Master of Public Health Degree (M.P.H.)

Please refer to the School of Public Health Announcement, the UCLA General Catalogue, and the Graduate Division publication entitled, "Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees" for more detailed information regarding the degree requirements for the M.P.H. with a specialization in Epidemiology.

The Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) is a professional degree in the field of Public Health. The student is expected to focus on public health practice and to acquire broad knowledge related to professional skills.

Total Required Units -- 68

This requirement is for students who do not have a prior clinical doctorate (i.e., MD, Doctor of Nursing, DDS, DVM) and are not currently enrolled in an accredited joint MD/MPH program.

Minimum Units Required

22 units  Schoolwide required classes

26 units  Departmentally required classes

20 units  Electives*

*8 of these can be taken outside of the Epidemiology department with the consent of the advisor and by blue petition

The School of Public Health requires that at least 8 units for the MPH be 400-level (i.e., applied) courses.

If you take a waiver examination or Blue Petition out of a School and/or Departmental Core Course you will need to make up the units with an elective course.

Possible Waiver Examinations

BIOSTAT 100A
COM HLT 100
ENV HLT 100
HLT SER 100

School Requirements (22 units)

BIOSTAT 100A (4 units) Introduction to Biostatistics

COM HLT 100 (4 units) Behavioral Science & Health Education

ENV HLT 100 (4 units) Introduction to Environmental Health

EPIDEM 200A (6 units) Epidemiology I

HLT SER 100 (4 units) Health Services Organization

Department Requirements (26 units)

BIOSTAT 100B (4 units)  Introduction to Biostatistics

BIOSTAT xxxx (4 units) Data Management course in Biostatistics that features SAS

EPIDEM 200B (6 units) Epidemiologic Methods II

EPIDEM 200C (4 units) Epidemiologic Methods III

EPIDEM 220 (4 units) Principles of Infectious Disease Epidemiology

EPIDEM 400 (4 units) Field Studies in Epidemiology

Elective Requirements (20 units)

In addition, the student needs to choose at least 20 units from the General list of Electives, 8 of which can be taken outside of the Epidemiology department with the consent of the advisor and by blue petition.

Infectious and Tropical Disease:

EPIDEM 221, 222, 223, 224, 226, 227, 228, 230, 280, 293

Quantitative Methods:

EPIDEM 202A, M204, M211, M212, 291

Cancer:

EPIDEM 241, 242, 243, 244, 249, 295

Chronic Disease:

EPIDEM 240

Molecular and Nutrition:

EPIDEM 258,  293

Problems of Developing Countries:

EPIDEM 266, 273, 415, M418, 420

Injuries:

EPIDEM 250, 251, 252, 253, M255

Aging:

EPIDEM 245, 246, 247

Occupational/Environmental:

EPIDEM 260, 261, 262, 263, 293, 420

Global Epidemology:

EPIDEM 266, 273, 293, 420

Other Topics:

EPIDEM M218, 231, 232, 248, 259, 268, 271, M403, M406, 410, 411, 412, 413

Waiver Examinations

Students may waiver out of School of Public Health core courses (i.e., Biostat 100A, Com Hlth 100, Env Hlt 100, Hlt Ser 100). If they do, however, they have to make up the units in electives. Those seeking a waiver by examination should contact the respective department for date and time of the exam.

SEQUENCE OF COURSES

Incoming Epidemiology majors must take Epidem 200A, Biostat 100A and Env Hlt 100 in their initial fall quarter. First year students should plan on taking Epidemiology 200B, Biostatistics 100B and Com Hlth 100 in the winter quarter. They should plan on completing their first year in the spring quarter by taking Epidemiology 200C, Hlt Services 100 and an elective of their choice within epidemiology. Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisors for suggestions and recommendations. Students who plan to take their epidemiology first year core courses (i.e., Epi 200A, Epi 200B and Epi 200C) in a different sequence must have approval from their advisors. Epidemiology majors must take Epidem 220 in the fall quarter of their second year. Aside from these constraints, the academic schedule for any given student is determined individually between the advisor and the student.

MPH Report

All students seeking the MPH degree must submit a report demonstrating competence in epidemiologic methodology. The report may not be submitted prior to the completion of EPI 400. Course 400 must be taken after completion of EPI 200A-C.

MPH Report Guidelines

MPH Comprehensive Examination

This comprehensive examination is required of all students seeking the MPH degree. The exam is administered by the Epidemiology Department Examinations Committee. It is given after students have completed the Departmental requirements. The exam is offered twice during the academic year, once in the Fall Quarter and once in the Spring Quarter. Notice are posted asking qualified students to sign up for the examination. The MPH Comprehensive Examination may only be repeated once.