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Program Requirements for Public Health Schoolwide Programs
Applicable only to students admitted during the 2019-2020 academic year.
Public Health Schoolwide Programs
School of Public Health
Graduate Degrees
The Fielding School of Public Health offers a school-wide Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree with specializations in Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, and Health Policy and Management; and a school-wide Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.) degree with a specialization in Biostatistics. In addition, the FSPH offers eight concurrent degree programs: the J.D./M.P.H., the M.B.A./M.P.H., the M.S.W./M.P.H., the M.A./M.P.H. with African Studies, and with Asian American Studies, the M.P.P./M.P.H., and the M.U.R.P./M.P.H. with Community Health Sciences and Environmental Health Sciences; and two articulated degree programs: the M.D./M.P.H. and the M.A./M.P.H. with Latin American Studies.
For information on the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management, applicants should see the listings for those departments. For information on the interdepartmental Ph.D. degree program housed in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, applicants should see the listing for Molecular Toxicology.
Master’s Degree
Advising
Upon entering the program, students are assigned an academic adviser whose responsibility is to counsel them concerning their program of study and progress toward the fulfillment of the degree requirements. Students may request a change in advisers at any time during the course of study by submitting a request directly to the department. Students are expected to meet with their advisers each quarter.
An adviser is responsible for the student’s academic progress. Progress is evaluated on an ongoing basis. At the end of each quarter, the Associate Dean for Academic Programs reviews academic listings of students and notifies them and the advisers when the cumulative grade-point average is below 3.0. Advisers review each case with their advisees and make recommendations to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs for continuance or academic disqualification.
Areas of Study
Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, and Health Policy & Management.
Course Requirements
Students must complete at least one year of graduate residence at the University of California and a minimum of 9 full courses (44 units), at least six of which must be graduate courses and at least two of which must be 400-series courses. Only one 596 course (four units) may be applied toward the six graduate courses; 597 and 598 courses may not be applied toward the degree. Courses taken for S/U grading may not be applied toward the degree requirements.
Required school-wide core courses are Public Health 200A and Public Health 200B (8 units each).
In addition to the two required school-wide core courses, students must complete the course requirements for their specialization (see below). Also, at least three courses (two or four units each) outside the student’s area of specialization are strongly recommended.
Students must maintain an average of no less than 3.0 (B) in all courses required or elected during graduate residence at the University of California.
Biostatistics
62 quarter units are required for the M.P.H degree in Biostatistics. MPH students are required to take three core methods courses in year 1: Biostatistics 200A; 100B or 200B; 406 or 200C. Biostatistics 200B can be taken in place of 100B only if students have already completed 200A. Biostatistics 200C can be taken in place of 406 only if students have already completed 200B.
In addition, students must complete Biostatistics 201A, 201B, 203A, 400 (field training comprised of approved internship), 402A, and 595 (required as part of the culminating experience, which includes an oral presentation and a written report). Students must also complete 12 units of elective courses selected from Biostatistics 200B, 200C, M210 through M238, or 410 through 419. Additional elective courses are recommended and should be selected in public health, biomathematics, or mathematics.
Community Health Sciences
60 units of graduate and upper division course work are required for the M.P.H. degree in Community Health Sciences. Normally two years or six quarters are needed to complete the 60 units of course work required. At least 32 units must be taken in the department of Community Health Sciences. A maximum of 12 elective units from outside the department may count towards the 60 units. It is possible, but not routine, for candidates with a prior doctoral degree or advanced preparation in a related field to waive certain requirements for the M.P.H. Students who are approved to waive a course must complete additional elective units, as approved by their adviser, to meet the 60 quarter units required for the degree.
All students are required to complete Community Health Sciences 210, 211A-211B, and four units of 400 (400 hours of field work).
Students are required to select one course from each of the three curricular areas of a) Public Health Practice, b) Populations, and c) Individual and Structural Influences (12 units). The courses for these three areas are listed below. New CHS department courses will be added to these areas as appropriate. Students are required to take at least one additional course (4 units) within CHS. An additional course in research methods or program planning, similar to CHS 211 A&B, is strongly recommended for students in the second year of the program.
Students have the option to focus their studies in areas such as social and behavioral sciences, health education/promotion, international health, child and family health, public health nutrition, health policy, disaster planning and relief, aging and life course, women’s health, and population health.
