Master of Public Health (MPH)

• Admission Requirements
• General Requirements
• Curriculum

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Program Description

The MPH Program was established in response to the needs of our society. It provides a multidisciplinary program through education, research, and community service to develop the skills of a public health professional necessary for the protection of health and prevention of disease of individuals and communities. Students will be well prepared to improve the challenges of our health care such as improving the access of people suffering contagious diseases and work to reduce environmental hazards such as violence, drug use and abuse, accidents, etc.

PHSU will consider candidates for the MPH Program from different walks of life such as schoolteachers, news reporters, researchers, lawyers, physicians, health professionals and others.

The Public Health Professionals will be able to work for the government, for private institutions and/or for local or international companies which provide services to the community. These professionals face the challenge of protecting the public health of the present population and of future generations.

To accomplish this, PHSU has developed a 55-credits curriculum that will expose students to the basic concepts in public health, research, and fieldwork experiences. Four tracks are offered: Epidemiology, Environmental, General, and International Health with the MPH first year core courses being common to all tracks.

General Public Health

Science studies how to protect and improve the health in communities through education and by promoting healthy lifestyles. It is in charge of developing public policies, educational programs and services to avoid those public threats.

Epidemiology

The study of the relationships between the various factors that determine the frequency and distribution of diseases in human (and other animal population), the risks to contract them, the human susceptibility and how to prevent new incidences.

Environmental

Relates to the air we breathe, water we drink and other complex environmental factors. These risks may cause sicknesses such as asthma, cancer, food poisoning, etc. It studies the impact the environment has on our health.

International Health

It focuses on the problems and needs of public health in industrialized and underdeveloped countries. Is science that studies how to work with the different levels of public health crises worldwide, identify and analyze collaborations between countries, learn and apply international regulations to address the main health problems worldwide.

The program shall have a clearly formulated and publicly stated mission with supporting goals, objectives, and values.

Mission

The mission of the Public Health program at PHSU is to educate professionals and public health practitioners in the needed knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors to be able to provide high quality public health services and to promote and protect the health of diverse populations in the globalized word. This will be accomplished through an innovative, dynamic, responsive public health curriculum while preparing to be ethical competent professional, public health practitioners and researchers.

Vision

The PHSU Public Health Program commits and aspires to be a leader in preparing excellent public health professionals and investigators to be competent in public health knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors to improve the health of communities and populations locally and across the world.

Public Health Program: Core Values of The Public Health Program.

The following core values enlighten the institutional environment and guide us in the fulfillment of our mission and goals:

• Integrity
• Respect
• Diversity
• Service
• Evidence-based public health
• Population perspective
• Community empowerment
• Balance in competing priorities

Integrity

We value honesty, ethical, and transparent practices and determine to have integrity in everything that we do.

Respect

We value the protection of the individual and collective rights and promote the respect for social and cultural differences that distinguish human beings, as fundamental aspects of those rights and respect them as essential to achieving “Health for all”.

Diversity

We value diverse perspectives and the unique contributions that result from diversity, and promote caring, support, confidence, compassion, camaraderie and a “can do” attitude.

Service

We highly value the use of our health expertise and academic abilities, capabilities, and resources in service to our students and the whole community.

Evidence Based

We value evidence as a sound basis for the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective programs and policies in public health. This evidence base is accomplished through the application of the principles of scientific reasoning, including systematic use of data and information systems, behavioral science theory and program planning models to build effective public health programs and policies.

Population Perspective

We value integrating a population perspective into all our research, service, and teaching; the collective or “public good” takes priority over the individual good.

Community Empowerment

We value community empowerment, which enables communities to increase control over their lives in their understanding of health and ability to protect their health and seek appropriate care.

Balance

In Public Health there are many competing “goods”. We value the careful assessment of these competing goods and strive to balance the alternatives to derive the best for most people.

Program Goals

The Master in Public Health Program Goals are:

Goal 1: Provide research experiences based in public health ethical standards that address the personal and social determinants of health with the purpose of developing and building healthy communities.

Goal 2: Create an academic environment in which students are supported as they attain the knowledge, skills, and competencies of the public health profession.

Goal 3: Encourage and promote public health education within the framework of ethical, social, justice, and professional standards.

Goal 4: Engage with communities, government, and private sectors to reduce social inequities through health promotion and diseases prevention programs.

Admissions Requirements

Ponce Health Sciences University encourages its applicants to seek the broadest education

CRITERIA FOR CANDIDATES’ SELECTION

They will be selected on the basis of scholastic achievement, fitness and aptitude for graduate studies and other personal qualifications. Candidates of integrity and maturity that show concern for others, besides evidencing leadership potential, character and emotional stability are the ones preferred by the Admissions Committee. The use of language, special aptitudes, technical skills, stamina, perseverance, and motivation will be given special consideration. Students are admitted on the basis of individual qualifications, regardless of handicap, gender, race, religion, age, national origin, marital status, and sexual or political orientation.

