Master of Public Health (MPH)

Protect and improve health where it matters most — at the population level.

The UTMB Master of Public Health is a CEPH-accredited, 42-credit program that trains you to assess population health, design and evaluate programs, and act on evidence — with four concentrations that let you go deep in the area that fits you.

An MPH student poses with her poster presentation

42 credits

approximately 20 months; ~$16.5K/year; in person or online

At a Glance

Modality

In person, in Galveston, Texas;
Biostatistics concentration also offered 100% online.

Credits

42 credit hours

Completion time

5 semesters (~20 months)

Estimated cost

~$16.5K in-state;
~$35K out-of-state.

Cohort size

~10-15 students per cohort;
~29 MPH students across cohorts & concentrations.

Alumni

83 since 2020;
~12 per year.

Who this degree is for

If you want to improve health for whole communities — through data, programs, policy, or ethics — the MPH gives you the foundation, and your concentration gives you the specialty.

An MPH alumni poses with his former advisor

Compare the Concentrations

Every UTMB MPH student earns the same degree, built on the same foundation: a shared public health core, 22 foundational competencies, an Applied Practice Experience in the field, and an Integrative Learning Experience that ties it all together. Your concentration is what makes the degree yours. Compare the concentrations below.

An MPH Student presentign at Public Health Symposium 2025
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  • Bioethics

    FOCUS AREA
    Ethical analysis of policy, research & health care decisions

    SKILLS YOU LEARN
    Ethical analysis & bioethics methods, applying ethics to public health cases, forming practical recommendations

    FORMAT
    In person; 2-year

  • Biostatistics

    FOCUS AREA
    Data & statistical reasoning for public health questions

    SKILLS YOU LEARN
    Statistical analysis, coding, data management & cleaning, study design support, communicating results

    FORMAT
    In person or 100% online

  • Epidemiology

    FOCUS AREA
    Patterns, causes & prevention of disease in populations

    SKILLS YOU LEARN
    Study design, epidemiologic measures, surveillance & screening, bias/confounding, interpreting evidence

    FORMAT
    In person; 2-year path or accelerated 1-year track for qualified students

  • Public Health Practice

    FOCUS AREA
    Community-facing programs, policy & cross-sector leadership

    SKILLS YOU LEARN
    Program planning & evaluation, community engagement, policy & advocacy, communication, resource management

    FORMAT
    In person; 2-year

Dual-Degree Pathways

UTMB also offers two combined-degree pathways that pair the MPH with another doctoral program. These are not additional concentrations, and they are not open to general applicants.

MD/MPH

For students already accepted to the UTMB MD program who add an MPH with public health leadership training alongside their medical education. If you're pre-med, this pathway isn't available yet — apply once you've been admitted to medical school.

PhD/MPH

For UTMB doctoral students who integrate an MPH into their PhD curriculum, completing one of the existing concentrations (typically Epidemiology or Biostatistics).

Note: If you are directly applying for the MPH, your only options are the four concentrations—bioethics, biostatistics, epidemiology, and public health practice.

What you could do with this degree

Government & public agencies

City, county, and state health departments (like DSHS), federal agencies, and public-sector health programs.

Hospitals & health systems

Population health, quality improvement, infection prevention, and community health teams.

Nonprofits & NGOs

Program management, community health initiatives, advocacy, and grant-funded public health work.

Research programs

Research coordination, data analysis, and study support in academic and clinical settings.

Policy & advocacy

Policy analysis, health communication, and coalition work at local, state, and national levels.

Further study

Doctoral programs (PhD, DrPH), medical school, and other professional degrees.

After you earn this degree, you'll be able to...

Apply epidemiologic methods, choose the right quantitative and qualitative approaches, and analyze and interpret data to answer real public health questions.
Understand how health care, public health, and regulatory systems fit together — and how structural bias and social inequities shape health across communities.
Assess a community's needs and assets, design culturally informed interventions, manage budgets and resources, and measure whether programs actually work.
Navigate the policy-making process, build coalitions and partnerships, advocate for change, and evaluate policies for their impact on health.
Apply leadership, negotiation, and mediation skills, and work effectively on teams that span sectors and professions.
Match your message to your audience — in writing and in person — and communicate public health content with cultural competence.

