PharmD and MPH Dual Degree
Through strategic course sharing between the PharmD and MPH programs, students enrolled in the PharmD/MPH Program at Idaho State University may combine the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree with a Master's in Public Health (MPH) degree with approximately one year of additional effort. This combined program is designed to give PharmD students the added benefit of the MPH degree, giving them an edge in the future job market, opportunities for more advanced practice, including in pharmacoepidemiology, and the potential for a greater impact on the community.
Students should note that the PharmD program is face-to-face and MPH program courses are fully online.
Admission Requirements
Students may pursue the PharmD/MPH through either of two potential entry points: 1) the Graduate Certificate in Public Health (recommended, a subset of the MPH courses) or 2) the full MPH program. For Doctor of Pharmacy students to be admitted to the MPH program, they must meet regular admission requirements for the MPH program and must have completed either a bachelor's degree or the equivalent. PharmD students applying to the MPH program must request the College of Pharmacy to certify to the Graduate School that they have completed 120 hours of coursework and that those 120 hours are equivalent to a bachelor's degree.
Students are encouraged to consider this dual degree program as early as possible in their PharmD program. Students will generally apply for admission to the MPH program sometime prior to the end of their first year of study in the PharmD program. Students may also apply in their second or third year of the PharmD program; students who apply in their third year will not be able to complete both programs at the same time.
MPH courses can only be completed after students have been admitted to the Graduate School and these courses require the payment of Graduate School course fees in addition to the PharmD program fees.
With advisor approval, qualified Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students may enroll in selected Master of Public Health (MPH) courses while maintaining their professional-student status in the College of Pharmacy. To support timely progression into the Graduate Certificate in Public Health (GCPH) or the joint PharmD/MPH degree, eligible students-those who have at a minimum completed the first semester of the Pl year in good academic standing and have declared intent to pursue the GCPH or MPH-may register for MPH courses. Continued eligibility requires maintaining academic good standing in the PharmD program and earning a grade of B- or better in any MPH course taken. Graduate credits earned under this authorization may later be applied toward the GCPH or MPH degree upon formal admission to the Graduate School, consistent with Graduate School transfer and grade policies.
General Requirements
Students opting for the dual degree program will follow the traditional PharmD and MPH curriculum. Select PharmD courses meet the 12 credits of electives for the MPH program, and 6 credits of MPH courses satisfy 6 credits of electives for the PharmD degree. Students will meet all of the PharmD and MPH learning outcomes. Students must work with both the pharmacy and MPH advisors for the dual program to determine their individual plan of study.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Take First | ||
| MPH 5540 | Research and Writing in Health I | 1 |
| MPH 6601 | Applications in Epidemiology * | 3 |
| MPH 6602 | Biostatistics * | 3 |
| MPH 6605 | Leadership Policy and Administration * | 3 |
| MPH 6606 | Environmental and Occupational Health * | 3 |
| MPH 6660 | Behavior Change Theory and Applications * | 3 |
| Take in the Middle | ||
| MPH 5507 | Rural Health Systems | 3 |
| MPH 6604 | Social and Cultural Perspectives in Public Health | 3 |
| MPH 6609 | Seminar in Public and Community Health | 3 |
| Elective Credits - 12 credits of PharmD classes transfer in as electives | 12 | |
| Take Near the End | ||
| MPH 6620 | Health Program Planning and Evaluation * | 3 |
| Take in the Last Semester | ||
| MPH 6640 | Research and Writing in Health 2 | 2 |
- *
Indicates Graduate Certificate in Public Health classes