Medical Doctor/Master of Public Health Dual Degree

According to the Institute of Medicine, the integration of medicine and public health will yield substantial and lasting improvements in the health of individuals, communities and populations (IOM, 2012). Combining medical and public health education provides students with interdisciplinary skills needed to serve as leaders to address population-level issues that impact health at local, national, and global levels. With a focus on public health practice, students will find great value in working with others in the community to prevent disease and improve health. Those graduating with the MD/MPH are uniquely prepared for a wide array of careers addressing the health of individuals and populations.

Prospective students must apply to both the MCW Medical and Graduate Schools. Students must apply first to the Medical School, be accepted and matriculate at the MCW-Milwaukee campus. Application to the Graduate School occurs in the spring of the M1 year.  Enrollment is contingent upon:

1. achieving a grade of Pass, Satisfactory, or better in all courses during their M1 year
2. completing all courses without withdrawing from any courses
3. approval from the Academic Standing and Professional Committee
4. earning satisfactory pathway grades and satisfying all pathway deadlines in a timely manner

The MPH application will include:

• online application
• official transcripts
• minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall
• three letters of recommendation, including one from pathway advisor
• personal statement  
• interview
• M1 course grades will also be used in the MPH acceptance decision

Students may apply to the MD/MPH program after successful completion of the M1 fall curriculum in its entirety. It is recommended that students apply between January 1 and April 1 of the M1 year to meet the application due date of April 1.

In the MD/MPH program, students begin their first year in the Medical School. During the summer between M1 and M2 years, as well as during fall and spring of M2 and M3 years, they will enroll in MPH courses through the Graduate School, but remain medical students. In year 4, students will become full time graduate students, and resume curricula in the Medical School during year 5. Students have the option of taking the final MPH electives and finishing MPH coursework during year 4 or year 5. This program allows completion of both degrees in five years instead of the customary six years, which saves both time and tuition expenses.

The online MPH program offers a concentration in public health practice. The plan of study includes the following courses for a total of 42 credits.  All courses, except the Field Placement and Capstone, utilize Brightspace, the school’s online learning management system.

• Five core courses: Behavioral Science and Public Health, Introduction to Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Principles of Epidemiology, and Public Health Administration
• Other required courses: Community Health Assessment and Improvement, Community Health Program Evaluation, Community Health Program Planning
• Four electives
• Field Placement
• Capstone Project

View sample curriculum

The academic calendars are different for the two schools. MPH courses follow the Graduate School’s 16-week session during the fall and spring semesters and the 9-week session during the summer. The Medical School, on the other hand, offers a 26 week fall term and a 26 week spring term.  

The Medical College of Wisconsin is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The Master of Public Health program is also individually accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is an independent agency which accredits schools of public health and public health programs offered in settings other than schools of public health.  

Students may be eligible for financial aid and should contact the Financial Aid office at (414) 955-8208 or finaid@mcw.edu for information.