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Public Policy and Public Health (MPP/MPH) Joint Degree Program
The MPP/MPH dual degree program is designed for students who seek to advance their training in the quantitative and qualitative methods of policy analysis and expand their knowledge of public health issues and health policies.
Health issues are an area of priority within the public arena. One of the primary ways in which health issues are dealt with is through public policy. Approaches to addressing issues range from government contracting for services to setting regulations and rules that promote population-level health (e.g., childhood vaccination policies). Students who pursue a joint MPP/MPH degree will acquire the skills needed to conduct effective health policy analysis, understand organizational processes within the health domain, develop policy-based approaches to address issues of public health importance, and translate complex public health policies for a lay audience. Graduates will also be educated in working across public, non-profit and private sectors to produce policy-based approaches to improving and protecting the public’s health. Through this joint degree program, graduates will gain the education needed to be effective in professional roles that involve health policy development, administration, and evaluation.
Certain careers will benefit from the skills gained obtaining a MPP/MPH degree. Graduates of the program may pursue research and policy analysis positions in federal and state governmental agencies, consulting organizations, health advocacy groups, and health care associations. Students graduating with a MPP/MPH degree will be qualified for many positions in the public health policy arena, including: health policy analyst, research associate, program planner/evaluator, risk analyst, and policy assistant.
For more information please contact either Angie Stefaniak in Public Policy or Courtney DeMond in Public Health.
Why Combine?
The Master of Public Policy Program and the Master of Public Health Program provide individual attention to help you realize your professional goals. The Public Health Program is well established and well regarded, combining professional public health training, leadership and service. The relatively new Master of Public Policy program provides analytical training and opportunities to participate in the policy process beyond the classroom. Both programs are small, and provide opportunities to study issues you care about in real world settings.
Students can earn both the MPP and MPH in a three-year period. Individuals considering a career in policymaking in government, nonprofits, and in the private sector that require professional training in both public health and policy analysis are encouraged to apply.
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Admissions
To apply for the joint degree program, students must submit separate admissions applications to the MPP and the MPH program meeting the requirements for each. Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other. Students are encouraged to apply to both programs at the same time. Students are required to satisfy the regular admissions requirements for each program and be accepted into each program.
Master of Public Health Admissions Requirements – Apply Now
Master of Public Policy Admissions Requirements – Apply Now
Degree Requirements
Upon acceptance and enrollment, students in the joint degree program may then apply up to nine credit hours of MPH class work towards fulfilling the 40 credit-hour requirement of the MPP degree. Likewise, they may count up to 12 credit hours of MPP class work towards fulfilling the 45 credit-hour requirement of the MPH degree. This option eliminates up to 21 credit hours that would be required to complete the two programs separately. Because of this overall reduction in credit requirements for both degrees, a student enrolled in the joint MPP/MPH degree program can expect to complete the two degrees in approximately six-to-seven semesters of full-time study. A student enrolled in the joint degree program must complete all MPH and all MPP requirements before either degree will be awarded.
Upon completion of both programs, the student earns two separate degrees: a MPP degree awarded by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and a MPH degree awarded by the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.
Students will pay the public health tuition rate (resident or nonresident) for public health (FPMD) school courses and regular graduate tuition (resident or nonresident) for public policy courses.
MPH degree requirements
MPP degree requirements
Sample Curriculum for Full Time Joint MPP/MPH Degrees (students may also attend part time).
YEAR 1 - Fall (9 credit hrs)
PADMN 6320 - Public Policy Theories (3)
FPMD 6300 - Intro to Epidemiology (3)
FPMD 6500 Introduction to Public Health (3)
YEAR 1 - Spring (9 credit hrs)
PADMN 6323 - Policy Analysis (3)
PADMN 6330 - Practice of Public Management (3)
FPMD 6600 - The Social Context of Medicine and Public Health (3)
YEAR 2 - Fall (9 credit hrs)
FPMD 6100 - Introduction to Biostatistics (3)
FPMD 6610 – Public Health Ethics and Law (3)
ECON 6300 - Public Finance (3)
YEAR 2 - Spring (11-12 credit hrs)
ECON 6380 - Law and Economics (3)
PUBPL 6900 - Public Policy Research (3)
PUBPL elective (2-3)
FPMD 6550 – Health Programs, Planning and Implementation (3) – prerequisites FPMD 6100, 6300 & 6600)
YEAR 3 - Fall (7-9 credit hrs)
PUBLP 6563 - Policy and Program Evaluation (3)
FPMD 6401 – Public Health Policy (3) prerequisite FPMD 6610
FPMD Elective (1-3)
YEAR 3 - Spring (13 credit hrs)
PUBPL 6950 - Applied Policy Project (4)
FPMD 6700 – Environmental Public Health (3)
FPMD 6960 - Public Health Practicum (6)
The MPP program will accept Intro to Biostatistics for the Quantitative Methods core. The MPH program will accept the Practice of Public Management for public health administration core. Therefore, students who choose to substitute these courses will need an additional 3-credit hour elective for each of the respective programs. Efforts will be made to coordinate a student’s applied policy project with her/his public health practicum. Finally, students in the joint program will be required to fulfill the comprehensive exam requirement of the MPH.
MPP will accept nine semester hours from MPH courses as elective credit hours in the MPP program. These nine credit hours may include a combination of FPMD 6600, FPMD 6700, FPMD 6401 and FPMD 6550. The MPH will accept 12 semester hours from MPP courses as elective credit hours in the MPH program. These 12 credit hours may include a combination of PADMN 6320, PUBPL 6900, PUBPL 6563, PUBPL 6950, and PUBPL electives.