Joint Degree Programs
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Master of Public Health (DVM/MPH) Joint Degree
back to Collaborative Degree Programs
Applicants interested in veterinary public health should consider the DVM/MPH
degree at the University of Florida. This joint degree is a unique opportunity
since the only College of Veterinary Medicine in the state is located at
UF. Veterinarians with MPH degrees are increasingly in demand because they
work in all areas of public health, including epidemiology, environmental
health, global health, infectious disease investigation and control, and
homeland security. Public health-trained veterinarians are uniquely qualified
to understand and respond to emerging zoonotic diseases, to address complex
global food system problems, and to respond to acts of bioterrorism.
The DVM/MPH degree is offered jointly by the College of Public Health and
Health Professions and the College of Veterinary Medicine. If taken consecutively,
the DVM and MPH degrees at UF are 150 and 48 credits, respectively, and
require 6 years of coursework. The joint DVM/MPH program permits sufficient
sharing of course credits to allow completion of the program in 4 years
plus 1 summer for students who enter both programs concurrently. DVM students
who choose to enter the joint program after completing one or more years
of the DVM program may require an extra semester after completing the DVM.
Hallmarks of the program
• The DVM/MPH may be completed within the four-year timeframe required for a DVM degree alone by starting MPH coursework the summer before entering the DVM program.
• Students have the flexibility to select an in-depth concentration in the MPH program or to choose the Public Health Practice concentration, which allows selection of courses from two or more concentration areas.
• MPH core courses and select concentration core courses may be taken online.
• The MPH program will accept 12 credits of DVM courses toward the MPH degree, and the DVM program will accept 6 credits of MPH courses towards the DVM degree.
MPH concentrations
Students must choose from one of the six MPH concentrations: Biostatistics,
Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Public Health Management and Policy,
Public Health Practice, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Please visit
http://www.mph.ufl.edu/concentrations/ for a description of each concentration. Many veterinary students may
choose Public Health Practice, because of its broad flexibility, although
they are free to choose from any of the other concentration options.
Supervisory committee
To facilitate student progress in the joint program, the MPH supervisory
committee is comprised of one MPH faculty member and one faculty member
from the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Internship requirement
Students enrolled in the joint degree program must complete a public health
internship, as described in the MPH program description at http://www.mph.ufl.edu/programs/masterspublichealth.htm.
For most students, the internship will be completed, over one or more semesters,
near the end of the joint degree program.
MPH culminating experience
Students attain a depth in public health knowledge and skills by selecting
one core area for their concentrations. They obtain a broad knowledge base
of public health issues and perspectives through the MPH core courses and
electives. The concepts presented in these courses are integrated and assimilated
through the internship, which provides an opportunity for each student to
apply his or her knowledge in the real world of public health. Students
may engage in many activities during an internship. However, each student
must have one special project which serves as the basis for a major paper
and a presentation. These final activities of the MPH program are intended
to encourage students to understand their projects in the larger context
of public health as a cross-disciplinary field and in relation to the competencies
expected of all MPH graduates. Student presentations are scheduled on one
or two Public Health Days near the end of fall, spring and summer
semesters. The written paper and oral presentation constitute a culminating
experience for the MPH.
Sample MPH curriculum
A sample of the MPH curriculum DVM/MPH students may follow, including a
range of electives that students may choose from, is in the table below.
The examples here are for the Public Health Practice concentration, although
students may choose from any concentration.
