Public Health, B.S./M.P.H.

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This dual undergraduate and graduate degree program links the following two Georgia State University School of Public Health (SPH) programs:

Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH)
Master of Public Health (MPH)

The resulting dual degree program (commonly called a “4+1” or “accelerated” program) will allow designated and approved BSPH students in their senior year of their undergraduate program to earn up to 16 graduate-level credit hours that may be applied toward both the BSPH and MPH programs, pending their admission into the MPH program. Specifically, up to 16 graduate-level MPH program credit hours will be applied to either the Area I-Approved Public Health Related Electives (15 credit hours max to this Area) and/or the Area J-Other Electives (6 credit hours max to this Area) requirements of the BSPH program. If later admitted into the MPH program, students may be eligible to apply those same 16 graduate-level MPH program credit hours to their MPH program of study (restrictions and time limits may apply). By sharing up to 16 graduate credit hours, students will be able to complete the BSPH in its standard 4 year timeframe and then complete the MPH - typically a 2-year program - in just 1 additional year. In other words, most students will be able to earn both degrees in 5 years.

Complete program curriculum:

In this dual degree program, only the BSPH program will accept MPH graduate-level courses; therefore, only the BSPH program will be altered. The MPH program will be offered as-is, with no alterations and no BSPH program credit hours counting toward it. The program change to the BSPH program is detailed below:

Degree Requirements

Areas A-H

Remain as-is, no changes.

Area I - Approved Public Health Related Electives (15 credit hours)

MPH Foundational Core (0-15 Hours)

In addition to the Area I options listed in the undergraduate catalog for all BSPH students, dual degree BSPH/MPH students may count up to 15 credit hours of MPH program courses here specifically any of the following MPH foundational core (0-15):

PHPH 7011 - Epidemiology for Public Health 3 Hours (required for Environmental Health, Health Management and Policy, and Health Promotion and Behavior concentrations
PHPH 7017 - Fundamentals of Biostatistics I 4 Hours
PHPB 7140 - Health Promotion Planning, Administration, and Evaluation 3 Hours
PHPH 7150 - Environmental Health 3 Hours
PHPB 7160 - Fundamentals of Health Systems, Leadership, and Policy 3 Hours

Area J - Advanced Electives (6 Credit Hours)

In addition to the Area J options listed in the undergraduate catalog for all BSPH students, dual degree BSPH/MPH students may count up to 6 credit hours of MPH program courses here, specifically any of the following MPH foundational core (0-6):

PHPH 7011 - Epidemiology for Public Health 3 Hours (required for Environmental Health, Health Management and Policy, and Health Promotion and Behavior concentrations
PHPH 7017 - Fundamentals of Biostatistics I 4 Hours
PHPB 7140 - Health Promotion Planning, Administration, and Evaluation 3 Hours
PHPH 7150 - Environmental Health 3 Hours
PHPB 7160 - Fundamentals of Health Systems, Leadership, and Policy 3 Hours

Total Semester Hours for BSPH Degree: 120

Up to 16 credit hours in graduate courses toward the MPH program of study

MPH Program Degree Requirements for Dual Degree BSPH/MPH Students

Total Semester Hours for MPH Degree: 42

No BSPH credit hours toward the MPH program of study

Process for admitting students to the dual BSPH/MPH program.

Students should refer to the BSPH Student Handbook. Note: Acceptance into the dual degree program does not guarantee admission to the graduate MPH degree program.

Process for maintaining dual degree BSPH/MPH status and enabling dual program students to take graduate coursework.

Students should refer to the BSPH Student Handbook.

Process for admitting dual BSPH/MPH program students into the MPH program.

Acceptance into the dual BSPH/MPH degree program does not guarantee admission to the graduate MPH degree program. Admission to the graduate program occurs at the end of the senior year and is contingent upon 1) successful completion of the bachelor’s degree, 2) completion of at least 9 (nine) hours of approved MPH-level courses taken during the bachelor’s degree, having earned a B or better in each course on the first attempt, and 3) an overall graduate GPA of 3.0 or better. Admission to the MPH program is automatic for dual degree students who meet the above criteria. While these students will not have to formally apply to the MPH program through SOPHAS, they must complete an application through GSU’s Graduate Admissions portal to transition to graduate degree-seeking status. There is no application fee for this process. Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Academic Assistance for guidance. If admitted into the MPH program, the expectation is that dual degree program students may enter the MPH program with up to 16 graduate credit hours already completed (pending time and other applicable restrictions). They will then complete the remaining MPH graduate degree requirements in their fifth year, being a fully-admitted MPH student during their fifth year. Students are eligible for graduate assistantship positions after they have successfully earned their undergraduate degree and have been fully accepted into the graduate degree program. Students admitted to the dual program who do not satisfy criteria for automatic admission to the MPH may still apply directly to the MPH program.

Advisement process and resources for students in the dual degree program.

Students will have access to the SPH OAA, which staffs both undergraduate and graduate advisors. Students will be given an assigned undergraduate advisor upon admission into the BSPH program of study, and they will also be assigned a graduate advisor upon admission into the MPH program of study.