The Bush School of Government and Public Service and the School of Public Health have combined to offer students the ability to receive both a Master of International Affairs (MIA) degree and a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in a three year period. These two degrees are a natural fit. Diseases do not stop at borders. That is both a public health and a national security reality. Public health work increasingly crosses borders. International affairs increasingly deals with issues of global cooperation on preventing and responding to pandemics and other transborder health emergencies. Bilateral agreements between countries and international organizations, like the World Health Organization, play an important role in managing public health issues. Public health is international and international affairs are inseparable from public health.

In this combined masters program, students follow a strictly defined curriculum, to be able to complete all of the requirements for both degrees (which normally each take two years) in this shortened time frame. They will complete hours in Public Health and hours in International Affairs. Students are required to satisfy the MIA degree’s language requirement. The MPH summer practicum course, if involving an international topic or experience, can also satisfy the MIA internship requirement. Students must complete at least one capstone course that meets the requirements of both Schools. If a student decides during the course of study to drop one of the degrees being sought, the requirements for the other degree will revert to the normal requirements for that degree.

Master of International Affairs in International Affairs

Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences

Master of International Affairs in International Affairs

Program Requirements

• Student's Advisory Committee
• Degree Plan
• Credit Requirement
• Transfer of Credit
• Limitations on the Use of Transfer, Extension and Certain Other Courses
• Final Examination

Student's Advisory Committee

The International Affairs department MIA student’s advisory committee consists of the student’s designated faculty advisor and the Department Head of the International Affairs department, who has the responsibility of approving the proposed degree plan for an INTA student. The Department Head or the student's advisor serves as chair. When necessary, recommendations in cases of academic deficiency will be made to the Graduate and Professional School.

Degree Plan

The student’s advisory committee, in consultation with the student, will develop the proposed degree plan.　The degree plan must be completed and filed with the Graduate and Professional School prior to the deadlines imposed by the student’s college, and no later than dates announced in the Graduate and Professional School calendar of deadlines for graduation.

This proposed degree plan should be submitted through the online Document Processing Submission System located on the website https://ogsdpss.tamu.edu.

Additional coursework may be added to the approved degree plan by petition if it is deemed necessary by the advisory committee to correct deficiencies in the student’s academic preparation. No changes can be made to the degree plan once the student’s Request for Final Examination or Request for Final Examination Exemption is approved by the Graduate and Professional School.

Credit Requirement

A minimum of 48 semester credit hours of approved courses that include a core curriculum of five courses, a summer internship or intensive language and cultural study, and a specialized track of study is required for the Masters Degree of International Affairs.

For students enrolled in the collaborative degree program that leads to the Master of International Affairs degree and the Master of Public Health degree, 36 credits from the Bush School are required plus 12 credits from an approved list of courses in the School of Public Health.

Transfer of Credit

A student who has earned 12 hours of graduate credit in residence at Texas A&M University may be authorized to transfer courses in excess of the limits prescribed above upon the advice of the advisory committee and with the approval of the Graduate and Professional School. Graduate and/or upper-level undergraduate courses taken in residence at an accredited U.S. institution or approved international institution with a final grade of B or greater might be considered for transfer credit if, at the time the courses were completed, the courses would be accepted for credit toward a similar degree for a student in degree-seeking status at the host institution. Otherwise, the limitations stated in the preceding section apply. Coursework in which no formal grades are given or in which grades other than letter grades (A or B) are earned (for example, CR, P, S, U, H, etc.) is not accepted for transfer credit. Courses appearing on the degree plan with grades of D, F or U may not be absolved by transfer work. Credit for thesis research or the equivalent is not transferable. Credit for coursework submitted for transfer from any college or university must be shown in semester credit hours or equated to semester credit hours. An official transcript from the university at which the transfer coursework was taken must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions.

Courses used toward a degree at another institution may not be applied for graduate credit. If the course to be transferred was taken prior to the conferral of a degree at the transfer institution, a letter from the Registrar at that institution stating that the course was not applied for credit toward the degree must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School.

Grades for courses completed at other institutions are not included in computing the GPA, with the exception of courses taken at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center.

Limitations on the Use of Transfer, Extension and Certain Other Courses

Some departments may have more restrictive requirements for transfer work. If otherwise acceptable, certain courses may be used toward meeting credit-hour requirements for the master’s degree under the following limitations.

1.  The maximum number of credit hours which may be considered for transfer credit is the greater of 12 hours or one-third (1/3) of the total hours of a degree plan. The following restrictions apply:

• Graduate and/or upper-level undergraduate courses taken in residence at an accredited U.S. institution, or approved international institution with a final grade of B or greater will be considered for transfer credit if, at the time the courses were completed, the student was in degree-seeking status at Texas A&M University, or the student was in degree-seeking status at the institution at which the courses were taken; and if the courses would be accepted for credit toward a similar degree for a student in degree-seeking status at the host institution.
• Courses previously used for another degree are not acceptable for degree plan credit.

