Dual Degree Programs
The PhD/MPH dual degree combines knowledge of clinical psychology research and practice with an understanding of health from a population perspective.
The student enrolls primarily in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program. During the second and subsequent years, course work is taken in both programs. The dissertation is undertaken through the Department of Psychology. Interested applicants must apply directly to the PhD program in Clinical Science first. During the first year of graduate school, students will be provided with additional information about this opportunity and will be given the opportunity to apply for the Dual Degree program.
The Master of Public Health/Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship (MSSE/MPH) dual degree program is designed for individuals who wish to create sustainable solutions to public health challenges through the creation of innovative enterprises and organizations.
Applicants to the MSSE/MPH should apply for admission to both schools simultaneously. Information about the application process and admission requirements for the MSSE degree is available at marshall.usc.edu/msse/admission.
The total unit requirement for the MPH/MSSE dual degree is 62 units: 38 units for the MPH degree and 24 units for the MSSE degree.
The dual degree program is a collaborative effort between the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and the Department of Preventive Medicine in the Keck School of Medicine. The objectives of the program are to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote health, prevent disease, and enhance the delivery of health and social services in the community.
Students must complete a minimum of 82 units for completion of this dual degree; 48 units in Social Work and 34 units in Public Health. Most students complete both program requirements over three years for full-time students; however, the program may be completed in less time if the student takes a full course load during the two summer sessions (MPH course work only; MSW is not available during the summer).
The Master of Public Health/Master of Urban Planning (MPH/MUP) dual degree is designed for individuals who envision a career that combines urban planning and public health disciplines. This dual degree combines the knowledge of urban planning with an understanding of health from a population perspective.
The degree requires 32 MUP units and 34 MPH units for a total of 66 units required for the dual degree.
The joint MD/MPH program at the Keck School of Medicine is designed for individuals who envision a medical career that combines public health and medical disciplines. The Master of Public Health degree provides increased knowledge of and sensitivity to the political, historical, economic and social environments of health promotion and health services delivery.
The MD/MPH program can be completed in five years. After the successful completion of at least the first two years of medical school, students take one year off from medical school to complete the MPH program in one year. Upon completion of the MPH program, students will return to medical school. The remainder of the program is devoted to clinical clerkships of the School of Medicine.
Students who are enrolled in the Keck School of Medicine must apply to the Master of Public Health program no later than January of their third year. All requirements for admission to the regular MPH program must also be fulfilled by dual degree applicants.
The joint PharmD/MPH degree will enable graduates to be more responsive to today’s health care needs and will provide training for pharmacists who seek to be agents of change within the profession and to assume leadership roles in the pharmacy field and in public health at the local, state and national levels.
Students applying for the dual degree program must meet the respective admission requirements for each program. Students may apply to the dual PharmD/MPH degree program either by applying to both programs at the same time (applicants must identify themselves on both applications as potential dual degree students), or by submitting an application to the MPH program during their first year of enrollment in the PharmD prior to the MPH published application deadline. Students who elect this approach must apply through the School of Pharmacy.
The dual degree in Doctor of Medicine and Master of Science in Global Medicine will provide medical students with formal education in the field of global health. Students will benefit from a curriculum that supplements and strengthens their medical knowledge with additional expertise in cultural competence, the specific diseases that affect various populations worldwide, and the unique issues respective to practicing medicine in a developing country or in vulnerable, underserved populations domestically.
Current enrollment in the Keck School of Medicine MD program and successful completion of at least the first two years of the MD curriculum are required prior to submitting an application to the MS in Global Medicine program for admission to the dual degree program. Students must gain admission to and fulfill the degree requirements for both programs, which include four years of course work for the Doctor of Medicine and 24 units of the MS in Global Medicine (Clinical track only).
For the dual degree with Global Medicine Clinical Track, 24 GM elective units should be successfully completed. The MD and the MS in Global Medicine degrees are awarded simultaneously upon successful completion of both degree requirements.
The dual degree in Pharmacy and Global Medicine is designed for students who are interested in providing pharmaceutical care to underserved populations around the world. Students enrolled in this dual degree program will benefit from an advanced understanding of the role of, and issues surrounding, modern medicine in developing countries.
Students must gain admission to and fulfill the degree requirements for both programs, which include 136 units for the Doctor of Pharmacy and 24 units for the MS in Global Medicine. Six units of MEDS elective units can be used toward the PharmD elective requirement, and PHRD 503 and PHRD 504 substitute for MEDS 503 and MEDS 504.