Public Health: Chronic Disease Prevention and Control

Marisa Colston, Department Head, Health and Human Performance

(423) 425-4743 or email at Marisa-Colston@utc.edu

Mark Stoutenberg, Program Director and health Living Initiative Coordinator

(423) 425-4194 or email at Marcus-Stoutenberg@utc.edu

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga will offer a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, starting Fall 2018.  The program is designed to train students as public health practitioners to work as experts the field of chronic disease prevention and control.  This professional program will assist public and private agencies with program development and evaluation as relates to chronic disease prevention and control through physical activity and healthy eating.

Mission Statement

The UTC MPH Program seeks to train public health practitioners and researchers in the methods of assessment, effective intervention implementation and evaluation, policy development, and community engagement to reduce the impact of chronic diseases and to address health disparities and improve the overall health in our local and regional communities.  Recognizing that many chronic disease-related challenges arise from economic, social, environmental, political, and health care inequalities, the MPH Program brings together inter-professional teams to solve complex health problems and to train the next generation of community health leaders.

Vision Statement

Academic and practice-based excellence to meet the community health challenges of chronic diseases and to secure local, regional, and national health equity for the future.

Program Objectives

The major guiding concepts covered in the MPH program include:

• How population health efforts can address the unique needs of communities, locally regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• The role of chronic disease prevention and control in the detection, control and maintenance of chronic diseases.
• Working as a part of interdisciplinary teams to create programs and provide services that benefit individual, families, and communities.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MPH program, graduates will be able to:

1. Describe how the social determinants of health, including socioeconomic, cultural, behavioral, environmental, and biological factors impact health in communities.
2. Apply public health laws, regulations and policies related to prevention programs.
3. Utilize statistical software to analyze health-related data.
4. Compare and critique basic theories and models from a range of social and behavioral disciplines used in public health research and practice.
5. Explain the importance of disease reporting, standardized measurements of health status, sources of standardized data, and various types of epidemiological studies.
6. Apply the principles of program planning, development, budgeting, management, and evaluation in community initiatives.
7. Synthesize epidemiological methods to address scientific, ethical, economic, and political discussions related to public health issues.
8. Analyze and design evidence-based approaches in the development of social and behavioral science interventions for population health.

Admission requirements

Graduate School Admission Requirements

Requirements described are minimum requirements for consideration and do not guarantee acceptance into a specific graduate degree program or the Graduate School.  The Office of the Graduate School is responsible for the administration of the University graduate admission policy.  The decision to admit an applicant to pursue graduate study at UTC is based upon evaluations of both qualitative and quantitative information.  To ensure adequate consideration, the applicant should submit the completed application and supporting credentials to The Graduate School office by the application dates noted in this publication.  Those filing applications after the established submission for that term.  Financial aid may also be delayed. An applicant for admission must furnish the following materials to The Graduate School office:

• A completed online application form available on the web site at www.utc.edu/apply
• Payment of the $35.00 nonrefundable application fee for domestic applicants or $40.00 for international applicants.
• An official transcript from each college or university previously attended.  These transcripts must be sent directly from the institution to the UTC Graduate School office.
• Students whose native language is not English are required to provide scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required of all applicants. (Refer below for the description of circumstances that may allow applicants to apply for an exemption to the TOEFL/IELTS requirement.)

Supplemental application materials as required by the program, including official report of the applicant’s score on the prescribed test(s) for admission, such as the GRE or GMAT

To be eligible for Degree Regular Admission an applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent and be in good academic standing at the last institution attended.  In addition to the previous two requirements, an applicant for regular admission must meet on of the following requirements from a regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent.  All GPAs are based on a 4.0-point scale; the last two years of undergraduate coursework are equivalent to approximately 60-70 semester hours or 90-100 quarter hours. (updated GPA requirements approved by Graduate Council spring 2011)

• 2.70 minimum GPA for all undergraduate work taken for the baccalaureate degree or
• 3.00 GPA for the last two years of undergraduate academic coursework or
• 3.00 GPA for 30 or more semester hours undergraduate credit after earning the first bachelor’s degree or
• 2.70 GPA for the last two years of undergraduate academic coursework and a 3.00 GPA on a fewer than 24 hours graduate coursework or
• 3.00 GPA for 24 or more graduate hours or
• An earned master’s degree or higher-level degree with at least a 3.00 GPA.

Students who do not meet this admission requirement should contact the staff of the Graduate School to discuss alternative requirements.  Applicants who are seeking admission to a degree program must submit scores on the appropriate standardized test as required by the proposed major department.

An applicant who graduated from an unaccredited institution may be considered for admission with a 3.0 cumulative average.  Scores must be submitted from the appropriate admissions test if the applicant is seeking admission to a degree program.

