Master of Public Health – Professional Option
You want to advance your role in the public health field while maintaining your career and family responsibilities. Complete your MPH in a 100% online setting or by blending the best of online and on-campus. Answer the calling to discover solutions to society’s challenges and make the community around you better than it was yesterday.
Enter the MPH Professional Option 48 credit hour program, which is best for recent graduates or career changers. Engage with a range of public health competencies, including community health and health policy management. Enjoy customizing your program with 12 elective credits. Build the skills to play an adaptable role as the needs of your community change today, tomorrow and in the future. Beginning in Fall 2020 this program will be renamed MPH Public Health Leadership, an updated degree plan will be available in early of 2020.
Pursue your MPH Professional Option 42 credit hour program for those with at least 3 years of work experience in public health or medical professions or applicants that already hold an advanced degree or are enrolled in a dual graduate program. Gain a strong foundation in public health core competencies as well as a focus in health management and policy. Enjoy customizing your program with 12 elective credits or request an evaluation of relevant prior masters’ coursework for potential application to the degree. Beginning in Fall 2020 this program will be renamed MPH Public Health Leadership, an updated degree plan will be available in early of 2020.
About the Program
Full-time or part-time Choose the pace that's right for you. Students balancing work, family and enrollment are encouraged to take 1 course each 8 week accelerated session. Students with no additional commitments may complete 2 courses each 8 week session. Part-time students complete the program in 3 years and Full-time students in about 2 years.
5 Starts a Year Online classes take place in 5 sessions of 8 weeks each year. Those sessions are:
Flexible Program Work is divided by week and students must keep in pace with the weekly schedule. Class activity - content review, discussion boards and written assignments - often require going online to participate in the class multiple times each week. We recommend students be prepared to spend 12-15 hours a week on each course due to the accelerated pace.
Make changes to your progress as needed. Our online program allows students to easily stop out for a term or two should work or life changes make it necessary.
Practicum experience is arranged by students and advised by graduate faculty. Students local to the Fort Worth and DFW area may take advantage of UNTHSC relationships in the local community. Students in other locations will be coached on how to connect with potential practicum sites, to develop their project goals and to gain the most from their practicum experience. Practicum experiences often last 6 months to 1 year and include about 600 hours from conception to completion. Students who have substantial prior professional experience that aligns with MPH competencies may apply for a waiver of up to 300 of these hours.
Campus resources are available to you from Financial Aid to the Library, even Career Services to our Academic Services office. You are always welcome, but never have to come to our physical location.
On Campus Online students may elect to participate in on campus classes. Classes are delivered between 9am and 6pm, in 3 hour meetings, once a week. View our current course schedule to determine if on-campus meetings will fit your schedule.
Practice Experience
Practicum experience is advised by graduate faculty and arranged by students. Students local to the Fort Worth and DFW area may take advantage of HSC relationships in the local community. Students in other locations will be coached on how to connect with potential practicum sites, to develop their project goals and to gain the most from their practicum experience.
Students complete 600 hours over the course of multiple semesters, as fits with their program completion goals and availability. Exception: Students who have substantial prior professional experience that aligns with MPH competencies may apply for a waiver of up to 300 of these hours. From this professional field experience, students gain a professional reference, interview discussion material and new confidence in their career path.
Admission Requirements
UNTHSC conducts holistic application reviews. A completed bachelor's degree or its equivalent is required. No minimum GPA or test score is required for consideration. No specific undergraduate courses are required for the School of Public Health Masters programs.
To Apply:

Submit the following:
Application Deadlines and Timeline
Online only programs accept applications for the fall, spring and summer semesters, and can be completed on a part-time basis taking one class each session (recommended pace if you work full-time) or full-time taking two classes each session. Online courses are taught in an accelerated 8-week format with five sessions each academic year.
Term | Application Deadline | First Day of Class |
Fall I | July 15th | August 19th |
Fall II | September 15th | October 14th |
Spring I | December 1st | January 13th |
Spring II | February 15th | March 16th |
Summer | May 1st | June 1st |
International Students
International students may apply to UNTHSC online programs, however be aware that a student visa is not available for online studies.
Applicants who have degree coursework from institutions outside the U.S. must submit a credential evaluation from World Education Services (WES). We require the iCAP WES This will be submitted to the SOPHAS system for your final application.
International applicants must demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in oral and written English before being considered for admission. TOEFL or IELTS are accepted. Minimum requirements: TOEFL internet based = 85 or IELTS = 6.5. Meeting minimum scores does not guarantee admission. . Applicants may waive the TOEFL/IELTS requirement by providing documentation from one of the following accepted measures.
Attn: School of Public Health Admissions
3500 Camp Bowie Blvd
Fort Worth, TX 76107
International applicants should submit their application 6 weeks prior to the posted priority deadline. This will allow sufficient time for WES to process the transcript evaluation report and adequate time for visa processing.
Visit our International Student Office site to learn more about the I-20 process, estimated Cost of Attendance and other key factors.
Cost, Scholarship, and Financial Aid
Average tuition & fees for the total cost of the program:
MPH Online 42 Hours | In-State Resident $13,500 | Non-Residents $34,500 |
MPH Online 48 Hours | In-State Resident $16,000 | Non-Residents $39,000 |
See additional general scholarship opportunities available for application via the office of Financial Aid. Average loans taken for UNTHSC School of Public Health MPH Professional Option students is $6,254. If you have specific questions, please contact the UNT Health Science Center Financial Aid Office via:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
We're glad you have questions. Graduate school is a big step and requires careful consideration. You're always welcome to email or call us for answers, but for your convenience, we've curated our responses to the most common questions from our applicants. You may view our "Frequently Asked Questions" page by following this link: www.unthsc.edu/school-of-public-health/faq.
Average 2019 Admit Profile
Professional Option – 42 Hour |
Professional Option – 48 Hour |
|
UG GPA: 3.45 | UG GPA: 3.36 | |
GRE Verbal: 153 or 61% | GRE Verbal: 152 or 56% | |
GRE Quantitative: 151 or 40% | GRE Quantitative: 150 or 38% | |
GRE Analytical Writing: 4 or 59% | GRE Analytical Writing: 3.5 or 41% |

Texas Residency is established at the time of admission to UNT Health Science Center. We encourage you to review the details for the residency status requirements posted by the Registrar’s Office.
This page was last modified on November 6, 2019