Public Health and Tropical Medicine, MPHTM
The Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (MPHTM) is a public health degree with a specialty in infectious diseases, and especially those diseases found in tropical regions. The program prepares public health practitioners to plan and evaluate disease control and prevention programs, physicians to better treat and evaluate tropical diseases, or students to pursue medical school and other medical professions. The curriculum consists of foundational public health courses and specialty courses in the biological, medical, social, and epidemiological aspects of diseases that are more prevalent in tropical regions. Physicians, medical students, and healthcare professionals can also complete the requirements for the Diploma Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine to be eligible for the Certification Examination in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Traveler’s Health (CTropMed®) offered by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH).
- Assess key elements affecting the transmission of infectious diseases commonly found in the tropics.
- Assess key elements involved in the pathogenesis of tropical diseases.
- Assess the risk factors influencing tropical disease prevention, control and diagnosis.
- Apply appropriate techniques, as they relate to specific tropical disease pathogen and vector identification.
- Critique relevant methods for planning and evaluating tropical disease control and prevention programs.
The MPH&TM degree requires a total of 45 credits that include:
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MPH Foundational Courses | ||
| SPHL 6020 | Foundations in Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6050 | Biostatistics for Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6060 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6070 | Health Systems Policy and Management | 3 |
| SPHL 6080 | Design Strategies in Public Health Programs | 3 |
| MPHTM Course Requirements | ||
| TRMD 6050 | Medical Helminthology | 3 |
| TRMD 6060 | Medical Entomology | 3 |
| TRMD 6070 | Medical Protozoology and Malaria | 3 |
| TRMD 6330 | Microbial Disease of the Tropics | 3 |
| TRMD 6420 | Tropical Virology | 3 |
| TRMD 7350 | Disease Control in Low Resource Settings | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Additional Coursework | ||
| SPHL 6000 | Fundamentals of Interprofessional Collaboration & Practice | 1 |
| SPHL 7950 | Integrative Learning Experience | 1 |
| SPHL 9980 | Applied Practice Experience | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours | 45 | |
Electives
Students select from courses offered within the department, school, or university in consultation with their faculty advisor that complement their career goals and objectives.
Option for students in the joint MD/MPHTM only
Students concurrently enrolled in the Tulane University School of Medicine and earning the joint MD/MPHTM degree have the option of substituting TRMD 7960 (Clinical Tropical Medicine) and TRMD 6340 (Diagnostic Methods in Microbiology) in place of TRMD 6420 (Tropical Virology) and TRMD 6060 (Medical Entomology). These substitutions permit joint MD/MPHTM students to also complete the requirements for the Diploma Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) upon graduation.
Recommended coursework for Clinicians, Medical Students and Healthcare Professionals (Diploma Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine)
Physicians and other eligible health care professionals interested in deepening their knowledge of diagnoses and treatment of tropical diseases can take two elective courses focusing on the clinical aspects of tropical diseases: TRMD 6340 - Diagnostic Methods in Microbiology and TRMD 7960 Clinical Tropical Medicine. Students who successfully complete these courses are eligible to take the Certificate of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers' Health (CTropMed®) Examination administered by American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). Students with a clinical focus are also encouraged to take Tropical Medicine Seminar (TRMD-7000) at least once.
MPHTM Model Course Schedule
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1, Fall Semester | ||
| SPHL 6000 | Fundamentals of Interprofessional Collaboration & Practice | 1 |
| SPHL 6020 | Foundations in Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6050 | Biostatistics for Public Health | 3 |
| TRMD 6050 | Medical Helminthology | 3 |
| TRMD 6330 | Microbial Disease of the Tropics | 3 |
| Year 1, Spring Semester | ||
| TRMD 6060 | Medical Entomology | 3 |
| TRMD 6070 | Medical Protozoology and Malaria | 3 |
| SPHL 6060 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6070 | Health Systems Policy and Management | 3 |
| SPHL 6080 | Design Strategies in Public Health Programs | 3 |
| Year 1, Summer Session | ||
| SPHL 9980 | Applied Practice Experience | 1 |
| Year 2, Fall Semester | ||
| TRMD 6420 | Tropical Virology | 3 |
| TRMD 7350 | Disease Control in Low Resource Settings | 3 |
| Electives | 3-6 | |
| Year 2, Spring Semester | ||
| SPHL 7950 | Integrative Learning Experience | 1 |
| Electives | 3-6 | |
Total Degree Credits: 45
Program String and Field of Study: PHMPT_GR, PHTM
To learn more about the department, visit https://sph.tulane.edu/trmd/home.