Students in the MPH, MHA, MS, or PhD degree programs also may elect to pursue another graduate degree simultaneously. The student must apply to, and be accepted by, both degree programs individually. The general rules governing dual degrees have been established by the Graduate School. Although some dual counting of courses is possible, primarily for electives, the student must satisfy the credit hour requirements for each program. A minimum of 50 percent of the hours applied to each degree must be unique to that degree and cannot be used for dual credit.

Most dual graduate degree are required to have two co-advisors, one from each degree program, and a total of four members to the exam committee (the two co-advisors and two additional faculty, one from each program). The exception to this rule is students in a dual degree program where the program is course based (as with social work). Students in a dual degree program should apply to graduate from both programs in the same term.  This is an extension of the policy that a master’s student should complete their final exam and graduate in the same term.

A specific plan for pursuing the degrees must be approved by the Academic Studies Governance Committee of the College of Public Health and the Graduate Studies Committee of the second degree program. Sample programs for certain combinations most frequently proposed (e.g. the MHA/MBA, MPH-HBHP/MSW) are available from the Office of Academic Programs and Student Services.

Graduate School rules governing the dual degree program can be found in the GSH 8.2.