Public Health (BA)

38 Contact Tracers

Departmental Admission Requirements

Admission requirements depend on a student’s educational and public health experience, outlined as follows:

Entering First-Year Students

  1. Either of the following:
    1. Graduation from accredited high school
    2. Successful completion of General Education Development (GED) tests
  2. High school GPA of 2.5 or higher
  3. ACT/SAT score of 20/1030 or higher (optional)

Transfer Students

Transfer students with fewer than 24 credit hours

  1. Either of the following:
    1. Graduation from accredited high school
    2. Successful completion of General Education Development (GED) tests
  2. High school GPA of 2.5 or higher
  3. ACT/SAT score of 20/1030 or higher (optional)

Transfer student with 24 credit hours or more

Must meet minimum university admissions requirements


Accelerated BA-MPH in Public Health Admissions Process

Pre-Enrollment

Undergraduates who will have earned a minimum of 75 credit hours and a cumulative GPA of 3.25 may pursue the accelerated degree program option.  Eligible students who complete the following by February 1st of the student’s sixth undergraduate semester can receive permission to enroll in MPH graduate level courses from the director of the MPH program:

Pre-Admission & Concentration Declaration

Students granted permission to enroll in graduate-level courses will need to declare a concentration for the Master of Public Health graduate degree by November 15 of the student’s seventh undergraduate semester. The concentration options for an accelerated student are Epidemiology, Global Public Health with an emphasis in Maternal and Child Health, Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, and Health Policy. Students applying to the epidemiology concentration will be required to have a strong quantitative background.  ACT score, math placement score, and MATH 111 or higher course will be considered.  A representative from the desired concentration will schedule an interview with the student to determine provisional admission and approval of concentration declaration for the students accelerated program.

Provisional Admission

Once approved to declare a concentration, the student is now provisionally admitted to the MPH accelerated program and must complete the following steps no later than the final year of their undergraduate studies to formally apply to the MPH program:

  • Submit a complete UofL Graduate School Application no later than March 1st and apply for the Summer term unless the student is pursuing the Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences concentration, in which case that student should apply for the Fall term.
    • Accelerated MPH students DO NOT submit a SOPHAS Application
  • Submit two letters of recommendation written within the last twelve months (at least one must be a SPHIS faculty member).
  • Overall GPA for the undergraduate degree (including the core courses) must be a minimum of 3.0, and students must have made a grade of B or better in each of the following MPH core courses:
    • PHST 500 Introduction to Biostatistics for Health Sciences I
    • PHPB 501 Introduction to Public Health Behavior
    • PHEP 501 Introduction to Epidemiology
    • PHMS 501 Introduction to Public Health Practice and Administration
    • PHST 501 Introduction to Biostatistics for Health Sciences II (if applicable to concentration)
  • One-page personal statement written by the applicant that is a clear, substantive description of their goals in public health.
  • Resume/CV
  • There is no GRE requirement.

Upon receipt of MPH admissions materials students will remain provisionally admitted to the MPH program until successful completion of their undergraduate degree. Following the receipt of their undergraduate degree, their admission status will be updated accordingly.


Accelerated BA-MPH for non-Public Health majors Admissions Process

Pre-Enrollment

Undergraduates who will have earned a minimum of 75 credit hours and a cumulative GPA of 3.25 may pursue the accelerated degree program option.  Students must also have completed Cardinal Core math and English requirements before submission of online program petition. Eligible students who complete the following by February 1st of the student’s sixth undergraduate semester can receive permission to enroll in MPH graduate level courses from the director of the MPH program:

  • Submit an online program-petition
  • Submit resume
  • Submit a letter of recommendation, preferably from a UofL faculty member, that speaks to their academic abilities, to Academic Coordinator Rachel Quick at rachel.quick@louisville.edu
  • Submit a letter from their academic advisor supporting this option and include their academic plan and how the MPH courses fit into the plan and they will stay on track to graduate.
  • Students may be interviewed by the MPH program director following the submission of their petition and notified of petition acceptance no later than the end of the student’s sixth semester.

Academic Advising

  • Upon notification of petition acceptance, the undergraduate advisor will work directly with the student’s academic advisor and student to review MPH core course sequencing and the scheduling to verify degree completion.
  • General accelerated students will also be assigned a public health academic advisor for the undergraduate accelerated MPH portion of their degree.

