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Message from the MPH Director

A warm and heartfelt welcome to the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the . We are also known as the “People’s School” because we strive to support and serve the public health needs of south Texas and beyond. Public health is often described as a multidisciplinary field that promotes, protects, and improves the health and well-being of people and communities. Our focus on health and well-being sets public health apart from other health sciences. We are excited to be part of the San Antonio community, a vibrant and dynamic minority-majority metropolitan area currently ranked as the  city in the United States and Texas, respectively.

The MPH is a professional degree that prepares students for a career in public health practice and advocacy or pursuing advanced academic degrees in the health sciences. We have developed and structured our MPH curriculum to address critical 21st-century issues of significant public health importance. The School of Public Health has firmly established two concentrations or specializations: MPH in Public Health Practice and Administration (PHPA) and MPH in Health Systems in the Community Context (HSCC). Each concentration is a 45-semester credit-hour graduate degree program designed with the flexibility to accommodate students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. The MPH in PHPA degree is designed to train students to lead and administer public health programs and interventions, whereas the MPH in HSCC degree is designed to train students to lead at the nexus of healthcare and public health. The overall goal is to train professionals who can work with diverse and underserved communities or populations to improve health and reduce health disparities.
 
At the School of Public Health, the MPH curriculum is purposefully designed to meet the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation requirements.  CEPH accreditation “provides assurance that the program has been evaluated and met accepted public health profession standards in practice, research, and service.” Our curriculum will provide opportunities for students to engage in real-world experiential learning, particularly during the student’s engagement in applied practice and integrative learning experiences in underserved rural and urban communities. Our goal is that the MPH program will educate the next generation of public health leaders with a view to promoting and improving the health of communities while meeting the tripartite mission of the School of Public Health: education that is practical, research that matters, and service that counts. To this end, MPH students will actively participate in community-engaged projects and activities that enhance their knowledge and skills.
 
Please recognize that your arrival as a student on our campus brings a fresh burst of energy and inspiration, creating a richer classroom community. I strongly encourage you to actively participate in the university’s Student Government Association and our Public Health Student Association, which advocates for student engagement and belonging. Additionally, you must endeavor to connect and meet regularly with your academic advisor and MPH program director for advice, guidance, and mentorship related to public health practice, community engagement, research, advocacy, and service learning. I am delighted to meet you and look forward to getting to know you during your MPH journey.
 
Emmanuel A. Iyiegbuniwe, PhD, MBA
Founding Director, Master of Public Health (MPH) Program
Associate Professor of Environmental & Occupational Health