PHSU is committed to the recruitment and retention of the best qualified students regardless of being disadvantaged or underrepresented, as long as they meet all the requisites established by the Institution.

The Admission Committee considers diversity to be a desirable characteristic in the Student Body. The school values having a diverse student population from all areas of the country and therefore accepts candidates from the mainland; nontraditional academic background, and low socioeconomic status first generation college graduate, among others.

Non-USA will be considered only if they have completed their undergraduate studies within the United States of America (USA) or Puerto Rico and they have been processed through the appropriate immigration agency (SEVIS).

Admission Requirements for the Master of Public Health:

1. Have a bachelor’s degree from a college level institution accredited by the Council of Postsecondary Institutions of Puerto Rico by a US Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. International students must provide evidence of a corresponding bachelor’s degree from a college level institution accredited by their countries’ accrediting organization(s).
2. Have the following prerequisite courses and credits:

 

Course Title	Credits
Genral Sciences	6
Social Sciences	6
Behavioral Sciences	6
College/University Mathematics	3

3. Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 for admission (on a 4.0 scale).
4. Students who are not fluent in Spanish and English, must pass language assessment evaluation by PHSU.
5. Submit the following documents:
   1. Official transcript from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.
   2. Resume
   3. Personal Statement: Why do you want to continue your studies with a degree in public health?
   4. Experience: Volunteer/Shadowing/Research/Publications/Previous Work
   5. Attend a personal interview, which includes verification of Spanish and English fluency.
   6. One letter of recommendation: This letter of recommendation should provide input from people in responsible positions who can comment on your academic employment or volunteer performance, character, and interest. For undergraduates, this often means professors, academic advisors, or employers.
6. Certificate of No Penal Record (Criminal Background Check)
7. Application fee, non-refundable

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Introduction

A Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) has been established to ensure that the Master in Public Health (MPH) students complete the academic program within the acceptable time frame and with the expected quality of performance. This policy also ensures that the student financial aid requirements set forth by federal regulations have been met. The coordinators should evaluate a student’s academic progress at the end of each quarter. This document will be revised when the institutional catalog is updated, or before that if necessary.

Scope

This policy applies to all MPH students enrolled at Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU).

General Requirements

1. Time Frame for Completion of the Academic Program:

A student will have a time frame for completion of the MPH degree of two (2) years. In some cases, after the academic advising of the track coordinator and authorization of the Public Health Program Associate Dean, the student will be allowed to enroll for another two (2) years beyond the established time frame, for a total maximum time frame of four (4) years.

The total of 55 credits for completion of a degree include those graduate courses accredited on admission to the Program.

Student Status (Full time, Part time)

A student with six or more credits per semester/quarters will be considered a full-time student. A student with three to five credits per semester/quarters will be considered a half-time student and a student with less than 3 credits will be considered a less than half time student.

A student should be enrolled on at least 3 credits to be eligible for financial aid.

2. Completion of the MPH Requirements

Students must complete all courses within the established time frame (minimum of 2, maximum of 4 years). The Program requires a minimum of 55 credits.

1. At the Student Promotion Committee (SPC) level
   • A student must complete each academic year with a minimum grade point average of 3.00 (in a 4.0 scale grade). Any student failing to meet 3.00-point GPA standard of performance at the end of the academic year will be:
   • Referred by the Public Health Program (PHP) Associate Dean to the SPC for the following classification and/or remedial actions below:
   • Placed on probation and referred by the PHP Associate Dean to the PHSU Student Promotion Committee (PHSU-SPC).
   • Will be sent to academic counseling for all or some of the following actions recommended by the track coordinator:
   • Could be provided with a special enrollment with a decreased academic load,
   • Could be provided with individual tutoring in the specific field.
   • Failing to the remedial actions consecutively at the SPC level, he/she will be referred by the PHP Associate Dean to the SPC for his/her dismissal.
2. At the Public Health Program (PHP) level:
   1. Required Courses:
      • A student that failed (obtaining less than B) at any Required course at the end of any quarters:
      • Will be referred by the PHP Track Coordinator for the following classification and/or remedial actions below:
      • Repeat the course when available (only one opportunity will be provided), this is mandatory and not replaceable.
      • Should obtain A or B when repeated.
      • Will be sent to academic counseling for all or some of the following actions recommended by the track coordinator: o Could be provided with a special enrollment with a decreased academic load.
        • Could be provided with individual tutoring in the specific field.
        • Failing to the remedial actions consecutively at the SPC level, he/she will be referred by the PHP Associate Dean to the SPC for his/her dismissal.
   2. Elective Courses:
      • A student that failed (obtaining less than C) at any Elective course at the end of any quarters:
      • Will be referred by the PHP Track Coordinator for the following classification and/or remedial actions below:
      • Repeat the course when available (only one opportunity will be provided). (This is mandatory and not replaceable)
      • Only a maximum of 2 electives courses could be repeated.
      • Should obtain A or B when repeated.
      • Will be sent to academic counseling for all or some of the following actions recommended by the track coordinator:
      • Could be provided with a special enrollment with a decreased academic load,
      • Could be provided with individual tutoring in the specific field.
      • Failing to the remedial actions consecutively at the SPC level, he/she will be referred by the PHP Associate Dean to the SPC for his/her dismissal.