Students focusing in health education/promotion may select course work to meet the requirements for the Society for Public Health Education, and students with appropriate prerequisites may select course work to meet the requirements set by the Association of Graduate Faculties in Public Health Nutrition.
| Public Health Practice | Populations | Individual and Structural Influences |
| 212: Advanced Social Research Methods in Health | 200: Global Health Problems | 220: Racism and Public Health: Social Epidemiologic Approaches |
| 213: Research in Community and Patient Health Education | 205: Immigrant Health | 224: Social Determinants of Nutrition and Health |
| M216: Qualitative Research Methodology | M208: Introduction to Demographic methods | 227: Conceptualizing and Measuring Structural Racism |
| M218: Questionnaire Design and Administration | M209: Population Models and Dynamics | 229: Policy and Public Health Approaches to Violence Prevention |
| M228: Introduction to Mixed Methods Research | 226: Women’s Health and Well-Being | 235: Influence of Social and Physical Environment on Racial Health Disparities |
| 238: Evolving Paradigms of Prevention: Interventions in Adolescence | 231: Maternal and Child Nutrition | 247: Population Change and Public Policy |
| 258: Cooperative Interagency Management in Disasters | M239: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture as Concepts in Practice and Research | M250: HIV/AIDS and Culture in Latin America |
| 271: Health-Related Behavior Change | 246: Women’s Roles and Family Health | M272: Social Epidemiology |
| 276: Complementary and Alternative Medicine | 248: Women’s Mental Health | 273: Social Epidemiology of Chronic Disease |
| 282: Social Marketing for Health Promotion and Communication | M260: Health and Culture in Americas | 284: Sociocultural Aspects of Mental Health |
| 283: Evidence-Based Health Promotion Programs for Older Adults | M264: Latin America: Traditional Medicine, Shamanism, and Folk Illness | 291: Health Policy and Aged |
| 288: Health Communication in Popular Media | 290: Race, Class, Culture, and Aging | 293: Social and Behavioral Research in AIDS: A Roundtable Discussion |
| 292: Information Technology for Health Promotion and Communication | M294: Social and Behavioral Factors of HIV/AIDS: Global Perspective | M430: Building Advocacy Skills: Reproductive Health Focus |
| 295: Overview of Emergency Public Health | 427: Reproductive Health in Sub-Saharan Africa | 440: Public Health and National Security at U.S.-Mexico Border |
| 441: Planning and Evaluation of Global Health Programs | 431: Foundations of Reproductive Health | 448: Nutrition Policies and Programs: Domestic and International Perspectives |
| 444: Anthropometric and Dietary Aspects of Nutritional Assessment | 432: Perinatal Healthcare: Principles, Programs, and Policies | 449: Nutrition and Chronic Disease |
| 451: Post-Disaster Community Health | 434A: Maternal and Child Health in Developing Areas | CM470: Improving Worker Health: Social Movements, Policy Debates, and Public Health |
| 484: Risk Communications | 447: Health and Social Context in Middle East | |
| 485: Resource Development for Community Health Programs | 477: Health Disparities, Health Equity, and Sexual Minority Populations | |
| 487: Community Organization for Health |
Environmental Health Sciences
62 quarter units are required for the M.P.H degree in Environmental Health Sciences. Required department courses include Biostatistics 100B; Environmental Health Sciences C200B, C200C, 200D, C240, C257, 400, and 411 (to be taken once a year for two years). At least 16 units of upper division or graduate level elective courses are required and are selected by students in consultation with the faculty adviser. Student must submit a blue petition each quarter for the electives that they want to use to satisfy degree requirements. M.P.H. students who already have met these requirements as part of their area of focus, e.g. Industrial Hygiene, are exempt. Any departmental required course may be waived by instructor consent if the student either has taken a similar course or can pass a waiver examination. Students who are approved to waive a course must complete additional elective units inside or outside of Public Health, as approved by their adviser, to meet the 62 quarter units required for the degree. Students who do not have the prerequisites at the time of application may take equivalent courses at UCLA in their first year.
MPH students may not count EHS 101, 296, 597, 598, or 599 towards the elective requirement.
Students may choose to focus on Industrial Hygiene: http://ehs.ph.ucla.edu/pages/industrial_hygiene Students in the M.P.H. program in Environmental Health Sciences may also choose to pursue a curriculum that has been approved by the California Registered Environmental Health Specialist program.
