Approved by: Graduate Council
Implementation Date: Summer 2015
Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.
Catalog Copy
Public Health
- Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences
- Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)
- MSPH/JD Dual Degree (in conjunction with the Charlotte School of Law)
- MSPH/M.S. in Health Informatics Dual Degree
- Graduate Certificate in Public Health Core Concepts
- Graduate Certificate in Community Health
Department of Public Health Sciences
publichealth.uncc.edu
Graduate Program Director (Ph.D.)
Dr. L. Michele Issel
Graduate Program Coordinator (MSPH and Graduate Certificates)
Dr. Michael E. Thompson
Graduate Faculty
Ahmed A. Arif, Associate Professor
Bruce Arrigo, Adjunct Professor
Christopher Blanchette, Research Associate Professor
William P. Brandon, Adjunct Professor and Metrolina Medical Foundation Distinguished Professor of Public Policy on Health
Larissa R. Brunner Huber, Associate Professor
Mark Dehaven, Dean W. Colvard Distinguished Professor
Jacek Dmochowski, Adjunct Associate Professor
John Fisher, Research Assistant Professor
Andrew Harver, Professor
L. Michele Issel, Professor
James N. Laditka, Associate Professor
Sarah B. Laditka, Associate Professor
Crystal N. Piper, Assistant Professor
Elena Platonova, Associate Professor
Sharon Portwood, Professor
Elizabeth Racine, Associate Professor
William Saunders, Assistant Professor
Teresa Scheid, Adjunct Professor
Gary S. Silverman, Professor and Department Chair
Katharine Stewart, Professor
James Studnicki, Professor and Irwin Belk Endowed Chair of Health Services Research
Jennifer Troyer, Adjunct Professor and Chair, Department of Economics
Jan Warren-Findlow, Associate Professor
Pilar Zuber, Lecturer
Doctoral Program Affiliate Faculty
Dee Baldwin, Professor and Associate Dean, Nursing
Suzanne Boyd, Associate Professor, Social Work
Maren Coffman, Associate Professor, Nursing
Judy Cornelius, Associate Professor, Nursing
Boyd Davis, Professor, Applied Linguistics/English
Christine S. Davis, Associate Professor, Communication Studies
Virginia Gil-Rivas, Associate Professor, Psychology
Shanti Kulkarni, Associate Professor, Social Work
Amy Peterman, Associate Professor, Psychology
Maggie Quinlan, Assistant Professor, Communication Studies
Charlie Reeve, Associate Professor, Psychology
Dena Shenk, Professor, Anthropology/Gerontology
Lori Thomas, Assistant Professor, Social Work
Meredith Troutman-Jordan, Associate Professor, Nursing
Jennifer Webb, Assistant Professor, Psychology
Stephanie Woods, Professor, Nursing
Associate Graduate Faculty
Deborah Beete
Matthew Belles
Lisa Bryan
Cynthia Cassell
Jennifer Ersek
William Gross
Mark A. Hirsch
LaTonya Keener
Michael P. Kennedy
Tammy M. Lampley
Maria K. Long
Melicent Miller
Susan Odum
Rachel Seymour
Jon Studnek
Amanda Tanner
Neetu Verma
Janice Williams
Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences
The focus of the Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences is to train researchers and professionals with skills essential to address contemporary public health problems at the individual, community, and population levels.
Drawing on the social-ecological framework, public health is an interdisciplinary field encompassing public health practice in the community; scientific research utilizing theoretical perspectives from disciplines such as anthropology, economics, geography, gerontology, medicine, nursing, psychology, and sociology; and 5 core areas of endeavor: (1) environmental and occupational health, (2) biostatistics, (3) epidemiology, (4) social and behavioral health factors, and (5) health policy and administration.
Students train to be well-rounded public health professionals: partnering with community agencies and stakeholders, learning how to disseminate research to diverse audiences, publishing in peer-reviewed formats, teaching in an academic environment, and conducting themselves with high ethical standards in all venues. Full-time students can complete the degree requirements within 4 years; however, most full-time students complete the program within 5 years depending upon the design of their dissertation research. Graduates are prepared to work in academia, conduct large-scale public health research projects, or work in government or health-related venues.
Concentration in Behavioral Sciences
The Concentration in Behavioral Sciences emphasizes investigation of health determinants related to the prevention and management of disease and disability among diverse and vulnerable populations in the United States. Working with the community in multidisciplinary teams to understand and develop programs that address the broad social-ecological factors that influence health behavior and thus health outcomes is the primary emphasis of this concentration.
Coursework for the Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences with a Concentration in Behavioral Sciences has a dual emphasis on qualitative and quantitative methods, and the development, application, and measurement of theory to understand the social and cultural factors that influence health behavior. Graduates are prepared to work in academia, conduct large-scale behavioral research projects, or work in government or health-related venues.
Admission Requirements
All applicants must complete an online application to the Graduate School. Applications must be completed by January 10 for full consideration for the following Fall semester or by March 15 for consideration on a space-available basis. The minimum admission requirements for the program are as follows:
- Master’s degree in public health or a related field with a minimum GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) in all graduate work
* - Competitive GRE scores
(GRE scores prior to August 2011 are recommended to be a minimum combined score of 1100 on the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning sections of the GRE and minimum score of 4 for the Analytical Writing section)taken within the past 5 years - TOEFL if the previous degree was from a country where English is not the official language: Minimum score of 83 (Internet based), 220 (computer-based test) or 557 (paper-based test).
Minimum score of 83 (Internet based), 220 (computer-based test) or 557 (paper-based test) on the TOEFL, if the previous degree was from a country where English is not the official language - Statement of Purpose in which the applicant details why she/he wants to pursue a Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences in the specified concentration at UNC Charlotte
- Three letters of recommendation, including at least two letters from former professors familiar with the applicant’s graduate work
- Have completed a CEPH (Council on Education for Public Health) accredited Master’s degree in public health. Students who have not completed a Master’s degree in public health may be required to take additional courses as determined by the PhD Review Committee upon review of current CEPH requirements. Such courses will be specified at the time of admission into the program. (see below Pre-Requisite Course Work.)
