Founded in 1998, the School of Rural Public Health has rapidly developed into a nationally ranked, fully accredited public health research, service and training program. After only nine years, the School was ranked by U.S. News and World Reports as a Top 25 Graduate School in Public Health. The average age of those Schools ranked above us was 40+ years. The School provides an excellent forum for tomorrow's public health leaders to engage in a learning environment that builds on a wide array of research strengths and scholarly inquire of a stellar faculty (four of which have received the prestigious designation of Regents Professor within the last three years alone). Further, the research and practice links established by the faculty provide an extensive diversity of opportunities for students to work closely with professionals in applied public health settings.
Students pursue degrees at both the master's and doctoral levels. The practice focused Master in Public Health (MPH) degree is offered in the five core disciplines of Public Health (Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Health, Social and Behavioral Health, and Policy and Management) and in a unique Border Health program centered at our McAllen campus. The research focused Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) degree is available in the five core disciplines as well. The school offers what may be the nation's premier Master in Health Administration (MHA) program for those seeking career opportunities in rural settings, although our graduates can be found in many urban settings from Dallas and Houston, to New York City and Los Angeles. The MHA program is one of only 10 nationally participating in the National Center for Health Care Leadership program designed to refine curricula by linking instructional objectives to practice-based competencies. Doctoral programs are offered in Health Services Research (PhD), Social and Behavioral Sciences (DrPH) and Epidemiology and Environmental Health (DrPH). We also have several collaborative programs in place (e.g., MD/MPH, 4+1 programs with pre-med, agriculture and the undergraduate health academy at Prairie View A&M University) or in development (e.g., MSN/MPH, PharmD/MPH). SRPH was competitively selected by the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School to provide training to military personnel in the Department of Preventive Health Services Principles in the Army Preventive Medicine program, a collaborative graduate program at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio.
In addition to our current academic offerings, a joint PhD in
toxicology is being developed with the Texas A&M University College
of Veterinary Medicine, and we are developing new PhD programs in the
disciplines of Epidemiology and Occupational Health and Safety.
Finally, I am pleased that SRPH will offer the School's first
undergraduate program in Occupational Health and Safety beginning fall
2010.
I take great pride in the fact that the school is annually ranked among the top five schools of public health in student diversity. Our student body reflects both undergraduates continuing directly into graduate study as well as many professionals returning to academia. Most of our degrees can be obtained part-time, with the majority of the required courses available during evening hours, allowing those already in the workforce to advance their careers as well.
While our school's home sits contiguous to the Texas A&M
University campus in College Station, we have long-standing academic
and research programs in several locations across the state, including
McAllen, Temple, Austin and San Antonio. Our students participate in
practicum settings linked to a wide array of public health partners
throughout the state, nation and globe.
Public health is an exciting discipline based in the principles
of social justice that combine science based theory and strategies with
application in real world settings intended to improve population
health, protect human rights, and advance the common good. Our work
must stand up to the scrutiny of both professionals in the field and
the population in general. As we seek to impact favorably the health of
our Texas population, the nation and the international community, we
address adverse health-related problems such as obesity, aging and
long-term care, the efficiency of health delivery systems, nutrition,
water quality, automobile safety, reemerging infectious diseases, and
biosecurity and preparedness.
These are challenging times we face and there are severe shortages in the public health workforce both nationally and globally. Those of you interested in a career in public health, the discipline needs your energy and your creativity. We would like to help prepare you for an exciting career. Our faculty, staff, alumni and friends thank you for your interest in both public health and the School of Rural Public Health at the Texas A&M Health Science Center. Those of you looking to partner with the School in various research or practice projects, we are poised to provide a wealth of expertise and experience and are excited about new and continuing collaborations.
Craig H. Blakely, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Dean, School of Rural Public Health
Texas A&M Health Science Center
