Overview
The University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) and the Department of Public Health Sciences (DPHS) offer a 4+1 joint degree program that combines a Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS) and a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH). SONHS academically qualified BSHS juniors or sophomores are eligible to apply to the MSPH program. If accepted, BSHS students initiate the 4+1 BSHS/MSPH joint degree program during their undergraduate senior year. They complete the combined bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 5 years.
Applicants must be enrolled in the SONHS BSHS program and apply separately into the 4+1 BSHS/MSPH joint degree program. Applicants must be in good academic standing as defined by the School of Nursing at the time of submission. Acceptance into the BSHS program does not in any way indicate or guarantee acceptance to the MSPH degree program. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) admissions requirement is waived for the BSHS students.
BSHS students apply to the 4+1 BSHS/MSPH joint degree program through the SOPHAS portal (https://sophas.org/) and submit their application no later than February 15 to start the program in the Fall semester of their undergraduate senior year. Admission decisions regarding the entry of BSHS students into the MSPH program are made solely by the Admissions Committee of the Department of Public Health Sciences.
Accepted students take 12 credits of graduate level (600) public health courses during their undergraduate senior year, not to exceed 6 credits per semester. These 600-level graduate public health credits count towards the MSPH degree. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 3.0 in these graduate courses in order to matriculate into the MSPH program. The summer following the completion of the BSHS degree, students may take 3 to 6 graduate credits at the 600 level. The remaining graduate courses are completed during the following Fall and Spring semesters to fulfill the required 45-credit of the MSPH degree. Completion of a research thesis project is required for all students completing an MSPH degree. Depending on the timing of the research thesis project, completion of an MSPH may take some additional time after the 5th academic year.
BSHS students interested in pursuing the 4+1 BSHS/MSPH joint degree program must meet with their undergraduate advisor to develop an academic plan. The advisor will also explain the policies and procedures of the program and link the student with the graduate program advisor. Graduate advising begins during the undergraduate senior year to facilitate the transition from the undergraduate to graduate degree.
Admission Requirements
Students apply for the 4+1 BSHS/MSPH joint degree program through the SOPHAS admissions portal during the Fall or Spring semester of their second (sophomore) or third (junior) undergraduate year. Admissions requirements for the master's component of the 4+1 program are equivalent to those for admission into the Department of Public Health's regular Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) program. Admission to the MSPH program officially takes effect upon completion of the BSHS degree. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to work closely with their faculty advisors at the SONHS and DPHS to ensure that the requirements of the BSHS degree, and the MSPH degree are successfully met. All 600 level or above public health courses that are taken as electives but are not taught by the Department of Public Health Sciences, must be pre-approved by the MSPH advisors in order for these courses to count towards earning the public health graduate degree.
In order to apply for the 4+1 BSHS/MSPH joint degree program, the student applies through the SOPHAS admissions portal and submits the following:
- A personal statement essay, resume, three letters of recommendation, and an official transcript (first two years of BSHS) due upon graduation from UM with the BSHS.
- The GRE requirement for the MSPH degree, including the 4+1 BSHS/MSPH dual-degree program, has been removed as part of the admission process effective Spring 2021.
The 4+1 BSHS/MSPH joint degree program may not be combined with any other joint degree program offered through the Department of Public Health Sciences.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BACHELOR'S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS | 120 | |
| Refer to the link below for more information on the BSHS requirements. | ||
| MSPH REQUIREMENTS | 45 | |
| Refer to the link below for more information on the MSPH requirements. | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 165 | |
- 1
Student may select graduate public health elective courses to fit his/her own area of interest. These grouped electives allow for personal tailoring of the academic program to fit the student’s individual needs and career goals.
- 2
The MSPH Thesis project requires an individual investigation of a current public health problem and allows the student to demonstrate competency in the development and implementation of a research question. Students will work closely with a faculty advisor and the thesis committee during their investigation. Formal MSPH thesis project presentation is required. The MSPH thesis process, format and deadlines follows the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) requirements of the Graduate School.
Sample Plan of Study
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| Undergraduate Courses | 17 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Undergraduate Courses | 17 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Undergraduate Courses | 17 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Undergraduate Courses | 17 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Undergraduate Courses | 17 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Undergraduate Courses | 17 | |
| Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Undergraduate Courses | 9 | |
| EPH 600 | Introduction to the Science Practice of Public Health | 3 |
| EPH 617 | Disease Prevention and Health Promotion | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Undergraduate Courses | 9 | |
| EPH 621 | Fundamentals of Epidemiology | 3 |
| EPH 632 | U.S. Health Systems | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| Graduate Elective in Public Health | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 3 | |
| Fifth Year (Graduate) | ||
| Fall | ||
| EPH 601 | Medical Biostatistics I | 4 |
| EPH 641 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| EPH 651 | Research Methods | 3 |
| EPH 810 | Master's Thesis | 3 |
| Graduate Elective in Public Health | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| EPH 602 | Biostatistics II | 3 |
| EPH 656 | Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| EPH 699 | Masters Thesis | 3 |
| Graduate Elective in Public Health | 3 | |
| Graduate Elective in Public Health | 3 | |
| EPH 810 | Master's Thesis | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 18 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 169 | |
- *
MSPH Graduate Program: BSHS students will complete 12 of 45 graduate-level credits (6 in spring and 6 in fall) for the MSPH during their senior year of undergraduate studies. Enrolling in these graduate courses as an undergraduate student requires special permission from advisors and deans. The remaining MSPH credits will be completed during the summer, fall, winter intersession, spring, and summer semesters immediately following graduation from the BSHS program. In this Study Plan sample, Year One refers only to the summer immediately following completion of your undergraduate degree; Year Two begins with the fall semester of full-time graduate courses.
