separate public health degree.
The interdisciplinary nature of public health readily lends itself to combined areas of study. The MPH program has several dual/joint degree programs. The joint degrees have been approved and formulated by the MPH program’s Curriculum Committee and are approved by the MPH Steering Committee and the corresponding UW-Madison Graduate or Professional Program. Some of the plans have been approved by the University’s Academic Planning Council. The MPH program and the graduate/professional program have developed a purpose statement,
admissions requirements, course/credit requirements, and a sample curricular program for each of the joint/dual degrees. The approved dual/joint degrees are as follows:
• MD-MPH (Medicine)
• DVM-MPH (Veterinary Medicine) • MPA-MPH (Public Affairs)
• PharmD-MPH (Pharmacy) • JD-MPH (Law School) • DPT-MPH (Physical Therapy)
• BS Nursing to MPH Advanced Degree Option
Additional joint degrees are being planned with the Physician Assistant (PA) Program in the School of Medicine and Public Health and with the Department of Urban and Regional Planning.
The UW-MPH program has seven approved dual/joint degrees. Within each of the dual degrees, a sample course plan has been developed that takes into consideration the courses that all students completing the generalist MPH degree must take and the courses from the students’ home program that may count as electives towards the MPH degree. When each dual degree is being considered, the home program provides the syllabi for required courses from its program that could meet the elective requirement in the MPH Program. The MPH program’s Curriculum Committee reviews these courses. Usually, the home program’s director presents this information at the MPH Curriculum Committee, participates in a discussion about the courses, and answers any questions that the committee members may have before the courses are approved or denied. The MPH Curriculum committee includes courses that relate to the MPH Program’s generalist competencies or have public health or population health related content.
Once the courses are approved, they are incorporated into sample plans for each of the dual degrees. When the MPH program’s Student Services Coordinator or other staff and the home program’s Student Services Coordinator advise the dual degree students, they utilize the sample plans and the list of courses that have been approved by the MPH program’s Curriculum
2.11.a. Identification of joint degree programs offered by the program. The instructional matrix in Criterion 2.1.a may be referenced for this purpose
2.11.b. A list and description of how each joint degree program differs from the standard degree program. The program must explain the rationale for any credit- sharing or substitution as well as the process for validating that the joint degree curriculum is equivalent.
Committee as pertinent to serve as electives for the MPH program. As new courses are developed, each is reviewed and approved by the MPH Curriculum Committee prior to being added to the sample plans or list of approved electives. The seven dual/joint degrees are outlined below. The courses from the home programs that can be utilized as MPH electives are included in the narrative below and/or in the sample plans that are included in the electronic resource file.
MD-MPH (Medicine): The MD-MPH dual degree provides additional skills and knowledge in the
increasingly vital field of public health for physicians in training. The dual degree increases career options for physicians to work in public health venues, such as community, state, national and international public health organizations and to perform clinical research. Moreover, having this dual degree option also provides MPH-only students with a medical perspective. Medical students seeking to expand their perspective by viewing patients in the context of a population- focus and by the impact of the environment on problems and illnesses, benefit from this program. Separate applications to both programs are required, but the MPH program has policies in place to allow for an expedited admissions process for enrolled students who are in good standing in the School of Medicine and Public Health. Whereas there is some variability in the way in which students complete the MD-MPH, most students complete the first three years of the medical school curriculum before entering the MPH program for one calendar year to focus on the public health core curriculum. Students then return to medical school for the completion of their MD requirements and additional public health electives. Nine credits of public health-related medical electives typically are counted as electives towards the MPH degree. A sample plan for the MD- MPH is provided in the electronic resource file that accompanies the self-study.
DVM-MPH (Veterinary Medicine): The dual DVM-MPH degree program is a five year program of
study. Students in the program must satisfy the required four years of the professional Veterinary Medicine program of study. In addition, students in the DVM-MPH program must satisfy the required 42 credits for the Master of Public Health degree. The nature of the dual degree allows DVM-MPH students to complete requirements for both programs in 5 years. As part of the MPH coursework, students are required to complete a 400 hour Field Experience. The field experience provides opportunities for MPH students to participate in professional public health activities while developing their own meaningful project.
Veterinary medical students in the combined DVM-MPH degree program acquire biostatistical and epidemiologic training as well as instruction in environmental health, health services administration, and social and behavioral sciences. This coursework strengthens the students’ veterinary medical training and their understanding of the principles and applications of population health concepts.
