Master of Public Administration Joint Degree (MPA/MPH)

The Master of Public Administration/ Master in Public Health (MPA/MPH) degree is offered jointly by the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences and the Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health Sciences. The joint degree is designed for students who seek an in-depth knowledge of public health with training in management and public policy administration. Students may complete the requirements for the MPA and MPH degrees consecutively or in succession.

Applicants must be admitted into the MPH and MPA programs on a separate basis, based on the admissions requirements and procedure of each individual program. Acceptance by one program does not in any way indicate or guarantee acceptance by the other degree program. 

Average Program Duration: 2.5 years
Number of required credits: 66

Admission Requirements

·       Application - Applicants must submit their application online through SOPHAS, the centralized application service of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH). All application materials, including transcripts, test scores, statement of purpose/personal statement, resume/CV, and letters of recommendations, must be submitted directly through SOPHAS. Applicants to the MPH/MPA joint degree must apply to both, the Department of Public Health Sciences MPH program and to the College of Arts and Sciences MPA program separately. Joint degree applicants should check with each program regarding admissions requirements.

·       Transcripts – Applicants must submit official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities. All foreign transcripts must be official and submitted in the original language. If the original language is not English, an official translation must be submitted along with the transcript. All non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by the World Education Service (WES) using ICAP course-by-course evaluation service.

·       Standardized Test Scores - The GRE Record Exam (GRE) is not required for the MPH program.

·       English Proficiency Exam - International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). If English is not a student’s native language, the TOEFL/IELTS requirement may be waived if the applicant holds an undergraduate or graduate degree from an English-teaching academic institution within the United States or from an English-speaking country. 

·       Resume/Curriculum Vitae – Applicants must include a detailed resume including employment, public health experiences, community service, research, and academic or professional honors. Prior public health experience is not required in order to be considered for admission.

·       Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement – Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose that details their academic interest in the program. The statement should discuss any experiences in public health including field experience, research, training, education or other related qualifications. Applicants should discuss how earning the degree will contribute to their future professional and career goals, as well as to the future of public health. Applicants should also address any academic deficiencies, if applicable.

·       Letters of Recommendation– Applicants must provide three letters of recommendation from individuals who are best able to assess their ability to be successful in a graduate degree program. Ideally, recommenders are recent professors, researchers or employers in a related field. Letters should be signed and on letterhead. Applicants will be asked to include the contact information of their recommenders on the SOPHAS application and recommenders will be sent an online form to complete via email.

For more information about our application process, please click here. To obtain detailed curricula on all our program offerings, please visit our website.

For further information, please contact:

Andria L. Williams, MBA
Director of Admissions
Department of Public Health Sciences

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
1120 N.W. 14 Street, Room 905 (R-669)
Miami, Florida 33136
Tel: 305-243-0291
Email: publichealthadmissions@miami.edu

Curriculum Requirements

MPA REQUIREMENTS (30 credit hours)
POL 601Budget and Financial Management and Administration3
POL 606Organizational Dynamics and Management3
POL 610Statistics for Politics and Public Administration3
POL 622Introduction to Graduate Public Administration3
POL 646Public Policy Process and Implementation3
POL 647Human Resource Management in Public Service3
POL 651Productivity in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors3
POL 671Government and Business3
POL 656Public Service Internship3-6
Approved MPA Elective0-3
MPH REQUIREMENTS (36 credit hours)
Core Courses
EPH 600Introduction to the Science Practice of Public Health3
EPH 601Medical Biostatistics I4
EPH 617Disease Prevention and Health Promotion3
or EPH 620 Health Education and Behavior
EPH 621Fundamentals of Epidemiology3
EPH 631Public Health Administration3
or EPH 632 U.S. Health Systems
EPH 641Environmental Health3
Generalist Concentration
EPH 607Interdisciplinary Health Communication3
EPH 602Biostatistics II3
or BST 625 Survey of Statistical Computing
EPH 644Fundamentals of Program Evaluation3
or EPH 656 Qualitative Research Methods
or EPH 647 Community Based Participatory Research and Social Network Analysis
Capstone
EPH 682Generalist Capstone Project2
Approved Elective Courses6
EPH-600, 700 level courses not already listed
BST-600, 700 level courses
Total Credit Hours66

Sample Plan of Study

Students may complete the requirements for the MPA and MPH degrees consecutively or in succession.

Applicants must be admitted into the MPH and MPA programs on a separate basis, based on the admissions requirements and procedure of each individual program. Acceptance by one program does not in any way indicate or guarantee acceptance by the other degree program. 

Average Program Duration: 2.5 years
Number of required credits: 66

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredit Hours
EPH 600 Introduction to the Science Practice of Public Health 3
EPH 601 Medical Biostatistics I 4
EPH 607 Interdisciplinary Health Communication 3
EPH 617 Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 3
 Credit Hours13
Spring
EPH 621 Fundamentals of Epidemiology 3
EPH 632 U.S. Health Systems 3
EPH 602 Biostatistics II 3
POL 610 Statistics for Politics and Public Administration 3
 Credit Hours12
Summer
POL 651 Productivity in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors 3
 Credit Hours3
Year Two
Fall
EPH 641 Environmental Health 3
EPH Approved Elective 3
EPH Approved Elective 3
POL 601 Budget and Financial Management and Administration 3
 Credit Hours12
Spring
EPH 644, 647,
Fundamentals of Program Evaluation
or Community Based Participatory Research and Social Network Analysis
or Qualitative Research Methods
3
EPH 682 Generalist Capstone Project 2
POL 606 Organizational Dynamics and Management 3
POL 646 Public Policy Process and Implementation 3
 Credit Hours11
Summer
MPA Elective 3
 Credit Hours3
Year Three
Fall
POL 622 Introduction to Graduate Public Administration 3
POL 647 Human Resource Management in Public Service 3
POL 671 Government and Business 3
POL 656 Public Service Internship 3
 Credit Hours12
 Total Credit Hours66