Epidemiology
Students are required to complete 68 units of graduate or upper division course work for the M.P.H. degree in Epidemiology. Students who hold a clinical doctorate from an accredited U.S. institution, or are currently enrolled in a US medical school, are required to complete 56 rather than 68 units. Students completing the 68-unit program are required to complete Public Health 200A-B; Biostatistics 100B or 200A-B; Epidemiology 200A-B, 220, 400, 413; an approved course in chronic disease epidemiology; and an approved course in management of health data. Remaining course work will be selected from the Department’s eligible courses. At least four units must be taken from the 400 level series. With the consent of the adviser and by petition, up to eight units of the remaining course work can be graduate-level courses (200 or 400 series) outside of Epidemiology. All courses applied toward the degree must be taken for a letter grade.
Students with a prior U.S. clinical doctorate degree or currently enrolled in a U.S. medical school are required to complete 56 units of graduate and upper division course work for the M.P.H. degree. These students are required to complete Public Health 200A-B; Biostatistics 100B; Epidemiology 200A-B, 400, 410, and 413. Remaining course work will be selected from the Department’s eligible courses. At least four units must be taken from the 400 level series. With the consent of the adviser and by petition, up to eight units of the remaining course work can be graduate-level courses (200 or 400 series) outside of Epidemiology. All courses applied toward the degree must be taken for a letter grade.
All Epidemiology-M.P.H. students must submit a report demonstrating competence in epidemiologic methodology. The report may not be submitted prior to the completion of Epidemiology 400. Students may enroll in Epidemiology 400 after successful completion of PH 200A-B.
Health Policy and Management
Health Policy and Management specialization programs include (1) Health Care Management, (2) Health Policy, (3) Executive, (4) Health Services Organization, (5) a concurrent M.P.H./M.B.A., (6) a concurrent M.P.H./M.P.P., (7) J.D./M.P.H., and (8) M.D./M.P.H. All specialization programs in Health Policy and Management require the following five courses: Health Policy and Management 200B, 400, 439 and a summer internship in a health care organization, as well as School of Public Health core courses: Public Health 200A-B. HLT POL 439 may be waived via blue petition if the student passes the waiver examination. These units do not need to be replaced by elective units.
Health Policy and Management, Health Care Management. The Health Care Management specialization is a two-year program requiring 17 courses (74 units) and a major written report based on the summer internship at a health care organization. In addition to the five required courses listed above for all students in Health Policy and Management, required courses include Health Policy and Management 234, M236, 403, M422, 433, 436, and 441. In addition, students select at least five elective courses from Health Policy and Management or other academic schools/departments approved via blue petition.
Health Policy and Management, Health Policy. The Health Policy specialization is a two-year program requiring 17 courses (72 units), and a major written report based on the summer internship in a health care organization. In addition to the five required courses listed above for all students in Health Policy and Management, required courses include Health Policy and Management M233, M236, 286, M287, M422, and 441. In addition, students select at least six elective courses from Health Policy and Management or other academic schools/departments approved via blue petition.
Health Policy and Management, Executive. The Executive program is for people with at least three years of significant work experience post bachelor’s degree. It is a two-year program requiring 24 courses (90 units), which includes 1 professional development seminar (HPM 232), and 1 field project course (HPM 400). The executive program is considered full-time, and due to the cohort nature, all classes are required. The 24 required courses are: BIOS 100A (4 units), HPM 597 (2 units), HPM 200 (4 units), HPM 236 (4 units), BIOS 100B (4 units), EPI 100 (4 units), HPM 280 (4 units), HPM 234 (4 units), CHS 100 (4 units), HPM 215A (4 units), HPM 422 (4 units), HPM 403 (4 units), HPM 436 (4 units), HPM 400 (4 units), HPM 249 (4 units), EHS 100 (4 units), HPM 205 (4 units), HPM 450 (2 units), HPM 433 (4 units), HPM 445 (4 units), HPM 437 (2 units), HPM 442 (4 units), HPM 232 (4 units), HPM 240 (4 units). Students in the executive program are not required to take Public Health 200A or 200B; the coursework that they are required to take meet the CEPH foundational knowledge areas and competencies.
