BSPH/MPH or MSPH or MPHTM or MHA Combined Degrees
The BSPH/MPH Combined Degree Program is a path for continuous study from the BSPH degree through a professional master’s degree at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (SPHTM). BSPH majors may combine their undergraduate study with a Master in Public Health (MPH), a Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (MPH&TM), or a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH). The Combined Degree is an opportunity for undergraduate public health majors to begin graduate study during their senior year; students may take up to 12 graduate credits in public health foundational courses that may be applied to the MPH, MPH&TM or MSPH degrees.
Students must graduate from the BSPH program to continue in the MPH, MPH&TM, MSPH, program beyond the 12 credits of foundational courses. Once students have been accepted into the Combined Degree Program, they should meet with their graduate advisor early in their senior year to plan study that will incorporate the goals and competencies of the MPH, MPH&TM or MSPH program they intend to pursue.
The Combined Degree Program is only for students who meet the application deadlines based on their expected graduation date, are accepted, and continue directly from the BSPH program into the master’s degree program. Students who take time off between degrees are not eligible for the Combined Degree. Students may return to the master’s degree program at a later time but cannot apply graduate credit earned in the BS program for an MPH/MPH&TM/MSPH program with a gap in program enrollment.
The BSPH /MPH or MSPH or MPHTM combined degree may be completed in approximately 1½ - 2 years following graduation from the undergraduate BSPH, a time savings of 1 semester. A MPH or MSPH degree typically takes 2 to 2½ years to complete. Actual time depends on the number of credits students complete per semester and the time to do the practicum and integrated learning experience.
BSPH/MPH or MSPH or MPHTM Combined Degrees
BSPH students may select any of the professional degree concentrations except the MPH in Community Health Sciences (CHS). The CHS concentration is a generalist program that may overlap with portions of the BSPH degree. These degrees require a total of 42 - 45 credits plus a practicum and a culminating experience: 12 shared credits (foundational courses) plus another 30-33 master’s credits required for their selected MPH, MSPH or MPHTM program (concentration) (See the requirements for each program (concentration).
Combined degree students complete 12 credits of the four of the foundational courses during their senior year.
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SPHL 6050 | Biostatistics for Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6060 | Epidemiology for Public Health | 3 |
| SPHL 6070 | Health Systems Policy and Management | 3 |
| SPHL 6080 | Design Strategies in Public Health Programs | 3 |
If a BSPH student has completed the full undergraduate public health core courses, they may waive SPHL 6020 since the competencies for this course are obtained in the undergraduate core courses.
Combined degree students complete the MPH, MSPH or MPHTM requirements as listed for these degrees. The BSPH/MPH or MSPH or MPHTM combined degree may be completed in approximately 1½- 2 years following graduation from the undergraduate BSPH, a time savings of 1 semester. A MPH or MSPH degree typically takes 2 to 2½ years to complete. Actual time depends on the number of credits students complete per semester and the time to do the practicum and integrated learning experience.
Combined Degree students should meet with their faculty advisor early in their senior year to plan study that will incorporate the goals and competencies of the MPH/MSPH/MPHTM program they intend to pursue.
The professional master’s require a practicum and integrated learning experience (ILE). These are done toward the end of the course work and planned with the master’s advisor to fulfill the program competencies. Practical experience or internships that is not planned within MPH competencies may not count as either the practicum or ILE.
Combined BSPH/MHA
The MHA program is a 54 credit masters in health administration plus a 950-hour administrative residency. (See the MHA degree requirements) BSPH/MHA Combined Degree students may share up to 12 credits during their senior year in the BSPH program. The MHA typically takes 3 years to complete and the combined degree saves approximately 1 semester of time. Combined Degree students may only begin the MHA full time in the fall semester. Students are eligible to take a challenge exam; if passed, the student may proceed to the next class in sequence. No course credit is awarded for a waived course, and the full number of degree credits are required. In their senior year, students may take up to 12 graduate credits that are shared in the BSPH and MHA degrees from the following:
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HPAM 6050 | Health Systems Concepts | 3 |
| HPAM 6200 | Intro to Healthcare Analytics | 3 |
| HPAM 6300 | Data Visualization and Communication | 3 |
| HPAM 6710 | Quantitative Decision Models | 3 |
Combined Degree students should meet with their BSPH faculty advisor early in their senior year to plan study that will incorporate the goals and competencies of the MHA program.