*Students who have not completed a CEPH (Council on Education for Public Health) accredited master’s degree in public health may be required to take additional master’s level courses as determined by the Ph.D. Review Committee. Such courses will be specified at the time of admission into the program.
Application ReviewAdmission Assessment
For fullest consideration of admission and financial awards applications need to be completed by January 10. This deadline is especially important for applicants who want to be considered for assistantships or for fellowship opportunities. Applications completed after January 10 but by March 15 will be reviewed and decisions regarding admission made on a space-available basisApplications are reviewed for admission in January. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to visit the campus and meet with program faculty. Admission decisions are typically made in early February.
Prerequisite Coursework
Students who graduated with an MPH or MSPH degree from a CEPH accredited program or school are assumed to have met the required prerequisite foundation courses. Students entering with a master’s degree in a field other than public health must complete the Required Prerequisite Foundation courses in Public Health in the first year of starting the program in consultation with the Ph.D. Director and/or Advisor. These prerequisite foundation course credits do not count toward the 63 credit hours required for the Ph.D.
Required Prerequisite Foundation Courses in Public Health (9 hours)
HLTH 6200 Introduction to Public Health (3)
HLTH 6202 Community Epidemiology (3)
HLTH 6203 Public Health Data Analysis (3)
Degree Requirements
Total Hours Required
The program requires 63 post-master’s credit hours. All coursework must be taken at the 6000-level or above. The majority of the courses are at the 8000-level.
Course Requirements
The curriculum has 5 major components:
Core Methods (15 credits)
HLTH 8201 Introduction to Quantitative Research Design (3)
HLTH 8270 Applied Biostatistics: Regression (3)
HLTH 8271 Applied Biostatistics: Multivariate Methods (3)
HLTH 8281 Measurement and Scale Development (3)
HLTH 8282 Health Survey Design and Research (3)
Professional Seminars (9 credits)
HTLH 8601 Ethics in the Public Health Profession (3)
HLTH 8602 Communicating and Disseminating Research (3)
HLTH 8603 Teaching Portfolio (3)
Concentration in Behavioral Sciences (12 credits)
HLTH 8220 Theories and Interventions in Behavioral Science (3)
HLTH 8221 Qualitative Research 1: Theory Generation in Behavioral Sciences (3)
HLTH 8222 Qualitative Research 2: Theory Generation and Analysis in Behavioral Sciences (3)
HLTH 8223 Social Determinants of Health (3)
Specialty Content (9 credits)
Specialty content areas are developed in consultation with the doctoral student’s advisor and make use of expertise and course offerings on the UNC Charlotte campus. Specialty content areas can focus on a specific population (e.g. older adults/gerontology or maternal and child health (MCH)), a health issue (e.g., AIDS), or approach (e.g., psychology). A specialty content area should cover literature related to: health and social policy issues, epidemiology of a health condition/population, relevant theories or approaches related to the condition/population, and/or current topics in the area. Coursework must be at the 6000-8000 level.
Dissertation (18 credits)
HLTH 8901 Dissertation Research (18)
Required Grade Requirements
Students must maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all coursework taken in the program. An accumulation of 2 C grades will result in suspension of enrollment in the doctoral program.
A grade of U or N constitutes an automatic termination of enrollment. Students who do not pass the qualifying exam, the dissertation proposal defense, or the final dissertation defense are automatically terminated from the program.
Transfer Credit
The UNC Charlotte Graduate School stipulates that students may transfer up to 30 graduate level credits from a regionally accredited university toward a doctoral degree. This Ph.D. program limits master’s level transfer credits to at most 6 credits. Master’s level transfer credits will be considered only toward Specialty Content courses, the Ethics Seminar (HLTH 8601/6361), and the Measurement course (HLTH 8281/6281). The Ph.D. Program Director, in conjunction with Program Faculty, approves graduate level transfer credits. Students must apply for transfer of graduate levels courses within the first year of enrollment, or within one semester following completion of the course if taken during the Ph.D. program. Only courses in which the student earned a grade of B or above (or its equivalent) may be transferred.
Students transferring from another doctoral program can transfer up to 30 credits (with not more than 6 at the master’s level) upon approval of the Ph.D. Program Director. Credit for dissertation research cannot be transferred.
Courses taken to fulfill the master’s level prerequisite public health courses do not count toward the 63 credit total.
Assistantships
Exceptionally qualified full-time students may be offered graduate assistantships. Award of the assistantship follows the guidelines of the Graduate School and is dependent on availability of funds.
Comprehensive Exam and Advancing to Candidacy
The comprehensive exam includes a written and an oral component and serves as the qualifying exam. As detailed more fully in the Public Health Sciences Ph.D. Student Handbook, all Ph.D. students must pass a comprehensive exam after completing the core methods, concentration, and specialty content courses, and prior to the dissertation proposal defense, typically after year two of full-time courseworkthe program. Students must take the exam within 12 months of finishing all of the required coursework.
The comprehensive exam is offered twice per year, and all students sit for the exam at one of these two times. The exam consists of three sections: 1) Concentration; 2) Methods; and 3) Specialty Content area. The oral exam provides an opportunity for the student to further elaborate on written exam responses and demonstrate mastery of the core competencies. The Chair of the comprehensive qualifying exam committee will be a member of the Ph.D. Program Faculty. The written exam takes place during a one week period, followed by an oral examination within three weeks. The first two sections of the written exam follows an in-class format, while the specialty content section is in the form of a take-home exam customized for each student. Students are recommended to meet with their specialty content faculty to develop a content reading list from which questions are drawn. Students may not defend their dissertation proposal until they have successfully passed all components of the comprehensive exam.
The overall written and oral exam outcome is graded as honors, pass, or fail. Each exam component is graded on a pass/fail basis. Students earn an honors pass, pass, marginal pass, or fail. Only one component can receive a marginal pass and still have an overall pass on the exam. Students passing the exam and receiving an honors pass on two or more of the components are considered to have passed with honors. If students fail one or more components of the exam, the failed components can be retaken only once. The specific procedures for grading the exam is detailed in the Student Handbook for the year in which the exam is taken.
