Dual MPH/MUPP Program

Program Highlights

The Master of Urban Planning and Policy/Master of Public Health (MUPP/MPH) is a joint degree program offered collaboratively by the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs (CUPPA) and the UIC School of Public Health (SPH). This program is designed for students seeking to work at the intersection of planning, policy, and community health, integrating skills and competencies from two nationally respected graduate programs.

A key feature of the UPP graduate degrees, including this joint program, is its STEM classification under Sustainability Studies. This allows international students with F-1 visas to be eligible for an extended Optional Practical Training (OPT) period of up to three years and two months after graduation.

Delivery Modes

The program is primarily delivered on-campus. Specific MPH courses, such as IPHS 402 (Analytic and Research Methods in Public Health), are offered onsite. Alternative online course options are available for some requirements, for instance, IPHS 404 and IPHS 405 (Analytic and Research Methods in Public Health Parts 1 & 2, online).

Curriculum Overview

The joint degree program combines coursework from both the MUPP and MPH programs.

Master of Public Health (MPH) Component:

MPH students complete 18 semester hours of School-Wide Core Requirements:

• IPHS 401 – Determinants of Population Health (4 sh)

• IPHS 403 – Public Health Systems, Policy and Management (4 sh)

• IPHS 650 – Applied Practice Experience in Public Health (3 sh)

• IPHS 698 – Integrative Learning Experience (1 sh)

• IPHS 650 – Interprofessional Education (0 sh)

• 6 semester hours from Analytic and Research Methods courses (IPHS 402 onsite, or IPHS 404 & IPHS 405 online).

Students also complete divisional core courses based on their chosen SPH division (concentration). Total MPH credit hours vary by division, typically a minimum of 42-43 semester hours. The Applied Practice Experience (IPHS 650) may potentially be satisfied by the MUPP's Professional Practice Experience (UPP 590) with proper planning. The MPH Integrative Learning Experience should reflect the integration of public health and urban planning training.

Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) Component:

MUPP degree requirements include core courses such as UPP 500 (History & Theory of Planning), UPP 501 (Urban Space, Place and Institutions), UPP 502 (Planning Skills), UPP 505 (Plan-Making), and UPP 590 (Professional Practice Experience). Students choose one specialization (e.g., Economic Development, Community Development, Spatial Planning, Urban Transportation, Environmental Planning and Policy). The MUPP component requires a minimum of 60 semester hours.

Admissions Requirements

Prospective students must apply separately to both the Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) program through CUPPA and the Master of Public Health (MPH) program through SPH. Admission to both programs is required to pursue the joint degree.

Career & Practical Experience

The MUPP/MPH joint degree prepares graduates for careers that bridge urban planning, public policy, and public health. The program includes significant practical components: the MPH Applied Practice Experience (IPHS 650) and the MUPP Professional Practice Experience (UPP 590). As mentioned, the STEM classification provides enhanced post-graduation work opportunities for international students in the U.S.