Dual Degree Programs

The College of Public Health (CPH) offers six dual degree programs: Master of Public Health (MPH) or Master of Health Administration (MHA)/Master of Physician Assistant Studies (PA) offered through the CPH and the College of Health Professions; MPH/Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) offered through the CPH and the UNT System College of Pharmacy and the MPH or MHA/Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) offered through the CPH and the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM). The applicants in these programs are evaluated and admitted separately to each University/School and must meet all requirements for each degree separately. Admission to one program does not ensure admission to the other. Students completing a dual degree program receive separate diplomas and transcripts from each participating University. Thus, they are not joint degree programs where one diploma lists both schools, but rather dual degree programs. See website for admission requirements.

In each of the following programs, students must complete the curriculum plan as defined for the specific dual degree. Additional information about required curriculum is located on the CPH website. With the use of transfer credit and dual credit, students are required to complete 42-48 semester credit hours in Public Health.

DO/MPH option

A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Public Health dual degree program provides a solid foundation in both medicine and public health. This program equips graduates with necessary clinical skills for treating patients and provides an in-depth understanding of how public health approaches are employed to improve the health of populations, including efforts to reduce health disparities. Physicians who are MPH-trained often work in government agencies as regional medical directors or local health authorities where they manage public health programs and advise policymakers on a range of healthcare and public health issues.

Benefits of the DO/MPH degree program:

The MPH-trained physician will have in-depth knowledge and competencies in: epidemiology and biostatistics, health policy, behavior and community change strategies, community program planning and evaluation, structural determinants of health in society, and public health leadership.
The MPH-trained physician will have expanded professional opportunities, particularly in federal, state, and local government agencies.
The MPH-trained physician will have the ability to engage effectively with policymakers.
The MPH-trained physician will be prepared to transition from a clinical focus to a policy and management role in leading change in health systems.
The MPH-trained physician will rely on a population health perspective in delivering clinical care, and ,in doing, so will have a heightened awareness of the social, economic, racial, and environmental determinants of health.
The MPH-trained physician will have an enhanced ability to consume and interpret health- related research.

Potential career paths:

Federal, state, and local government, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, state health departments, and county and city health departments
Policy and advocacy for vulnerable and underserved communities
Addressing the needs of specific priority populations, such as children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, mental illness, or drug addiction, tribal communities, etc.
Environmental health advocacy and regulation

For more information and to apply to the HSC DO/MPH dual degree program, contact: Admissions@unthsc.edu.

DO/MHA option

A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Health Administration dual degree program provides a solid foundation in both medicine and healthcare administration. This program equips graduates with necessary clinical skills for treating patients and provides in-depth training in healthcare leadership and management. Physicians with an MHA are prepared to transition from an exclusive clinical focus to a physician executive managerial role in a healthcare organization.

Benefits of the DO/MHA degree program:

The MHA-trained physician will have in-depth knowledge and skills in: performance management and measurement, analytic thinking for solving problems in healthcare systems, health communications, process and quality improvement, project management, human relations management, strategic planning, professional and social responsibility, financial skills, and information technology.
The MHA-trained physician will be prepared for a variety of healthcare leadership roles.
The MHA-trained physician will rely on a population health management perspective for improving healthcare systems.

Potential career paths:

Vice president for medical affairs
Chief medical officer (CMO)
Physician-in-chief
Chief clinical officer (CCO)
Chief patient safety officer (CPSO)
Chief quality officer (CQO)
Chief medical information officer (CMIO)
Chief health information officer (CHIO)

For more information and to apply to the HSC DO/MHA dual degree program, contact: Admissions@unthsc.edu.

PA/MPH option

The Master of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies and Master of Public Health dual degree program provides a solid foundation in both PA studies and public health. This program equips graduates with necessary clinical skills for treating patients and provides an in-depth understanding of how public health approaches are employed to improve the health of populations, including efforts to reduce health disparities.

Benefits of the PA/MPH degree program:

The MPH-trained PA will have in-depth knowledge and competencies in: epidemiology and biostatistics, health policy, behavior and community change strategies, community program planning and evaluation, structural determinants of health in society, and public health leadership.
The MPH-trained PA will have expanded professional opportunities, particularly in federal, state, and local government agencies.
The MPH-trained PA will have the ability to engage effectively with policymakers.
The MPH-trained PA will be prepared to transition from a clinical focus to a policy and management role in leading change in health systems.
The MPH-trained PA will rely on a population health perspective in delivering clinical care, and, in doing so, will have a heightened awareness of the social, economic, racial, and environmental determinants of health.
The MPH-trained PA will have an enhanced ability to consume and interpret health- related research.

