Shiprock Extension 

The Shiprock Extension Program extends the MPH Program to offer on-site graduate-level instruction to develop community strengths and staff capacity of the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Navajo Nation. Begun in the spring of 2003, the Shiprock MPH Extension Program is a response to a long-standing need for professional training in public health among the staff of the Navajo Area Indian Health Service.  The Program was made possible through a partnership with the Northern Navajo Medical Center (NNMC) Health Promotion Program.

A cohort of 20 students has been fully admitted to the degree program. New students are not being admitted to the Shiprock Extension Program at this time. Admitted students are full-time employees of federal, state or tribal health agencies and most have extensive experience in the health field. The plan calls for all courses required to complete the MPH degree to be provided during a three-year period.  Courses are offered on-site in Shiprock using facilities at NNMC and Dine’ College, and are taught evenings and weekends. The program is based on delivering 4-6 hours per semester, including summers, a level of activity that can be sustained by these employed students. Non-degree seeking students may enroll in elective courses on a space available basis and with permission of the instructor.

The Shiprock Extension Program is designed as a generalist MPH degree with a strong emphasis on public health practice in agency and health department settings. The program builds upon the talents and extensive experiences of these students to deliver a program geared to their career needs and the needs of the agencies where they work. Elective hours are used to provide additional training in health policy development, program planning and evaluation, management, rural health, health communication and community health assessment and health promotion. 

Funding

The Shiprock Service Unit of the Indian Health Service has committed funds for three years to support this extension. Funding supports instructional costs, faculty costs, and operating expenses associated with development and implementation of an off-site program.

Student Admissions

The MPH Program is cognizant of the cultural diversity of the State's population and the faculty has had a long time commitment to recruit and educate individuals from ethnic groups who are currently underrepresented in the public health profession. The Program also feels that it has an obligation to help meet the public health needs of the State and surrounding tribal communities. The expectation is that these students will remain in their employment with local health agencies, but be prepared to move into increasingly influential leadership positions in those programs.

Admission requirements for the Shiprock MPH Program are based on requirements for main campus with a few special considerations to serve the Four-Corners area. Special considerations emphasized the selection of students who are likely to train in areas of current need and to remain in or return to the Navajo Nation and rural areas. 

Core & Elective Curriculum

The core curriculum requirements for the Shiprock Extension Program are shared with the main campus program. Students must complete 42 credit hours and complete either a thesis; professional paper; or the integrative seminar and an oral exam. Students with doctorate-level degrees in a health-related field may qualify for a 32 credit hour degree. 

The Shiprock Extension Program currently does not offer MPH courses on-line. Other universities or programs, however, may offer courses on-line that may be of interest to the student and could be applied toward graduation. These courses, however, would need prior approval from an Advisor in consultation with the Program Director.  Students can take 50% of their graduate courses as non-UNM courses. All core courses must be taken at UNM.  Each elective (outside of the UNM MPH Program) must be approved by the MPH Program Director. 

Advisory Board

An advisory board has been formed to provide guidance in the development of the Shiprock Extension Program. Representatives are from the following agencies: Indian Health Service, Navajo Nation, Dine College, San Juan College, New Mexico Department of Health, and the University of New Mexico.

Faculty Support 

Instructors are drawn from the UNM Albuquerque faculty, Dine’ College faculty, Northern Navajo Medical Center staff, and other health professionals from the area. The Extension Program provides necessary support and coordination for a successful off-site graduate program.