Integrative Learning Experience (ILE) Grading Requirement

The Integrative Learning Experience is graded on a Pass/Not Passed basis. All students must take and pass the overall Comprehensive Exam with a grade of 80% or better. Students who pass the overall exam and who complete all MPH requirements will receive the conferral of the degree at the end of the term in which the exam and all graduation requirements are completed. Students who do not pass the first opportunity of the Comprehensive Exam have the opportunity for one retake, within the same quarter. This retake may contain different questions than the first Comprehensive Exam. Only one retake will be offered in the same quarter.

Students who obtain less than 80% of the overall exam in the retake will not pass the course. Students will not be able to graduate with a No Pass on their transcript for this class and will be referred to the Student Promotions Committee. Depending on the recommendation of the Student Promotions Committee, students may need to register again in MPH 7910 - Comprehensive Exam  during the next time it is offered, and it would be the final opportunity for a retake. This final opportunity may contain different questions than the previous exams. If the student needs to re-register in MPH 7910 , he/she will have to verify with the Financial Aid Office his/her eligibility for funds and any special conditions that may apply.

Applied Practical Experience (APE) Grading Requirement

To graduate, the student must complete an Applied Practical Experience (APE) course, MPH 7850 , consisting of 100 hours at a public health site.

• The grading for the MPH 7850  (APE) is Pass (P) or No-Pass (NP). Obtaining NP at MPH 7850  (APE) will require you to repeat and/or retake the course(s) when available.
• If the student fails again to Pass the course, he/she will be referred to the PHSU SPC.
• The MPH 7850  course-passing grade is independent of the 3.00 GPA average criteria.
• An “I” (Incomplete) Grade will only be allowed under very special circumstances as determined by the professor. The student must remove the “I” (Incomplete) by the following quarter or it will be replaced by the grade of “F”. The “I” (Incomplete) grades are part of the academic record as are the final grades.

Cross Registration Courses Policy

Graduate courses not offered at PHSU could be taken at other institutions only with permission and approval of the MPH Track Coordinator, Associate Dean for Public Health and the Vice President for Academic Affairs. See catalog information related to Cross Registration:

Cross Registration- Upon the approval of the Program Directors, students enrolled in a Program may take courses from another graduate Program at PHSU. The courses taken from the other Program must not be offered in their Program. A maximum of credit hours for cross registration is determined by the Program Director based on the maximum free elective courses in the Program’s curriculum. The student must be a regular student in his/her Program and in satisfactory academic progress to be able to benefit from cross registration. The process to be followed is:

1. Student must submit a written request to his/her Program Director with the intention with evidence of his/her status as regular student and satisfactory academic progress.
2. The Program Director will consult with the other Program Director to receive authorization.
3. The primary Program Director will submit a written request to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for approval or disapproval. If it is approved, a copy of the approval will be sent to the Registrar’s and Financial Aid Office.
4. The Program Director will inform the student of the decision.

Reverse Dismissal

If the student obtained a reversed dismissal, after being sent to Promotions Committee he/she should comply with the program Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for the approval of financial aid.

Professional Behavior Requirement (Honor Code)

The students should conduct themselves in accordance with the norms for professional conduct always set forth by the Ponce Health Science University. In case of unacceptable professional behavior, the corresponding Dean or the Program Chairperson will refer the case to the Promotions Committee. If the recommendation of the Student Promotion Committee is to dismiss the student, the student has the right to follow the appeal process.

In their pursuit for academic, personal, and professional excellence, students at the Ponce Health Sciences University have adopted this Honor Code. The principles of this Honor Code are intended to aid students in maintaining a high level of ethical conduct in concordance with the educational philosophy of our institution. These are standards to enable students to determine the propriety of their conduct in relation to peers, members of the faculty, administration, and patients.

Principles

• Students have the responsibility to uphold and maintain the highest degree of personal and professional integrity.
• Students are encouraged to seek appropriate counsel if deemed necessary.
• Ethical growth should coincide with academic growth among the student body.
• To evidence the need to combine personal honor with communal responsibility the following precepts are specifically, but not exclusively, expected to guide the conduct of each member of the Ponce Health Science University student body:
  1. Each student must work independently and honestly on all examinations.
  2. Plagiarism is considered a major ethical offense and subject to reprimands and referrals to corresponding committees.
  3. Each student will be trustful and dutiful in carrying out clinical and academic responsibilities.