Students must apply and be admitted to each program independently. Applications to the
programs are not submitted simultaneously, as the curriculum is laid out such that students take a “leave” from the DVM program typically after their second year in the DVM curriculum, to
complete the bulk of their MPH program requirements. Students actively participate in the MPH curriculum for three semesters (fall, spring and summer), before returning to their DVM studies. The joint degree is designed as a five-year program of study. Veterinary medical students will ordinarily complete years 1and 2 of their veterinary medical training at UW Madison while completing pre-approved DVM courses that will apply toward the MPH degree requirements. Students who wish to be considered for the DVM-MPH dual degree will most typically apply to the MPH program during their 2nd year of DVM studies. Enrollment in the MPH program will then
begin in year 3 for a total of 3 semesters, after which the student will return to the School of Veterinary Medicine where they will complete the remaining two years of the DVM curriculum. The following DVM courses apply toward MPH degree requirements as approved elective credit: 703-512 Veterinary Epidemiology (2 credits)
703-675 Externship with the Wisconsin State Public Health Veterinarian in the Wisconsin Division of Public Health (4 credits)
Public Health Externship (2 credits)
MPA-MPH (Public Affairs): The MPA-MPH dual degree prepares health policy professionals for
their roles as policy analysts and public managers in the increasingly important area of health care. Students in this dual degree gain skills in public health policy and management necessary to address complex health issues. Students in the MPA-MPH dual degree generally complete the majority of requirements for public affairs before entering the core MPH curriculum. Students can complete this program in two years (including the summer sessions) by applying 12 credits of public affairs courses toward the MPH degree requirements.
Students applying for the MPA-MPH Dual Degree Program will concurrently submit applications to the Master of Public Health program in the School of Medicine and Public Health and the La Follette School of Public Affairs. Admissions criteria for both programs must be met in order for students to be accepted in the dual degree program. Admission decisions will be made by the MPH Admissions Committee and the Admissions Committee of the La Follette School. The MPA- MPH dual degree program requires completion of at least 55 total credit hours of course work, distributed as summarized in the table below. No more than 9 credits may be transferred from other institutions. The MPA-MPH degree is completed in a more blended fashion that most of the dual degree programs.
The plan allows students to complete the required MPH courses and the field experience. Twelve credits of core MPA courses count as MPH electives and a methods course. An additional four credits are taken from the MPH approved electives list. A sample plan for the MPA-MPH dual degree program is included in the electronic resource file that accompanies the self-study.
PharmD-MPH (Pharmacy): The purpose of the PharmD-MPH dual degree program is to create a
multidisciplinary educational program that will prepare pharmacists to meet the 21st century challenges in public health. The PharmD-MPH dual degree provides a foundation from which these public health professionals can pursue advanced public health training and education. The dual PharmD-MPH degree program is a 5-year program of study. Students in the program must satisfy the required four years of the professional Pharmacy program of study. In addition, students in the PharmD-MPH program must satisfy the required 42 credits for the Master of Public Health degree. The dual degree allows PharmD-MPH students to complete requirements for both programs in 5 years.
Students must apply and be admitted to each program independently. Application to the
programs is not simultaneous as the curriculum is laid out such that students begin to incorporate MPH courses into their Pharmacy studies after their second year. Students actively participate in the MPH curriculum throughout their remaining 3 years. Applications to the MPH program are due February 1 of the year in which they plan to enroll.
The joint degree is designed as a 5-year program of study. Pharmacy students will ordinarily complete their pre-pharmacy requirements along with years 1 and 2 of their pharmacy training at UW Madison while completing pre-approved Pharmacy courses that will apply toward the MPH degree requirements. Students who wish to be considered for the PharmD/MPH dual degree apply to the MPH program during their 2nd year of Pharmacy studies. Enrollment in the MPH program will begin in year 3 and continue throughout their remaining 3 years in the dual degree program.
The following PharmD courses will apply toward MPH degree requirements as approved core and/or elective credit.