Pre-Admission & Concentration Declaration

Students granted permission to enroll in graduate-level courses will need to declare a concentration for the Master of Public Health graduate degree by November 15 of the student’s seventh undergraduate semester. The concentration options for an accelerated student are Epidemiology, Global Public Health with an emphasis in Maternal and Child Health, Health Policy, and Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences. Students applying to the epidemiology concentration will be required to have a strong quantitative background.  ACT score, math placement score, and MATH 111 or higher course will be considered.  A representative from the desired concentration will schedule an interview with the student to determine provisional admission and approval of concentration declaration for the students accelerated program.

Provisional Admission

Once approved to declare a concentration, the student is now provisionally admitted to the MPH accelerated program and must complete the following steps no later than the final year of their undergraduate studies to formally apply to the MPH program:

  • Submit a complete UofL Graduate School Application no later than March 1st and apply for the Summer term unless the student is pursuing the Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences concentration, in which case that student should apply for the Fall term.
    • Accelerated MPH students DO NOT submit a SOPHAS Application
    • Pay the Graduate School Application fee
    • Submit two letters of recommendation written within the last 12 months (at least one must be a SPHIS faculty member)
    • Include a one-page personal statement with clear, substantive description of goals in public health.
    • Resume/CV
  • Maintain a minimum graduate program GPA of 3.0
  • Receive a grade of “B” or higher in the following MPH core courses:
    • PHST 500 Introduction to Biostatistics for Health Sciences I
    • PHPB 501 Introduction to Public Health Behavior 
    • PHEP 501 Introduction to Epidemiology
    • PHMS 501 Introduction to Public Health Practice and Administration 
    • PHST 501 Introduction to Biostatistics for Health Sciences II (if applicable to concentration)
  • There is NO GRE requirement.

Upon receipt of MPH admissions materials students may be provisionally admitted to the MPH program based on receipt of their undergraduate degree. Following the receipt of their undergraduate degree, their admission status will be updated accordingly.

General Education Requirements

General Education Requirements *31
The following courses are required by the program and can be taken to fulfill the respective General Education Requirement.
Quantitative Reasoning:
College Algebra - QR (or higher)
Reasoning with Data in Daily Life - QR
Natural Sciences:
Biology Course and Lab
The following courses are recommended by the program and can be taken to fulfill the respective General Education Requirement.
Global Public Health - SBH, D2
Health Equity - D1, SB
Introduction to Public Health - SB
Nutrition 4 You - S
Recommended elective:
Ethics course (3 cr)

*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Foreign Language6-8
Minimum Total Hours6-8

Program Requirements

Public Health Program Core
PHPH 100Majoring in Public Health1
PHPH 303Public Health Career Readiness1
PHPH 420Practice of Public Health3
PHPH 431Contemporary Issues in Public Health I3
PHPB 401Public Health Communication Theory and Practice3
PHEH 440Biology for Population Health 13
PHPH 491Senior Capstone 1 - CUE3
PHPH 492Senior Capstone 2 - CUE3
PHPH 401Public Health and Health Policy3
PHEH 301Public Health and Our Environment 23
PHPB 305Public Health Intervention Principles and Strategies3
PHMS 410Public Health Law and Ethics3
One of the following:3
Quantitative Methods in Public Health 2
Introduction to Biostatistics for Health Sciences I (Accelerated BA-MPH students only)
One of the following:3
Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health 2
Introduction to Public Health Behavior (Accelerated BA-MPH students only)
One of the following:3
Epidemiological Concepts and Methods for Public Health 2
Introduction to Epidemiology (Accelerated BA-MPH students only)
One of the following:3
Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare Delivery Systems 2
Introduction to Public Health Practice and Administration (Accelerated BA-MPH students only)
Minimum Total Hours44
Supporting Courses
MATH 111College Algebra - QR (or higher) 33
or PHST 200 Reasoning with Data in Daily Life - QR
Biology Course and Lab (e.g., BIOL 102 & BIOL 104 or higher) 34
General Electives 430-32
Recommended:
Public Health: The Sophomore Experience
Minimum Total Hours37-39
Degree Total120
Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement)
Requirement fulfilled by completing the following:
Senior Capstone 1 - CUE
Senior Capstone 2 - CUE
1

Can be replaced with any 300 level and above biology course if taken BIOL 257 or BIOL 457.

