Graduate Certificate in Public Health Practice

Program Overview

Thank you for your interest in UTA’s Graduate Certificate in Public Health Practice (GCPHP) program! We offer an exceptional program that will prepare you to be a public health leader. Students who earn a Graduate Certificate in Public Health Practice at University of Texas at Arlington will be able to demonstrate knowledge and apply skills to solve problems in five core areas of public health:

• Biostatistics: Use fundamental biostatistics skills to analyze data.
• Epidemiology: Apply principles of epidemiology to research design, program assessment, disease surveillance and prevention within specified populations.
• Social and Behavioral Population Health: Identify models to promote behavioral and social changes to improve the health of a population.
• Health Policy and Administration: Understand the role of health policy and management in cost, quality and access to health care.
• Environmental Health Sciences: Identify ways in which the environment influences the health of populations.

The Graduate Certificate in Public Health Practice may be the boost you need to pursue new opportunities in the field of public health, to prepare for a Master’s program, or to simply broaden your knowledge of issues that affect our entire community.

About the Program

The curriculum is comprised of five three-hour required courses, distributed among the five public health competency domains defined by the Council on Education for Public Health. Each course is offered in an online/on-campus hybrid format: the majority of coursework occurs online, complemented with several on-campus sessions. The hybrid format allows convenience for working professionals, while still offering the benefits of networking, team-based learning, and face-to-face interaction with instructors afforded by the on-campus sessions.

Through completing the Graduate Certificate in Public Health Practice (GCPHP), students will:

1. Gain graduate-level introductory knowledge and accompanying foundational skill sets in the five core public health disciplines:  Biostatistics, epidemiology, health systems and policy, environmental health, and social and behavioral health.
2. Be prepared to apply fundamental skills from each of the five core public health disciplines to complement current job skills, or gain new public health knowledge and career opportunities.
3. Be equipped to execute skills to assess, implement interventions, and evaluate the health of a population within its organization or community.

Admission Requirements

Before applying, students should be aware that a 3.0 GPA is required.

International Students: Before applying, International students must consult with an International Admissions Counselor and the Office of Financial Aid regarding whether financial aid may apply for a certificate program. It is very important to understand if your visa requires full-time enrollment before attempting to apply to the GCPHP program, as the GCPHP is offered as a part-time program to help accommodate the schedules of working professionals. International students who hold a visa that does not require full-time enrollment may be eligible to apply for the Certificate.

GCPHP Courses as Electives: All students are welcome to take certificate courses as electives, however, please consult with your Academic Advisor to understand how these electives would apply to your degree plan.

Submitting your application

Apply here

Please select “Public Health Certificate” in the “Major” dropdown list. Please be aware that the list is not in alphabetical order. The “Public Health Certificate” is located in the Nursing majors toward the end of the dropdown box.

Application Deadlines

The GCPHP program reviews applications for admission two times per year. Prospective students may apply for a spring or fall Certificate program start. Please apply according to the following deadlines:

Additional information can be found here. 

Resources 

• For more information about how a certificate can help your career or job prospects, and how it differs from a degree
• Formal requirements, descriptions, admissions policies and criteria, grading policies, degree completion requirements, and program polices are listed in the UTA Catalog
• UTA Academic Calendar.
• UTA’s academic integrity standards.

All questions about coursework, program requirements, and registration issues should be directed via email to publichealth@uta.edu

Course Offerings

All classes offered at 4:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.

Certificate Courses offered in Fall semesters

• KINE 5375 - Community Health
• KINE 5376 - Introduction to Biostatistics

Graduate Certificate Courses Offered in Spring Semesters

• KINE 5372 - Introduction to Epidemiology
• KINE 5377 - Health Systems and Policy
• KINE 5373 - Environmental and Occupational Health