Dual MPH/DVM Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The DVM-MPH dual-degree program at Oregon State University enables Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students to concurrently earn a Master of Public Health (MPH). This program is designed to equip students with expertise in epidemiology, public health principles, and evidence-based medicine. It is particularly relevant for those with interests in environmental stewardship, zoonotic diseases (zoonosis), and human-animal interactions. Accreditation details for the MPH program are not specified in the provided context.

Delivery Modes

The MPH component of the dual degree offers flexibility. The College of Health provides six on-campus MPH options: Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health, Global Health, Health Management and Policy, and Health Systems and Policy. Additionally, an MPH online option is available with an interdisciplinary focus in Public Health Practice. DVM students should coordinate with advisors to integrate the MPH coursework effectively.

Curriculum Overview

The DVM-MPH dual degree is structured for efficiency, allowing students to reduce the overall time and cost. DVM students can apply up to 27 credits from their VetMed coursework towards the MPH degree. Conversely, 7-17 credits from the MPH program can count toward the DVM, depending on the DVM path.

Specific Veterinary Medicine (VMB) courses, such as VMB 6/714, VMB 6/720, VMB 6/721, VMB 6/753, VMB 6/759, VMB 6/760, and VMB 766, can count as electives towards the MPH degree with advisor approval. The number of elective credits ranges from 12-21, depending on the chosen MPH option. For instance, the Epidemiology MPH option requires specific DVM courses (VMB 753, VMB 759, VMB 760) to fulfill 12 elective credits.

The 6 credits of the DVM preceptorship (VMB 780) can count towards the MPH internship (4 credits), provided the requirements for both degree components are met.

Admissions Requirements

Prospective students for the DVM-MPH dual degree must:

• Be enrolled in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at Oregon State University.

• Apply separately and gain admission to both the Graduate School (for the MPH program, level 02) and the College of Health (COH).

Current DVM students who wish to add the MPH as a concurrent degree need to submit an "Add Concurrent Degree (for current PharmD or DVM students only)" form, available from the Graduate School. Students are responsible for informing the Graduate School about their dual-degree pursuit to facilitate necessary manual record entries.

Career & Practical Experience

Graduates of the DVM-MPH program are well-prepared for careers at the intersection of animal health and public health. The MPH component enhances skills in epidemiology, public health strategies, and evidence-based medicine, which are valuable for roles addressing zoonotic diseases, environmental health, and policy development. An example provided is an Oregon State alumnus who applies public health training in their role as a state veterinarian. Practical experience is integrated through the DVM preceptorship, which can also satisfy the MPH internship requirements, allowing students to apply their combined knowledge in real-world settings.