MPH in Public Health

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is the standard professional degree recognized throughout the world for public health practice. The MPH program at the University of Missouri is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The MPH trains practitioners, teachers, researchers, and administrators to plan, implement, and evaluate programs aimed at enhancing health in human populations through organized effort on the local, state, and national level.

Degree Requirements

Students in the MPH must select an emphasis area from the two available options: Health Promotion and Policy and Veterinary Public Health. Requirements are determined by the emphasis area chosen. All public health students are educated in the core domains of public health and participate in a supervised internship in a public health agency. The combination of course work and practical experience produces individuals who are highly qualified to enter the public health workforce. 

Dual Degree Options

DVM in Veterinary Medicine/MPH in Public Health

Dual degree candidates must apply to and be accepted by both programs before the start of their third semester (one academic year) for consideration as a dual degree student. Students who are admitted to the Master of Public Health and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine dual degree program will take 45 credit hours of public health coursework (18 credit hours of coursework with the College of Veterinary Medicine and 27 credit hours of coursework with the Department of Public Health). A dual degree candidate who subsequently decides to pursue only one of these degrees must complete degree requirements subject to the same rules as a student not pursuing the dual degree.

The Master of Public Health Program and the College of Veterinary Medicine reserve the right to limit participation in the program, including dismissal. Those interested in pursuing the dual degree program are encouraged to discuss the possibility with advisors in both units and to submit applications for admission at the earliest possible time. 

MA in Journalism/MPH in Public Health

The School of Journalism and the program in Public Health have created a dual degree option that allows students to earn a journalism degree in reporting or strategic communication with an emphasis in public health. Students complete a block of courses in public health, as well as in journalism, and complete the dual degree with a public health internship and capstone, in which the focus is on journalism or strategic communication.

MPA in Public Affairs/MPH in Public Health

The Master in Public Affairs dual-degree with Master in Public Health is a 54 credit hour program comprised of 18 hours of public affairs coursework, 18 hours of public health coursework, and 18 hours of shared coursework between both programs. 

MSW in Social Work/MPH in Public Health with emphasis in Health Promotion and Policy

The dual degree program in Social Work and Public Health is a combination of the MSW in Social Work and the MPH in Public Health.

Students can earn a Master of Social Work (MSW) and a Master of Public Health (MPH) with an emphasis in Health Promotion and Policy. Graduates of the dual degree will be well-positioned to find employment as a health policy advocate, health agency administrator or in an integrated behavioral health setting as a care managers, health coach, patient advocate, counselor, or team leader. Students pursuing dual degrees must be independently admitted to each program. Only Regular Standing (RS), full-time MSW students (both clinical or PP&A concentration) will be admitted to the program.

The dual degree reduces total student credit hours by 24-27 credits and reduces the length of study by one academic year. If completed separately, students would be required to complete 105 credit hours (60 credit hours for RS MSW; 45 credit hours for MPH) Students completing both degrees will be required to complete 78-81 credit hours, with 51-54 of those being discipline specific (18 MPH and 33 [PP&A]- 36 [Clinical] MSW) and 27 credits shared between the two programs. Students will complete the both degree programs in 7 semesters, including one summer session.

Credit requirements, shared hours, and curriculum focus conform to the requirements of the MU Graduate School, the national accrediting body for graduate education in public health (CEPH), and the national accrediting body for graduate education in social work (CSWE). The capstone and internship will satisfy the requirements of both programs and will focus on the intersection of subject matter between social work and public health.

Admissions

Application Deadlines, Criteria & Language Requirements

Admissions for Dual Degrees

For each of the dual degree programs listed above, students must be admitted to both programs separately before they are accepted as a dual degree student. Students may apply to both programs before beginning graduate school, but must be accepted to both programs prior to the start of their third semester for consideration as a dual degree student. Once accepted into both programs, the student must inform both programs of their intent to complete the dual degree and work with their assigned Academic Advisor in both programs to ensure their plans of study are appropriate.

MPH Application and Admission Information

Admission Contact Information
MPH Program and Graduate Certificates (public.health@missouri.edu)
705 Lewis Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
573-884-6844

https://healthsciences.missouri.edu/public-health/masters-degree-mph/