Who is eligible for the program?

Applicants must be accepted or enrolled in an accredited MPP graduate program at any University or College. We will work with you and your MPP curriculum to find up to 14 cr that are appropriate for the MPH and that can transfer to the MPH.

How long does the program take?

The MPH is 42 cr and if you are able to transfer 14 cr then you need to complete 28 cr as a public health student to earn a MPH. If you are able to devote two terms to complete MPH courses, (14cr/term) you may easily complete both degrees in five to six terms. If your summer(s) are already spoken for, there is flexibility with the MPH degree; all MPH students have five years to complete their degrees.

How often do I need to be on campus?

You may take the majority of public health courses online, giving you the flexibility you need.

As a MPP/MPH student, you can choose your public health elective courses based on your career goals and areas of interests in public health.

The majority of MPP/MPH students complete elective courses at the Public Health Institute (PHI), which is a 3 week session offered in the last week in May and first weeks in June.

PHI offers on-campus courses on a variety of current topics in a concentrated format. Students may complete 1 – 2.5 cr/week. PHI provides course content that emphasizes research to practice with opportunity for field trips, case studies and simulations. It provides a perfect setting to network with other professionals and students (MD, DDS, DVM, MURP, PharmD, etc.) and explore new areas of interest in public health.

Sample of course titles:

• Globalization & Health
• Applied Critical Thinking in the Workforce
• Motivational Interviewing: Strategies to Effect Behavioral Change.

Over thirty courses are offered during the 3 weeks. You may attend one to three weeks dependent upon your time and you can complete up to 1 – 7 credits at the PHI.

More elective courses are offered online and oncampus during the fall and spring terms.

What is unique about the dual degree program?

You may transfer up to 14 credits of your public policy curriculum, with approval into the MPH program, and you could be able to transfer 12 credits of the MPH to the MPP program with approval. Both degrees may be tailored to fit your career interest and academic priorities. You may elect to focus the elective credits on one topic or several topics. The goal is to explore your interest and design the dual degree to complement your public policy and public health practice.

Is financial aid available?

MPP/MPH students are eligible to apply for Federal Student Aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please be sure to enter the UMN school code (003969) to ensure your information is received.

There are no special scholarships for this program. Ideas about how to finance your education can be found on our website.

How quickly can I complete the MPH?

You may attend the School of Public Health full time and complete the 28 cr in two terms (including the PHI) or extend the time to fit your life commitments.

MPH integrated learning experience

If you decide on a MPP project topic that is public health related, the project may also meet the curriculum requirements of the MPH integrated learning experience. To do this, you will need to receive approval from the SPH adviser by completing the integrated learning proposal form.  The SPH requires that you address three (foundation or public health practice) competencies in the integrated learning experience paper.

MPH Applied Practice Experience

When the MPP internship pertains to both public policy and public health, it may also meet the curriculum requirements of both programs. The School of Public Health has an electronic applied practice experience agreement that must be completed by you and approved by the SPH adviser PRIOR to going on the experience. The SPH requires that you produce two products during the applied practice experience that addresses five (three foundation and two public health practice) competencies.

What are alumni saying about the program?

” I can’t believe I completed two graduate degrees in just two years and I really enjoyed the public health courses.” Alumni 2015

“Many of the policy courses offered at SPH and HHH can greatly improve your understanding of how governments provide public health provision and how politics is just as big a factor as the intervention design.” Alumni 2015

“The MPH is a broad preparation for diverse work in public health- from research to policy to direct service.  Advice: Focus as much as possible on hardskill development, like GIS, health informatics.” Alumni 2015

“This program taught me how to view the world through a public health lens and to think of all kinds of problems in terms of population health and quality of life.  Get out there and do as many informational interviews as possible. That is how I found my niche.” Alumni 2014

Titles of MPP/MPH alumni

• Project Management Associate at Chemonics International
• Research Assistant at Allina Health
• Medicare Policy Analyst at Kaiser Family Foundation
• Youth programs at Centro Tyrone Guzman, a Chicano Community Center that serves the Latino, Hispanic, and Chicano community