Combined BS/MPH Program

Program Highlights

The George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health offers a combined Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Public Health (MPH) program. This dual-degree program is designed for a select group of outstanding undergraduate public health students who demonstrate academic excellence and a strong commitment to public health. It allows students to begin their MPH coursework during their undergraduate studies, applying up to 12 graduate credits towards both degrees, thereby reducing the time and credits needed for the master's degree.

Delivery Modes

The BS/MPH program is delivered on-campus. The structure, which allows undergraduate students to take graduate-level courses, facilitates an accelerated completion of the MPH degree.

Curriculum Overview

The MPH component of the dual degree requires 45 credits. Students in the BS/MPH program can take up to 12 graduate credits, which count towards both degrees, during their undergraduate studies. The remaining 33 credits are MPH program-specific coursework. The total combined credits for both degrees are 153.

Core MPH courses taken as part of the dual degree (substituting for certain undergraduate courses) include:

• PUBH 6002 Biostatistical Applications for Public Health (Note: Students in the MPH in biostatistics program take PUBH 6850, PUBH 6851, and PUBH 6852 instead)

• PUBH 6003 Principles and Practices of Epidemiology

• PUBH 6007 Social and Behavioral Approaches to Public Health

• PUBH 6011 Environmental and Biological Foundations of Public Health

• PUBH 6021 Essentials of Public Health Practice and Leadership I

Additional required MPH core courses to complete the MPH degree include:

• PUBH 6000 MPH Applied Practice Experience

• PUBH 6009 Fundamentals of Public Health Program Evaluation (or PUBH 6501 Program Evaluation, depending on the specific MPH program)

• PUBH 6012 Fundamentals of Health Policy

• PUBH 6022 Essentials of Public Health Practice and Leadership II

• PUBH 6023 Interprofessional Education Experience

• PUBH 6015 Culminating Experience (or other capstone specific to the MPH program)

Students should consult the relevant MPH program guide and advisors for program-specific requirements and course substitutions.

Admissions Requirements

Current public health undergraduate students at George Washington University may apply to the BS/MPH program after their sophomore or junior academic year. The program seeks outstanding students who demonstrate academic excellence and a strong commitment to public health.

Graduation requirements include successful completion of the undergraduate degree, MPH core courses, and MPH program-specific coursework. Students must achieve a minimum grade of 'B' in each graduate course counted towards both degrees and maintain an overall 3.0 GPA in graduate-level coursework. Both degrees must be completed within five years of matriculation into the dual degree program.

Career & Practical Experience

The BS/MPH program is designed to prepare pre-professional students for leadership roles dedicated to improving the health and well-being of local, national, and international communities. A key component of the MPH curriculum is the Applied Practice Experience (PUBH 6000), which provides students with hands-on public health experience.