Graduate handbook information is updated and maintained by each program. Graduate handbooks are available within each program's office and online at https://utexas.box.com/v/UTAustinGraduateHandbooks. Please contact the program with concerns or questions.

Master of Science in Health Behavior and Health Education

The Master of Science in Health Behavior and Health Education (MSHbhed) consists of at least 36 semester hours of graduate study including a six-hour master’s thesis. All students seeking the MSHbhed degree complete coursework and research in an area of departmental specialization. Six semester hours of upper-division coursework is allowed in the program of work. Six hours should be taken in the minor. The minor field consists of six semester hours taken outside the department. A statistics course, a course in research methods, and the thesis course are required.

Master of Education

The Master of Education consists of at least 36 semester hours of graduate study including a six-hour graduate internship. Students concentrate coursework in a general program in health behavior and health education. Six semester hours of upper-division coursework is allowed in the program of work. Six hours should be taken in the minor. The minor field consists of six semester hours taken outside the department. The internship course is required.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy is a research degree designed to prepare students as scholars in a designated area of specialization. The program includes at least 15 semester hours of core coursework in health behavior and health education, 12 hours of statistics and research methods, and six hours of supporting coursework outside the department. Students must also complete research experience that includes at least eight hours of independent study, four hours of departmental seminar, and 18 hours in the dissertation courses.

During the student’s first year in the program, the student works with their advisor to prepare a program of study, which must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. Prior to admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree, the student must successfully complete the comprehensive examination covering the area of specialization. The student must present the dissertation proposal to the Graduate Studies Committee. The dissertation must represent an independent scholarly investigation of a problem pertinent to the field of health behavior and health education. It deals with basic questions in the area of specialization and must constitute a scholarly contribution to the body of knowledge in the profession.

More detailed descriptions and requirements for each of the specializations are available from the graduate advisor.