Sul Ross State University has received official approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to launch its first graduate program in public health, the Master of Science in Public Health Sciences.
The approval marks a significant milestone for the university, expanding academic offerings to meet growing regional and national demand for trained public health professionals. The program has been formally accepted into the university’s scope of accreditation and is slated for implementation for the Fall 2026 semester.
The 30-credit-hour program will be delivered fully online, designed to serve a diverse population including working professionals, postbaccalaureate students and individuals in rural and underserved communities. The flexible format allows students to complete the degree in as little as 12 months.
The MS-PHS includes a robust curriculum featuring internships, a capstone experience and applied learning opportunities aligned with real-world public health challenges and aligns with the university’s strategic mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable degrees.
“I am beyond proud of the work being done at Sul Ross State University to increase access to higher education in underserved areas,” said Dr. Andria Rusk, executive director and chair of Public Health. “The approval of the Master of Science degree in Public Health Sciences is a statement by our accreditation board that they understand and support our mission to bring the most affordable degree of its kind to students and professionals everywhere through our online format. I am excited about the future of Sul Ross in public health education, and to see our first graduating class of public health professionals.”
The program is supported in part by a $1.79 million federal grant aimed at expanding postbaccalaureate opportunities and reflects extensive planning, workforce analysis and collaboration with regional stakeholders.
“This approval reflects Sul Ross State’s commitment to addressing critical workforce shortages in public health, particularly in rural regions like the Big Bend and Middle Rio Grande,” said Dr. Dean Culpeppr, dean of the College of Health Sciences. “Every county in this region is designated as a public health shortage area, making this program both timely and essential.”
For more information about the degree program, visit https://srinfo.sulross.edu/public-health/.
Photo: Dr. Andria Rusk