Program Highlights & Accreditation

Physicians are educated and trained on how to diagnose and treat human disease. Public health professionals assess factors affecting health, critique and apply research findings, and develop strategies and implement various measures to promote health and prevent disease. Thus, integrated education and training toward the combined MD and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees complement and enhance each other, providing health care professionals with a greater understanding of health issues and better tools to understand and prevent human diseases.

The Master of Public Health Program and the College of Human Medicine (CHM) at Michigan State University partner to offer students the opportunity to dual enroll in the MPH and MD programs. No specific accreditation for the MPH program is mentioned in the provided context.

Delivery Modes

The MPH component of the dual degree is an online program.

Students have two primary options for completing their MPH coursework in conjunction with the MD program:

• Option A: Complete the MPH coursework in the four semesters prior to beginning medical school (summer, fall, spring, summer), delaying matriculation by one year. Students admitted to the MD program are STRONGLY encouraged to complete their MPH coursework in accordance with this option.

• Option B: Take nine credits of MPH coursework the summer prior to beginning medical school, then complete two years of the Shared Discovery Curriculum followed by a gap year to complete the remaining MPH coursework.

The MPH program understands that it may not be possible for a student to take nine credits prior to beginning medical school under Option B. It is in the best interest of students interested in dual enrollment with the MPH to speak with Carol Parker, PhD, MPH (Executive Director of Academic Affairs with the College of Human Medicine) as well as Twynette Mixon, MA, LLPC (MPH Advisor) prior to deciding to pursue dual enrollment to discuss which curriculum plan best suits their needs.

Curriculum Overview

The online MPH program consists of 43 credits, broken down as follows:

• Foundational courses: 10 credits

• Core courses: 15 credits

• Electives: 12 credits

• Culminating experience: 6 credits

For dual MD/MPH students, five credits of HM 552 and four credits of HM 553 from the medical curriculum can be dual-counted to satisfy nine of the twelve-credit elective requirement for the MPH.

Admissions Requirements

Prospective students interested in the MD/MPH dual degree must apply separately and be admitted to both the College of Human Medicine (CHM) for the MD program and the MSU Graduate School for the MPH program.

The CHM and MPH Admissions Committees evaluate applicants independently. Information regarding the MPH application process can be found on the Master of Public Health website.

Career & Practical Experience

The combined MD/MPH program aims to equip healthcare professionals with a comprehensive understanding of both clinical medicine and public health. This dual expertise enhances their ability to address complex health issues, understand disease determinants, and implement effective prevention strategies.

Students interested in learning more may contact the Master of Public Health Office at (810) 600-5601 or [email protected].