2

Substitute 500-level course listed is for students admitted to the Accelerated BA-MPH program.

3

Students who satisfy Cardinal Core Requirements by courses defined by the program may require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

4

At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.

Track in Social Justice and Health Equity

Academic Plan Code(s): PH_ _BA_SHE 

The Accelerated BA in Public Health-MPH program is not available to students enrolled in this track.

Track core
PHPB 310Power, Oppression & Liberation in Social Systems3
PHPB 311Policy and Systems of Power3
PHPB 312Social Justice Practice in Public Health3
PHPB 313Strategies for Social Action3
PHPB 410Community Mobilization & Organization 13
PHPB 411Community Mobilization & Organization 23
Economics and Power (select one from the following courses): 13
Global Capitalisms
Introduction to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics - SB
Comparative Political Economy
History of Social Movements (select one from the following courses): 13
Black Culture and U.S. Democracy
The History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1900 to Present
The Black Power Movement
Modern American Social Movements
U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century
HIST 514
HIST 516
Strategic Communication (select one from the following courses): 13
Argument In Everyday Life
Social Media, Mobile Technologies and Strategic Communications
Strategic Communication Writing - WR
Strategic Communication Campaigns - CUE
Leading and Leadership
Special Topics: Writing for Social Change - WR 2
Topical Focus Electives9
Select three courses from the Approved Topical Focus Courses below 1
General Electives1-3
Minimum Total Hours37-39
1

Courses in departments outside of SPHIS are scheduled at the discretion of the offering department.

2

Course has required pre-requisite.


Approved Topical Focus Courses
PHPB 321Social Justice and Youth Activism3
PHPB 322Climate Change, Social Justice, and Healthy Equity 3
BSW 332Intro Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Issues and Social Welfare3
CJ 201Law Enforcement in the United States - SB3
CJ 202Corrections in the United States - SB3
CJ 360Juvenile Justice3
CJ 365Community Corrections3
CJ 426Violence in the United States: The Criminal Justice Response3
CJ 440Human Trafficking: Critical Thinking About Modern-Day Slavery3
CJ 493Police and the Community3
HIST 5373
HIST 5383
HIST 5883
HIST 589History of American Sexualities - WR3
LALS 321Social Science Special Topics in Latin American Studies3
PAS 305Legal Lynchings: A Survey of Race, Law, and the American Justice System3
PAS 325Politics of Black Male Identity in Post-Modern America3
PAS 326Black Political Thought: Africa to Afrocentricity3
PAS 338Race and Economics3
PAS 362Civil Rights and the Law I3
PAS 363Civil Rights and the Law II3
PAS 366Inequality and Health: The Black Experience3
PAS 368Race, Culture, Identity3
PAS 410Black Feminism in Action3
PAS 412The Underground Railroad and American Memory3
PAS 530The Life and Times of Malcolm X3
PAS 547Language, Race, Class and Gender3
PHIL 328Environmental Ethics3
PHIL 535Political Philosophy3
POLS 302Urban Political Economy3
POLS 305Urban Politics3
POLS 310Policy, Community & Service3
POLS 315Race, Law and Politics - D1, SB3
POLS 316Gender, Sexuality & Law3
POLS 319Media and Politics3
POLS 320Civil Rights and the Law II3
POLS 323Queer Politics3
POLS 324Women in American Politics3
POLS 329Sports and Politics3
POLS 334The Politics of Global Economic Relations3
POLS 335Global Environmental Politics3
POLS 384Democracy and Its Critics - WR3
POLS 395Political Leadership - WR3
POLS 520Coping with Conflict3
POLS 552Politics through Film2-3
POLS 568Feminist Theory - WR3
PSYC 366Multicultural Psychology - WR3
PSYC 442Psych of Trauma - WR, CUE3
SCHG 305Hip-Hop and Social Movements - WR3
SCHG 333Globalizing Inequalities - WR3
SCHG 399Lectures in Social Change1
SCHG 401Social Change Community Internship3
SOC 210Race in the United States - SB, D13
SOC 305Urban Sociology3
SOC 315Environmental Sociology3
SOC 323Diversity and Inequality3
SOC 417Reproductive Justice3
SOC 442Sociology of Disabilities3
SOC 454Social Inequality & Stratification - CUE, WR3
SOC 464Race and Ethnicity - CUE, WR3
SOC 470Political Sociology - CUE3
SUST 403Sustainable Societal Systems3
SUST 576Sustainable Social-Ecological Systems3
WGST 203Gender Issues in Public Dialogue - D1, OC3
WGST 301Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies3
WGST 391Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences3

