Respiratory Therapy (BSRT/MPH)

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The Respiratory Therapy BSRT/MPH program is designed for undergraduate Respiratory Therapy students with an interest in pursuing an MPH degree. The curriculum allows students to earn BS and MPH degrees with potentially 10 fewer credits than if completing the degree programs separately.

The degrees are independent; each is awarded when completed, with specified courses accepted for the MPH degree after the BS degree is awarded.

The dual program courses are offered in a variety of delivery formats including face-to-face, in the evenings, mixed-mode and online.

Admission

Students in the Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) program who are interested in the BS/MPH program should apply during the junior year and must have:

60 credits of undergraduate coursework completed
A minimum overall GPA of 3.0
A minimum GPA of 3.3 in the Respiratory Therapy undergraduate major
A grade of 3.0 or higher in MTH 090 or a higher-level mathematics course
Two letters of recommendation from faculty members in Respiratory Therapy

Time Limit for Degree Completion

Coursework must be completed within six (6) years of the date of first admission to the program. Students may request or petition for an extension of this time limit. Approval of a time extension will be at the discretion of the program director, program faculty, and the Dean of Graduate Programs.

Requirements

Upon successful completion of the requirements for the BS portion of the program, the student is awarded the BS degree; upon successful completion of the remaining credits, the student is awarded the MPH degree.

Bachelor of Science (124 credits)

All requirements of the Respiratory Therapy (BS) with the exception that the students elect up to 10 credits at the graduate level to satisfy the undergraduate requirements.

All MPH courses, including those elected to count toward both the BS and the MPH, must be completed with grades of B- (2.7) or higher.

Graduate-level courses that will satisfy undergraduate requirements for the dual BS/MPH are as follows:

HED 547 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals (4)
in place of
PHS 347 - Public Health Statistics (3)
PHS 501 - Public Health Administration and Policy (3)
in place of
HCR 300 - Health Care in the United States (3) to fulfill Social Science
PHS 504 - Ethical Issues in Public Health (3)
in place of
HCR 304 - The Ethics of Health Care (3) to fulfill Humanities
Note: If PHS 210 is elected in the BSRT program, PHS 503 is waived in the MPH program.

Master of Public Health (44 credits)

After the 124 credits required for the BS degree, a minimum of 44 credits, with grades of B- (2.7) or higher in each course:

A. Core Courses (25-26 credits)

HCR 500 - Epidemiology (4)
HED 540 - Health Behavior Theory for Public Health (3)
HED 547 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals (4)
PHS 500 - Social Determinants of Health (3)
PHS 501 - Public Health Administration and Policy (3)
PHS 503 - Welcome to Public Health (1) (waived if PHS 210 is completed for the BSRT degree)
PHS 520 - Environmental Health (3)
PHS 550 - Interprofessional Education in Public Health (2)
PHS 562 - Cultural Competence for Public Health Practice (3)

B. Concentration of Choice (12 credits)

Health Administration Concentration

Health Education Concentration

C. Elective (3 credits)

One from:

HCR 505 - Health Policy (3)
HCR 506 - Research Methods (3)
HCR 511 - Economic Applications in Health Administration (3)
PHS 531 - Global Health (3)

D. Applied Practice Experience (2-3 credits)

PHS 590 - Public Health Applied Practice Experience (2-3)

E. Integrative Learning Experience (2-3 credits)

PHS 595 - Public Health Integrative Learning Experience (2-3)

F. Additional Requirement

MPH exit interview