MD/MPH Dual Degree

About

UC Irvine’s dual MD/MPH program trains a select group of medical students on the changing public health needs of California communities by providing a strategic vision of future societal health needs. By training professionals in contemporary public health practice and population-based research and strategies, the program joins the national public health movement to improve the health and life expectancy for many different populations.

The MD/MPH is designed for medical students who wish to acquire competencies in public health and understand the broader determinants of health, including the environment, health promotion, preventive medicine, and health policy. Students in this program pursue a combined curriculum for an MD from the UC Irvine School of Medicine and an MPH from the Program in Public Health.

After students in the program complete a five-year combined curriculum, they are recipients of an MD from the UC Irvine School of Medicine and an MPH from UCI Public Health The two degrees are awarded independently of each other. Students may receive the MPH before or after their MD degree depending on the pace at which they complete all the requirements, and provided that they remain in good standing according to registration requirements.

Time to Degree

The UC Irvine MD/MPH dual-degree program is a five-year program. Courses for the MPH program begin in the fall of fourth year after MD summer clinical rotations. After completing three quarters of coursework, MD/MPH students return to medical school for summer rotations and then begin their last year of medical school. Students will enroll in the MPH program again for the required practicum course in the fall or winter of the fifth year.

Career Opportunities

Upon completing this program, graduates will be able to pursue a variety of career opportunities in academics, clinical medicine, research, public policy, health administration and global health. By training professionals in contemporary public health practice and population-based research and strategies, the program joins the national public health movement to improve the health and life expectancy for many different populations. With the increasing need for broadly trained public health professionals, graduates will be considered valuable and influential members of the healthcare workforce.