2. The maximum number of credit hours taken in post-baccalaureate non-degree (G6) classification at Texas A&M University which may be considered for application to the degree plan is 12.

3. A zero credit 684 or 685 course is only allowed for non-thesis option master's students. A zero credit 681 course can be used for either thesis or non-thesis option master’s students. Other courses, including 691 (Research) hours, are not eligible for zero credit.

4.  Any combination of 684, 685, 690 and 695 may not exceed 25 percent of the total credit hour requirement shown on the individual degree plan:

• A maximum of 8 hours of 684 (Professional Internship) and/or
• A maximum of 8 hours of 685 (Directed Studies), and
• Up to 3 hours of 690 (Theory of Research), and
• Up to 3 hours of 695 (Frontiers in Research).

5.  A maximum of 2 hours of 681 (Seminar).

6.  A maximum of 9 hours of advanced undergraduate courses (300- or 400-level).

7.  For graduate courses of three weeks’ duration or less, taken at other institutions, up to 1 hour of credit may be obtained for each five-day week of coursework. Each week of coursework must include at least 15 contact hours.

8.  No credit hours of 691 (Research) may be used.

9.  Continuing education courses may not be used for graduate credit.

10.  Extension courses taken are not acceptable for credit.

11. For non-distance degree programs, no more than 50 percent of the non-research coursework required for the program may be completed through distance education courses.

12. To receive a graduate degree from Texas A&M University, students must earn one-third or more of the credits through the institution’s own direct instruction. This limitation also applies to joint degree programs.

Exceptions will be permitted only in unusual cases and when petitioned by the student’s advisory committee and approved by the Graduate and Professional School.

Final Examination

The Bush School does not require a comprehensive final examination for completion of the Masters Degree of International Affairs.

Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences

Program Requirements

• Student's Advisory Committee
• Degree Plan
• Credit Requirement
• Transfer of Credit
• Limitations on the Use of Transfer, Extension and Certain Other Courses
• Final Examination

Student Advisory Committee

The Student Advisory Committee for the MPH consists of an assigned faculty advisor. After receiving admission to the program and before enrolling for coursework, the student will consult with their assigned faculty advisor to receive additional information related to curriculum and processing of the degree plan. The faculty advisor must have graduate faculty membership in the academic program. If at any point of the student’s time in pursuit of the degree the assigned advisor is no longer available, the department will assign a new advisor and require a comprehensive advisory session to ensure the student is making progress according to degree program requirements.

Degree Plan

The student’s advisor, in consultation with the student, will develop the proposed degree plan. The degree plan must be completed and filed with the Graduate and Professional School prior to the deadlines imposed by the student’s college, and no later than the dates announced in the Graduate and Professional School calendar of deadlines for graduation.

The proposed/final degree plan should be submitted through the online Document Processing Submission System located on the website https://ogsdpss.tamu.edu.

Additional coursework may be added to the approved degree plan by petition if it is deemed necessary by the advisor to correct deficiencies in the student’s academic preparation.

Credit Requirement

A minimum of 45 hours of coursework is required for the Master of Public Health degree. To demonstrate integration and application of subject matter learned and the development of written and oral communication skills, a student will be required to take SOPH 680 as part of the culminating experience requirement to graduate. Concentration and elective courses vary among the core disciplines and will be addressed during advising and creation of the degree plan. Electives may be taken upon approval/advice from the student’s assigned advisor and will be listed by rubric, section, and description in the degree plan.

In case of established collaborative degree programs, a minimum of 42 hours of coursework is required for the Master of Public Health Degree.

Transfer of Credit

A student may transfer up to 9 hours of graduate credit to the Master of Public Health degree program on the advice and approval of the student’s advisory committee, department Chair, and school Academic Affairs Dean, and with the approval of the Graduate and Professional School. Courses taken in residence at an accredited U.S. institution or approved international institution with a final grade of B or greater may be considered for transfer credit if, at the time the courses were completed, the courses would be accepted for credit toward a similar degree for a student in degree-seeking status at the host institution. Otherwise, the limitations stated in the preceding section apply. Coursework in which no formal grades are given or in which grades other than letter grades (A or B) are earned (for example, CR, P, S, U, H, etc.) is not accepted for transfer credit. Courses appearing on the degree plan with grades of D, F, or U may not be absolved by transfer work. Credit for coursework submitted for transfer from any college or university must be shown in semester credit hours or equated to semester credit hours. An official transcript from the university at which the transfer coursework was taken must be sent directly to the Office of Admissions.

Courses used toward another degree at another institution may not be applied for graduate credit. If the course to be transferred was taken prior to the conferral of a degree at the transfer institution, a letter from the registrar at that institution stating that the course was not applied for credit toward the degree must be submitted to the Graduate and Professional School.

Grades for courses completed at other institutions are not included in computing the GPA.

