Students interested in a Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences and a Master of Public Health (MPH) can complete both degrees in as few as five years by sharing 20 credit hours between the programs. For students who are not eligible for this accelerated program, the Universal Pathway to the MPH is an alternative option.
Health Sciences majors with a minimum 3.5 GPA should apply by April 1 of their third year. Applications are submitted through SOPHAS (https://sophas.cas.myliaison.com). The application includes personal statements and a CV. The GRE requirement is waived. Because this program requires advanced planning, students should consult with both a Health Sciences advisor and an MPH faculty advisor in their second year.
In year four, accepted students take undergraduate courses, MPH graduate courses, and MPH courses that count towards both degrees. The BS is awarded when all undergraduate requirements are complete, typically by the end of winter quarter of year four. The fifth year consists of entirely MPH coursework, and the MPH curriculum is unaltered by this program.
A maximum of 20 quarter hours may be applied toward both degrees. After completing the undergraduate courses and 20 quarter hours of graduate coursework, students must apply for undergraduate degree conferral. After conferral, students are eligible for the Double Demon Scholarship for remaining graduate-only terms. Students then apply for MPH graduate degree conferral in winter quarter of the fifth year, in anticipation of completing the MPH.
If a student leaves the program after completing some MPH coursework, those credits will apply toward the BS and remaining BS requirements will be completed at the undergraduate level. Students will receive advising on financial implications of this program because the course timing affects when students are in their undergraduate or graduate career for the purposes of tuition and financial aid eligibility.