HSU and TTU sign articulation agreement for Master in Public Health program

Hardin-Simmons University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center are excited to announce the signing of an articulation agreement to allow qualified Hardin-Simmons students the opportunity to enter the TTUHSC’s Master of Public Health program after three years at Hardin-Simmons, therefore allowing students to get a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Public Health in five years. The official signing ceremony occured this morning at Hardin-Simmons University.

Dr. Chris McNair, Provost of Hardin-Simmons said, “Hardin-Simmons is very excited to continue our partnership with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center by forming this articulation agreement allowing HSU students to complete their graduate education in Public Health at the TTUHSC Abilene Campus.”

“We are pleased to collaborate with TTUHSC through this articulation agreement which provides our students an amazing opportunity to complete, in five years, both an HSU undergraduate and a TTUHSC Master of Public Health degree. We are excited that this partnership will allow students to pursue various HSU undergraduate fields of study and then follow their excellent HSU education with an outstanding TTUHSC graduate education. We look forward to working with TTUHSC now and into the future,” says Dr. Andrea Jensen, Interim Dean of the Holland School of Sciences and Mathematics and Chair of the Biology Department at HSU.

“We are very excited to forge this partnership with an excellent institution like Hardin-Simmons. We believe this agreement will strengthen both institutions and is an incredible groundbreaking opportunity for HSU students,” said Dr. Theresa Byrd, Associate Dean and Chair at TTUHSC’s Department of Public Health. “This is a tremendous opportunity for students interested in the field of public health to earn a quality undergraduate degree from HSU and a robust master of public health from TTUHSC in a shorter period, thereby increasing the value of their tuition dollars. This facilitates their expertise into the workforce sooner and is a win-win for the field, the learner, and our community.”

“We are blessed to partner with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Abilene in order to provide a seamless transition for our students as they move from our rigorous undergraduate programs into the TTUHSC School of Public Health,” says Hardin-Simmons President Eric Bruntmyer. “We are so proud of our students that desire to continue their education and it is our hope that they will be the hands and feet of Christ to serve the world.”

This agreement benefits all students, says Dr.  Candace Wicks, Pre-Med advisor and Asst. Professor of Biology, “With this agreement, all HSU students, not just pre-med or pre-PA students can benefit from a degree with a minor in Public Health. Those with an interest to serve people in their community in a healthcare capacity, but choose to not pursue a medical career will benefit from a Masters in Public Health.”

The agreement starts in the Fall 2018 academic term.