Dean: Thomas A. LaVeist, PhD
           Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Health Equity

Mission and Values

Our Mission

As stewards of the first school of public health in the United States, the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine cultivates independent thinkers, innovative leaders, fierce advocates, and accomplished scholars.

From the neighborhoods of New Orleans to communities worldwide, we conduct research and collaborate with our partners to ensure that all of humanity has an equitable opportunity to be healthy and pursue optimal well-being.

We train the problem solvers.

Our Values

Legacy: We were the first; we lead

Diversity: Leverage our collective genius

Collaboration: Cultivate a culture of shared success

Excellence: Whatever we do, do it well

Discovery: Solve problems that matter

Engagement: Be of value to New Orleans and the world

Balance: Have fun!

Our Vision

Optimal health and well-being for all.

About Us

The Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine has been a leader in the field of public health for more than 100 years, with a very global view of public health throughout its history.  Now Tulane SPHTM is on the front lines fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in New Orleans, across the US and throughout the World. 

The school is located in the culturally rich city of New Orleans, Louisiana, and we are the leading school of public health in the Gulf Coast. This location gives faculty the opportunity to pursue research locally throughout the South as well as in 76 countries around the globe such as Honduras, Vietnam, Mali, and Peru, just to name a few.

The school’s strengths are diverse and many. As the first school of tropical medicine in the country, we have studied vector-borne diseases extensively, with ongoing research in malaria, dengue, Ebola, and several neglected tropical diseases. We have a strong focus on cardiovascular disease, health equity and disparities, reproductive health, and disaster response and displacement, along with growing strengths in genomics, epigenetics, and other areas pursuing health at a very personalized level.

Our faculty are strong, diverse, committed public health professionals, who are regularly recognized among their peers with awards, prestigious memberships, and important roles and responsibilities on editorial boards and within associations.

We take our job preparing the next generation of public health professionals very seriously. Our students gain a very skills-based education here, and we are fortunate to count ministers and commissioners of health, deans of schools of public health, and presidents and CEOs of health organizations among our alumni. No matter what their role, all of our graduates go on to do important, life-changing work, and we are honored to have been a part of their academic journey.

Public health is more important than ever, and we are thrilled to be an integral part of its future.

Our Leadership

Dean
Thomas A. LaVeist, PhD
Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Health Equity

Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Christine M. Arcari, PhD, MPH

Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Development
Patricia Kissinger, PhD, MPH

Associate Dean for Research
David Chae, ScD, MA

Associate Dean for Public Health Practice & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
W. Susan Cheng, PhD, MPH

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education
Joseph Keating, PHD

Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives
Mollye M. Demosthenidy, JD, MHA

Associate Dean for Global Health
Richard Oberhelman, MD

Associate Provost for Health Sciences and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education
M. A. Krousel-Wood, MD, MPSPH

Assistant Dean for Finance and Administration
Susan Barrera, MBA

Assistant Dean for Student Experience
Erica Whitiker-Valenzuela, EdD

Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management
Suzanna Chase, MS

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Dean's Office

Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Tidewater Building
1440 Canal Street, Suite 2400
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
www.sph.tulane.edu/
Phone: (504) 988-5397

Uptown Office

Caroline Richardson Building
Phone: (504) 865-5140

Academic Policies

• Newcomb-Tulane College Policies
• Graduate School Policies
• School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Policies

  • Academic Advising 

  • Class Attendance

  • Course Add/Drop 

  • Readmitting Students to Degree Programs 

  • Independent (or Special) Study 

  • Incomplete (I) Grades 

  • Course Waivers 

  • Change in Requirements for Academic Programs 

  • Academic Standards

    • ​MPH, MSPH, MPH&TM, and MHA Degree Programs
    • MS, PhD and DrPH Degree Programs

  • Grading Scale - Graduate Courses 

  • Transfer Credits 

  • Time for Completion of Degrees 

Newcomb-Tulane College Policies

A full description of academic policies for all students in Newcomb-Tulane College can be found in the college's section of this catalog. Students should review these policies thoroughly.

Graduate School Policies

A full description of academic policies for all students in Graduate Programs can be found in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies section of this catalog. Students should review these policies thoroughly.

School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Policies

Academic Advising

Each student is assigned a faculty advisor who provides information on the degree and program requirements, mentors students on academic and professional issues, and monitors fulfillment of degree requirements including practicum and culminating experience for graduation.