The Dissertation Process
The dissertation is an original research project conceived, conducted, analyzed, and interpreted by the student to demonstrate expertise in her/his concentration and chosen specialty area as it relates to public health. The research must make a distinct, original contribution to the field of public health research. Students cannot register for dissertation credits until they have passed their comprehensive examination. Students must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours of dissertation research activity. Per University policy, students must be continuously enrolled in dissertation credit hours beginning with the semester after the dissertation topic proposal is approved, through and including the semester of graduation. Guidelines for selecting a Dissertation Chair and Committee Members are provided in detailed in the Public Health Sciences Ph.D. Student Handbook . The dissertation consists of three phases: the proposal defense, research, and the final dissertation defense.
Selecting Dissertation Chair
Students should select a Dissertation Chair, who must be a member of the Ph.D. Program Faculty or a Doctoral Affiliate Faculty member as a co-chair with an program faculty member. The selection and/or invitation of a Dissertation Chair should be discussed in consultation with the Program Director. The Dissertation Chair will guide the student in formulating their dissertation committee and through the dissertation process. Chairs must be familiar with PHS Ph.D. policies and procedures, and must have content or methods expertise to contribute to the dissertation research. Students must work with their Chair to identify other potential committee members who provide relevant expertise to the dissertation research project.
Forming Doctoral Committee
The dissertation committee consists of at least 5 members. All members must have a Graduate Faculty appointment at UNC Charlotte. At least three, including the Chair, must be from the Ph.D. Program or participating faculty. The fourth member must be from outside the Department of Public Health Sciences. Members from the larger university and professional practice community are encouraged but not required. The fifth member is appointed by the Graduate School. The committee guides the student in refining the dissertation topic, the development and defense of the dissertation proposal, ensuring scientific rigor of the research, conducting the dissertation research, writing the dissertation, and the dissertation defense. Committee members should reflect both content and methods expertise needed for the student to complete the research.
Writing Dissertation Proposal
In conjunction with the Dissertation Committee, students agree on the dissertation topic. It is also at this time that students and indicate their preferred dissertation format – either the “traditional” 5-chapter model or the 3-manuscript model. The dissertation proposal consists of three chapters: 1) introduction to the problem including the importance of the problem, significance of the proposed research, the research question and hypotheses; 2) conceptual model and literature review; and 3) a detailed methods section including sampling, recruitment, measures, data analysis, and limitations. With the guidance of the Dissertation Chair, students work with each committee member individually to develop the scope and direction of the dissertation. Students provide the overall idea for the dissertation including major concepts to be investigated, measures to be used, and strategy for primary or secondary data analysis. The dissertation topic proposal must be defended at a meeting of the student’s advisory/dissertation committee.Committee members work with students to establish the rationale for the project, refine the scope and ensure feasibility of the dissertation research project.
Defending Dissertation Proposal
With permission of the Dissertation Chair, students schedule their proposal defense. The proposal defense is an open session presentation to the student’s Dissertation Committee and Department of Public Health Sciences students and faculty. Committee members must receive the final dissertation proposal at least 2 weeks prior to the proposal defense date. Students make a 20-30 minute presentation summarizing the research proposal. The audience asks questions, and after the student has responded to their questions, they are excused. Committee members then ask questions about the proposed research plan. Successful defense of the dissertation proposal advances the student to doctoral candidacy. Approval of the dissertation proposal constitutes a contract between the student and the committee. Any substantive changes in scope, research questions or hypotheses, analytic approach, or format requires the full agreement of the committee and could necessitate another proposal defense. Any student who fails the dissertation proposal defense may petition the Ph.D. Program Advisory Committee one time for the opportunity to re-defend the dissertation proposal. A student who fails the proposal defense a second time is terminated from the Ph.D. program.
Conducting Dissertation Research
Students plan, conduct, analyze, and interpret an original research project as described in the research proposal. Regardless of whether students collect primary data or analyze secondary data, they must follow all applicable protocols for Human Subjects Protection.
Writing the Dissertation
The dissertation is a substantive product documenting the student’s original research, findings, and conclusion. The standard format is a 5 chapter model: Introduction including background and significance; conceptual model and literature review; methods; results; discussion and conclusion. Students may also follow the “three paper or manuscript” format, which consists of: an introductory chapter that outlines the area of research and the manuscripts that follow, followed by three complete publishable manuscripts, and concluded with an integrating/synthesizing chapter that emphasizes findings and themes across the papers and research and practice implications. Students are encouraged to work with their Dissertation Chair as a primary reader, sharing multiple drafts of individual chapters. Students should work with their committee members as methods and content experts in reviewing drafts of the dissertation chapters.
Defending the Dissertation
The dissertation defense is scheduled when the Dissertation Chair and the student concur that the student has a final product that meets with initial committee member approval. The dissertation defense is a public research presentation open to the UNC Charlotte academic community. The student makes a formal presentation of the research, the findings, the results, and the interpretation and implications. Non-committee, audience members may ask questions. When these questions are concluded, the audience is asked to leave, and the committee members engage in asking questions. When all questions have been put forth, the student is excused and the committee makes its determination. The outcome of the exam is pass or fail. Details regarding development of the dissertation proposal, proposal defense, conducting the dissertation research, and dissertation defense are available in the Public Health Sciences Ph.D. Student Handbook. A passing evaluation might include conditions for revisions prior to the final acceptance of the dissertation. Any student who fails the dissertation defense may petition the Ph.D. Program Advisory Committee one time for the opportunity to re-defend the dissertation. A student who fails the dissertation defense a second time is terminated from the Ph.D. program.
Program Progress
Doctoral students and candidates are evaluated annually to ensure that they are making sufficient progress to complete the degree in a timely manner. This evaluation is especially important during the dissertation process when students have less programmatic interaction and structure as they work more independently conducting their dissertation research. Each year students complete a checklist of scholarly activities and submit their curriculum vitae. Please consult the Public Health Sciences Ph.D. Student Handbook for further details.
