The 3+2 combined program Health Sciences BS + Master of Public Health (MPH) allows motivated students to complete both degrees on an accelerated timeline by sharing credits between the undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The program maintains the rigor and value of both programs, giving students exceptional education and training. Students can earn their BS and MPH in as few as five years. The Universal Pathway to the MPH as an alternate option for students who are not eligible for the 3+2 combined degree program.
Interested students apply to the 3+2 combined degree program during their junior year. Eligible students must be Health Sciences majors in the Public Health Sciences concentration with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5. The application is competitive and includes personal statement essays and a CV. The GRE requirement is waived. Because this program requires careful planning of courses, students in their sophomore year are encouraged to work with the Health Sciences academic advisor and a faculty advisor from the MPH program.
In year four, accepted students take undergraduate courses towards the BS, graduate courses towards the MPH, and graduate courses that count towards both degrees. Students are awarded the BS in Health Sciences when all requirements have been met, by the end of year four at the latest. The fifth year consists solely of courses for the MPH. The MPH curriculum is completed in its entirety and is unaltered by this program.
A maximum of 5 courses/20 quarter hours may be applied toward both the BS in Health Sciences and the Master of Public Health. The courses below will apply toward both degrees. All other graduate coursework counts solely towards the MPH.
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MPH 501 | INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH | 4 |
| MPH 502 | INTRODUCTION TO EPIDEMIOLOGY | 4 |
| MPH 511 | HEALTH AND BEHAVIOR THEORY | 4 |
| MPH 515 | PUBLIC HEALTH ETHICS AND POLICY | 4 |
| MPH 541 | BIOSTATISTICS | 4 |
Once the 5 courses/20 quarter hours of graduate coursework are completed, the student completes their remaining undergraduate courses as part of their undergraduate career and remaining graduate courses as part of their graduate career. While students are enrolled as undergraduates, they must apply for undergraduate degree conferral. Once students are matriculated as graduate students, they apply for graduate degree conferral in anticipation of completing the MPH. Once the undergraduate degree is conferred, the student is eligible for the Double Demon Scholarship for remaining graduate-only terms.
If a student admitted to the 3+2 combined degree program completes some MPH coursework but decides not to complete the MPH, the completed graduate courses will apply to the undergraduate degree and any remaining BS requirements will be completed at the undergraduate level. Students will be advised carefully as to the financial implications of this program as the timing of courses affects when the students are in their undergraduate or graduate career for the purposes of tuition and financial aid eligibility.