• Students and advisors are expected to meet at least once each semester.
• Students may change advisors with the agreement of another faculty to serve as their advisor.
• Students must inform the departmental administrator of the change in advisor in writing.

Class Attendance

Students attending classes on-campus are expected to attend all classes unless they are ill or prevented from attending by exceptional circumstances. Instructors should establish policies for attendance in their classes that are announced at the beginning of the semester. Students who find it necessary to miss class are responsible for obtaining notes on material covered in lectures or other class sessions. It is up to the instructor to determine whether or not to allow the student to make up missed quizzes, examinations or other exercises. Students are responsible for notifying professors about absences that result from serious illnesses, injuries or critical personal problems. Students attending classes online that are unable to attend live sessions are expected to review the recordings.  Check with the Student Health Center on the current policies for medical excuses.

Course Add/Drop

Students can Add/Drop courses according to the dates set each semester by the Registrar's Office.  Please refer to the official calendar for Add/Drop dates. Tuition refund is determined by drop date and refunds are automatically computed in Gibson. During the Add/Drop period the student can add and drop courses through Gibson without any signatures or other approval.  Courses dropped during Add/Drop are not shown on the student transcript.  Students dropping all courses in a semester must complete a resignation form. Students completing the resignation form are only resigned from the current semester and are still considered enrolled in their degree program.

Readmitting Students to Degree Programs

Students that have not registered for courses for more than 1 consecutive Fall or Spring semester must seek readmission.  Upon re-admittance, the student must satisfy the current degree requirements and not the degree requirements under which they originally enrolled.  Students who are readmitted can apply applicable earned credit hours to their degree, provided that those credit hours have not expired.

Independent (or Special) Study

A special study or independent study is a one-on-one academic experience on a special topic and allows for study in a topic not offered in a course, or more in-depth study in an area. The topic, course objectives and activities are agreed upon by the student and a faculty member. Adjunct faculty may assist with an independent study, but may not be the primary instructor.  A special study generally involves in-depth analysis of a specific issue and documentation of the findings. Independent Study course may be from 1 to 3 credits. The special study is equivalent to a course and must meet the same rigor, degree of effort and time as a comparable credit course. The faculty must have documented expertise in the topic. A special / independent study is not described in the Courses of Instruction and does not require a course review document. A total of no more than 6 credits are allowed for master’s programs and no more than 12 credits for doctoral programs may be earned in Special Studies. Master's Course:  SPHL 7990 Independent Study (1-3 c.h.) / Doctoral Course: SPHL 8990 Independent Study (1-3 c.h.).

Incomplete (I) Grades

Students must work with instructors on a plan and timeframe to complete remaining work. A grade of "I" automatically becomes an ”F” one year after the final examination date. An extension may be obtained with the permission of the instructor by requesting an extension with the Office of Academic Affairs. 

Course Waivers

Course Waiver: For SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health

Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine must ensure that all degree seeking students are grounded in foundational public health knowledge. These foundational learning objectives are taught in SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health. All SPHTM students (all degree programs) that meet the criteria for option 1 or 2 below are eligible to apply for a course waiver.

OPTION #1 – PREVIOUS PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE:

Students with a previous Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral degree from a CEPH-accredited public health program or school can request a waiver from SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health. A list of CEPH-accredited schools and programs can be found here: https://ceph.org/about/org-info/who-we-accredit/accredited/. Students who receive the waiver are required to take an additional elective to fulfill the 3 credit hours.

OPTION #2 – CHALLENGE EXAM:

The challenge exam assesses student mastery of foundational public health knowledge. Students that successfully pass the exam receive a course waiver from SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public health. All students are eligible to sit for the SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health Challenge Exam.  Students must score at least 70% to pass the Challenge Exam.  Students who receive the waiver are required to take an additional elective to fulfill the 3 credit hours. Students who score below 70% must register for SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health.

The Challenge Exam can only be taken one time. If a student has taken SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health and failed, they are not eligible to take the Challenge Exam and must repeat the course.

For students that receive a course waiver for SPHL 6020, transfer credit may also be available.

Course Waiver: All Courses (except SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health)

Course waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  To request a waiver of a course students must consult with their Faculty Advisor and complete a Course Waiver Request Form.  Depending on the course, students may be required to take a challenge exam.  A course waiver must be approved by the Course Director, Program Director, and Department Chair. If the request for course waiver is approved, students must still fulfill the required number of credit hours.  The credit hours of a waived course do not count toward total credit hours for the degree.