Time Limits for Completion
Students must pass all sections of the comprehensive exam within 1 year of finishing their required coursework. Students may not defend their dissertation proposal before passing all components of the comprehensive exam. Students must pass their dissertation proposal defense within 6 months of passing the comprehensive exam. Students must pass their dissertation defense within 5 years of the proposal defense, but not later than the end of their 8th year following matriculation as a doctoral student. Students must complete their degree, including the dissertation, within 8 years of first registering as a doctoral student.
Residency Requirement
Residency requirements for the program include completing 21 hours of continuous enrollment, either as coursework or dissertation credits. Residence is considered to be continuous if the student is enrolled in one or more courses in successive semesters until 21 hours are earned.
Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)
The Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) program prepares graduate students to apply core principles of public health education within a variety of community settings and to advance the public health profession. The program values professional and academic integrity and ethics, collegiality, engagement with the community, and responsiveness and innovation in its pursuit of attaining the highest possible standards of health and well-being. Students develop specialized skills to assess health behavior and to design, deliver, and evaluate health promotion, risk prevention, and risk reduction services. The MSPH program consists of core content courses as well as research and practical experiences through a capstone project and a required internship. The program prepares students to provide leadership in a variety of settings, including health-related agencies and organizations, hospitals, local and state public health departments, academic research centers and institutes, corporate disease management and wellness programs, non-profit agencies, and healthcare businesses and industries.
Program Goals
The MSPH Program achieves its mission through a set of complementary and reinforcing instructional, research, service, and diversity goals that reflect the program’s values and provide a framework for defining, assessing, and evaluating both students and the curriculum.
Goal 1 (instructional): Provide public health students with knowledge, skills, and abilities to become effective practitioners and researchers through educational activities, a course of study, and related internship experiences.
Goal 2 (research): Develop new knowledge and innovative re-conceptualizations of theories that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of public health services and contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice, with a primary focus on the Charlotte region.
Goal 3 (service): Promote collaborations with community partners and stakeholders through faculty and students, helping to lead the development of the public health profession in the Charlotte region.
Goal 4 (service): Foster participation in local, regional, and national/international organizations that advance the public health profession.
Goal 5 (diversity): Address the health and public health workforce needs of a dynamic, emerging urban environment and its increasingly diverse population.
Additional Admissions Requirements
- Acceptable scores on both the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) may be substituted for the GRE.
- Undergraduate major or coursework that prepares students for graduate work.
- Submission of official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if English is not the applicant’s native language and he or she has not earned a post-secondary degree from a U.S. institution. Required is either a minimum score of 557 on the paper-based TOEFL, a minimum score of 220 on the computer based TOEFL, a minimum score of 83 on the Internet based TOEFL, a minimum score of 78 percent on the MELAB, or a minimum total score of 6.5 on the IELTS. Applicants from certain countries are exempt from the English language proficiency requirement.
Early Entry Program
An Early Entry Program is available for well qualified UNC Charlotte undergraduate students majoring in Public Health. The Early Entry Program allows students in the BSPH undergraduate degree program to begin work toward the MSPH graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree. For details, see the UNC Charlotte Undergraduate Catalog.
Degree Requirements
The curriculum leading to the Master of Science in Public Health degree requires a minimum of 45 semester hours of graduate credit including 21 hours of core courses, an internship experience (3 credit hours), a capstone thesis (6 credit hours) or project (3 credit hours), the completion of a specialty area (9 credit hours), and electives (6-9 credit hours). While the program can be completed within two academic years (4 semesters), 5 semesters is the expected time to completion for full-time students. Part-time students are expected to complete the program within 5 years (10 semesters).
Core Requirements (21 hours)
HLTH 6201 Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health (3)
HLTH 6202 Community Epidemiology (3)
HLTH 6203 Public Health Data Analysis (3)
HLTH 6204 Public Health Research Methods (3)
HLTH 6205 Environmental Health (3)
HLTH 6206 Health Services Administration (3)
HLTH 6207 Community Health Planning and Evaluation (3)
Additional Requirements (24 hours)
HLTH 6471 Public Health Internship (3)
HLTH 6900 Research and Thesis in Public Health (6) OR HLTH 6901 Public Health Capstone Project (3)
Specialty Area (9 hours)
Electives (6-9 hours)
Specialty Area*
Community Health Practice (9 hours):
HLTH 6220 Health Behavior Change (3)
HLTH 6221 Community Health (3)
HLTH 6222 Methods in Community Health (3)
*Based on student interest, course availability, and program goals, the Graduate Coordinator may approve (in advance) another set of related courses to fulfill the specialty area requirement provided core program competencies are still met.
Assistantships
Positions as a graduate administrative assistant may be available. Research assistantships may be available as well, and are competitively awarded. Students seeking assistantships should contact the Program Coordinator in the Department of Public Health Sciences for additional information.
Internships
The internship is an intensive, supervised experience and is required for all students. Students assume a professional role in a community health setting and demonstrate the ability to apply research and theory in a field-based setting, and to assume leadership roles. Internship experiences are designed and approved in concert with the Program Coordinator or other faculty advisor. Students register for HLTH 6471 (3 hours) during the internship period. Note: A criminal background check and drug screen are among the internship requirements. Students who fail these screening measures and who are unable to be placed in an internship face dismissal from the program.
Capstone Experiences
Each student is required to complete either a capstone thesis or project. In all cases, the capstone experience must be of the student’s own design, demonstrate independent learning, and originate under the supervision of a faculty advisor and at least two additional graduate faculty committee members.
Advising
Upon acceptance into the program an academic advisor is assigned to each student. Students are expected to meet with their advisors on a regular basis to plan their progression through their program of study. The Program Coordinator must approve, in writing, all course substitutions. Each student also must assemble a graduate committee for development and evaluation of the capstone thesis or project. Members of the committee include the student’s capstone advisor and at least two other graduate faculty members who represent major areas of concentration in the student’s program.
Program Certifications/Accreditations
The MSPH Program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and a member of the Association of Accredited Public Health Programs. Students completing the MSPH Program are eligible to sit for the Certified in Public Health (CPH) credentialing exam administered by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. Students completing the MSPH community health practice specialty area are eligible to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination administered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (students completing alternate specialty areas also might be eligible to sit for the CHES).