| I. Public Health Core: 16 credits | Credits |
Semester* |
|
| PHC 6001 | Principles of Epidemiology | 3 |
ss-0C (online) |
| PHC 6102 | Introduction to Public Health Administrative Systems | 3 |
ss-0C (online) |
| STA 6166 | Statistical Research Methods I | 3 |
ss-1A |
| PHC 6313 | Environmental Health Concepts in Public Health | 3 |
F-4 (online) |
| PHC 6410 (formerly 6406) | Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Issues in Public Health | 3 |
F-4 (online) |
| PHC 6931 | Seminar in Contemporary Public Health Issues | 1 |
ss-0B |
| II. Concentration Core: choose 13-15 credits from 2 or more MPH concentrations. (Concentration) | |||
| VME 6605 | Toxic Substances (EH) | 3 |
ss-C (online) |
| PHC 6002 | Infectious Disease Epidemiology (Epi) | 3 |
ss-A |
| PHC 6702 | Exposure Measurements and Assessment (EH) | 3 |
ss-C |
| VME 6602 | General Toxicology (EH) | 3 |
F (online) |
| FOS 5205 | Current Issues in Food Safety (EH) | 3 |
F (online) |
| PHC 6937 | Risk Communication (EH) | 2 |
ss-B |
| PHC 6xxx | PH Disaster Prep. and Emergency Response (EH)** | 3 |
ss-C (online) |
| PHC 6xxx | Bioterrorism and Public Health (EH)** | 3 |
ss-C (online) |
| PHC 6716 | Survey Research Methods (Epi) | 3 |
ss-C |
| III. Courses Accepted from DVM Program: choose 12 credits | |||
| VEM 5150 | Veterinary Parasitology | 1 |
S (DVM-1) |
| VEM 5141 | Veterinary Microbiology and Infectious Diseases | 3 |
F (DVM-2) |
| VEM 5172 | Veterinary Toxicology | 1 |
F (DVM-2) |
| VEM 5501 | Clinical Epidemiology | 1 |
S/F (DVM-3/4) |
| VEM 5503 | Veterinary Epidemiology | 2 |
S (DVM-2) |
| VEM 5510 | Exotic and Emerging Diseases of Animals (VIN) | 1 |
S/F (DVM-3/4) |
| VEM 5571 | Emerging Diseases | 3 |
S/F (DVM-3/4) |
| VEM 5504 | Preventive and Production Medicine | 2 |
S (DVM-2) |
| VEM 5153 | Parasitology, Small Animal | 1 |
F (DVM-4) |
| VEM 5154 | Parasitology, Large Animal | 2 |
F (DVM-4) |
| VEM 5143 | Microbiology, Small Animal | 2 |
S/F (DVM-3/4) |
| VEM 5144 | Microbiology, Large Animal | 2 |
S/F (DVM-3/4) |
| VEM 5931 | Seminars in International Veterinary Medicine | 1 |
S (DVM 1-4) |
| VEM 5506 | International Veterinary Medicine | 1 |
S (DVM 1-4) |
| IV. Public Health Internship: 5-7 credits | |||
| PHC 6946 | Public Health Internship | 5-7 |
ss-3 |
* F=Fall; S=Spring; ss=Summer
0, 1, 2, 3, 4 = DVM year of study
A, B, C = summer session
** To be offered Summer 2009
What is the outlook for veterinarians in Public Health?
Public health career opportunities for veterinarians will continue to expand
with the rapidly changing demographics of human and animal populations,
increasing urbanization, increasing poverty, the expanding technology gap
between developed and developing countries, and changes in the environment,
land use and climate. These changes will present new opportunities for public
health-trained veterinarians as part of veterinary and human health systems.
(Excerpt from Veterinarians in Public Health, prepared by The Association
of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. www.aavmc.org).
Admission criteria
Candidates for the program must meet the entrance requirements and procedures
for admission to both the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and the Master of
Public Health degree programs. Acceptance into the joint DVM/MPH program
is dependent upon acceptance into the DVM program. Please note however,
that the joint application is due prior to student notification regarding
acceptance into the DVM. The joint degree program is not open to students
who have already earned either the DVM or the MPH degree. Additional information
regarding admission to each program may be found at www.vetmed.ufl.edu/cvmadmissions/
and www.mph.ufl.edu/admissions/.
How to apply (to print this section, Checklist for joint DVM/MPH degree)
The application process for the joint DVM/MPH degree is open to any student accepted into the DVM program. However due to the timing of several deadlines for the MPH portion of the application process, interested students will often have to apply prior to being notified of an interview or acceptance into the DVM program. The process involves the following steps with deadlines that must be met in order to enter the program in the summer semester 2009:
1. Develop a statement of intent
A statement of intent is very important for acceptance into the joint program. The statement should not exceed 2 pages and may be considerably shorter, but it must convey your understanding of how an MPH degree would enhance your career goals. See below for instructions on submitting your statement of intent.
2. Apply to the University of Florida Graduate School on or before March 13
Please note that you are required to submit duplicate materials to both the UF Office of Admissions and to the MPH Program.
Submit the following to the UF Office of Admissions no later than March 13, 2009:
- Application form
- Applications may be made online or by US Mail. In either case, they must be received on or before March 13, 2009.
