Note: Students applying to the joint M.D./M.P.H. program should be accepted to the VCU School of Medicine prior to applying to the M.D./M.P.H. program. MCAT or DAT acceptable in lieu of GRE for combined professional/academic degree programs.

The Department of Epidemiology and Community Health in the School of Medicine offers a program for VCU medical students to obtain a Master of Public Health degree in conjunction with their medical training. The M.D./M.P.H. dual-degree program provides an opportunity for medical students who wish to pursue a public health or research career to graduate from medical school trained in both clinical and preventive, population-oriented medicine.

The objective of the dual-degree M.D./M.P.H. program is to provide high quality and in-depth training in public health to qualified medical students. The five-year program includes four years of medical school and one year of study in the M.P.H. program. During the M.P.H. year students take a minimum of 30 credits of didactic courses. To complete the M.P.H. requirements, students receive 12 credits for successful academic work during the first two years of medical school and take a minimum of one public health elective during the fourth year. Students may register for the M.P.H. year either prior to entering medical school or after the M-III year and prior to M-IV electives. Enrollment in the dual-degree program requires admission into both the School of Medicine and the Graduate School. Students must successfully complete all required course work to receive both degrees at the completion of the five years.

Curriculum

Typical course plan for M.P.H. year:

	credits
Fall	15
BIOS/STAT 543 Statistical Methods I (3)
EPID 571 Epidemiology I: Principles of Epidemiology (3)
EPID 600 Introduction to Public Health (3)
EPID 602 Public Health Organization and Management (3)
EPID 604 Principles of Occupational and Environmental Health II (3)

Spring	12
BIOS/STAT 544 Statistical Methods II (if epidemiology track) (3)
EPID 603 Public Health Policy and Politics (3)
EPID 606 Epidemiology II: Epidemiological Methods (3)
EPID 691 Special Topics (3)

Summer	3
EPID 691 Special Topics (3)