Research Opportunities/Experiences
A range of research opportunities exists in the Department of Public Health Sciences and in the College of Health and Human Services for students to conduct both independent and collaborative research projects.
Tuition Waivers
Tuition waivers are available to some students with assistantships.
Financial Aid/Financial Assistance
Financial aid and assistance is available to qualifying students, which may be accessed through the financial aid office. See the financial information section of this Graduate Catalog for more information on the opportunities that are available, and how to contact the financial aid office.
MSPH/JD Dual Degree
This Dual Degree Program allows students to earn a Master of Public Health (MSPH) degree from the College of Health and Human Services at UNC Charlotte and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the Charlotte School of Law (CSL).
This dual degree program is for students who wish to add specialization in law and its application to public health, to the extensive interdisciplinary curriculum gained in the MSPH program. Full-time students typically spend their first two years of study at CSL. The entire third year is spent at UNC Charlotte. For the remainder of the program, students take classes at both UNC Charlotte and CSL. Each school grants up to twelve (12) units of credit for courses taken at the other school.
Visit publichealth.uncc.edu and charlottelaw.org for additional information. Contact the MSPH Program Coordinator and the CSL Associate Dean for Academics before submitting applications.
MSPH/M.S. in Health Informatics Dual Degree
The Dual Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) and Professional Science Master’s in Health Informatics (HI PSM) degree program allows students to earn both a M.S.P.H. and a M.S. in Health Informatics degree. The dual MSPH and HI PSM program (outlined below) consists of 60 credit hours of coursework, as opposed to the 80 required if pursuing these degrees separately.
Both programs’ admissions committees will review applicants to the dual program. Applicants might be offered admission into only the individual MSPH or HI PSM programs instead of the dual program. Similarly, students admitted into the dual program may opt to matriculate into only the MSPH or HI PSM program. Students having matriculated into either the MSPH or HI PSM program desiring to add the dual degree must apply and gain admission to the dual degree no later than the end of their first semester of matriculation into either program.
Degree Requirements
HCIP 5375 Computer Vocabularies & Classification Systems (3)
HCIP 6102 Healthcare Data Analysis (3)
HCIP 6380 Introduction to Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6385 Healthcare Communication and Leadership (3)
HCIP 6400 Health Internship Project (3)
HLTH 6201 Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health (3)
HLTH 6202 Community Epidemiology (3)
HLTH 6203 Public Health Data Analysis (3)
HLTH 6204 Public Health Research Methods (3)
HLTH 6205 Environmental Health (3)
HLTH 6207 Program Planning and Evaluation (3)
HLTH 6220 Health Behavior Change (3)
HLTH 6221 Community Health (3)
HLTH 6222 Methods in Community Health (3)
One of the following three courses:
HCIP 5376 Introduction to Programming -Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6201 Computer Security, Privacy and Legal Issues (3)
ITIS 6200 Principles of Information Security and Privacy (3)
And complete either the thesis or project option:
Thesis Option
HLTH 6900 Research and Thesis in Public Health (6)
HCIP XXXX Restricted Elective - Data Science Concentration (3)
HCIP XXXX Restricted Elective - Data Science Concentration (3)
HCIP XXXX Restricted Elective - Data Science Concentration (3)
Project Option
HLTH 6901 Public Health Capstone Project (3)
HLTH XXXX Elective (3)
HCIP XXXX Restricted Elective - Data Science Concentration (3)
HCIP XXXX Restricted Elective - Data Science Concentration (3)
HCIP XXXX Restricted Elective - Data Science Concentration (3)
Note: Under the MSPH and HI PSM dual degree option, students must take a minimum of 9 HCIP courses (27 hours) and 11 HLTH courses (33 hours). Additionally, the Graduate School considers any deviation from the approved plan of study as requiring a Special Request approval.
Graduate Certificate in Public Health Core Concepts
The Graduate Certificate in Public Health Core Concepts (PHCC) contributes to the preparation of community and public health practitioners entering the field from related disciplines and serves as a stepping-stone to further graduate training in public health. The certificate is also available to students who wish to complement an existing degree in a health profession (e.g., nursing or social work). This certificate complements (i.e., is not redundant with, can be completed in addition to) the Graduate Certificate in Community Health, which provides focused health education and promotion skills.
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to the Graduate School in a special category for certificate programs. See the “Degree Requirements and Academic Regulations” section of this Catalog for details.
Certificate Requirements
The program leading to a Graduate Certificate in Public Health Core Concepts requires a minimum of 15 semester hours of graduate credit including 12 hours of core courses and a restricted elective course (3 credit hours). Students should plan their program of study in consultation with their assigned academic advisor and/or Graduate Coordinator.
Core Courses (12 hours)
HLTH 6200 Introduction to Public Health (3)
HLTH 6201 Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health (3)
HLTH 6202 Community Epidemiology (3)*
HLTH 6205 Environmental Health (3)
Restricted Elective Course (3 hours)
(Choose one course)
HLTH 6203 Public Health Data Analysis (3)*
HLTH 6204 Public Health Research Methods (3)
HLTH 6206 Health Services Administration (3)*
*Students enrolled in the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program may substitute HADM 6104 for HLTH 6202, HADM 6108 for HLTH 6203, and/or HADM 6145 for HLTH 6206.
Credits applied toward the Graduate Certificate in Community Health cannot also be applied to this certificate. Additionally, transfer credits are not accepted in this certificate program. Completion of the certificate program does not ensure admission into the MSPH degree program.
Graduate Certificate in Community Health
The Graduate Certificate Program in Community Health contributes to the preparation of community and public health practitioners to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) examination. The certificate also is available to students who wish to complement an existing degree in a health profession (e.g.,. health psychology, nursing, or social work), or who wish to explore a career in public health. This certificate complements (i.e., is not redundant with, can be completed in addition to) the Graduate Certificate in Public Health Core Concepts.
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to the Graduate School in a special category for certificate programs. See the “Degree Requirements and Academic Regulations” section of this Catalog for details.