Potential career paths:

Federal, state, and local government, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, state health departments, and county and city health departments
Policy and advocacy for vulnerable and underserved communities
Addressing the needs of specific priority populations, such as children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, mental illness, or drug addiction, tribal communities, etc.
Environmental health advocacy and regulation

For more information and to apply to the HSC PA/MPH dual degree program, contact: Admissions@unthsc.edu.

PA/MHA option

The Master of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies and Master of Health Administration dual degree program provides PAs with business knowledge and competencies to improve the effectiveness and operational success of healthcare organizations. PAs with an MHA are prepared to transition from an exclusive clinical pharmacy focus to a managerial role in a healthcare organization.

Benefits of the PA/MHA degree program:

The MHA-trained PA will have in-depth knowledge and skills in: performance management and measurement, analytic thinking for solving problems in healthcare systems, health communications, process and quality improvement, project management, human relations management, strategic planning, professional and social responsibility, financial skills, and information technology.
The MHA-trained PA will be prepared for leadership roles in healthcare organizations.
The MHA-trained physician will rely on a population health management perspective for improving healthcare systems.

Potential career paths:

Health System Executive leadership
Chief Physician Assistant
Department Chair or Director of Physician Assistant Services
Administrative Medical Director

For more information and to apply to the HSC PA/MHA dual degree program, contact: Admissions@unthsc.edu.

Pharm/MPH option

The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Master of Public Health dual degree program provides a solid foundation in both pharmacy and public health. This program equips graduates with necessary pharmacy skills and provides an in-depth understanding of how public health approaches are employed to improve the health of populations, including efforts to reduce health disparities.

Benefits of the PharmD/MPH degree program:

The MPH-trained pharmacist will have in-depth knowledge and competencies in: epidemiology and biostatistics, health policy, behavior and community change strategies, community program planning and evaluation, structural determinants of health in society, and public health leadership.
The MPH-trained pharmacist will have expanded professional opportunities, particularly in federal, state, and local government agencies.
The MPH-trained pharmacist will have the ability to engage effectively with policymakers.
The MPH-trained pharmacist will be prepared to transition from a clinical focus to a policy and management role in leading change in health systems.
The MPH-trained pharmacist will rely on a population health perspective in delivering clinical care, and, in doing so, will have a heightened awareness of the social, economic, racial, and environmental determinants of health.
The MPH-trained pharmacist will have an enhanced ability to consume and interpret health- related research.

Potential career paths:

Federal, state, and local government, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, state health departments, and county and city health departments
Policy and advocacy for vulnerable and underserved communities
Addressing the needs of specific priority populations, such as children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, mental illness, or drug addiction, tribal communities, etc.
Environmental health advocacy and regulation

For more information and to apply to the HSC PharmD/MPH dual degree program, contact: Admissions@unthsc.edu.

MS in Applied Anthropology/MPH option

The Master of Science in Applied Anthropology and Master of Public Health (MPH) dual degree program provides a solid foundation in both applied anthropology and public health. This program equips graduates to analyze public health problems using mixed research methods and frameworks unique to the field of anthropology. Applied anthropologists who are MPH-trained often work in government and non-governmental organizations as socio-behavioral researchers, health analysts, program coordinators/evaluators where they manage public health programs and advise policymakers on a range of health issues.

Benefits of the MS/MPH degree program:

The MPH-trained applied anthropologist will have in-depth knowledge and competencies in: culture and health, health inequities and marginalized populations, health policy, behavior and community change strategies, and public health leadership.
The MPH-trained applied anthropologists will have expanded professional opportunities, particularly in federal, state, and local government agencies as well as international non-governmental organizations.
The MPH-trained applied anthropologists will have the ability to engage effectively with policymakers to improve health and address social justice issues.
The MPH-trained applied anthropologists will have the ability to effectively engage communities as partners to strengthen their capacity to change social and environmental conditions that undermine public health and maintain health disparities.
The MPH-trained applied anthropologists will have the ability to merge anthropological theory with a population health perspective that focuses on economic, racial, and environmental determinants of health.

Potential career paths:

Federal, state, and local government, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, state health departments, and county and city health departments
International non-governmental organizations carrying out health programming around the world, including program planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Policy and advocacy for vulnerable and underserved communities
Addressing the needs of specific priority populations, such as children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, mental illness, or drug addiction, tribal communities, etc.
Environmental health advocacy and regulation

The MS/MPH dual degree program in Applied Anthropology and Public Health is jointly supported by the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Texas in Denton and the HSC School of Public Health. Applicants must apply for admission to both universities. For more information and to apply to the MS in Applied Anthropology, contact: https://anthropology.unt.edu/ graduate/dual-degree-anthropology-and-public-health. For more information and to apply to the MPH in Public Health, contact: Admissions@unthsc.edu.