Health Policy and Management, Health Services Organization. The Health Services Organization specialization is a one-year program requiring 12 courses (54 units). Admission is limited to students with prior doctoral-level degrees completed in the U.S. (M.D., Ph.D., J.D., D.D.S., or equivalent). In addition to the five required courses listed above for all students in Health Policy and Management, required courses include Health Policy and Management M236 and 403. In addition, students select one of the four courses as an elective: HLT POL M422 or 423, HLT POL 215A, HLT POL M233, or HLT POL 441. Students select at least four elective courses from the Department of Health Policy and Management or other academic schools/departments approved via blue petition.
J.D./M.P.H. Programs
J.D./M.P.H., Biostatistics
62 quarter units are required for the M.P.H degree. M.P.H. students are required to take three core methods courses in year 1: Biostatistics 200A; 100B or 200B; and 406 or 200C. Biostatistics 200B can be taken in place of 100B only if students have previously taken 200A. Biostatistics 200C can be taken in place of 406 only if students have previously taken 200B. They are also required to take Biostatistics 201A, 201B, 203A, 400 (field training comprised of approved internship), 402A; and 12 units of elective courses from Biostatistics 200B, 200C, M210 through M238, or 410 through 419. Additional elective courses are recommended and should be selected in public health, biomathematics, or mathematics. Biostatistics 595 is required as part of the culminating experience, which includes an oral presentation and a written report. A maximum of eight elective quarter units from Law courses are allowed for concurrent credit toward the M.P.H. degree.
| Biostatistics M.P.H. Required Courses | |
| Public Health 200A | 8 units |
| Public Health 200B | 8 units |
| Biostatistics 200A | 4 units |
| Biostatistics 100B or 200B | 4 units |
| Biostatistics 406 or 200C | 4 units |
| Biostatistics 201A | 4 units |
| Biostatistics 201B | 4 units |
| Biostatistics 402A | 2 units |
| Biostatistics 400 | 4 units |
| Biostatistics 203A | 4 units |
| Biostatistics 595 | 4 units |
| Elective Courses (3 courses) | 12 units |
| REQUIRED COURSE UNITS | 62 units |
Additional requirements include:
| Biostatistics Summer Internship | |
| 400 hours of fieldwork (students receive course credit through Biostatistics 400, listed in the required courses chart) | See Biostat 400 above |
Biostatistics 595 (listed in the required courses chart above) is required as part of the culminating experience, which includes an oral presentation and a written report.
See the School of Law for a list of the J.D. course requirements.
J.D./M.P.H, Community Health Sciences
The J.D./M.P.H. program with a specialization in Community Health Sciences requires 60 quarter units in the M.P.H. program, taken for a letter grade. All students must take at least six graduate courses. At least eight units must be 400-series courses. At least 32 units must be taken in Community Health Sciences.
| M.P.H. Community Health Sciences Requirements for the Concurrent J.D./M.P.H. | |
| REQUIRED COURSES | |
| Public Health 200A | 8 units |
| Public Health 200B | 8 units |
| Community Health Sciences 210 | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211A | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211B | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 400 400 hours of fieldwork |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Public Health Practice Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Populations Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Individual and Structural Influences Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Elective (from within the department) |
4 units |
| Additional Elective(s) May not be used towards the J.D. degree. See note below. |
4 units |
| REQUIRED UNIT TOTAL IN THE M.P.H. PROGRAM | 52 units |
| CAPSTONE
Master’s Comprehensive Exam, taken in the fall or spring quarter |
|
The remaining 8 quarter units of the regular 60 quarter unit requirement for the M.P.H. degree are fulfilled through courses taken for the J.D. degree. The J.D./M.P.H. program allows students to use a maximum of 8 quarter units of Law course work to be applied toward both the J.D. degree and the M.P.H. degree through a pro forma petition to the Graduate Division upon application for advancement to candidacy.
See the School of Law for a list of the J.D. course requirements.