22 MPH Foundational Competencies
A group of MPH students distributing Narcan at Mardi Gras

You Belong Here

A cohort where everybody knows your name.

The MPH is intentionally personal — cohorts of 10 to 15 mean your professors know you, notice when you need support, and invest in where you're headed. You'll learn alongside classmates from every background and every stage of life, connected by the same motivation: making health better for whole communities.

  • 10–0
    per cohort
  • ~0
    faculty mentors
  • 0+
    SPPH students

Requirements

  • How we review 
    Holistic admissions — academic potential, experience, and fit; preferred GPA 3.0 but not GPA alone; GRE not required; no public health background required.
  • What you submit 
    Resume/CV; official transcripts; statement of purpose and objectives; three letters of recommendation.
  • International applicants 
    Welcome (typically F-1); degree equivalency via WES; English proficiency if applicable; early application strongly encouraged.

    Application Requirements 

    Funding

    You shouldn't have to fund this alone.

    Most SPPH students piece together support from more than one source. Availability varies by year and eligibility — funding may be available, but it is not guaranteed — so the best move is to apply and talk to us early about what you qualify for.

    Funding may include:

    • Scholarships
    • Graduate assistantships
    • Dean awards

    Questions about what you might qualify for? Email spphadmissions@utmb.edu — we'd rather help you figure out the money early than have it be the reason you don't apply.

    Testimonials

    • Headshot of Emily Huynh
      Emily Huynh, MPH, Biostatistics concentration
      "You don't have to come into the program knowing everything or feeling like you're naturally gifted at statistics. The support I received from professors and staff at UTMB made a huge difference — they genuinely want you to succeed. Looking back, I accomplished much more than I thought I was capable of when I first started. If you enjoy data, don't let the fear of not being 'quantitative enough' hold you back."
    • Headshot of Faith Adjei-Sarpong
      Faith Adjei-Sarpong,MPH, Public Health Practice concentration
      "During my practicum, I conducted a needs assessment on barriers to sickle cell care in Houston — an issue I had experienced personally, examined through a public health lens. Our work identified transportation as a major barrier and contributed to a grant that now helps connect patients to care. It showed me that when we listen to communities and use evidence to guide solutions, we can create meaningful change."

    Common questions

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    • Which concentration is right for me?

      Start with what pulls you. If it's data and analysis, look at Biostatistics; if it's understanding why disease spreads and how to stop it, Epidemiology; if it's building programs and partnerships in communities, Public Health Practice; if it's the ethical questions behind health decisions, Bioethics. All four lead to the same MPH degree and overlap in the jobs they qualify you for — so choose by what you want to spend two years getting good at. Still unsure? [Request information] and our team will help you compare.

    • What’s the difference between the in-person and online MPH in Biostatistics?

      The content and credential are equivalent — the difference is how you attend. The in-person program runs on our Galveston campus with your cohort; the online program is 100% online and designed around working schedules. Tuition is structured differently (the online program carries a distance-learning fee but waives several campus fees), and some scholarships are limited to in-person students.

    • Can anyone apply to the MD/MPH or PhD/MPH?

      No — these pathways are only for students already accepted to the UTMB MD program or enrolled in a UTMB doctoral program. If you're applying directly, choose one of the four MPH concentrations.

    • GPA and GRE expectations?

      We review applications holistically — academic record, experience, recommendations, and fit, not a single number. A 3.0 GPA is preferred but not an absolute cutoff, and the GRE is not required.

    • Do I need a quantitative or health background?

      Our students come from health sciences, biology, social sciences, math, humanities, and the workforce. What we look for is evidence you can succeed in graduate work and a clear sense of why public health. The Biostatistics concentration does require some math or statistics coursework.

    Ready to Improve Health at the Population Level?

    Request information to explore the four MPH concentrations, discuss hands-on training and funding, and get guidance on the application process.