Certificate Requirements
The program leading to a Graduate Certificate in Community Health requires a minimum of 15 credit hours of graduate credit including 9 hours of core courses and two additional elective courses (6 credit hours).
Core Courses (9 hours)
HLTH 6207 Community Health Planning and Evaluation (3)
HLTH 6220 Health Behavior Change (3)
HLTH 6221 Community Health (3)
Elective Courses (6 hours)
The remaining six (6) credits are chosen by students in consultation with their assigned academic advisor and/or Graduate Program Coordinator from among available departmental offerings. Courses from outside the Department of Public Health Sciences may be substituted with the written permission of the Graduate Program Coordinator.
Students not demonstrating prior undergraduate or graduate coursework comparable to HLTH 6200 (Introduction to Public Health) will be required to take this course as one of their electives.
Credits applied toward the Graduate Certificate in Public Health Core Concepts cannot also be applied to this certificate. Additionally, transfer credits are not accepted in this certificate program. Completion of the certificate program does not ensure admission into the MSPH degree program.
Courses in Public Health (HLTH)
HLTH 5124. Safety Through the Life Span. (3) Introduction to accident/injury prevention emphasizing personal responsibility for healthcare with a focus on psycho-social development and a wellness approach to safety management. (On demand)
HLTH 5126. Adolescent Sexuality and Family Life Education. (3) Designed for teachers, counselors, school nurses, administrators and others responsible for family life education programs in school, with focus on adolescent sexuality issues. (On demand)
HLTH 5130. Applied Nutrition for Today’s Consumer. (3) Principles of nutrition, dietary guidelines, dietary relationships to diseases and health, special populations, computerized dietary analysis. (On demand)
HLTH 5136. Health Product and Service Consumerism. (3) Teaching methodology, knowledge and skills for affecting appropriate health behaviors through emphasis on the individual consumer at the health marketplace. (On demand)
HLTH 6000. Special Topics in Public Health. (1-4) Courses in selected topics and advanced studies in public health. May be repeated for credit with change of topic. Lecture hours will vary with the courses taught. (On demand)
HLTH 6090. International Comparative Health Systems. (3) Cross-listed as NURS 6090 and SOWK 7090. A study tour to explore the cultures, social, and healthcare systems outside the United States. Participants will visit a variety of healthcare sites and attend presentations by practitioners and educators. They will have opportunities to interact with people from the host countries and visit a variety of cultural and historic sites. (On demand)
HLTH 6101. International Health. (3) Principles and methods of studying international health, including historical background, sources and problems associated with health data, the social context, the role of government and non- government agencies, health in relation to environment and development, international health projects, defining the international health sector, infectious disease problems, and the practice of international health. (On demand)
HLTH 6153. Worksite Health Promotion. (3) An exploration of the practices of promoting health in various settings for a variety of consumers. (On demand)
HLTH 6155. Health Risk Reduction and Disease Prevention. (3) Personal/professional management of risk factors and lifestyle intervention processes for leading causes of mortality and morbidity. (On demand)
HLTH 6200. Introduction to Public Health. (3) An introduction and historical background to the diverse profession of public health. Emphasizes the development of a conceptual model of public health and exposure to the essential skills in critical thinking and group process skills needed in public health practice. Students complete an analysis of a current public health problem, including recommended courses of action to policy makers. (Fall, Summer)
HLTH 6201. Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health. (3) Prerequisite: MSPH, COHP, or PHCC student, or instructor permission. Introduction to concepts and theories from the social and behavioral sciences relevant to public health practice and research. Effects of selected social and psychological factors including demographic, socioeconomic and life style indicators on health. (Spring)
HLTH 6202. Community Epidemiology. (3) Cross-listed as NUDN 8202. Prerequisite: MSPH, COHP, or PHCC student, or instructor permission. Principles and methods of epidemiology including definitions and models of health, illness and disease; modes of transmission of clinically important infectious agents; risk factors and chronic diseases; and insights into existing studies and paradigms of health promotion and disease prevention. (Fall)
HLTH 6203. Public Health Data Analysis. (3) Prerequisite: MSPH, COHP, or PHCC student, or instructor permission. A foundations graduate course designed to develop understanding and skill in data analysis and interpretation in research related to public health. Students will have opportunities to develop basic skills in data analysis, computer use, data interpretation, and the presentation/communication of results. (Fall)
HLTH 6204. Public Health Research Methods. (3) Prerequisite: MSPH, COHP, or PHCC student, or instructor permission. An introductory graduate course designed to expose students to the processes and techniques necessary to conduct relevant social and behavioral science research in public health. The course explores the fundamental concepts of research design, sampling, data collection, and data analysis. Students will develop understanding and proficiency in commonly used public health measurement procedures and techniques, and how to estimate the adequacy of those procedures for communities and populations. (Fall)
HLTH 6205. Environmental Health. (3) Prerequisite: MSPH, COHP, or PHCC student, or instructor permission. Contemporary environmental factors including biological, physical, and chemical factors which affect the health of a community. Traditional elements of environmental health, including the control of infectious diseases, toxicology, and environmental health policy and practices at local, state, and federal levels. (Spring)
HLTH 6206. Health Services Administration. (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6145. Prerequisite: MSPH, COHP, or PHCC student, or instructor permission. Introduction to organizational theory with applications to healthcare systems, including organizational design and inter-organizational networks and alliances. Examination of communication and leadership skills development, including conflict, labor and dispute management. (Fall)
HTLH 6207. Community Health Planning and Evaluation. (3) Prerequisite: MSPH or COHP student, or instructor permission. The use of community and behavioral analysis as a basis for establishing program goals and objectives, for determining appropriate methods to study health-related interventions, for carrying out planned intervention programs, and for evaluating behavioral change outcomes. (Spring)
HLTH 6220. Health Behavior Change. (3). Prerequisite: MSPH or COHP student, or instructor permission. Assessment of psychosocial, cultural and situational factors in the voluntary behavior change process; theories of health behavior. (Fall)
HLTH 6221. Community Health. (3) Prerequisite: MSPH or COHP student, or instructor permission. The nature of communities as social systems. Principles and practices relevant to community health. (Spring)