- Detailed information regarding applying to UF Graduate School is on the Graduate School website. This includes application forms for online submission, and for printing to submit via US Mail. http://gradschool.rgp.ufl.edu/students/application-and-admission.html
- Please note that this website will also mention letters of reference, however the letters that were submitted with your vet school application will be used for the joint program application. There is no need to send additional letters of reference.
- Application fee ($30)
- Official transcript(s) – these are in addition to the one(s) that were submitted with the vet school application (ie. You have to submit again these again even though the vet school already has them)
- Official GRE scores, and TOEFL scores (if applicable) –also in addition to those submitted with the vet school application (ie. You have to submit these again even though the vet school already has them)
Submit the following to the MPH Program no later than March 13, 2009:
- Statement of intent (mentioned in #1) – Please provide the original and note that the UF Office of Admissions does not need a copy of the statement of intent
- Original or a copy of the Official Transcripts sent to the UF Office of Admissions
- Original or a copy of the GRE scores, and TOEFL scores (if applicable) sent to the UF Office of Admissions
- Detailed information about the materials to be submitted to the MPH Program can be found on the website: http://www.mph.ufl.edu/admissions/forms.htm
- Please note that the MPH admission requirement website listed above will also mention letters of reference, however the letters that were submitted with your vet school application will be used for the joint program application. There is no need to send additional letters of reference
- The MPH Program application materials must be received on or before March 13, 2009 at the following address:
University of Florida
Public Health Programs Admissions
P.O. Box 100182
Gainesville, FL 32610-0182
1-866-62-UFMPH
3. Notify the MPH Program on or before March 13
After your application has been submitted, please e-mail the MPH program at bhart@phhp.ufl.edu and let us know when and how your Graduate School application was submitted.
4. Apply for financial aid for summer 2009 on or before March 13 – if you do not wish to receive financial aid, you may skip this step.
To apply for summer financial aid you must complete the 2008-2009 application at the same time you apply to the MPH program. (Please Note: The 2009-2010 application refers to the fall semester, so please do not use this application when applying for the summer semester aid. You will be asked at a later date to complete the 2009-2010 form for veterinary school).
Any delay in filing the 2008-2009 application may impede assignment of funds for the summer term. If you are unsure if you will need financial aid, please apply anyway as you can always decline later (if you do not apply prior to the March 13th deadline and later decide you do need financial aid, it may be too late to receive aid for the summer). Financial aid application information and forms may be found at: http://www.sfa.ufl.edu/apply/howtoapply.html.
5. Notification and acceptance
Applicants who qualify for acceptance into the joint DVM/MPH program will be notified in the invitation letter of acceptance sent by the College of Veterinary Medicine in early April.
The following items must be received by April 15, 2009 as confirmation and to assure you can begin the joint program coursework in the summer semester.
- Your written acceptance of the invitation into the joint program
- Signed MPH Acceptance Form
- Signed Joint Program Form
6. Classes begin
Online classes begin May 11, 2009. On campus classes begin June 29, 2009.
An example of courses to be taken during the summer semester include:
PHC 6001 Introduction to Epidemiology – 3 credits, online, start May 11th
PHC 6102 Public Health Administrative Systems – 3 credits, online, start May 11th
PHC 6107 Veterinary Public Health – 1-2 credits, on campus, start June 29th
PHC 0000 Bioterrorism & Disaster Preparedness – 3 credits, on campus, start June 29th
If you have questions regarding the joint DVM/MPH application process, please contact Mrs. Lynnette Chaparro, Senior Clerk, College of Veterinary Medicine at (352) 392-2213 ext. 5361 or see the following website: http://www.mph.ufl.edu/programs/collaborative/vet.htm
Contact us
Traci Krueger, DVM, MPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health
College of Public Health and Health Professions
Department of Infectious Disease and Pathology
College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Florida
Box 100182
Gainesville, FL 32610
Phone: 352-273-5259
Fax: 352-273-5061
kruegert@vetmed.ufl.edu
Catherine Sembajwe-Reeves, MA
Associate Director, MPH Program
College of Public Health & Health Professions
University of Florida
Box 100182
Gainesville, FL 32610
Phone: 352-273-6444
Fax: 352-273-6199
nalusemb@phhp.ufl.edu
Mary Peoples-Sheps, Dr.PH
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
College of Public Health & Health Professions
University of Florida
Box 100182
Gainesville, FL 32610
Phone: 352-273-6084
Fax: 352-273-6199
mpeoplessheps@phhp.ufl.edu
