Our Dual Degree Partnerships
Gillings School of Global Public Health currently partners with four programs to offer dual degrees with the Master of Public Health program:
Juris Doctor (JD)
- Typically paired with the following MPH Concentrations: Health Behavior, Health Equity, Health Policy, Global Health, Leadership in Practice, or Maternal, Child and Family Health
Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP)
- Typically paired with the following MPH Concentrations: Environment Climate and Health, Health Behavior, Health Equity, Health Policy, Global Health or Leadership in Practice
Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Typically paired with the following MPH Concentrations: Health Behavior, Health Equity, Global Health, Leadership in Practice or Maternal, Child and Family Health
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
- Typically paired with the following MPH Concentrations: Applied Epidemiology, Environment, Climate and Health, Leadership in Practice, Population Health for Clinicians, or Public Health Data Science
To participate in the dual degree program, the student must apply and be admitted into each program individually.
- We recommend students apply to each program at the same time or apply to the second program no later than during the first year of the first program.
Our Dual Degree Partnerships
Juris Doctor (JD)
Required Coursework
110 credit hours of coursework, which includes:
- 77 credits of required coursework within the Juris Doctor program
- 33 credits of required coursework within the Master of Public Health program
- The MPH degree requires three (3) major milestones for students to complete the degree: an applied practicum experience, a comprehensive exam and an integrated learning experience (master’s thesis substitute).
Shared Credits
The MPH degree plan of study includes nine (9) credits that count toward the JD degree required credits and nine (9) credits of the JD degree that count towards the MPH degree required (elective) credits.
Typical Timeframe
A typical plan of study allows for students to earn a JD and MPH in four (4) years.
- Year one and two: JD program course work
- Year three: MPH program course work
- Year four: completion of remaining degree requirements in both programs
Tuition and Fees
MPH/JD dual degree students are required to pay three (3) semesters of full-time MPH tuition and fees and five (5) semesters of JD tuition and fees regardless of either their course enrollments or the order in which the individual programs are started.
Awarding of Degrees
Students must apply to graduate for both degrees at the same time. Both degrees must be awarded concurrently, even if the requirements for one degree are satisfied first, in order to maintain eligibility for benefits of the dual degree program.
Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP)
Required Coursework
66 credit hours of coursework, which includes:
- 33 credits of required coursework within the Master of City and Regional Planning program
- 33 credits of required coursework within the Master of Public Health program
- The MPH degree requires three (3) major milestones for students to complete the degree: an applied practicum experience, a comprehensive exam and an integrated learning experience (master’s thesis substitute).
Shared Credits
The MPH degree plan of study includes nine (9) credits that count toward the MCRP degree required credits and nine (9) credits of the MCRP degree that count towards the MPH degree required (elective) credits.
Typical Timeframe
A typical plan of study allows for students to earn an MCRP and MPH in three (3) years.
- Year one: MCRP or MPH program coursework
- Year two: MPH or MCRP program course work
- Year three: completion of remaining degree requirements in both programs
Tuition and Fees
Students will pay tuition in the College of Arts and Sciences (where the MCRP program is based) for one full academic year plus one semester and in the Gillings School of Public Health (where the MPH program is based) for one full academic year plus one semester.
Awarding of Degrees
Students must apply to graduate for both degrees at the same time. Both degrees must be awarded concurrently, even if the requirements for one degree are satisfied first, in order to maintain eligibility for benefits of the dual degree program.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Required Coursework
77 credit hours of coursework, which includes:
- 44 credits of required coursework within the Master of Social Work, and
- 33 credits of required coursework within the Master of Public Health program.
- The MPH degree requires three (3) major milestones for students to complete the degree: an applied practicum experience, a comprehensive exam and an integrated learning experience (master’s thesis substitute).
Shared Credits:
The MPH degree plan of study includes 18 credits that count toward the MSW degree required credits and nine (9) credits of the MSW degree that count towards the MPH degree required (elective) credits.
Typical Timeframe:
A typical plan of study allows for students to earn an MSW and MPH in three (3) years.
- Year one: MSW program coursework
- Year two: MPH program course work
- Year three: completion of remaining degree requirements in both programs
Tuition and Fees:
Students will pay tuition in the School of Social Work for one full academic year and in the Gillings School of Public Health for two full academic years.
Awarding of Degrees:
Students must apply to graduate for both degrees at the same time. Both degrees must be awarded concurrently, even if the requirements for one degree are satisfied first, in order to maintain eligibility for benefits of the dual degree program.
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
Required Coursework
170.5 credit hours of coursework, which includes:
- 137.5 credits of required coursework within the Doctor of Pharmacy program, and
- 33 credits of required coursework within the Master of Public Health program.
- The MPH degree requires three (3) major milestones for students to complete the degree: an applied practicum experience, a comprehensive exam and an integrated learning experience (master’s thesis substitute).
Shared Credits
Students in the MPH program can use nine (9) credits (approximately 20%) of the PharmD degree that count towards the MPH degree required (elective) credits. There are no shared credit requirements for the PharmD program.
Typical Timeframe
A typical plan of study allows for students to earn an PharmD and MPH in five (5) years.
- Year one and two: PharmD program coursework
- Year three: MPH program course work
- Year four and five: completion of remaining degree requirements in both programs
Tuition and Fees
Students will pay tuition in the PharmD program for their first, second, fifth and one semester of their fourth year. Students will pay tuition in the MPH degree in their third year and one semester of their fourth year.
Awarding of Degrees
Students must apply to graduate for both degrees at the same time. Both degrees must be awarded concurrently, even if the requirements for one degree are satisfied first, in order to maintain eligibility for benefits of the dual degree program.
Want to learn more about dual degrees?
Contact Residential MPH Program Coordinator, Cassie Nakamoto at cnaka@unc.edu.
