Program Overview

Overview     MPH Requirements     Example MPH Schedule     MS Requirements    

 

Degree Selection
Students may elect to pursue either a Master of Public Health (MPH) or a Master of Science (MS) degree. The MS degree is a usual prerequisite for PhD programs and intensifies the student's experience by increasing the requirements in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Health Services research methods. It is also suitable as a terminal degree for students, such as physicians in fellowship training, who wish to gain research skills. The MPH degree provides a broad exposure to the public health disciplines and requires a 120 hour practicum experience where on-site work is performed, often in a health department or a community based agency. For the purpose of future employment, past experience would suggest that these degrees are almost interchangeable. For example an MS student who has experience in public health will be just as competitive for most public health employment opportunities as an MPH graduate. Likewise, many MPH students go on to careers that focus on academic research and publication.

 

Course Selection
The Research Path
Students must evaluate what they wish to achieve from their graduate education and take courses that support them in these accomplishments. MPH students who desire a strong foundation in quantitative research skills should strongly consider Epidemiology 512 and 513 instead of the minimum requirement (Epi 511). Likewise, Biostatistics 512 and 513 or Biostatistics 517 and 518 should be strongly considered. They are required for the MS degree. There are twelve courses offered by the Health Services Department that focus on research methods. A selection of at least two of these is required for the MS degree and they may also be highly desirable elective courses for the MPH student with particular research interests.
Additional Emphasis on Health Policy
For students in the HPR Track who desire additional experience in evaluating health policy a certificate in Health Policy is available.
More info . . .
The Customized Program
Since some MPH HPR Track students will be mature in their perspectives, a customized program that draws from courses and seminars offered in all tracks may be fashioned for the true generalist. This would involve the core requirements for HPR with additional elective courses from other tracks and disciplines. For this approach we strongly recommend you consult your academic advisor, the HPR program director and/or the MPH coordinator.

 

Program Advising Guidelines
We request that students contact their faculty advisor at least once each quarter, either in person, by email, or by telephone. A reminder will be sent to students each quarter to facilitate the contact. We have made this instruction sheet extremely brief. If you have additional questions or comments please email Diane Martin at dianemar@u.washington.edu.
The purpose of assigning faculty advisors to students is 4-fold:
  1. To monitor the student's overall sense of well being and to identify any problems that need immediate attention: We care about our students mental and physical well being. While we realize that some students may have no need of assistance on this level, assessing the overall student adjustment to graduate school is recommended. Some students have primary advisors in other departments (e.g. nursing) and these students may or may not wish to use the advisor assigned by the Health Care and Population Health Research Track for this purpose.
  2. To advise the student on course or curriculum choices: Students will use the advisor as a primary resource to go over selected courses that will lead to graduation. Knowing the student's overall goals and objectives, as well as future career plans, may lead to specific suggestions about courses that are particularly valuable
    We realize that students may have a variety of questions about courses and some of these questions may be outside the expertise of the faculty advisor. In these cases please email questions to Kitty Andert, (kitander@u.washington.edu) and Diane Martin, (dianemar@u.washington.edu).
  3. To discuss practicum opportunities: Most students will use their first year advisor to discuss the practicum requirement and options for its fulfillment. These are listed on the practicum website.
    Rene Lucas, (rlucas@u.washington.edu) can assist with questions on the format or content of the practicum. There are specific forms and requirements that must be completed.
  4. To guide the student to proper thesis committee members: Thesis guidelines are summarized at the following website:
    Many students do not use their first year academic advisor for the thesis committee but some do. The faculty advisor's role is to help the student pick a thesis topic and to give advice about committee selection.