Limitations on the Use of Transfer, Extensions, and Certain Other Courses

If otherwise acceptable, certain courses may be used toward meeting credit-hour requirements for the master’s degree with the following limitations.

1. The maximum number of credit hours allowed toward the MPH as transfer credit is 9.
2. Courses previously used for another degree are not acceptable for credit.
3. A zero credit 684 or 685 course is only allowed for non-thesis option master's students. A zero credit 681 course can be used for either thesis or non-thesis option master’s students. Other courses, including 691 (Research) hours, are not eligible for zero credit.
4. A maximum of 6 hours of 684 (Professional Internship/Practicum), and 9 hours of 685 (Directed Studies), if approved on the degree plan.
5. Undergraduate courses are not allowed to transfer to the MPH degree program.
6. Continuing education courses may not be used for graduate credit.
7. Extension courses are not acceptable for credit.
8. For non-distance degree programs, no more than 50 percent of the non-research coursework required for the program may be completed through distance education courses.
9. To receive a graduate degree from Texas A&M University, students must earn one-third or more of the credits through the institution’s own direct instruction. This limitation also applies to joint degree programs.

Exceptions will be permitted only in unusual cases and when petitioned by the student’s advisory committee, department Chair, school Academic Affairs Office, and approved by the Graduate and Professional School.

Final Examination

A final comprehensive examination is not required for the Master of Public Health non-thesis degree program.

Master of International Affairs in International Affairs

Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences

Master of International Affairs in International Affairs

Additional Requirements

• Residence
• Time Limit
• Foreign Languages
• Internship or Practicum
• Application for Degree

Residence

A student must complete 12 hours in resident study at Texas A&M University to satisfy the residence requirement for the Master in International Affairs.

Students who are employed full-time while completing their degree may fulfill total residence requirements by completion of less-than-full time course loads each semester. In order to be considered for this, the student is required to submit a Petition for Waivers and Exceptions along with verification of his/her employment to the Graduate and Professional School.

See Residence Requirements.

Time Limit

All degree requirements must be completed within a period of seven consecutive years for the degree to be granted. A course will be considered valid until seven years after the end of the semester in which it is taken. Graduate credit for coursework that is more than seven calendar years old at the time of graduation may not be used to satisfy degree requirements.

Foreign Languages

A foreign language background is not required for admission into the program. To graduate, however, a student must successfully pass a foreign language exam administered in accordance with the ratings of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. For this test the student must demonstrate a minimal proficiency in speaking and comprehension at the established rating of “intermediate low.”

Internship or Practicum

During the summer term a student has the option of either participating in an internship related to the student’s international career plans or enrolling in an intensive foreign language and cultural study. Internships in the United States or abroad provide practical experience in an organization or agency engaged in the conduct of some dimension of world affairs. A student who requires more preparation to successfully complete the foreign language test requirement may substitute enrollment in an approved immersion-type program of language instruction in place of the internship. A person who takes his/her language instruction at an institution other than Texas A&M University must obtain admission and cover all costs.

Application for Degree

For information on applying for your degree, please visit the Graduation section.

Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences
 

Additional Requirements

• Residence
• Time Limit
• Scholastic Requirements
• Foreign Languages
• Internship or Practicum
• Application for Degree

Residence

No residence requirement exists; however, attention is directed to the rules regarding Limitations on the Use of Transfer, Extension and Certain Other Courses.

Time Limit

All degree requirements for a master’s degree must be completed within a period of seven consecutive years. Coursework which is over seven calendar years old may not be applied to master’s degree. Time limits for coursework on the degree plan may also apply to transfer coursework.

Scholastic Requirements

To maintain good academic standing, a MPH student must maintain a minimum cumulative 3.000 GPA. If a student fails to attain a cumulative 3.000 GPA, he or she is placed on academic probation. A student on academic probation must raise his/her cumulative GPA to a 3.000 or above according to requirements to be set forth in the probation letter. Typically, this means raising the cumulative GPA to a 3.000 or higher by the end of the next long semester (fall/spring). If this requirement is not met, the School of Public Health’s Academic Affairs Office will recommend that the Graduate and Professional School block the student from further enrollment. If a student is blocked from further enrollment in the MPH program, he or she shall not be permitted to enroll in other MPH courses.

Foreign Languages

No specific language requirement exists for the Master of Public Health degree program.

Internship or Practicum

Students in the MPH are required to fulfill a practicum requirement. Specific course names and numbers by department are PHEB 684, PHEO 684, PHPM 684, and HPCH 684. Instructions on submission and successful completion of the practicum are posted on the School of Public Health practicum website as well as with the department’s practicum coordinator. Students are to work specifically with their department practicum coordinator on meeting this curriculum course requirement. Students must be in good academic standing, have completed all core public health courses, or be enrolled concurrently in no more than one core course at the time they enroll in the 684 course, and have no registration or university blocks related to enrollment.

Application for Degree

For information on applying for your degree, please visit the Graduation section.