Dual Degrees
MBA - MPH Dual-Degree Program
The objective of the MBA-Master of Public Health Dual Degree Program is to educate a small number of students who will become national leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship in the health care sector, ranging from the development and diffusion of new products to the management of health care delivery systems. Students who combine their MBA and MPH degrees will have the opportunity to work with faculty from the Darden Business School, Department of Public Health Sciences, and School of Medicine, to focus on the management of health care-related businesses and models for addressing health. Foci can include health care delivery systems, biotechnology, medical devices, translational research, health policy, and regulation.
The MBA-MPH Program will be administered by one member of the Darden faculty and one member of the School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences faculty, as designated by the respective Deans of each school. The responsibilities of these faculty members consist of development and application of admission criteria to the dual degree program, coordination of the curricula for the students, resolution of problems that arise, reconciliation of course and examination conflicts, and promotion of dual offerings by the two schools where that is desired. The two faculty members will constitute the MBA-MPH Program Committee.
Students must first be admitted to the Darden School and the MPH program through their normal admission processes. Once the student is admitted to both programs, the student must be accepted for the Dual Degree Program by the Dual Degree Program’s committee. Admission to a Dual Degree Program should occur prior to matriculation.
MPH students must complete all requirements for the MPH degree and 52.5 credit hours of course work in the Darden School, including the entire First-Year Program. (Normally, the MBA requires 60 credit hours.) The dual degree will generally require three years including two summers to complete.
Students in this program will be expected to use their elective courses to develop depth in areas that reflect their dual degree educational objectives and career interests.
Each student will submit to the MBA-MPH Program Committee a program of study that outlines how the degree requirements of each school will be met. The student must also present a rationale regarding how his or her dual degree educational objective will be achieved with the planned set and sequence of courses.
MD - MPH Dual-Degree Program
The MD-MPH dual-degree program is a 5-year program designed to provide students with the opportunity to integrate medical school and public health course work, research, and community work throughout the five years. Students enroll full-time in the School of Medicine for four years and full-time in the Department of Public Health Sciences for one academic year when the student primarily concentrates on public health course work. Typically the GSAS year occurs between Years 3 and 4 of medical school. Both degrees generally are awarded at the end of 5 years.
Any student enrolled in the MD-MPH degree program has access to eight semesters of medical school financial aid and will pay eight semesters of medical school tuition.
Students will remain enrolled in the School of Medicine for the first three years.
Students then will apply to and be accepted by the MPH Program for the fall and spring semesters of Year 4. During Year 4, students will pay MPH tuition. Students can apply for financial aid with the UVA Student Financial Services Office.
During Year 4, students enroll full-time for two semesters in the Master of Public Health Sciences Program and complete 33 credits of MPH course work. The student will pay graduate tuition through Public Health and is eligible for appropriate graduate financial aid.
Students then return to the School of Medicine for the summer session and for the remaining fall and spring semesters of Year 5. During Year 5 when registered and paying tuition in the School of Medicine, students will also register for 9 PHS credits to complete their MPH course requirements. Up to 8 medical school elective credits also may be awarded for this course work.
The following PHS courses/credits are applicable to both programs (MD and MPH) and will be taken in Year 5:
- PHS 8900 Field Placement
- PHS 8930 Integrative Learning Experience
- PHS 8960 Supervised Independent Research
A letter from the MPH director documenting successful completion of the above courses and supporting consideration for medical school elective credit will enable the student to receive up to 8 elective credits toward the MD degree providing that the letter is received 4 weeks before graduation.
Both the MD and MPH degrees, providing requirements have been met for both career plans, can be awarded at the May graduation.
MPP - MPH Dual-Degree Program
The goal of the dual MPP-MPH degree program is to educate a small number of students to be national and international leaders in public policy on health-related issues and the delivery of health care. Over the course of three years, dual degree students will fulfill all of the requirements for the MPH and MPP degree programs and will have the opportunity to work closely with faculty from the Batten School, the School of Medicine, and from across the University, including faculty in economics, psychology, architecture, business, public health, and law.
Health issues and the ever-changing health care delivery system occupy a significant place in the public policy domain and at every level of government, and dual degree graduates will be prepared to work across the public, non-profit, and private sectors. Students will develop basic policy skills and an in-depth understanding of health policy from numerous professional perspectives, including medical, public health, economic, and law. Through this dual degree program, graduates will gain the education needed to be effective in professional roles that involve health policy development, analysis and research, and health care regulation, administration, and evaluation.
The MPP-MPH Program will be administered by one member of the Batten faculty and one member of the MPH program faculty, who will work with each student to coordinate curricula, fieldwork, and independent research.
Students must be admitted to both the Batten School and the MPH program through their normal admission processes. Once the student is admitted to both programs, the student may petition to be a dual-degree student. Admission to a Dual Degree Program should occur prior to matriculation.
All dual degree MPH students are required to register a minimum of two semesters full-time in the Department of Public Health Sciences. Students must complete all course requirements for the MPH degree. The dual degrees generally will take three academic years and two summers to complete and will be awarded at the same time at the completion of the third academic year.
JD - MPH Dual-Degree Program
The goal of the dual JD-MPH degree program is to prepare students for professional careers in health policy, health law, and related fields.
The student is required to secure admission separately to the Law School and to the MPH program in the School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences using the standard admissions processes in the two schools. Law students may seek admission to the MPH program after they have begun matriculating at the Law School.
The combined JD-MPH program normally takes four years to complete and requires a minimum of 110 credits.
Students must meet all of the requirements set by the respective schools for the award of both the JD and MPH degrees. The Department of Public Health Sciences requires a minimum of 42 credits including the completion of a field placement and an “integrative learning experience” under the supervision of a faculty advisor.