Curious about medical careers in public health practice? Check out this discussion featuring some of Alabama’s leaders in public health to learn more. The coordinated Public Health/Medicine degree program is offered through the UAB School of Public Health (SOPH) and the UAB Heersink School of Medicine. Students in this coordinated program earn an MPH with a concentration in Population Health. In this individualized concentration, students gain a solid foundation in public health through completion of the MPH core (based on the Evidence-based Public Health framework), an Applied Practice Experience (Internship), and an Integrative Learning Experience (Capstone). Students also select from among all master’s-level Public Health courses (e.g., maternal and child health, chronic disease epidemiology, health policy) to build a unique curriculum that supports their career goals. Specialized advising is provided to assist students in designing their individualized curriculum.

This complementary MD/MPH coordinated degree program provides students with a richer perspective of community and global health issues, including the epidemiology of disease, health behavior, the impact of environmental and occupational factors on patient health, disease progression, and management of disease states, as well as social, legal and ethical issues affecting access to health care.

Curriculum

Normally, 42 credit hours are required for the MPH degree, however, because of the coordinated nature of the degree, 12 credit hours from the MD curriculum are credited to the MPH. This allows students to earn both degrees in reduced time and at reduced cost. Online students pay less than the out-of-state tuition rate for the MPH portion of this coordinated degree.

Students may choose between two program formats: a four-year program or a five-year program.

• The four-year program requires students to complete MPH coursework while also completing medical school coursework. Students typically begin taking courses the summer before they begin medical school.
• The five-year program requires students to take a one-year leave of absence from medical school to concentrate on MPH coursework.

Download Sample Curriculum Planning Sheet

Admission

Students must be admitted to the MD program before being considered for the coordinated MD/MPH program. Students may elect to:

1. apply to both programs at the same time,
2. apply to the MPH program after they have matriculated to medical school, or
3. transfer to the coordinated degree if accepted to the SOM after enrolling in the MPH.

Upon acceptance to the MD program, students will be accepted automatically to the MPH degree program. However, students must still complete an application for admission to the MPH program.

• Learn how to apply to the School of Public Health. Students must apply to the MPH program through the UAB Graduate School. For the review process, the School will use the AMCAS application for the transcript, test score, and reference letter requirement.
• To apply for this degree, you will submit a supplemental application directly through the UAB Graduate School.

Special Instructions

• Select "MPH dual program" and then the MPH/MD General Track.
• Test score field is required, so enter "GRE or MCAT" and a date so it will allow you to advance in the application.
• In the essay section of the AY application, please indicate which campus you have been assigned to for MS3 and MS4.
• The reference letter field is also required, so enter three names from your AMCAS application and select no when asked if they will be submitted electronically.
• If you are a current medical student, a letter of recommendation is required from the SOM Associate Dean for Students. Please input that name and email in the letter of recommendation section and select yes for electronic submission.
• Once the student is admitted to the MD program, they will be automatically accepted to the MPH portion of the coordinated degree once they submit their application to the UAB Graduate School.
• Students should note that the Population Health program curriculum has been updated. If a student is submitting to switch from a different degree program or department into a Coordinated Degree or the General MPH in Population Health Degree, the student will be responsible for completing the current Population Health program requirements. Students should meet with the current program manager prior to submitting a petition to switch programs.

Application Deadlines

Contact

For additional information concerning the coordinated MD/MPH program contact the School of Public Health at soph@uab.edu.