Change in Requirements for Academic Programs

If degree program requirements change while a student is enrolled, the student completes their degree under the requirements that were in place in the semester in which they matriculated into the program.  A student may voluntarily opt to complete their degree under the new requirements; however, all the new program requirements must be fulfilled.

Academic Standards

MPH, MSPH, MPH&TM, and MHA Degree Programs

Academic Requirements 

• GPA - Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0-point scale. GPAs below 3.0 cannot be rounded up.
• Course Grade Minimum - Grades below C will not count towards the total credit hours required to complete the degree. A course can be repeated only one time. The original grade remains on the transcript but is not included in calculating the overall GPA. 

Transfer Between Programs/Concentrations

• Students in the MPH, MSPH, MPH&TM or MHA programs may transfer to other SPHTM master's programs/concentrations and apply credits earned.  The student must fulfill all of the degree requirements for the program they transfer into, even if it requires more total credits for the degree.  Departmental and Graduate Program Director approval is necessary to transfer.

Academic Probation

• A student with a GPA <3.0 or a grade below C in any course will be placed on academic probation. A student placed on probation has up to 12 months to return to good academic standing.  Probation status may lead to withdrawal of financial support.  
• A student placed on probation must work with their faculty and staff advisors to propose in writing a plan and timeline to return to good academic standing.  This plan must be approved by the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.  A copy of the plan is sent to SPHTM student records no later than two weeks after delivery of the probation letter. 

Dismissal 

A student will be dismissed from a master's program if any one of the following occurs:

• Not meeting the terms of probation.
• GPA, based on the number of credit hours remaining, cannot be brought above 3.0.
• Receiving a grade lower than C in a required course that has been repeated. 
• Failure to meet departmental milestones, such as finishing coursework and passing applied practice experiences, residencies, integrative learning experiences, and/or thesis within the time frames established by the school.

Student Appeal of Dismissal 

The steps to appeal a dismissal are:

1. Submit a written explanation to their advisor and department chair explaining extenuating circumstances or other matters pertinent to the appeal.
2. The department determines if the appeal has merit and submits their decision in writing and the student appeal to the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. If the department does not feel that the appeal deserves further consideration, the dismissal stands.  If the department supports the appeal, it is forwarded to the Academic Standards Committee for review.
3. The decision of the Committee on Admissions and Academic Policy shall be considered final.

MS, PhD and DrPH Degree Programs

Academic requirements 

• GPA - Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0-point scale. GPAs below 3.0 cannot be rounded up.
• Course Grade Minimum -  Grades below B- will not count towards the total credit hours required to complete the degree. Only two grades of B- will count toward the degree.  Courses can be repeated one time only. The original grade remains on the transcript but is not included in calculating the overall GPA. 

PhD Program Continuous Registration

• A doctoral student must be continuously registered in a degree-granting division of the university during the academic year (exclusive of the summer session) in either full-time or part-time status from the date of the first registration until the awarding of the degree. Failure to be continuously registered is de facto withdrawal and the school reserves the right not to readmit. Students who are readmitted may be subject to any changes in degree criteria in place at the time of readmission.

Transfer Between Programs/Concentrations

• MS students may transfer to other SPHTM master's programs/concentrations and apply credits earned but must fulfill all of the degree requirements for the program they transfer into, even if it requires more total credits for the degree. Departmental and Graduate Program Director approval is necessary to transfer.
• PhD students may transfer to a master's program or other PhD concentration but must fulfill all of the degree requirements for the program they transfer into, even if it requires more total credits for the degree.  Departmental and Graduate Program Director approval is necessary to transfer.
• DrPH students may transfer to a master's program but must fulfill all of the degree requirements for the program they transfer into, even if it requires more total credits for the degree. DrPH students need to reapply to move to a PhD program.  Departmental and Graduate Program Director approval is necessary to transfer.

Academic Probation

• A student with a GPA <3.0. or three B-grades, or one grade of C or lower in any course will be placed on academic probation. A student placed on probation has up to 12 months to return to academic good standing.  Probation status may lead to withdrawal of financial support.
• A student placed on probation must work with their faculty advisors to propose in writing a plan and timeline to return to good academic standing.  This plan must be approved by the Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.  A copy of the plan is sent to SPHTM student records no later than two weeks after delivery of the probation letter. 

