What Dual Degrees Complement a Master’s in Public Health?

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Updated July 19, 2022
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Doubling your knowledge, experience, and practice skills is possible if you pursue a dual degree with your Master's in Public Health. The MPH has extremely versatile content that can be applied in various fields. Most universities allow students to complement their MPH studies with dual degrees from other departments. Joint degrees give ambitious learners the ability to earn two separate degrees in an accelerated format that saves time and money. Added acronyms after your name can develop an impressive resume for a competitive market edge. Further specialization also helps you build niche knowledge that employers will respect. That's excellent news because the U.S. is expected to add over 250,000 public health jobs by 2020. The following are four dual degrees often paired with a Master's in Public Health.
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Master of Social Work (MSW)

MPH students wishing to learn community interventions to protect human welfare and social justice should consider a Master of Social Work. Pursuing a MPH/MSW dual degree would qualify you for becoming a licensed clinical social worker. Programs should be accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for quality preparation. This two-year program may further accelerate with Advanced Standing for students with an accredited BSW. Graduates can work as directors in gerontology, maternal health, psychiatric health, palliative care, addiction treatment, and other fields.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Attending an accredited business school while earning an MPH can unlock leadership positions in public health administration. The Master of Business Administration is a prized credential for entering the private or non-profit sector. MPH/MBA students complement their degree with coursework in finance, economics, marketing, human resources, organizational behavior, and more. Some MBAs have added specialization tracks, such as Healthcare Management. Most universities require entrants to successfully pass the GMAT. This joint program can facilitate jobs from healthcare consulting to pharmaceutical marketing and biomedical management.

Doctor of Medicine (MD)

For particularly motivated graduates, it's possible to make a Doctor of Medicine an addition to your MPH. Students pursuing an MPH/MD program are trained to tie public health issues into their medical practice. After passing the MCAT exam, students can attend medical school while integrating the Master of Public Health. Following this track produces public health physicians who treat both symptoms and causes of medical problems. Adding stress and coursework to rigorous MD programs is tough; however, the payoff is an average yearly salary of $197,700.

Juris Doctor (JD)

The Juris Doctor is the professional law degree required to legally practice law in the U.S. court system. Many ABA-accredited law schools offer MPH/JD programs to support students interested in healthcare law and policy. Graduates are qualified to sit for the Bar Exam and work in law firms, government agencies, research institutes, or advocacy organizations. Public health attorneys work arduously to develop policies that improve overall community well-being. Competing for openings in JD joint programs will require excellent grades and LSAT scores. Resource: 50 Most Affordable Online MPH Programs 2015 Combining in-depth professional training in two complementary professions can equip you for following either avenues. Master's in Public Health programs offer the most dual learning options because knowing emerging community health concerns is important in several fields. In addition to the above dual degree options, MPH students could earn a Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Health Administration (MHA), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) concurrently.

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