Mar 19, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2019-2020 
    
USC Catalogue 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Master of Public Health/Doctor of Pharmacy (MPH/PharmD)


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The School of Pharmacy and the Master of Public Health program, in recognition of the rapidly changing health care environment, and in response to the growing demand for pharmacists who are knowledgeable in both pharmacy and population-based health care issues, have developed a dual degree program. The joint PharmD/MPH degree will enable graduates to be more responsive to today's health care needs and will provide training for pharmacists who seek to be agents of change within the profession and to assume leadership roles in the pharmacy field and in public health at the local, state and national levels.

Students who are enrolled in the School of Pharmacy must apply to the Master of Public Health program no later than January of their first year. All requirements for admission to the regular MPH program must also be fulfilled by dual degree applicants.

The PharmD/MPH program spans five years (four years of pharmacy school courses and one year of public health courses). Students begin the core MPH courses following the successful completion of the first year of pharmacy school. The last three years of the program are devoted to course work and the clinical rotations of the School of Pharmacy and to the completion of the elective courses and practicum (field experience) of the MPH program.

All students in the PharmD/MPH program must meet course requirements, grade point average requirements and program residency requirements of both programs. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the PharmD curriculum and a 3.0 in the MPH curriculum to meet graduation requirements.

The PharmD and the MPH degrees are awarded simultaneously upon completion of the School of Pharmacy and the Master of Public Health requirements.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

Students applying for the dual degree program must meet the respective admission requirements for each program. This includes having completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and having acceptable GRE and TOEFL or IELTS scores as applicable. Students will not be given special consideration for admission to either program because they are applying for the dual degree. Students may apply to the dual PharmD/MPH degree program in two ways. First, they may apply at the time they submit their PharmD application by concurrently submitting applications to both programs. Students who elect this approach must identify themselves on both applications as potential dual degree students. Students who are admitted to both programs will be offered admission to the PharmD and will be offered admission to the dual degree program contingent on passing all courses in their first year of the PharmD with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students who are accepted by only one program may choose to attend that program, but will not be eligible for the dual degree. Second, students can apply to the dual degree by submitting an application to the MPH program during their first year of enrollment in the PharmD prior to the MPH published application deadline. Students who elect this approach must apply through the School of Pharmacy. Students admitted to the MPH program using this approach will be offered admission to the dual degree contingent on passing all courses in their first year of the PharmD with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

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