Public Health Program Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the Master of Public Health in Chronic Disease Prevention and Control must first meet the general requirements of the Graduate School at UTC.

1. A Statement of Purpose/Intent (part of the online application package).
2. Resume/curriculum vitae
3. Three letters of recommendation
4. An official report of the applicant’s score on the prescribed test(s) for admission, such as the GRE*, GMAT, MCAT, DAT, or LSAT.

GRE exceptions

• GRE is waived for applicants to the MPH program who have 4 more years in public health related experience.  The Department of Health and Human Performance at UTC determines what constitutes such experience for their discipline.
• GRE or MCAT test scores are not required for applicants holding a doctoral degree from a U.S. Institution or for  foreign medial graduates who have ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) certification.

Academic records should indicate that the applicant:

1. Graduated with a rank in the upper half of their undergraduate class
2. Completed an undergraduate program with appropriate preparation to undertake MPH studies in chronic disease prevention and control (applicant required to have completed three of the following courses: biology, physiology, anatomy, chemistry, psychology, sociology, and health education)
3. Other requirements include:

• Above average GRE score on verbal and quantitative sections
• Official transcript from each school or college previously attended (all prior post-secondary school study must be represented)
• A minimum of three letters of recommendation
• A detailed written statement describing why they have selected the MPH in Chronic Disease Prevention and Control through physical activity and healthy eating along with specific career goals.

Admission process

• The applicant submits the completed application and supporting credentials outlined below to The Graduate School office by the published application dates.
• The following materials must be sent by the applicant to The Graduate School office:
  • A completed online application form available on the Web site at www.utc.edu/apply
  • Payment of the $35.00 nonrefundable application free for domestic applicants or $40.00 for international applicants.
  • An official transcript from each college or university previously attended.  These transcripts must be sent directly from the institution to the UTC Graduate School office.
  • Students whose native language is not English are required to provide scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required of all applicants.
  • Supplemental application materials as required by the program, including official report of the applicant’s score on the prescribed test(s) for admission, such as the GRE or GMAT.
• To be eligible for Degree Regular Admission an applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent and be in good academic standing at the last institution attended.  In addition to the previous two requirements, an applicant for regular admission must meet one of the following requirements from a regionally accredited institution or foreign equivalent.  All GPAs are based on a 4.0 point scale; the last two years of undergraduate coursework are equivalent to approximately 60-70 semester hours or 90-100 quarter hours. (Updated GPA requirements approved by Graduate Council spring 2011)
  • 2.70 minimum GPA for all undergraduate work taken for the baccalaureate degree or
  • 3.00 GPA for the last two years of undergraduate academic coursework or
  • 3.00 GPA for 30 or more semester hours undergraduate credit after earning the first bachelor’s degree or
  • 2.70 GPA for the last two years of undergraduate academic coursework and a 3.00 GPA on fewer than 24 hours of graduate coursework or
  • 3.00 GPA for 24 or more graduate hours or
  • An earned master’s degree or higher-level degree with at least a 3.00 GPA.
• Early Decision Option: Deadline December 1st
  • Following the deadline for early admission, the selection committee, which is comprised of 1-2 MPH faculty members and the MPH Program Administrator, will evaluate the rate each applicant.  Once applicant’s file have been reviewed, selected applicants will be notified of invitation into the program.
• Standard Admission
  • The application period will be open until all positions have been filled.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all application materials as soon as possible.  Cohort sizes range from 18-22 students.
• Applicants will be ranked on the following criteria*:
  • Overall GPA and advanced preparation experiences with physical activity or healthy eating.
  • GRE scores
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Completion of all prerequisites and other application materials.

The committee reserves the right to interview each applicant via Skype or phone on a case-by-case basis.

After the early decisions have been processed, an applicant with high scores on the above criteria may receive recommendation for admission into the MPH as soon as his or her application has been reviewed, which will be done monthly.  Once an applicant becomes a candidate for admission, a reply must be received by the MPH by July 1st.  In the case when either the candidate does not reply, or declines admission, that position in the cohort becomes vacant, and the next candidate, in order of rank, will be notified.

Candidates not accepted into the MPH will receive a written notification fro the Graduate School.

Program completion requirements, to include degree requirements

A full-time graduate student at UTC enrolls in 9-credit hours or more, while a part-time student takes 8 or fewer hours.  This program is designed to allow either type of participant to enroll with the confidence that the courses will be offered regularly, thus allowing them the opportunity to progress as they are able.  A full-time student could complete the program in 5 semesters or less, while part-time students would complete the program based on the timeline that fits their personal circumstances, as long as it lies within the graduate school standards for degree completion.  Program of study-core and elective courses.

Program of Study - core and elective courses