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    Mar 28, 2024  
2012-2013 Georgia Health Sciences University Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Georgia Health Sciences University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Public Health with a Concentration in Health Informatics


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 About the Program

The Master of Public Health (MPH) Program at GHSU, accredited by the Council of Education in Public Health (CEPH) is a two-year program offering core public health courses with concentrations in Health Management and Health Informatics. The Program also includes a public health internship and a Capstone research experience. This comprehensive educational experience is designed to prepare leaders with critical thinking, problem-solving, and information management skills needed to improve healthcare delivery and promote public health.

An MPH degree presents tremendous value to “clinicians” as well as “non-clinical professionals,” with undergraduate preparation in any field.

  • Clinicians are prepared to be leaders in evidence-based quality improvement, patient-centered care, and community health. They are equipped with research skills to critically evaluate clinical literature and promote evidence in diverse areas such as health services organization.
  • Non-clinical professionals are prepared with knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines to create and manage information systems, improve healthcare delivery and thereby promote community health.

The MPH Program is offered largely online, and can be completed in two years. It is designed to support the working professional in pursuit of a graduate degree. Graduates are prepared to be leaders in healthcare organizations, public health agencies, the pharmaceutical and information technology industries, and research institutes.

 Career Opportunities

Graduates will be able to manage information enterprises of:

  • Healthcare organizations
  • Public health agencies
  • Research institutes
  • Industries including pharmaceutical, healthcare technology and insurance

Accreditation

The MPH Program is accredited by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH).

Admission Requirements

Completed Online Application for Graduate Programs. Please check the Office of Admissions website: http://www.georgiahealth.edu/Admissions/

Application deadline for application and required materials and documents:
 Early submission of all application materials is strongly advised.

May 1
  ‐ FALL entry

Note: All required application materials and documents must be received in order for an application to be considered complete and before an admission decision can be made. Applications and supporting materials received after the program deadline will only be considered on a space-available basis.

GPA: Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Minimum Degree Requirement and Official Transcripts:
Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. To be used to satisfy degree requirement, evaluation of foreign educational transcripts must show degree(s) earned that are the U.S. equivalency of degree(s) required by the program.

Official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges ever attended. Only in the case of transcripts from international colleges/universities will an official course‐by‐course transcript evaluation of an official transcript be accepted in lieu of an official transcript.

Official transcripts should be sent to GHSU’s Office of Academic Admission. To remain official, all transcripts must remain in the original, unopened, sealed and stamped/signed envelope from the Registrar’s office of the issuing institution. Alternatively, GHSU will accept official electronic transcripts from the registrar’s office at your prior institution. Electronic transcripts should be directed to admissions@georgiahealth.edu.

Transcript/Credential Evaluation of Foreign Transcripts:
An official, professional course-by-course evaluation based on official transcripts and documents is required for all foreign educational transcripts and documents from one of the following three credentials evaluation services: Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE). Silny and WES are recommended. Official evaluations based on unofficial transcripts, documents, or copies will not satisfy this requirement.

References:
Recommendations (which include a reference form and letter of recommendation) from three individuals are required. Referees should be individuals qualified to critically assess the applicant’s prior academic (usually college professors), employment, artistic, research and/or clinical experience (clinical or research supervisor/mentor) and qualifications (as applicable) as well as the applicant’s potential as a graduate student in the field/program selected.

Graduate reference forms and letters of recommendation can be submitted online only. As part of the online application process, applicants provide the names and current email addresses for three individuals they have asked to serve as their referees. Once the online application is submitted, each referee will receive an email notification directing him/her to the online site where he/she can complete the reference form and submit  his/her letter of recommendation. To change a referee after the application has been submitted, the applicant is instructed to log into his/her CollegeNet account and update the name and current email address for the referee. Status updates of your referees’ submissions will be provided to you directly from CollegeNet.

 GRE Requirement: Test takers who took the GRE prior to August 1, 2011 were scored on the old scoring scale of 200-800.  The minimum score requirement of 1000 total (combined Verbal and Quantitative Scores) will continue to be used for those who took the GRE prior to the scoring changes.

Test takers who took the GRE after to August 1, 2011 are scored on the new scoring scale of 130-170.  The minimum score of 300 total (combined Verbal and Quantitative Scores) will be required for those who took the GRE after the scoring changes.

All official GRE scores must be submitted to GHSU’s OAA directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS) and must be less than five years old. The institution code for submission of GRE scores to GHSU is 5406. Please do not select a department code. The GRE requirement may be waived for an applicant holding an earned doctorate from an accredited United States university.

The GRE requirement may be waived for an applicant holding an earned doctorate from an accredited United States university.

TOEFL Exam Scores:
Minimum score of 550 paper‐based, 213 computer-based, or 79 internet-based.

Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are  required for applicants whose first language is not English. The institution code for submission of TOEFL scores to GHSU is 5406.  Please do not select a department code.

Exemption from the TOEFL requirement is allowed for graduate students who submit proof of earning a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university where English is the language of instruction.

Program Specific Requirements

Personal Interview: Interviews by invitation only. Applicants will be selected for an interview based on an initial review of submitted application materials. Selected applicants will be notified directly by the program. The interview may be conducted either in person or over the telephone. The faculty member assigned to conduct the interview will determine which form of interview will take place.

Computer literacy and access to a high speed internet-connected computer with Windows XP or higher.

For additional information, visit www.georgiahealth.edu/alliedhealth/dhi/mph/



* Substitutions and/or waivers of minimum requirements must first be supported and approved at the program level and then formally approved by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

* While every effort is made to maintain this information as current, it may be subject to change. Please check with GHSU’s Office of Academic Admission for recent updates.

* Applications deferred to another semester are subject to all admission requirements and program requirements in effect for the semester to which they are deferred.

How to Apply

Apply on-line at www.georgiahealth.edu/Admissions, or contact:

Office of Academic Admissions
170 Kelly Building-Administration
Georgia Health Sciences University
Augusta, Georgia 30912-7310
Telephone: 706-721-2725
Toll-free: 800-519-3388
Fax: 706-721-7279
E-mail: Admissions@georgiahealth.edu

Technical Requirements

Students must be computer-literate and have access to a PC running Windows XP Professional and connected to a broadband Internet Service Provider. Hardware and software requirements for iMPH on-line courses:

IBM-compatible PC

  • Pentium III processor (Pentium IV highly recommended)
  • 512MB of RAM (1GB or higher recommended)
  • CD-ROM, CD-RW or DVD-RW recommended
  • 40GB hard drive (60GB or higher preferred)
  • SVGA (1024 x 768 or higher) display
  • Full duplex sound card with speakers/headphones and microphone
  • Windows operating system, Windows XP or higher recommended
  • Internet connection through an ISP account or a network; cable, DSL or satellite required. (Dial-up Internet connection is not acceptable for this program.)

Software

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
  • Windows Media Player 9.0 or higher
  • Microsoft Office 2007 Professional (or higher to include Access 2007)
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 or higher
  • Additional course specific applications Proprietary browser versions (those not downloaded directly from Microsoft) may not work reliably with on-line systems. If you use other “Office” type programs, some professors may require you to convert your files to an MS-Office-compatible format for on-line submission. Your connection to the Internet may initiate behind a firewall; however, the firewall settings may have to be adjusted to accommodate our Web-based tool.

On-line Course Readiness Assessment Tool

The University System of Georgia provides an on-line tool to help you determine if you are a good candidate for on-line courses.Visit www.alt.usg.edu/sort/.

Estimated Tuition and Fees

For estimated tuition and fees, please see the Tuition and Fees  section of this catalog.