Quick facts
Program location: CU Anschutz
Credit hours: 42
This dual degree is offered by the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Colorado School of Public Health on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. In addition to receiving a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, students concurrently receive the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in a concentration of their choice: Applied Biostatistics; Community & Behavioral Health; Environmental & Occupational Health; Epidemiology; Health Systems, Management & Policy; Maternal and Child Health; or a custom concentration. Only students already in or accepted into the University of Colorado MD program are eligible to apply.
When you leave this program, you’ll have a population-level perspective on issues affecting the health of patients.
Quick facts
Program location: CU Anschutz
Credit hours: 42
Sample careers
Clinician
Professor
Consultant
& more
Skills you'll gain
Public health
Communication
Translating research to practice
& more
Up to nine credits hours from the MD program will count toward completion of the 42-credit hour MPH. In order to help students select courses and successfully complete the dual degree, students are assigned faculty advisors from both the School of Medicine and ColoradoSPH.
Students pursue the MPH between years three and four of their medical education. The program requires an official leave of absence from the CU School of Medicine. Leave lasts three consecutive semesters (summer, fall, and spring). During this official leave, medical school loan obligations are waived. Students are assessed public health tuition rates for ColoradoSPH courses taken in the completion of the dual degree.
Course requirement | Course # | Credits |
MPH core courses | 17 total credits | |
Applied Biostatistics I | BIOS 6601 | 3 |
Epidemiology | EPID 6630 | 3 |
Social & Community Factors in Health | CBHS 6610 (except Community and Behavioral Health MPH concentration students) | 3 |
Health Systems Management Policy | HSMP 6601 | 3 |
Environmental & Occupational Health | EHOH 6614 | 3 |
Foundations in Public Health | PUBH 6600 | 2 |
MPH concentration courses | 12-15 total credits | |
Practice-based learning courses | 4 total credits | |
Practicum | PUBH 6606 | 2 |
MPH Capstone Preparation** | DEPT 6690 | 1 |
MPH Capstone Integration** | PUBH 6991 | 1 |
MD health and society curriculum (counts as MPH elective credits) | 6-9 credits | |
Clinical experience for MD/MPH students (optional)* | PUBH 6640 |
Total MPH credits: 42 credits
*Optional course: Students enroll for at least one credit per semester to have the same liability coverage as SOM students for work with clinical preceptors (these credits do not count toward meeting MPH requirements)
**It is possible that
some of the activities in the School of Medicine Mentored Scholarly Activity might be used to partially meet these requirements.
The MD Health and Society curriculum (completed by all MD students) is used to satisfy the six to nine elective credits required for the MPH. Elective credit requirements vary by MPH concentration (the MPH in Environmental & Occupational Health and the MPH in Health Systems, Management & Policy both require only six elective credits; all other MPH concentrations require nine elective credits).
CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building
13001 East 17th Place
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Mail Stop B119
Aurora, CO 80045