Flight Plans

BA in Public Health

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallHours
PHPH 100 Majoring in Public Health 1
PHPB 301 Health Equity - D1, SB 3
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 11
 Hours15
Spring
PHEP 301 Global Public Health - SBH, D2 3
PHPB 300
Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health 1
or Introduction to Public Health Behavior
3
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 9
 Hours15
Year 2
Fall
PHPB 305 Public Health Intervention Principles and Strategies 3
PHMS 301
Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare Delivery Systems 1
or Introduction to Public Health Practice and Administration
3
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 9
 Hours15
Spring
PHEH 440 Biology for Population Health 3
PHPH 401 Public Health and Health Policy 3
PHPH 200 Public Health: The Sophomore Experience 1
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 8
 Hours15
Year 3
Fall
PHST 301
Quantitative Methods in Public Health 1
or Introduction to Biostatistics for Health Sciences I
3
PHPH 431 Contemporary Issues in Public Health I 3
PHEH 301 Public Health and Our Environment 3
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 6
 Hours15
Spring
PHEP 341
Epidemiological Concepts and Methods for Public Health 1
or Introduction to Epidemiology
3
PHPH 420 Practice of Public Health 3
PHPH 303 Public Health Career Readiness 1
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 8
 Hours15
Year 4
Fall
PHPH 491 Senior Capstone 1 - CUE 3
PHPB 401 Public Health Communication Theory and Practice 3
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 9
 Hours15
Spring
PHPH 492 Senior Capstone 2 - CUE 3
PHMS 410 Public Health Law and Ethics 3
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 2 9
 Hours15
 Minimum Total Hours120
1

Substitute 500-level course listed is for students admitted to the Accelerated BA-MPH program, to be taken during Year 4, Fall semester.

2

Students admitted to the following Accelerated BA-MPH concentrations should enroll in PHST 501 Introduction to Biostatistics for Health Sciences II during their Year 4, Spring semester:

  • Epidemiology
  • Global Public Health with Emphasis in Maternal and Child Health
  • Health Policy

Track in Social Justice and Health Equity

The Accelerated BA in Public Health-MPH program is not available to students enrolled in this track.

