a Identification of the culminating experience required for each degree program If this is common across the program’s professional degree programs, it need be described only once.

If it varies by degree or specialty area, sufficient information must be provided to assess compliance by each area.

All MPH Program students are required to complete a thesis (6 credits) or graduate research project (3 credits) as a culminating experience. Information on the thesis and graduate research project is available in the MPH Program Student Handbook at: (http://chs.utep.edu/publichealthsciences/ pdf/STUDENT%20HANDBOOK%20(AY%202011-2012).pdf). Additional information on thesis guidelines, templates, formatting, signature pages, ProQuest submission, and other UTEP Graduate School requirements is located (http://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid= 45278).

The MPH thesis and the graduate research project are conceptually equal but involve different degrees of application and skill intensity and depth. The thesis requires the generation of new knowledge through the comprehensive application of the research process. The program

recommends this students intending to pursue future academic (e.g., PhD, DrPH) or professional study (e.g., medical or veterinary school, nursing, dentistry) or who want to increase their skills in research design, conduction, and dissemination. In contrast, the graduate research project is

recommended for students whose career aspirations are more focused on professional practice and who need to be able to critically apply existing knowledge and methods to the solution of a public health problem. In either case, the major objective of the thesis or graduate research project is for the student to produce and defend a substantial scholarly product with the following characteristics:

It must address an important public health problem germane to Hispanic, border or other underserved populations.

It must demonstrate sufficient knowledge and application of public health core competencies/core disciplines to an appropriate theoretical paradigm or conceptual framework.

It must show evidence of practical consideration of conducting public health research and ethical practices with respect to human subjects, animals, or recombinant DNA as is appropriate.

It must employ analysis and interpretation of primary or secondary data in the support of the testing of a hypothesis, a decision, and/or conclusion.

The study and its findings must be able to withstand critiques by an appropriate audience.

It must demonstrate an acceptable level of written and oral communication skills. It must be conducted under the direct supervision/mentorship of a UTEP Department

of Public Health Sciences faculty member (committee chairperson)

MPH students select and develop a research topic and appropriate theoretical or conceptual

framework in consultation with their committee chair and/or other committee members. The process is formalized when the student confirms the willingness of a faculty research mentor who agrees to serve as the Chair of the Thesis/Graduate Research Project Committee. The Committee Chairperson is required to be a tenured/tenure-track member of the Department of Public Health Sciences and a member of the UTEP Graduate Faculty. The student then informs the MPH Director who

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5397 (Graduate Research Project). The student and the Committee Chair then identify two (or more) additional members of the committee. One of these committee members (internal member) is required to be faculty in the Department of Public Health Sciences and a member of the UTEP Graduate Faculty. The third member (external member) is required to be from outside the Dept. of Public Health Sciences, i.e., in another UTEP academic dept., other university, public health

practitioner) whose academic/professional credentials allow him/her to hold permanent or temporary membership in the UTEP Graduate Faculty. The MPH student works with the committee to prepare and defend a proposal. The proposal defense is evaluated using the final defense criteria as a guide for its content and the capacity of the student to successfully implement the protocol. This

examination is closed to the public. Student performance on the oral and written thesis proposal defense is assessed by the committee members using a written standard evaluation rubric. Copies of these rubrics are available in the Student Handbook (http://chs.utep.edu/publichealthsciences/ pdf/STUDENT%20HANDBOOK%20(AY%202011-2012).pdf).

Completion of the initial proposal phase is reported to the UTEP Graduate School using a topic approval form once IRB approval/exemption and other appropriate documents have been approved (http://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=45219). The student then submits a written thesis or graduate research project and defends it in a final oral defense which is open to the public. The student is required to send the MPH Program Director an electronic copy of the defense notification form and a one-page abstract no less than two weeks before the date of the proposed final oral defense. The Program Director then sends out a notice over the College list serve and other media with these two documents advertising the final oral defense. The initial presentation of the final defense is open to the public. The oral presentation portion typically lasts 30-45 minutes. The public then leaves the presentation room and the student undergoes an oral examination administered by the committee. The intent of the examination and other work carried out by the committee is to make sure that the student demonstrates or exceeds minimal proficiency in the areas noted above but that he/she has met the technical and analytical skills and standards necessary to complete the specific thesis or graduate research project. In addition, student performance on the oral and written thesis proposal defense is assessed by the committee members using a written standard evaluation rubric. The Student Handbook contains copies of these rubrics (http://chs.utep.edu/publichealthsciences/ pdf/STUDENT%20HANDBOOK%20(AY%202011-2012).pdf).

The committee signs thesis/graduate research project completion document for students who satisfactorily defend (http://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=45219). This is submitted to the Program Director and College Dean for approval and finally, the Graduate School. Students are encouraged to present their findings as oral or poster presentations at regional, national and/or international professional conferences and meetings as well to local community partners, and in scholarly public health and other journals. Files containing examples of MPH theses/graduate research projects, evaluation rubrics, and other related documents are available in the Reference Room.

2.5. b. Assessment of the extent to which this criterion is met.

This criterion is met. All MPH students are required to engage in a thesis or graduate research project that serves as their culminating experience. This experience ensures that students are able to

successfully demonstrate the skills and integration of knowledge required of public health professionals. Students work closely with their faculty mentors to plan, implement, analyze, and disseminate the results of their theses and graduate research projects. The Program is increasing its efforts to ensure that students are provided with at least one opportunity to present their research findings at local, regional, national or international scientific and professional meetings.

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It is noted that the increasing number of students in the growing MPH Program will increase the number of faculty needed to serve on student theses and graduate research projects as committee chair and members. It is recommended that the program consider expanding the type of formats available for the graduate research project in order to increase flexibility and better accommodate student and faculty mentor needs and interests as the program continues to grow.

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