J.D./M.P.H., Environmental Health Sciences
The J.D./M.P.H. program with a specialization in Environmental Health Sciences requires 64 quarter units in the School of Public Health. Required courses include Public Health 200A-B; Biostatistics 100B; Environmental Health Sciences C200B, C200C, 200D, C240, C257, 400, and 411 (to be taken once a year for two years). At least 16 units of upper division or graduate level elective courses are required and are selected by students in consultation with the faculty adviser. A maximum of eight elective quarter units from Law courses are allowed for concurrent credit toward the M.P.H. degree.
| Environmental Health Sciences Required Courses | |
| Public Health 200A | 8 Units |
| Public Health 200B | 8 Units |
| Biostatistics 100B | 4 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences C200B | 2 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences C200C | 6 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences 200D | 4 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences C240 | 4 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences C257 | 4 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences 400 | 4 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences 411 (2 unit course taken twice) | 4 Units |
| REQUIRED COURSE UNITS | 48 Units |
In addition to School and Department requirements listed above, at least 16 units of upper division or graduate level elective courses are required. These courses should be selected in consultation with your Faculty Adviser.
See the School of Law for a list of the J.D. course requirements.
J.D./M.P.H., Epidemiology
The J.D./M.P.H. program with a specialization in Epidemiology requires 68 quarter units in the School of Public Health. Required courses include Public Health 200A-B, Biostatistics 100B or 200B, Epidemiology 200A-B, 220, 400, 410, 413, two units of an approved chronic disease epidemiology course, and two units of an approved course in management of health data. Remaining course work will be selected from the Department’s eligible courses. At least four units must be taken from the 400 level series. With the consent of the adviser and by petition, up to eight units of the remaining course work can be graduate-level courses (200 or 400 series) outside of Epidemiology. Students may apply a maximum of eight elective quarter units from Law courses for concurrent credit toward the M.P.H. degree. All courses applied toward the degree must be taken for a letter grade.
| Epidemiology M.P.H. – Required Courses | |
| Public Health 200A | 8 units |
| Public Health 200B | 8 units |
| Biostatistics 100B | 4 units |
| Epidemiology 200A | 4 units |
| Epidemiology 200B | 6 units |
| Epidemiology 220 | 4 units |
| Epidemiology 400 | 4 units |
| Epidemiology 410 | 2 units |
| Epidemiology 413 | 2 units |
| An approved course in chronic disease epidemiology | 2 units |
| An approved course in management of health data | 2 units |
| Elective Coursework | 22 units |
| REQUIRED COURSE UNITS | 68 units |
See the School of Law for a list of the J.D. course requirements.
J.D./M.P.H, Health Policy and Management
The J.D./M.P.H. program with a specialization in Health Policy and Management requires 12 courses (54 quarter units) in the School of Public Health and a field training experience in a state or federal agency, as counsel to a hospital or other health care institution, or working in a law firm with a substantial health law practice. Required courses include Health Policy and Management M236 and M287. Students will also select two of the three following courses: HLT POL 286, 403, and/or M422. A total of 12 quarter units of elective courses are required.
This four-year concurrent degree program requires completion of 54 quarter units for the M.P.H. degree.
| Health Policy and Management Required Courses | |
| PUB HLT 200A | 8 units |
| PUB HLT 200B | 8 units |
| Health Policy and Management 200B | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management M236 | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management M287 | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management 400 | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management 439 (can be waived with no requirement to replace units if the student passes the waiver exam) | 2 units |
| Select two of the three courses below: | |
|
4 units |
|
4 units |
|
4 units |
| Elective Courses (3 courses) | 12 units |
| REQUIRED COURSE UNITS | 54 units |
Additional requirements include:
| Health Policy and Management Internship | |
| 400 hours of fieldwork related to Public Health (students receive course credit through HLT POL 400, listed in the required courses chart) | See HPM 400 above |
Concurrent degree program students are required to separately satisfy the capstone requirements for each program.
See the School of Law for a list of the J.D. course requirements.
M.S.W./M.P.H. Program
The M.S.W./M.P.H. program with a specialization in Community Health Sciences requires 60 quarter units in the M.P.H. program, taken for a letter grade. All students must take at least six graduate courses. At least eight units must be 400-series courses. At least 32 units must be taken in Community Health Sciences.
| M.P.H. Community Health Sciences Requirements for the Concurrent M.S.W/M.P.H. | |
| REQUIRED COURSES | |
| Public Health 200A | 8 units |
| Public Health 200B | 8 units |
| Community Health Sciences 210 | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211A | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211B | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 400 400 hours of fieldwork |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Public Health Practice Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Populations Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Individual and Structural Influences Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Elective (from within the department) |
4 units |
| Additional Elective(s) May not be used towards the M.S.W. degree. See note below. |
4 units |
| REQUIRED UNIT TOTAL IN THE M.P.H. PROGRAM | 52 units |
| CAPSTONE
Master’s Comprehensive Exam, taken in the fall or spring quarter |
|
The remaining 8 units of the regular 60-unit requirement for the M.P.H. degree are fulfilled through courses taken for the M.S.W. degree. The M.S.W./M.P.H. program allows students to use a maximum of 8 quarter units of Social Welfare course work to be applied toward both the M.S.W. degree and the M.P.H. degree through a pro forma petition to the Graduate Division upon application for advancement to candidacy.