Dismissal

A student will be dismissed from a doctoral program if any one of the following occurs:

• Not meeting the terms of probation.
• GPA, based on the number of credit hours remaining, cannot be brought above 3.0.
• Three or more grades of B- with no more repeats. One grade of C or lower in a required course with no more repeats.
• Failure to meet departmental milestones, such as finishing coursework, passing qualifying or cumulative exams, defending a prospectus, and/or defending a thesis or dissertation within the time frames established by the school.

Grading Scale - Graduate Courses 

Grades are reported as follows:

Grades

Grade	Description
A	4.00
A minus (A-)	3.67
B plus (B+)	3.33
B	3.00
B minus (B-)	2.67
C	2.00
F	0.00
WF	0.00
I (Incomplete)	0.00

Transfer Credits

Courses for transfer credit are reviewed on a course-by-course basis and SPHTM reserves the right not to accept the transfer of credit toward a SPHTM degree.  Only academic credits from didactic courses can be considered for transfer credit.

Maximum number of credits potentially accepted for transfer is determined by degree:

• MPH, MSPH and MPHTM degrees – 15 credit hours
• MS in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Tropical Medicine – 15 credit hours
• MS in Clinical Investigation – 12 credit hours
• Master of Health Administration (MHA) – 18 credit hours
• DrPH degree – 18 credit hours
• PhD degrees – 18 credit hours

For a course to be eligible for transfer to SPHTM, a course must be:

• taken at a regionally US Department of Education accredited 4-year college or university.  Courses taken at universities outside of the United States must be evaluated by a transcript evaluation service (such as the World Education Service, “WES”).  For universities with formal partnerships with Tulane, credit transfers will be guided by policies outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding.
• a grade of B or higher
• a graduate level courses taken after completion of an undergraduate degree
• completed within the last 7 years at time of enrollment

Transfer Credits and GPA

Grades of courses accepted for transfer credits are not included in the GPA calculation.

Transfer Credits from Quarter-based Systems

Credits completed at an institution that uses a quarter credit system rather than a semester credit system will be accepted at 2/3 the number of hours on the transcript. For instance, a three-credit hour course from an institution that uses quarter credits will transfer to Tulane University as two hours of credit.

Transfer Credits – At the time of matriculation

In order to process transfer credit for coursework completed prior to matriculation, the student must complete a Transfer Credit Approval Form and provide the course syllabus and an official transcript.  A transfer request for courses required by the degree program must be reviewed and approved by the Course Director.  A transfer request for elective courses will be considered.  A similar course must be taught at Tulane University and reviewed and approved by the Program Director and Course Director.  New students should submit the request for transfer credits the semester before starting the program and no later than 2 semesters into the program.

Graduate Credit Earned before the Bachelor's Degree is Conferred

Generally, no credit is given for graduate courses taken before a student has completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. The exception to this policy are students in a 4+1/3+2 accelerated master’s degree program or combined/dual bachelor’s and master’s degree program.

Transfer Credits – After matriculation

Current students may need to take and transfer courses outside of Tulane University as part of their degree program if the course is not offered by Tulane University.  These requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and must be pre-approved by the Faculty Advisor and Graduate Program Director.  Transfer of credit is not automatic and not all courses may be accepted toward their program.

Transfer Credit Expiration:

No credit earned at another college or university more than seven (7) years previously at the time of matriculation may be applied to a SPHTM degree.

Time for Completion of Degrees

Students enrolled in any SPHTM degree program are required to complete the degree requirements within seven (7) years.

Undergraduate Public Health Degrees

• School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

  • Bachelor of Public Health

• Newcomb-Tulane College Requirements

  • Newcomb-Tulane College General Education Curriculum

  • Proficiency Requirements
  • Distribution Requirements
  • Additional Core Requirements

Graduate Academic Degrees

• General Graduate School Requirements

  • Master of Science (MS)

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Public Health Professional Degrees

• Master of Public Health (MPH) 

• Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (MPH&TM)

• Master of Health Administration  (MHA)

• Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)

• Master of Medical Management (MMM)

• Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

Undergraduate Public Health Degrees

School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Bachelor of Public Health (BSPH)

The Tulane Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) degree is an academic degree addressing the health of populations and communities through instruction, service, and community based research. Grounded in a background of humanities, social science, and the liberal arts, the degree fulfills Tulane University’s campus-wide undergraduate core proficiency while stressing an additional commitment to quantitative and scientific skills. This degree program is nationally accredited and has specific competencies, or educational targets. Competencies for the BSPH cover core concepts and structures of public health, along with university-required proficiencies, writing and math skills, and a foreign language.

