Who is eligible for the program?

Applicants must be accepted or enrolled in a PharmD program and complete a SOPHAS application.

How long does the program take?

The MPH can be completed within the same four years as pharmacy school, by taking public health courses in the summers after year one and two and taking public health online courses during the fourth year with rotations, if time allows.  You have up to five years to complete the MPH.

What is unique about the dual degree program?

You may transfer up to 14 credits of your pharmacy courses, with approval into the MPH program, saving you valuable time and tuition dollars. You may also focus the elective credits on one public health topic or several topics. The goal is to explore your interest and design the dual degree to complement your pharmacy practice.

Who is eligible for the PharmD/MPH program?

You may attend any accredited PharmD program at any University and complete the MPH at the UMN School of Public Health.  We will work with you and your Pharmacy curriculum to find up to 14 pharmacy credits that are appropriate for the MPH and that can transfer to the MPH.

What makes it a dual program?

With approval, you may apply up to 14 credits of pharmacy courses toward the MPH and maybe with approval from your pharmacy program, transfer public health credits toward the PharmD. This allows you to reduce the length of the programs (compared to completing each degree separately), saving you time and money.

Can I complete the PharmD at any school?

Yes, you may attend any accredited Pharmacy program anywhere and complete the MPH at the UMN School of Public Health.

Can a pharmacy scholarly paper count for the MPH Integrated Learning Experience?

If you decide on a pharmacy project topic that is public health related, the project may also meet the curriculum and competencies requirements of the MPH integrated learning experience. To do this, you will need to complete the integrated learning proposal form and receive approval from your SPH adviser.

Can my pharmacy rotation hours count for the MPH Applied Practice Experience?

When a pharmacy rotation pertains to both pharmacy and public health, it may also meet the curriculum and competencies of the MPH program. The School of Public Health allows a maximum of 160 hours of applied practice experience and has an electronic applied practice experience agreement that must be completed by you and approved by your SPH adviser.

When should I apply to the PharmD/MPH dual degree program?

Applicants will often apply first to the pharmacy program and then apply to the School of Public Health.  If the SPH receives your application before pharmacy does, the Admission Committee will review your application and may admit you PENDING your acceptance to a pharmacy program.  Once you have received your letter of acceptance from the pharmacy program, send the SPH a copy and then your status will change from pending to admit to the PharmD/MPH dual degree program.

This would give you the option to register for public health courses the summer before starting the pharmacy program in the Fall – giving you a head start on the MPH.

How many credits is the MPH?

The MPH is 42 credits.  If you transfer up to 14 credits from your pharmacy program, then you will complete 28 credits as a public health student for a total of 42 credits. Some pharmacy programs may transfer public health credits to the pharmacy program, depending upon your school.  You would need to seek approval from your pharmacy program.

Is financial aid available?

PharmD/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.

Are the MPH classes offered online or in-person?

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

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

The majority of PharmD/MPH students complete elective courses at the Public Health Institute (PHI), which is a three-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 to 2.5 credits per 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 (MD, DDS, DVM, 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 over the three weeks. You may attend one to three weeks depending on your time, and you can complete up to 1 to 7 credits at the PHI.

Other elective courses are offered online and on campus during the fall and spring terms.

The applied practice and integrated learning experiences can be completed at your location.

How quickly can I complete the MPH?

You may attend the School of Public Health full time and complete the 28 credits in two terms or extend the time up to five years to fit your life commitments.