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The Department of Psychology and the School of Public Health offer a joint Master of Public Health/Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Psychology. Students enroll in either the Health Promotion and Behavior or the Epidemiology concentrations of the MPH program in the School of Public Health and in the Community Psychology concentration of the Department of Psychology. This dual program provides an opportunity to pursue studies in public health and community psychology concurrently. The MPH/Ph.D. Community Psychology enables students to earn both degrees in a shorter time than would be possible if they pursued each degree separately.
Admissions
To participate in the MPH/Ph.D. Community Psychology dual degree program, prospective students are strongly encouraged to apply separately for admission to the College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology (Community Concentration) and the School of Public Health, but are not required to do so. Applicants may complete a single application to the College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology (Community Concentration) and indicate on the application their interest in the dual degree program on their Ph.D. Community Psychology application - if admitted into the Ph.D. Community Psychology program, applicants should email their assigned Ph.D. Community Psychology advisor to ensure their interest in the dual degree program has been noted, and their application is now being considered by the other program of interest (the MPH in the School of Public Health).
Prospective students are strongly encouraged to apply to both programs simultaneously for the same entry term/semester. This gives students the best opportunity to apply the maximum number of dual degree (having credit hours earned in one degree program satisfy some requirements of the other degree program). Still, there is some opportunity to apply and enroll in the dual degree program after admission to only one of the schools, if a student has not proceeded too far in that school’s program. If interested in pursuing a MPH/Ph.D. Community Psychology, students must be admitted into both programs and enroll in the dual degree program prior to completion of 30 hours of MPH coursework or 30 hours of Ph.D. Community Psychology coursework.
Applicants must take the GRE to apply to both programs. Admission into one program does not presume admission to the other. Students who gain admission into both programs and become dual degree MPH/Ph.D. Community Psychology students should self-disclose their dual degree status to their Ph.D. Community Psychology advisor and the SPH Graduate Advisor immediately upon admission into their second program of study (either Ph.D. Community Psychology or MPH). A joint email from the student to both their Ph.D. Community Psychology advisor and the SPH Graduate Advisor is preferred. Failure to send this notification to their advisors may result in the student having to complete both programs in their entirety and become ineligible for the dual MPH/Ph.D. Community Psychology degree program opportunity.
Once admitted to the dual program students will be enrolled in both the School of Public Health and the College of Arts and Sciences concurrently. A student cannot graduate from the Ph.D. Community Psychology and MPH programs in the same semester-a student must graduate from either program in a given semester, and then the second program in a subsequent semester. Students are expected to complete your dual degree program within six years of the initial semester of enrollment (and must complete it in no longer than 8 years). The MPH program must be completed within 6 years of initial enrollment. Students should be able to complete both degrees in five to six years.
What can a graduate do with a dual degree in public health and psychology?
- University/College appointments in higher education in public health, psychology, or allied disciplines
- Research, evaluation, and/or program roles in international, federal, state, and local government agencies
- Research, evaluation, and/or program roles in public and private research and evaluation firms, foundations, and advocacy organizations
- Variety of roles in policy and advocacy organizations
- Independent consulting
In addition to major organizations in Public Health (e.g., American Public Health Association, APHA) and Community Psychology (Society for Community Research and Action, SCRA), several interdisciplinary professional organizations like the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), American Evaluation Association (AEA), and the Society for Prevention Research (SPR) provide links to similarly trained individuals throughout the country through conferences, training, and networking.
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