Newcomb-Tulane College Requirements

Graduate Academic Degrees 

General Graduate School Requirements

A full description of Master's and PhD Degree requirements for all students can be found in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies section of this catalog. Students should review these policies thoroughly.  The MS and PhD programs follow the University academic requirements as well as the SPHTM degree requirements. 

Master of Science (MS)

The Master of Science degree is an academic research degree with study in biostatistics, epidemiology, clinical research, or tropical medicine. Students are prepared to work on research projects as study managers, data analysts, and biomedical sciences. The MS degree requirements range from 36-45 credits. 

The MS is offered in the following areas:

• MS in Biostatistics 
• MS in Epidemiology
• MS in Clinical Investigation
• MS in Tropical Medicine 

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health is an academic research degree that prepares students for research roles in a variety of public health settings. The PhD provides an understanding of theory and mechanisms of a topic area, research methods for conducting original research, and problem-solving approaches in public health settings. Students obtain in-depth knowledge of a public health field plus skills in research applications and methods. Graduates are prepared for careers in academic research, research institutes, and agencies.

The PhD in Public Health is offered with concentrations in:

• PhD in Biostatistics
• PhD in Epidemiology
• PhD in  Environmental Health Sciences
• PhD in Health Policy and Management
• PhD in International Health and Sustainable Development
• PhD in Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences
• PhD in Tropical Medicine

Public Health Professional Degrees 

Master of Public Health (MPH)

The Master of Public Health is the recognized professional degree for leadership careers in public health.  The MPH degree is based on a multidisciplinary field of study that addresses the health of populations throughout the world and covers the five core areas of public health (epidemiology, behavioral science, environmental health, biostatistics, and management).  The MPH degree requires 42-45 credits.

The MPH is offered in the following concentrations: 

• MPH in Community Health Sciences (online)
• MPH in Disaster Management (campus-based and online)
• MPH in Epidemiology (campus-based)
• MPH in Health Education and Communication (campus-based)
• MPH in Health Policy (campus-based)
• MPH in Health Systems Management (campus-based)
• MPH in International Health and Sustainable Development (campus-based)
• MPH in Maternal and Child Health (campus-based)
• MPH in Nutrition (campus-based)
• MPH in Social, Behavioral and Population Sciences (campus-based)

Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (MPH&TM)

The Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine is a practice-oriented program that prepares students to recognize and control infectious diseases found in tropical and subtropical regions and developing countries. This degree is unique to Tulane and reflects a century of work with tropical diseases.  The MPH&TM requires 42 credits.

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

The Master of Health Administration, offered campus-based and online, trains future managers and leaders who strive to improve the delivery of health services in diverse settings.  The MHA degree requires a total of 54 credits plus an administrative residency.  The residential program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) since 1971.

Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH)

The Master of Science in Public Health is a public health professional degree with a science orientation. Students obtain a public health foundation with additional study in a scientific topic. Students are prepared for public health practice as well as in research The MSPH degree requires 42-47 credits.

The MSPH is offered in the following areas:

• MSPH in Biostatistics (campus-based) 
• MSPH in Environmental Health Sciences (campus-based)
• MSPH in Industrial Hygiene (campus-based and online)

Master of Medical Management (MMM)

The Master of Medical Management degree prepares current and aspiring clinical leaders with the quantitative and evidence-based management. leadership, and personal mastery skills, which are requisite to assuming leadership toles in the evolving consumer-driven healthcare market. The MMM degree requires 36 credits.

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

The Doctor of Public Health is an applied professional doctoral degree that prepares students for leadership roles in public health practice. It is intended for early to mid-level career professionals to prepare them for positions of leadership in public health practice settings. The program is comprised of foundational and advanced training in leadership, advocacy, and equity, evaluation, and population health analytics, and grounded in a solid understanding of the impact of the social determinants of health on population and individual level outcomes. The DrPH degree requires 57 credits.

The DrPH is offered with a concentration in:

• DrPH in Leadership, Advocacy, and Equity (online)

Undergraduate

Graduate

Graduate Certificates

Graduate Internships

• Dietetic Internship

Dual and Combined Degrees

• Dual and Combined Degrees