulations relevant to professional settings
- Skills in critical analysis and communication of complex issues and arguments for multiple audiences.
The 12-credit hour certificate (4 classes) consists of coursework taken over one or more terms. There are no required classes, which grant students the flexibility to tailor the program to their specific interests. For example, physical therapists and occupational therapists may be especially interested Disability Ethics, while biomedical scientists might consider Research Ethics.
You may choose any combination of four courses to complete 12 credit hours.
- Law and Health
- Science and Technology Studies
- Pediatric Ethics
- Literature and Health
- Research Ethics
- Global Health
- Cultural Perspectives in Health
- Public Health Ethics
- Neuroethics
- Clinical Ethics
- Critical Theory and Health
- Ethics of Scientific Research (1 credit)
- Narratives of Illness
- Death and Dying
- Research Ethics Practicum (2 credits)
- Justice and Health
- Reproductive Ethics
- Clinical Ethics Consultation Practicum
- Special Topics
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in health sciences or health related field
- GPA of 2.75 – last 60 hours of coursework
- Evidence of academic writing in previous qualifications or professional settings
Apply to SOPHAS ExpressBiostatistics Certificate
Biostatistics Certificate
The graduate certificate in Biostatistics is designed for students and professionals in healthcare related fields interested in developing knowledge and skills related to designing studies, analyzing data using biostatistical methodology, and interpreting results in an appropriate fashion. The Biostatistics Certificate Program is a good choice for students who want to acquire data-analysis skills and a greater knowledge of biostatistics. Such skills are useful in fields such as public health, medicine, nursing, and education. Upon completion of the certificate program, the acquired skills can be applied immediately in the workplace, making the certificate program graduates more valuable problem solvers for their organizations.
A certificate in Biostatistics provides:
- New knowledge in Biostatistics
- Understanding methodological approaches in Biostatistics useful in applying Biostatistics expertise to diverse professional settings
- Skills in critical analysis and communication of complex issues and arguments for multiple audiences.
By completing this certificate program you will be able to:
- Understand the most commonly used approaches in biomedical statistics
- Choose an appropriate analysis method for your research question
- Implement these techniques in statistical software
- Assess the statistical methods chosen in a paper
The 12-credit hour certificate (4 classes) consists of coursework taken over two or more terms.
The certificate includes two required courses and the choice of two selectives from the list below:
Requirements for the Graduate Certificiate in Biostatistics Course Number and Name Credits BIOS 6344 Intro to Linear Models - REQUIRED 3 BIOS 6341 Categorical Data Analysis - REQUIRED 3 BIOS 6321 Survival Data Analysis - SELECTIVE 3 BIOS 6313 Correlated Data Analysis - SELECTIVE 3 BIOS 6345 Machine Learning - SELECTIVE 3 BIOS 6303 Big Data Visual Analytics - SELECTIVE 3 BIOS 6337 Clinical Trials - SELECTIVE 3 BIOS 6388 Probability Theory - SELECTIVE 3 Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in health sciences or health related field
- Prior completion of an introductory biostatistics class (such as BIOS 6343 Biostatistics, BIOS 6485 MPH Biostatistics & Data Management, BBSC 6222 Biostatistics, or equivalent 3 credit course from other institutions)
Global Health Certificate
Global Health Certificate
The UTMB School Public and Population Health is pleased to offer a Graduate Certificate in Global Health. This competency-based program is designed to introduce a variety of learners to fundamental concepts in the practice of global health such as:
- Global health and international development theory
- International health systems and governance
- Interprofessional training and research
- Ethics of global and community engagement
- Policy analysis and program implementation
- One Health and emerging disease epidemiology
Each semester we offer a range of courses on topics from across the fields of Global Health. This certificate may be of interest to trainees or other health professionals working in research, clinical, or public health settings. Our Global Health courses include:
- Core Courses
- Global Health & International Development (Fall)
- Global Health Policy, Practice, and Delivery (Spring)
- Electives (must pick at least two)
- Global Health Governance & Diplomacy (Summer)
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology (Fall)
- Global Health Practicum - International Travel (Spring or Summer)
Certificate Course Plan
A certificate requires at least 12 course credits which can either be taken part time as one course per term (four terms) or as quickly as 2 terms if applicants have greater flexibility. Each course will include reading work, class time, and assessments. Departmental course offerings are face-to-face in the School of Public and Population Health (4th floor, UHC building) on the UTMB campus and generally consist of once or twice a week sessions. Applicants must take the fall and spring core courses and choose two of the three electives.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in health sciences or health related field
- A minimum overall GPA of 3.0
- Evidence of academic writing in previous qualifications or professional settings.
Apply to SOPHAS ExpressPublic Health Certificate
Public Health Certificate
Public Health is a dynamic, multi-disciplinary field focused on the prevention of disease and disability and the promotion of health in communities and populations.
Our 14 credit hour certificate is ideal for individuals interested in learning the basic skills and concepts of public health to enhance a current degree program and/or to expand job opportunities. This certificate can be completed in-person or online in three semesters by enrolling in 7 credit hours in the fall, 4 credit hours in the spring and enrolling in 3 credit hours in the summer. The curriculum is similar to the core curriculum taught in the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree programs; therefore, the certificate can be used as an entry point for the MPH degree. Course credits will transfer to the MPH program if completed within 5 years of acceptance to the MPH program.
Who Should Get the Certificate?
- UTMB students, fellows, and faculty seeking to enhance their public health knowledge.
- Degree-seeking students can earn the certificate through concurrent enrollment, often without adding any additional time to their degree program.
- Public health professionals who desire formal graduate training but are unable to commit to the MPH program.
- Public and private sector employees who work with the public health system and want to increase their understanding of public health.
- Individuals considering a graduate degree in public health.
Course Credits Term available Course Credits Term Available Analytical Methods in Public Health 4 Fall Assessment, Planning, and Evaluation 3 Fall Policy and Equity 4 Spring Applied Public Health Leadership 3 Summer