Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Public Health

The College of Osteopath Medicine and the College of Health Science offer a concurrent degree program that provides a consistent pathway for academically driven medical students to complete a Master of Public Health while pursuing the Doctor in Osteopathic Medicine degree program. Graduate students in the joint program obtain valuable experience through community engagement activities, research projects, clinical rotations, and interactions with public health professions, which foster positive learning opportunities. In addition, by pursuing both the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and the Master of Public Health concurrently, students can complete both degrees in a shorter time period (4 years) than if they were to pursue the two independently (6 years). 

Application to the joint degree program is continuous, and students have an opportunity to apply to the program during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.

Students must meet the following requirements for admittance to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Public Health dual degree program:

• Successful acceptance to the SHSU Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree program.
• Successful acceptance to the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program.
• Achievement of a GPA of 3.00 or higher in major courses.
• Completion of the application requirements for the MPH program, payment of the application fees, and submission of the required documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
• Participation in an interview with the MPH admissions committee.
• Registration for MPH courses in accordance with the guidance provided by the MPH Administrative Associate.

Students accepted into the DO/MPH dual degree program will commence their MPH coursework in the summer prior to beginning the DO program.

The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Public Health dual degree program allows students to utilize up to nine credit hours of coursework across both degrees, therefore, saving time and money in completing both programs. In addition, physicians with an MPH degree typically command higher salaries compared to those with standalone MD/DO degrees.  Furthermore, graduates with the DO/MPH dual degree program enhance their career opportunities in working with underserved populations, research settings, and leadership roles.

Students must meet all requirements for both the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and Master of Public Health (MPH)