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

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Return to: Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

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
or
PHPH 7711 - Epidemiologic Methods I 3 Hours (required for Environmental Epidemiology,Epidemiology, and Biostatistics concentrations). Note: Students changing their concentration from Environmental Epidemiology, Epidemiology, or Biostatistics to Environmental Health, Health Management and Policy, or Health Promotion and Behavior will be able to substitute PHPH 7011 with PHPH 7711 if already completed.
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
or
PHPH 7711 - Epidemiologic Methods I 3 Hours (required for Environmental Epidemiology,Epidemiology, and Biostatistics concentrations). Note: Students changing their concentration from Environmental Epidemiology, Epidemiology, or Biostatistics to Environmental Health, Health Management and Policy, or Health Promotion and Behavior will be able to substitute PHPH 7011 with PHPH 7711 if already completed.
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

Remain as-is; no changes.

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 constitute admission to the graduate MPH degree program. Admission into the dual degree program only affords undergraduate students the opportunity to complete up to 16 credit hours of applicable public health graduate-level courses that may count toward their BSPH 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 constitute admission to the graduate MPH degree program. Admission into the dual degree program only affords undergraduate students the opportunity to complete up to 16 credit hours of applicable public health graduate-level courses that may count toward their BSPH degree program, as outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog. During their senior year, dual degree program students will submit the full MPH program application, the same as all other prospective MPH students. 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) maintaining the required program grade-point average, 3) performance in the graduate-level courses taken during the bachelor’s degree, and 4) meeting the other MPH admission requirements of the specific concentration. In other words, admission to the MPH program is not automatic for these dual degree students. Students applying for admission into the dual degree program are expected to meet all MPH application requirements, including GRE scores and application deadlines. 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.

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.