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallHours
PHPH 100 Majoring in Public Health 1
PHPB 301 Health Equity - D1, SB 3
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 11
 Hours15
Spring
PHEP 301 Global Public Health - SBH, D2 3
PHPB 300 Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health 3
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 9
 Hours15
Year 2
Fall
PHPB 305 Public Health Intervention Principles and Strategies 3
PHMS 301 Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare Delivery Systems 3
PHPB 310 Power, Oppression & Liberation in Social Systems 3
Selective Slot 1 - Economics & Power (choose 1 of the following courses): 3
Global Capitalisms
Introduction to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics - SB
Comparative Political Economy
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 3
 Hours15
Spring
PHEH 440 Biology for Population Health 3
PHPH 401 Public Health and Health Policy 3
PHPH 200 Public Health: The Sophomore Experience 1
PHPB 311 Policy and Systems of Power 3
Selective Slot 2 - History of Social Movements (choose 1 of the following courses): 3
Black Culture and U.S. Democracy
The History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1900 to Present
The Black Power Movement
Modern American Social Movements
U.S. Social Justice Movements of the 20th Century
HIST 514
HIST 516
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 2
 Hours15
Year 3
Fall
PHST 301 Quantitative Methods in Public Health 3
PHPH 431 Contemporary Issues in Public Health I 3
PHEH 301 Public Health and Our Environment 3
PHPB 312 Social Justice Practice in Public Health 3
PHPB 313 Strategies for Social Action 3
 Hours15
Spring
PHEP 341 Epidemiological Concepts and Methods for Public Health 3
PHPH 420 Practice of Public Health 3
PHPH 303 Public Health Career Readiness 1
Selective Slot 3 - Strategic Communication (choose 1 of the following courses): 3
Argument In Everyday Life
Social Media, Mobile Technologies and Strategic Communications
Strategic Communication Writing - WR
Strategic Communication Campaigns - CUE
Leading and Leadership
Special Topics: Writing for Social Change - WR
Topical Focus (select one course from Approved Topical Courses table below) 3
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 2
 Hours15
Year 4
Fall
PHPH 491 Senior Capstone 1 - CUE 3
PHPB 401 Public Health Communication Theory and Practice 3
PHPB 410 Community Mobilization & Organization 1 3
Topical Focus (select one course from Approved Topical Courses table below) 3
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 3
 Hours15
Spring
PHPH 492 Senior Capstone 2 - CUE 3
PHMS 410 Public Health Law and Ethics 3
PHPB 411 Community Mobilization & Organization 2 3
Topical Focus (select one course from Approved Topical Courses table below) 3
General education requirements/electives/programmatic requirements 3
 Hours15
 Minimum Total Hours120
Approved Topical Focus Courses - Track in Social Justice and Health Equity
PHPB 321Social Justice and Youth Activism3
PHPB 322Climate Change, Social Justice, and Healthy Equity 3
CJ 201Law Enforcement in the United States - SB3
CJ 202Corrections in the United States - SB3
CJ 360Juvenile Justice3
CJ 365Community Corrections3
CJ 426Violence in the United States: The Criminal Justice Response3
CJ 440Human Trafficking: Critical Thinking About Modern-Day Slavery3
CJ 493Police and the Community3
HIST 5373
HIST 5383
HIST 5883
HIST 589History of American Sexualities - WR3
LALS 321Social Science Special Topics in Latin American Studies3
PAS 305Legal Lynchings: A Survey of Race, Law, and the American Justice System3
PAS 325Politics of Black Male Identity in Post-Modern America3
PAS 326Black Political Thought: Africa to Afrocentricity3
PAS 338Race and Economics3
PAS 362Civil Rights and the Law I3
PAS 363Civil Rights and the Law II3
PAS 366Inequality and Health: The Black Experience3
PAS 368Race, Culture, Identity3
PAS 410Black Feminism in Action3
PAS 412The Underground Railroad and American Memory3
PAS 530The Life and Times of Malcolm X3
PAS 547Language, Race, Class and Gender3
PHIL 328Environmental Ethics3
PHIL 535Political Philosophy3
POLS 302Urban Political Economy3
POLS 305Urban Politics3
POLS 310Policy, Community & Service3
POLS 315Race, Law and Politics - D1, SB3
POLS 316Gender, Sexuality & Law3
POLS 319Media and Politics3
POLS 320Civil Rights and the Law II3
POLS 323Queer Politics3
POLS 324Women in American Politics3
POLS 329Sports and Politics3
POLS 334The Politics of Global Economic Relations3
POLS 335Global Environmental Politics3
POLS 384Democracy and Its Critics - WR3
POLS 395Political Leadership - WR3
POLS 520Coping with Conflict3
POLS 552Politics through Film2-3
POLS 568Feminist Theory - WR3
PSYC 366Multicultural Psychology - WR3
PSYC 442Psych of Trauma - WR, CUE3
SCHG 305Hip-Hop and Social Movements - WR3
SCHG 333Globalizing Inequalities - WR3
SCHG 399Lectures in Social Change1
SCHG 401Social Change Community Internship3
BSW 332Intro Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Issues and Social Welfare3
SOC 210Race in the United States - SB, D13
SOC 305Urban Sociology3
SOC 315Environmental Sociology3
SOC 323Diversity and Inequality3
SOC 417Reproductive Justice3
SOC 442Sociology of Disabilities3
SOC 454Social Inequality & Stratification - CUE, WR3
SOC 464Race and Ethnicity - CUE, WR3
SOC 470Political Sociology - CUE3
SUST 403Sustainable Societal Systems3
SUST 576Sustainable Social-Ecological Systems3
WGST 203Gender Issues in Public Dialogue - D1, OC3
WGST 301Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies3
WGST 391Topics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies: Social Sciences3

Accelerated BA-MPH in Public Health

Academic Plan Code(s):

  • Concentration in Epidemiology: PHBAMPHEPA
  • Concentration in Global Public Health: PHBAMPHGPA
  • Concentration in Health Policy: PHBAMPHHPA
  • Concentration in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences: PHBAMPHHKA

The accelerated degree program allows a student to complete the Bachelor of Arts in Public Health (BA) and the Master of Public Health (MPH) over a five year period.  The first four years consist of undergraduate studies, including up to 15 credit hours of public health graduate level courses taken during the senior year, culminating in the award of the Bachelors of Arts in Public Health degree.  

