Masters

M.P.H. - The M.P.H. degree is a 60-unit program that prepares professionals for leadership in public health practice concerning health problems, programs, and policies. Graduates generally assume positions in the planning, administration and evaluation of public health programs and policies, both in the United States and abroad, which have as their objective the maintenance and improvement of the health of individuals, families, communities and populations.   All students are required to fulfill a field internship placement (see www.ph.ucla.edu/fieldstudies/chsdpt.html) .  This degree program welcomes 65-80 new students each year.  Candidates with a prior doctoral degree or advanced preparation in a related field may complete an M.P.H. degree in 48 units, but only after formal consideration and approval by the Department's faculty. Students must document that their prior coursework is relevant to specific requirements in the M.P.H. curriculum.

M.S.P.H. - The M.S.P.H. degree is also a 60-unit degree; however, the orientation is to gain expertise in research.  A thesis takes the place of a field internship placement for the M.S.P.H. degree.  A handful of students select this option.

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Students in Masters programs plan their program to fit with their career objectives in consultation with their advisor.  Students may pursue various interests through clustering of course work in specific areas.  These cluster areas are currently defined as:

• health education and promotion
• social and behavioral sciences
• child and family health
• public health nutrition
• population
• aging and the life course
• health policy
• international health
• disasters and public health
• women's health

Certificate Options - In addition to a master’s degree, students can complete specified coursework as part of their degree program and be awarded a Certificate that indicates this area of competency. Current certificates available include:

• Population & Reproductive Health - The certificate shows that the student has completed appropriate coursework and fieldwork and has developed competency in population and reproductive health policies and programs, socioeconomic and behavioral factors, program design and evaluation, health education, and ethics and advocacy. For more information, see the Bixby Program website at http://bixbyprogram.ph.ucla.edu/certificate.html.
• Global Health – The certificate recognizes a student's capability to work as a public health or health care professional with a global health perspective. See the UCLA Center for Global and Immigrant Health at http://www.ph.ucla.edu/globalhealth/global_health_certificate.php.

Health Education/Promotion - Students interested in this area can select coursework to meet the requirements for the Society for Public Health Education; see http://www.ph.ucla.edu/chs/pdf/HPHE_sum.pdf.

Elective coursework may also be taken entirely within other areas of interest or “clusters,” such as:

• aging and life course
• social and behavioral sciences
• child and family health
• health policy
• women’s health
• disaster planning and relief
• public health nutrition

See the Masters Handbook (below) for details.

The Masters program handbook has an in depth description of course and degree requirements, policies followed by the department, information about comprehensive exams and Masters thesis, and information about internships.

The department also offers a number of combined degree programs, including:

• Public Health M.P.H./African Studies M.A.
• Public Health M.P.H./Asian American Studies M.A.
• Public Health M.P.H./Islamic Studies M.A.
• Public Health M.P.H./Latin American Studies M.A.
• Public Health M.P.H./Law J.D.
• Public Health M.P.H./Medicine M.D.
• Public Health M.P.H./Social Welfare M.S.W.
• Degree requirements
• National Trends in M.P.H./M.S.W. training

Admission to these programs is contingent on admission to each participating school or department.  Admission in one school or department does not guarantee admission in the other.

For information on the UCLA Graduate Division, see the Graduate Division website.