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Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
Master of Public Health/Master of Social Work (M.P.H./M.S.W.)
Master of Public Health/Master of Science in Human Genetics (M.P.H./M.S.)
Ph.D.

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Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)/Master of Science (M.S.) in Human Genetics

Purpose

The M.P.H./M.S. dual-degree program provides students with an innovative learning experience that includes academic training, research skill development, and clinical instruction focused on addressing issues that occur at the intersection of the fields of Health Behavior & Health Education and Genetic Counseling. Given that the genetic basis of common disease (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, cancer) has expanded the reach of genetics to include the entire population, there are great opportunities and complex challenges for genetic counseling, medical genetics and public health. Graduates of the M.P.H./M.S. dual-degree program will have a sophisticated understanding of these issues.

The University of Michigan (UM) program is available through the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education (HBHE) in the School of Public Health (SPH) and the Genetic Counseling Program (GCP), Department of Human Genetics (DHG) in the Medical School. It unites the following goals:

1. Promote health, prevent disease, and manage chronic illness.
2. Understand the genetic basis of common complex diseases
3. Help individuals and families understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease.
4. Understand the impact of genetics on health.
5. Guide the evolving practice of genomic medicine and public health genomics

Career Opportunities

The M.P.H./M.S. dual-degree is a novel interdisciplinary training program unique to UM. It is anticipated that graduates of this program will become “cross-trained” leaders in their professions who are able to work as both clinicians and public health professionals in academic, community, and industry settings.

Curriculum

A 3-year course of study provides students with academic, research, and clinical training. Students will have some flexibility in the sequencing of their program, which will be designed in consultation with the program directors. They will typically spend the 1st and 2nd year completing one year of training toward their public health degree and one year toward their genetic counseling degree. In the 3rd year, they combine training in genetic counseling and public health. Students will be able to develop a strong sense of community in both schools. The program includes academic coursework, an individual research project, and practical experience in genetic counseling and public health. Students are required to complete the following course work in each discipline.

Toward the M.P.H. degree:

• A total of 48 credit hours, at least 24 of which need to come from courses within HBHE
• Breadth, Integration, and Capstone requirements in Public Health (BIC) to ensure a broad exposure to public health topics in the areas of (a) biostatistics, (b) epidemiology, (c) health management and policy, and (d) environmental health sciences.
• Three core HBHE courses including HBHE 600: Psychosocial Factors in Health-Related Behavior, HBHE 651: Program Development in Health Education, and a research methods course
• Two public health genetics courses (HMP 517: Issues in Public Health Genetics and HBHE 669: Genetics, Health Behavior, and Health Education).
• Summer field placement (which can be used for a reduction of 3-6 credit hours required for graduation).
• Capstone project.

Toward the M.S. degree:

• 46 hours of graduate study coursework with a cumulative grade point average of B (5.0) in all graduate courses applied toward the M.S. degree.
• Six clinical internships.
• Presentation of two student seminars.
• An individualized, genetic counseling research project in collaboration with a faculty member.

The curriculum fulfills degree requirements, as mandated by the accrediting bodies, for genetic counseling (American Board of Genetic Counseling) and public health (Council on Education for Public Health).

Applying

Prospective students interested in the M.P.H./M.S. dual-degree program will be required to meet each school’s entry requirements and standards of admission. Prospective students must apply separately to both the HBHE and GC programs, and be accepted into both in order to enroll in the M.P.H./M.S. dual-degree program. Acceptance in one program does not guarantee acceptance in the other.

Timeline for application (with admission for the Fall term):

• Admission to the M.P.H. is available through SOPHAS, with a deadline of January 15. Check the HBHE application deadline for more details.
• Admission to the GCP is available through Rackham Graduate School, with a deadline of January 15.

Financial Plan

At present, many students in HBHE-SPH receive financial support in the form of quarter, half and full scholarships, and students in GCP-DHG receive limited financial support (including health care coverage for all students and tuition stipends to non-Michigan residents). These forms of support will also be available to M.P.H./M.S.students.

Additional Information

Those wishing additional information on the M.P.H./M.S. dual-degree program should contact the program’s co-directors: Scott Roberts, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor in Health Behavior & Health Education) at jscottr@umich.edu and/or Beverly Yashar, M.S., Ph.D. (Clinical Associate Professor in Human Genetics) at yashar@umich.edu.