Curriculum
In keeping with our goal of integrating medical and public health education, we encourage MD/MPH students to maintain connections with both programs throughout the dual degree. For example, while in the MPH program, students attend seminars given by the School of Medicine and vice versa.
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.
The Master of Public Health is a 63-64 unit degree with 16 courses taken over four quarters. All students are required to complete 10 core courses. In addition, each student chooses three courses in his/her emphasis area and three additional elective courses. Courses taken as part of a student’s medical school training cannot apply towards a student’s MPH degree.
Practicum Requirement
MD/MPH students will complete a Public Health Practicum (PH 295) in the winter of their fifth year. The practicum requires students to spend 240 hours with a practicum site completing a public health project. Students write a report and present a poster at the end of this experience.
Elective Courses
Twelve units (3 courses) of electives are required for the MPH degree. Students select elective courses based on their educational and career goals. All public health courses that are not counted as Core or Emphasis courses may be chosen as elective courses. If a student identifies a graduate level (numbered in the 200s), 4-unit course outside the Program in Public Health that they would like to use as an elective, they must request pre-approval from the Program in Public Health prior to enrolling in the course. Courses used towards the MD degree may not be used as elective courses for the MPH degree.
Comprehensive Exam
MPH students are required to pass a comprehensive examination as part of their degree requirements. The Program in Public Health uses the national “Certified in Public Health” (CPH) examination as the comprehensive examination for the degree. The CPH exam covers the core areas of knowledge offered in CEPH-accredited schools and programs, as well as cross-cutting areas relevant to contemporary public health. Students must pass all MPH Core courses to be eligible to sit for the CPH exam. Students must pass the CPH examination before they can be advanced to candidacy for the MPH degree.