The fifth year, including the summer following graduation with a bachelor’s degree, consists of graduate coursework in public health, leading to completion of the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program is designed to provide students with training in foundational MPH competencies as well as a specific area of concentration. MPH concentrations currently available for the accelerated program are:

  • Epidemiology
  • Health Policy
  • Health Promotion and Behavior
  • Global Public Health with an emphasis in Maternal and Child Health

MPH graduates are prepared for positions in the public health work force, health-related industries, academic organizations, or for further professional or academic education.

The accelerated curriculum allows students to take a maximum of 15 credit hours of the Master of Public Health course work during their undergraduate studies. The 15 graduate credits will count towards the completion of both the BA and MPH degrees and will substitute for required undergraduate courses as follows:

Fall Curriculum, all concentrations:

  • Undergraduate course: PHST 301 Quantitative Methods in Public Health
    MPH replacement course: PHST 500 Introduction to Biostatistics for Health Sciences I
  • Undergraduate course: PHPB 300 Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health
    MPH replacement course: PHPB 501 Introduction to Public Health Behavior
  • Undergraduate course: PHEP 341 Epidemiological Concepts and Methods for Public Health
    MPH replacement course: PHEP 501 Introduction to Epidemiology
  • Undergraduate course: PHMS 301 Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare Delivery Systems
    MPH replacement course: PHMS 501 Introduction to Public Health Practice and Administration

Spring Curriculum Based on Concentration:

  • Undergraduate course: 300+ level General Elective (3.0 credit hours)
    MPH replacement course: PHST 501 Introduction to Biostatistics for Health Sciences II

For more information on the accelerated program click here.

Accelerated BA-MPH for non-Public Health majors

Academic Plan Code(s):

  • Concentration in Epidemiology: PHMPHEPA
  • Concentration in Global Health Policy: PHMPHGPA
  • Concentration in Health Policy: PHMPHHPA
  • Concentration in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences: PHMPHHKA

The accelerated degree program allows a student to complete any undergraduate major and the Master of Public Health (MPH) over a five-year period. The first four years consist of undergraduate studies, including up to 15 credit hours of public health graduate level courses taken during the senior year, culminating in the award of a Bachelor’s degree.  

The fifth year, including the summer following graduation with a bachelor’s degree, consists of graduate coursework in public health, leading to completion of the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program is designed to provide students with training in foundational MPH competencies as well as a specific area of concentration. MPH concentrations currently available for the accelerated program are:

  • Epidemiology
  • Health Policy
  • Health Promotion and Behavior
  • Global Public Health with an emphasis in Maternal and Child Health

The accelerated curriculum allows students to take a maximum of 15 credit hours of the Master of Public Health  course work during their undergraduate studies. The 15 graduate credits will count towards the completion of both the BA and MPH degrees and will substitute for required undergraduate courses as follows:

Fall Curriculum, all concentrations:

  • Undergraduate course: FREE 300+ Elective (3.0 credit hours)
    MPH replacement course: PHST 500 Introduction to Biostatistics for Health Sciences I
  • Undergraduate course: FREE 300+ Elective (3.0 credit hours)
    MPH replacement course: PHPB 501 Introduction to Public Health Behavior
  • Undergraduate course: FREE 300+ Elective (3.0 credit hours)
    MPH replacement course: PHEP 501 Introduction to Epidemiology
  • Undergraduate course: FREE 300+ Elective (3.0 credit hours)
    MPH replacement course: PHMS 501 Introduction to Public Health Practice and Administration

Spring Curriculum Based on Concentration:

  • Undergraduate course: FREE 300+ Elective (3.0 credit hours)
    MPH replacement course: PHST 501 Introduction to Biostatistics for Health Sciences II