VMD | Master of Public Health
The VMD | MPH dual degree program is offered jointly by Penn Vet and the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Public Health Initiatives. This unique opportunity offers students the chance to earn both a professional degree in Veterinary Medicine (VMD) as well as a Master in Public Health.
VMD | MPH Graduates: A Growing Need
Veterinarians are already unique among healthcare professionals because they are educated in population health dynamics. An added foundation of an MPH degree helps to prepare veterinarians for a wide array of professional endeavors.
These include careers in global health, environmental health, epidemiology (disease investigation, control, and prevention), food safety and security, animal population management such as domestic pet sheltering, fisheries and wildlife conservation, and global food production.
MPH-trained veterinarians are in high demand by various governmental agencies, NGOs, and private corporations focused on issues like vaccine development, disaster management, and climate change. Additionally, their background equips them to be stakeholders with local leaders on policies prioritizing the health of animals, the environment, and human needs
About the VMD | Master of Public Health Program
The Veterinary Medicine VMD | Master of Public Health dual degree program trains veterinary medicine and public health students.
This dual degree is designed to be completed in about four and half years, with students completing the bulk of their coursework during their VMD studies. Students may elect to extend their plan of study if they choose to complete a greater proportion of the MPH curriculum following a conference of the VMD degree.
How an MPH Helps
- Improves your ability to train in epidemiology, biostatistics, and methodological practices for public health.
- Helps you understand human healthcare systems and public health laws and ethics.
- Enables you to educate others about environmental health in the ambient, occupational, and global spheres.
- Provides an understanding of the theories and framework necessary for designing interventions and educational campaigns.
Program Curriculum
The CEPH-accredited MPH curriculum focuses on a group of core courses. Candidates choose from several track options and design their plan of study with electives to fulfill the track requirements. The tracks offered include the Generalist Track, Global Health Track, Environmental Health Track, and the One Health Track. Students also complete 125 hours of field work and a culminating Capstone experience that results in a mentored research or mentored project in public health.
One of the strengths of Penn’s MPH program is its interdisciplinary nature. VMD | MPH students will be taking public health courses with students from other schools at Penn, including:
- Medicine
- Law
- Dental Medicine
- Nursing
- Arts and Sciences
- Social Policy and Practice
The One Health track is unique in that it is specifically designed for students in the VMD|MPH dual degree program who are interested in the intersection of animal, human and environmental health. In the One Health track, VMD candidates may substitute Vet Epidemiology (VMD core) and Clinical Biostatistics (VMD elective) for the corresponding MPH core courses (PUBH 502/Epi and PUBH 501/Biostats, respectively).
The One Health Track requires 5 CU’s of electives in addition to the MPH Core Curriculum.
One course (1CU) must have a PUBH prefix. You may choose from a wide array of options (see Penn MPH web site). VMD candidates may substitute Vet Epidemiology and Clinical Biostatistics for the corresponding MPH Biostatistics and Epidemiology courses
- The One Health Study Design course (VPTH 550/650) is a required elective for the One Health track.
- VMD core courses which can be cross-counted for MPH electives include Veterinary Public Health (VMED 607) and Emerging Exotic Diseases (VMED 619).
- A VMD elective course which can be cross-counted for an MPH elective is One Health & Global Food Security (VCSN 657 – offered spring of 1st year)
VMD|MPH dual degree students are required to demonstrate the application of basic public health concepts through their fieldwork experience in their area of specialization.
Please note that specific course numbers, requirements, and equivalencies may evolve over time.
Course Grid
Below is the full-time dual degree proposed timeline/sample course curriculum. Please note that specific course listings and requirements may evolve over time.
| Year | Fall | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Standard veterinary curriculum | Standard veterinary curriculum +MPH Elective: One Health & Global Food Security (VCSN 657) | PUBH 504 (Theories & Frameworks) PUBH 505 (Policy & Admin) PUBH 506 (Methods for PH practice) |
| Year 2 | Standard veterinary curriculum | Standard veterinary curriculum, includes: Principles of Epidemiology (VMED 606)1 Vet Public Health (VMED 607) MPH Required Elective: One Health Study Design (VPTH 550/650) | PUBH 503 (Environ/Occup. Health) PUBH 507 (Law & Ethics) PUBH 508± (Capstone I) |
| Year 3 | Standard veterinary curriculum includes: Emerging Exotic Diseases (VMED 619) Required for MPH: Clinical Biostatistics (VCSN 634)1 | PUBH elective (1 CU minimum) PUBH 509± (Capstone II) | Clinical rotations PUBH field workɫ |
| Year 4 | Clinical rotations PUBH field work | Clinical rotations PUBH field workɫ | Optional: (Summer after VMD graduation) Finish any remaining PUBH requirements |
About the Capstone Project
Students will participate in two capstone seminars wherein they will have the opportunity to solve public health issues in their area of specialization as well as their peers’ areas of interest by combining the knowledge and competencies gained through their coursework. The capstone experience will connect students with mentored research or mentored projects in the public health field and will provide them a space to propose, develop, revise, implement and present their work.
Application Details
Current students interested in the dual degree option will be required to articulate their interests and career aspirations in a separate essay and interview that will be evaluated in conjunction with all application material provided to Penn Vet, by the VMD | MPH advisory group.
Veterinary students can apply for admission to the dual degree program during the fall of their first or second year. Ideal applicants will have a strong grasp of the public health profession, an strong academic record, and a clear intention to integrate public health into their professional career.
- Prospective VMD students may contact the Vet Admissions Office at (215) 898-5434 or admissions@vet.upenn.edu
- Prospective VMD students interested in the dual degree option may contact onehealth@vet.upenn.edu
- Prospective MPH students may contact the MPH Program Administrative Coordinator Nick Van Meter at nickvm@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Financial Aid
All dual degree students are eligible for scholarships and financial aid as per policies associated with their home schools.