HLTH 6222. Methods in Community Health. (3) Prerequisites: MSPH or COHP student; HLTH 6204 or instructor permission. Methods based on the ecological model of health for planning community health interventions including strategies directed at policy, community, institutional, inter- and intra-personal levels. (Fall)
HLTH 6260. Analytic Epidemiology. (3) Cross-listed as HCIP 6260, HLTH 8260, HSRD 8003, and PPOL 8665. Prerequisites: MSPH or COHP student, and HLTH 6202 with a grade of B or above. Principles and methods of studying advanced epidemiology, with emphasis on the analytic approach, including advanced techniques in the establishment of disease causation in groups and communities. Topics include: risk assessment, environmental exposures, stratification and adjustment, and multivariate analysis in epidemiology. Emphasis is also placed on quality assurance and control and communicating results of epidemiological studies in professional publications and settings. (Alternate Fall)
HLTH 6262. Public Health Data Analysis II. (3) Prerequisites: MSPH or COHP student; HLTH 6203. This course provides the foundation skills for advance statistical methods used in the analysis of epidemiological and public health data. The course emphasizes developing advanced data analysis skills using real life data. Topics covered include multiple linear regression, logistic regression, Poisson regression, survey data analysis, and survival data analysis. (On demand)
HLTH 6281. Measurement and Scale Development. (3) Cross-listed as HLTH 8281. Prerequisites: MSPH or COHP student; and HLTH 6204 or permission of instructor. The conceptual aspects of quantitative measurement in the public health sciences and the practical aspects of the scale development process as applied to individual and population health status and behavioral and social determinant assessment. Students progress from a conceptual model of the health phenomenon under consideration to item development, response scaling, item selection, and scale development through reliability and validity testing. Students develop a framework for judging the appropriateness of a measure for a given situation. (Alternate SpringOn demand)
HLTH 6346. Evaluation of Community Health Programs. (3) Prerequisites: MSPH or COHP student; HLTH 6207 or permission of the instructor. Teaches students methods for evaluating community health programs. Students learn and apply various evaluation techniques including formative, retrospective, and monitoring; survey and trend analysis; application of experimental and quasi-experimental design; triangulation of data; and evaluation report development. (On demand)
HLTH 6361. Ethics in the Public Health Profession. (3) Cross-listed as HLTH 8601. Prerequisites: MSPH or COHP student. Examines the ethical issues facing public health professionals working in public health practice, research, teaching, and service. Topics include: ethical issues in public health program implementation, research with vulnerable populations, data falsification and fabrication, plagiarism among students, ethics of working with students, publishing ethics, human subjects research, and working with the community. (Fall)
HLTH 6471. Public Health Internship. (3) Prerequisites: MSPH student having completed 18 or more graduate credit hours and permission of the Graduate Coordinator. Intensive, supervised experience in the practice of public health in community settings. Graded on a Pass/Unsatisfactory or IP basis. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
HLTH 6600. Seminar in Public Health. (1-6) Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Seminar in selected current topics and advanced studies in public health. May be repeated for credit with change of topic. (On demand)
HLTH 6800. Tutorial in Public Health. (1-3) Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Directed study in areas of specialization in public health and related fields. Maximum credit toward degree: three hours. Graded on a Pass/Unsatisfactory or IP basis. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
HLTH 6900. Research and Thesis in Public Health. (1-6) Prerequisites: MSPH student having completed at least 18 hours of graduate program (including HLTH 6201 through HLTH 6205), and permission of the Graduate Coordinator. A capstone synthesis course in which the candidate demonstrates independent learning thorough application of public health research skills to solve a problem or hypothesis. The thesis is of the student’s own design conducted under the supervision of an advisor and graduate committee. Graded on a Pass/Unsatisfactory or IP basis. May be repeated for credit up to a maximum of 6 credits. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
HLTH 6901. Public Health Capstone Project. (1-3) Prerequisites: MSPH student having completed at least 18 hours of graduate program (including HLTH 6201 through HLTH 6205), and permission of the Graduate Coordinator. A capstone synthesis course in which the candidate demonstrates independent learning thorough application of public health research skills to a problem or opportunity in a community health setting with a target population. The project is of the student’s own design conducted under the supervision of an advisor and graduate committee. Graded on a Pass/Unsatisfactory or IP basis. May be repeated for credit up to a maximum of 3 credits. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
HLTH 8000. Special Topics in Public Health Sciences. (1-4) Courses in selected topics and advanced studies in public health sciences. May be repeated for credit with change of topic. (On demand)
HLTH 8201. Introduction to Quantitative Research Design. (3) Cross-listed as HSRD 8101. An overview of quantitative methods as applied to design and analysis of public health and health services research problems. Topics include: categories and levels of quantitative research, characteristics of a good research design, relationship between theory and research, selection process for measurement tools, power analysis, sampling techniques, design sensitivity, and human subjects protection. An overview of qualitative research methods and their relationship to quantitative methods also are provided. (Fall)
HLTH 8220. Theories and Interventions in Behavioral Science. (3) A broad overview of theories that influence health behavior and health outcomes using the social-ecological model as a guiding framework. Focus is less on learning specific theories, and more on how to apply theories in a health intervention. Students read a variety of articles related to intervention research and identify issues that could form potential avenues of theoretical and intervention inquiry. The major emphasis is on designing a health behavior intervention using theory and writing a complete grant proposal detailing the intervention. (Spring)
HLTH 8221. Qualitative Research 1: Theory Generation in Behavioral Sciences. (3) Introduction to research designs and data generation techniques that lead to theory generation and identification of theoretical concepts. Students learn the philosophical basis of qualitative research, the basic qualitative research designs and their uses, gain an understanding of qualitative research elements that must be addressed in a research project, and the importance of research rigor. Students perform multiple field projects to gain practical experience with conducting qualitative research that leads to theory generation. Students work in small groups partnered with a community agency to generate qualitative data to answer a “real world” research question. This same data is then analyzed and presented back to the community agency during the follow on course, HLTH 8222. (Fall)