M.U.R.P./M.P.H. Programs
M.U.R.P./M.P.H., Community Health Sciences
The M.U.R.P./M.P.H. program with a specialization in Community Health Sciences requires 60 quarter units in the M.P.H. program, taken for a letter grade. All students must take at least six graduate courses. At least eight units must be 400-series courses. At least 32 units must be taken in Community Health Sciences Department.
| M.P.H. Community Health Sciences Requirements for the Concurrent M.U.R.P./M.P.H | |
| Public Health 200A | 8 units |
| Public Health 200B | 8 units |
| Community Health Sciences 210 | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211A | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211B | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 400 400 hours of fieldwork related to both Public Health and Urban Planning |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Public Health Practice Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Populations Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Individual and Structural Influences Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Elective (from within the department) |
4 units |
| Additional Elective(s) May not be used towards the M.U.R.P. degree. See note below. |
8 units |
| REQUIRED UNIT TOTAL IN THE M.P.H. PROGRAM | 56 units |
| CAPSTONE
Master’s Comprehensive Exam, taken in the fall or spring quarter |
|
The remaining 4 units of the regular 60-unit requirement for the M.P.H. degree are fulfilled through courses taken for the M.U.R.P. degree. The M.U.R.P./M.P.H. program allows students to use a maximum of 4 quarter units of Urban Planning course work to be applied toward both the M.U.R.P degree and the M.P.H. degree through a pro forma petition to the Graduate Division upon application for advancement to candidacy.
M.U.R.P./M.P.H., Environmental Health Sciences
The M.U.R.P./M.P.H. program with a specialization in Environmental Health Sciences is a three-year concurrent degree program requiring completion of 120 units (as opposed to 136 units if the two degree programs were completed sequentially as 16 units of credit overlap is allowed between the two programs), comprising 64 units for the M.P.H. and 56 units for the M.U.R.P.
Required courses (84 units):
| Environmental Health Sciences Required Courses | |
|---|---|
| Public Health 200A | 8 Units |
| Public Health 200B | 8 Units |
| Biostatistics 100B | 4 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences C200B | 2 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences C200C | 6 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences 200D | 4 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences 207 | 4 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences 208 | 4 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences C240 | 4 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences C257 | 4 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences 400 | 4 Units |
| Environmental Health Sciences 411 (2 unit course taken twice) | 4 Units |
|
Urban Planning Required Courses
|
|
| Urban Planning 207 | 4 Units |
| Urban Planning 211 | 4 Units |
| Urban Planning 222A | 4 Units |
| Urban Planning M250 | 4 Units |
| Urban Planning 281 | 4 Units |
Urban Planning Capstone Courses specific to the chosen capstone project
|
8 Units |
| REQUIRED COURSE UNITS | 84 Units |
Concurrent degree program students are required to separately satisfy the capstone requirements for each program (EHS 400 for the M.P.H. in Public Health AND one of two comprehensive examination options for the M.U.R.P. in Urban Planning).
Additional requirements to meet a total of 120 units:
| Environmental Health Sciences | |
| Environmental Health Sciences Electives | 8 Units |
| Urban Planning | |
| Urban Planning Area of Concentration (AOC) courses. Students must choose 5 electives from the courses listed in the two areas of concentration below, with at least one elective in each AOC.
Design and Development Concentration
Environmental Analysis and Policy Concentration
|
20 Units |
| Urban Planning Electives (at least one from inside the department) | 8 Units |
| ADDITIONAL REQUIRED UNITS | 36 Units |
16 units from the above chart can be used towards both degree requirements: EHS 208 (4 units towards the M.U.R.P.), EHS 400 (4 units towards the M.U.R.P.) and any Environmental Health Sciences Elective (8 units towards the M.U.R.P.).
