Doctor of Pharmacy and Master of Public Health Dual Degree

This program is designed to prepare pharmacy students to equip and strengthen the existing public health system where many pharmacy functions align with the ten essential health services critical to public health. Pharmacy students will be prepared to apply skills and knowledge in the five traditional core areas (health services administration, biostatistics, epidemiology, behavioral sciences, and environmental health sciences) and the interdisciplinary/cross-cutting areas (diversity, culture, system thinking, interprofessional leadership, program planning) of public health upon completion of the PharmD/MPH dual degree program.

Program Outcomes

Public Health:

• Assess and monitor health problems at the population level
• Apply epidemiologic principles to identify and investigate population-based health problems in your local or global community
• Assess and monitor environmental issues that impact human health and formulate strategies to address these threats and promote social and environmental justice within communities
• Develop evidence-based programs to promote health and improve health equity in communities
• Utilize social and behavioral health theory and cultural awareness to develop strategies to help people develop healthier behaviors
• Evaluate the implementation and progress of health promotion strategies
• Develop public health communication strategies to effectively reach target populations
• Promote health and health equity through development and analysis of public health policy
• Apply systems thinking to complex public health issues

Pharmacy

• Obtain, interpret, or assess data, medical or patient information
• Identify drug characteristics
• Develop or manage treatment plans
• Perform calculations
• Compound, dispense, or administer drugs, or manage delivery systems
• Develop or manage practice or medication use systems to ensure safety and quality

Admission Criteria

USJ Graduate School admission requirements apply. Student must be admitted to each program separately meaning students need to meet the criteria for each respective degree program.

Continuation Requirements for the MPH

• Students must earn a B or better in all required courses
• Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Students have the opportunity to repeat any course once if they were not successful in earning the “B” grade