Stat 441 Intro to Biostatistics for Pharmacy (3 credits)
Ph Prac 608 Safety & Quality in the Medication Use System (3 credits) Ph Prac 760 Pharmaceutical Care Specialty Clerkship (6 credits)
JD-MPH Dual Degree: The Juris Doctor-Master of Public Health (JD-MPH) dual degree program
is a cooperative effort between the University of Wisconsin Law School and the School of Medicine and Public Health. Few universities across the country offer a JD-MPH dual degree program. The public health law profession benefits from practitioners who have a solid foundation in the law and substantive training in public health. The legal aspects of public health are
significant, and there is a growing critical need for professionals trained in both law and public health. The JD-MPH dual degree was approved by the University of Wisconsin-Madison in April, 2012 and was implemented in fall 2012. Students must apply and be accepted to each program separately and are required to complete 75 credits for the JD degree and 30 credits for the MPH degree. Currently, the Law School accepts 15 credits of MPH course work towards the JD degree and the MPH accepts 12 credits of related law elective course work to equal 42 credits.
An 8-member JD-MPH Steering Committee oversees the dual degree. The committee consists of three members of the Law School Faculty, three members of the MPH Program faculty, the Deputy Director of the MPH program and a JD-MPH dual degree student.
The following core law courses have been approved by the JD-MPH Steering Committee to count as electives towards the MPH:
• Introduction to Health Law • Public Health Law
• Administrative Law
• A course on Bioethics or Science and the Law, such as: Law, Science and Biotechnology or L&CP: Food and Drug Law
• A clinical experience, such as: Health Advocacy and Patient-Centered Care Clinical; Government & Legislative Law Clinic, or another relevant clinical program.
With the exception of an alternative clinical program, these courses/clinicals are approved MPH Electives, and they are the only courses that the MPH program has pre-approved as counting towards the 12 elective transfer credits required to complete the JD-MPH degree. As new courses are developed, the JD-MPH Steering Committee will propose courses for inclusion to the MPH Curriculum Committee. Individual students may also petition for elective status for any relevant course.
DPT-MPH (Doctor of Physical Therapy): The DPT-MPH degree program is designed for
physical therapists who seek graduate education in public health practice competencies in an interdisciplinary environment. The DPT-MPH dual degree can be completed in four years, with the first three years spent completing the requirements for the DPT degree while taking coursework that has the potential to count towards the MPH degree should the student decide to apply and be admitted. Upon completion of the DPT requirements an additional year is necessary to finish the remaining courses for the MPH degree. A maximum of 15 credits may overlap between
programs.
In 2008, the MPH Steering Committee approved 12 credits of the DPT curriculum as part of a joint MPH-DPT degree. The 12 credits could come from a combination of the following courses: PT 538 – Intro to Physical Therapy Profession and Professionalism
PT 539 – Physical Therapy Education and Lifespan Learning Issues PT 540 – Psychosocial Aspects of Health Care
PT 541 – Issues of Culture and Diversity in Health Care PT 642 – Research Practicum
PT 512/PHS 785 – Health Systems, Management, and Policy
PT 542 – Medical Ethics, Jurisprudence, and Health Care Regulations PT 543 – Professional Practice Issues in Physical Therapy
PT 600 – Service Learning Seminar in Physical Therapy PT 601 – Physical Therapy Externship
PT 668 – Health Promotion and Wellness
The Advanced Placement BS in Nursing to MPH: The advanced placement BS in Nursing to
Master of Public Health (MPH) Degree provides UW-Madison nursing students the opportunity to receive a BS in Nursing degree after four years and a MPH degree after a fifth year of study. The proposed degree option utilizes a structured schedule that allows a select number of nursing students to begin to take MPH courses during their second year in the nursing program. This is not a dual or joint degree. None of the courses in the undergraduate nursing curriculum is counted towards the MPH degree. The School of Nursing Academic Planning Council and the MPH Steering Committee approved the program in 2011. A pilot for the option began in 2012 with the official launch of the option in the fall 2013. It is anticipated that approximately 10 students will elect to apply for this option an annual basis. The sample plan is included in the electronic resource file that accompanies the self-study document.
The criterion is met.
Strengths: There are a wide array of joint degree and dual degree initiatives that include the MPH, giving the program and the degree a campus-wide favorable notoriety. The quality of the
programs that are linked in some way to the MPH degree are themselves outstanding programs, if not some of the best in the country.
Weaknesses: Recruitment mechanisms for dual degree students are not consistent across programs – i.e., aggressive in some areas but less so in others.
2.11.c. Assessment of the extent to which this criterion is met and an analysis of the program’s strengths, weaknesses and plans relating to this criterion.
Plans: Because some of the affiliated programs have entrenched and longer-standing
mechanisms for drawing on diverse student audiences, these programs may enrich the diversity of the student body in the MPH program as well. Consequently, focusing on this potential source of diversity must be examined.
2.12 Distance Education or Executive Degree Programs. If the program offers degree