The success of the Honor Code depends on the personal integrity, mutual trust, and cooperation of all members of the Ponce Health Sciences University community: students, faculty, and administration.

Commitment to Public Health Philosophy

It is expected that every student be committed to the betterment of our fellow human beings as exposed by the philosophy that governs the Public Health Profession.

Academic Probation and Financial Aid Eligibility

Any student failing to meet the grade requirement might be placed on academic probation for one quarter but will be eligible for financial aid. Students that fail to comply with grade requirements after the prescribed probation time will be referred to the Student Promotion Committee for dismissal from the program.

Appeal Process for Academic and Financial Aid Probation

Academic Issues

Students referred to the PHSU Student Promotion Committee (SPC) will have the opportunity to send a letter to be considered at the meeting with information and details related to this referral. The student also could request to have audience at the meeting with the PHSU-SPC for explaining his/her case.

Students notified that the PHSU Students Promotion Committee (SPC) decided to dismiss them from the MPH Program, or that he/she must repeat failed courses during the next academic year, will have the right to appeal the decision within seven (7) working days after receiving the notification.

The appeal or due process presented below must be followed.

The student will appeal in writing to the Public Health Students Promotion Committee (SPC). The letter should include all relevant documentation to support the request. The Committee will evaluate the reasons and evidence submitted to determine if they would change their initial decision. The SPC has 48 hours to submit its decision to the Associate Dean for Public Health, who will notify the decision to the student.

If an Ad-Hoc Committee is appointed, they will notify the student in writing of the date and time set for the appealing meeting. The Ad-Hoc Committee has forty-eight (48) hours to submit a recommendation to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will consider the Ad-Hoc Committee recommendation and make the final decision within forty-eight (48) hours.

Any decision will be reported to the student in writing. The decision made by the Vice President for Academic Affairs is final.

Unacceptable Professional Behavior

The Vice President for Academic Affairs or the Vice President for Student Affairs will refer the case to the PHSU SPC. If the recommendation of the SPC is to dismiss the student, the appeal process will include the appointment of an Ad Hoc committee to sustain or change the Vice President for Academic Affairs or the Vice President for Student Affairs decision. After this institutional instance, the student may appeal again to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Vice President for Academic Affairs decision is final.

Reinstatement of Financial Aid

Financial Aid eligibility is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress. It is the student’s responsibility to request reinstatement of financial aid.

Leave of Absence Policy (LOA)

A student must request from the Registrar’s office a LOA at least 30 days prior to the LOA commencement date, unless medical circumstances require immediate authorization (e.g., automobile accident). Personal or medical leave may be authorized when a student is experiencing compelling personal and medical circumstances that are temporarily affecting his/her academic progress. The students must submit a physician’s note certifying the medical problem or reason. The total time of leave cannot exceed 180 days within a 12-month period. A student who fails to return after an authorized LOA will be academically withdrawn and an R2T4 calculation will be performed and subsequently an exit counseling instructional letter will be sent to the student. (Ponce Health Sciences University Student Policy Manual 2018-2020, p. 44).

Withdrawal Policy

A student that decides to withdraw from the school must submit a letter of resignation to the President stating their reasons for the withdrawal. Once the Dean has accepted the letter of resignation, the student shall proceed as follows:

1. The student must obtain a withdrawal form from the Registrar’s Office and fill out the required information about academic program and courses.
2. The student must obtain clearance for withdrawal from the following:
   1. Library: The Librarian must certify that the student does not have any outstanding debt or have any library materials checked out.
   2. Finance Office: Must state that the student has no outstanding debts to the school before any other further step is taken.
   3. Financial Aid Office: Students who have applied for or obtained any kind of financial aid or loan through the school must attend an exit interview and obtain the signature of the Director of Financial Aid.
   4. Student Affairs or any other department prescribed at the Clearance form: Students must obtain the signature of each Director or Dean.
   5. Registrar: After all signatures have been obtained, the Registrar will certify the student’s withdrawal and make the proper entry in their records.
   6. The student must settle all financial obligations with PHSU, or no transcripts or certifications will be issued.
   7. The withdrawal is allowed until the last day of class (semester/quarters), before starting the final exams.

Enforcement

The President, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Registrar and the Financial Aid Associate Director will receive all pertinent data to ensure proper enforcement of the policies set forth.

Tuition and Fees

For more details of PHSU tuition and fees please refer to: Tuition and Fees 2024-2025.pdf

ALL TUITION AND FEES ARE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE REGISTRATION.

*Ponce Health Sciences University reserves the right to increase the tuition or other fees as deemed necessary.