HLTH 8222. Qualitative Research 2: Theory Generation and Analysis in Behavioral Sciences. (3) Pre- or corequisite: HLTH 8221. Using data collected in HLTH 8221, students work in teams to analyze data from various techniques and perspectives including grounded theory to develop robust and bounded concepts. The focus is on analyzing and writing qualitative research to contribute to theory development. Students learn how to write a qualitative article for publication. Additional assignments include: developing a code book, analyzing text data using grounded theory techniques of constant comparison, presenting findings back to your community partner agency, and writing a qualitative methods section of a research manuscript. (Spring)
HLTH 8223. Social Determinants of Health. (3) The major social determinants of health using the social-ecological model as a guiding framework. Focus is on how differences in levels of these determinants contribute to health inequalities and poor health. Students read across disciplines and international boundaries to gain a broad understanding of social determinants. Students write a literature review paper addressing a key social determinant and how it influences health behavior and a corresponding health outcome. (Fall)
HLTH 8281. Measurement and Scale Development. (3) Cross-listed as HLTH 6281. Pre- or corequisite: HLTH 8201. The conceptual aspects of quantitative measurement in the public health sciences and the practical aspects of the scale development process as applied to individual and population health status and behavioral and social determinant assessment. Students progress from a conceptual model of the health phenomenon under consideration to item development, response scaling, item selection, and scale development through reliability and validity testing. Students develop a framework for judging the appropriateness of a measure for a given situation. (Alternate Spring)
HLTH 8282. Health Survey Design and Research. (3) Pre- or corequisites: HLTH 8201; and HLTH 8281 or HLTH 6281. The practical aspects of designing (or selecting) quantitative survey instruments related to health status assessment in individuals and populations and their use in research. Building upon prior coursework and drawing upon case studies and practical exercises, students progress from appropriately formulating questions (items) for a variety of domains to the design and layout of survey instruments and the development of survey protocols through the data entry, data cleaning, and analysis/reporting phases. (Alternate Spring)
HLTH 8270. Applied Biostatistics: Regression. (3) Cross-listed as HSRD 8110 and STAT 8110. Pre or corequisites: Graduate level Introduction to Biostatistics or approved Statistics course; basic knowledge of statistical software; or permission of the instructor. To understand and apply concepts and principles of regression based statistical methods (regression, linear models, logistic regression, Poisson regression) to health related studies. Selection of appropriate methods for analysis, development of skills to conduct the analysis of the data and capability to write in scientific language the results of the study are studied. (Spring)
HLTH 8271. Applied Biostatistics: Multivariate Methods. (3) Cross-listed as HSRD 8111 and STAT 8111. Pre- or corequisite: HLTH 8270 or HSRD 8110, or permission of instructor. Includes study of the concepts, principles and statistical methods of analysis of discrete and continuous multivariate data. Students learn to use the most popular methods of multivariate data reduction, classification and clustering such as principal components, factor analysis and canonical correlation analysis. Design issues, verification of the assumptions and interpretation of the results are discussed. Skills for concise presentation of the results of statistical analysis will be developed. (Fall)
HLTH 8260. Analytic Epidemiology. (3) Cross-listed as HCIP 6260, HLTH 6260, HSRD 8003, and PPOL 8665. Pre- or corequisite: a graduate introductory course in epidemiology such as HLTH 6202 or HADM 6104. Principles and methods of studying advanced epidemiology, with emphasis on the analytic approach, including advanced techniques in the establishment of disease causation in groups and communities. Topics include: risk assessment, environmental exposures, stratification and adjustment, and multivariate analysis in epidemiology. Emphasis is also placed on quality assurance and control and communicating results of epidemiological studies in professional publications and settings. (Alternate Fall)
HLTH 8272. Large Data Sets and Health Services Research. (3) Cross-listed as HSRD 8103. Pre- or corequisites: HLTH 8271 or HSRD 8111; HSRD 8102; and enrollment in Ph.D. in Health Services Research or Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences program, or permission of the instructor. Health quality and outcomes issues addressed through secondary data analysis using large, public data sets are examined. Issues related to secondary analysis and drawing items from multiple data sets are discussed. Analytical techniques such as adjustments for missing data, transformations of data, and risk adjustment are applied using public data sets. (Spring)
HLTH 8600. Seminar in Public Health Sciences. (1-6) Pre- or corequisite: Permission of instructor. Seminar in selected current topics and advanced studies in public health. May be repeated for credit with change of topic. (On demand)
HLTH 8601. Ethics in the Public Health Profession. (3) Cross-listed as HLTH 6361. Examines the ethical issues facing public health professionals working in public health practice, research, teaching, and service. Topics include: ethical issues in public health program implementation, research with vulnerable populations, data falsification and fabrication, plagiarism among students, ethics of working with students, publishing ethics, human subjects research, and working with the community. (Fall)
HLTH 8602. Communicating and Disseminating Research. (3) Research dissemination planning, writing for publication, grantsmanship, presenting at professional conferences, presenting to the community, writing technical reports for funders, writing abstracts, working with the media, and an introduction to the field of health communication. Students work on a variety of assignments to gain skills relating to disseminating research in different venues. (YearlyFall)
HLTH 8603. Teaching Portfolio. (3) Teaching strategies that focus on the major aspects of university teaching. Topics include: preparing a syllabus, creating assignments, evaluating student performance, and enhancing student learning through the use of various discussion and lecture techniques. Students work with a faculty member to develop and deliver a lecture, and develop and grade an assignment to assess students’ understanding based on the delivered lecture. (Spring)
HLTH 8800. Independent Study in Public Health Sciences. (1-6) Pre- or corequisite: Full graduate standing in the PhD in Public Health Sciences program and permission of instructor. Graded on a Pass/Unsatisfactory or IP basis. May be repeated for credit. (On demand)
HLTH 8901. Dissertation Research. (1-9) Pre- or corequisite: Passing the Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences comprehensive exam and approval of the Dissertation Chair. Individual investigation that culminates in the preparation and presentation of a doctoral dissertation. Graded on a Pass/Unsatisfactory basis. May be repeated for credit up to 18 hours for degree. (Fall, Spring, Summer)