Dual MPH/MPP Program

Program Highlights

The Public Policy and Public Health (MPP/MPH) dual degree program at the University of Utah is designed for students seeking to advance their training in the quantitative and qualitative methods of policy analysis and expand their knowledge of public health issues and health policies. The program emphasizes individual attention, with both the Public Health and Public Policy programs being small and providing opportunities to study issues in real-world settings.

Students will acquire the skills needed to conduct effective health policy analysis, understand organizational processes within the health domain, develop policy-based approaches to important issues of public health, and translate complex health policies for a lay audience. The Public Health Program component focuses on combining public health training, leadership, and service.

Delivery Modes

The joint MPP/MPH degree program is typically completed through full-time study. Students can earn both degrees in approximately three years, which corresponds to six to seven semesters of full-time study.

Curriculum Overview

To earn the dual degrees, students must fulfill the requirements for both programs. The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree requires 45 credit hours. Students may apply up to 12 credit hours of Master of Public Policy (MPP) coursework towards the MPH requirements. Similarly, up to nine credit hours of MPH coursework can be applied towards the 40 credit-hour requirement for the MPP degree.

This credit-sharing option can eliminate up to 21 credit hours that would be required if completing the two programs separately. Students must complete all MPH and all MPP requirements before either degree is awarded. Upon completion, students earn two separate degrees: an MPP from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and an MPH from the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.

Admissions Requirements

To apply for the joint MPP/MPH degree program, students must submit separate applications to both the MPP and MPH programs. Admission to one program does not guarantee admission to the other. Prospective students are encouraged to apply to both programs concurrently.

For detailed admissions criteria, please refer to the respective program admission pages: Master of Public Health Admissions Requirements and Master of Public Policy Admissions Requirements .

Career & Practical Experience

Graduates with the MPP/MPH joint degree are qualified for a variety of positions in the public health policy arena. Potential career roles include health policy analyst, research associate, program planner/evaluator, risk analyst, and policy assistant.

Alumni may pursue research and policy analysis positions in federal and state governmental agencies, consulting organizations, health advocacy groups, and health care associations. The program aims to prepare graduates to be effective in professional roles involving health policy development, administration, and evaluation.