M.B.A./M.P.H. program
Management, M.B.A./Public Health, M.P.H. in Health Policy and Management.
This three-year concurrent degree program requires 12 courses (54 units) in the Fielding School of Public Health and a summer field training experience.
Students are required to complete 54 quarter units of required courses towards the M.P.H. and 84 quarter units toward the M.B.A.:
| Health Policy and Management Required Courses | |
| PUB HLT 200A | 8 units |
| PUB HLT 200B | 8 units |
| Health Policy and Management 200B | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management M236 | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management 400 | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management M422 | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management 439 (may be waived with no requirement to replace units if the student passes the waiver exam) | 2 units |
| Elective Courses (5 courses) | 20 units |
| MINIMUM REQUIRED COURSE UNITS | 54 units |
Additional requirements include:
| Health Policy and Management | |
| 400 hours of internship related to Public Health (students receive course credit through HLT POL 400, listed in the required courses chart) | See HPM 400 above |
Concurrent degree program students are required to separately satisfy the capstone requirements for each program.
See the Anderson School of Management for a list of the M.B.A. course requirements.
M.P.P./M.P.H. program
Public Policy, M.P.P./Public Health, M.P.H. in Health Policy and Management.
This three-year concurrent degree program requires 12 courses (54 units) in the Fielding School of Public Health and a summer field training experience. Required courses include HLT POL M287 and M422. A total of 20 elective units are required.
Students are required to complete 54 quarter units of required courses towards the M.P.H. and 68 quarter units toward the M.P.P.:
| Health Policy and Management Required Courses | |
| PUB HLT 200A | 8 units |
| PUB HLT 200B | 8 units |
| Health Policy and Management 200B | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management M287 | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management 400 | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management M422 | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management 439 (can be waived with no requirement to replace units if the student passes the waiver exam) | 2 units |
| Elective Courses (5 courses) | 20 units |
| REQUIRED COURSE UNITS | 54 units |
Additional requirements include:
| Health Policy and Management Internship | |
| 400 hours of internship related to Public Health (students receive course credit through HLT POL 400, listed in the required courses chart) | See HPM 400 above |
Concurrent degree program students are required to separately satisfy the capstone requirements for each program.
See the Luskin School of Public Affairs – Department of Public Policy for a list of the M.P.P. course requirements.
M.D./M.P.H. program
The M.D./M.P.H. program with a specialization in Community Health Sciences requires 60 quarter units in the M.P.H. program, taken for a letter grade. All students must take at least six graduate courses. At least eight units must be 400-series courses. At least 32 units must be taken in Community Health Sciences.
| M.P.H. Community Health Sciences Requirements for the Concurrent M.D./M.P.H. | |
| REQUIRED COURSES | |
| Public Health 200A | 8 units |
| Public Health 200B | 8 units |
| Community Health Sciences 210 | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211A | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211B | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 400 400 hours of fieldwork |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Public Health Practice Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Populations Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Individual and Structural Influences Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Elective (from within the department) |
4 units |
| Additional Elective(s) May not be used towards the M.D. degree. |
12 units |
| REQUIRED UNIT TOTAL IN THE M.P.H. PROGRAM | 60 units |
| CAPSTONE
Master’s Comprehensive Exam, taken in the fall or spring quarter |
|
Medicine, M.D./Public Health, M.P.H. in Health Policy and Management. This five-year concurrent degree program requires 12 courses (54 units) in the Fielding School of Public Health completed in between a student’s third and fourth years in medical school. There is also a required field training experience completed throughout the year. Required courses include HLT POL 403. A total of 20 elective units are required.
Students are required to complete 54 quarter units of required courses towards the M.P.H.:
| Health Policy and Management Required Courses | |
| PUB HLT 200A | 8 units |
| PUB HLT 200B | 8 units |
| Health Policy and Management 200B | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management M236 | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management 400 | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management 403 | 4 units |
| Health Policy and Management 439 (can be waived with no requirement to replace units if the student passes the waiver exam) | 2 units |
| FSPH Electives (5 courses) | 20 units |
| REQUIRED COURSE UNITS | 54 units |
The elective courses can follow one of five suggested tracks: management, policy, clinical research, health informatics, or quality.
Additional requirements include:
| Health Policy and Management Internship | |
| 400 hours of internship related to Public Health (students receive course credit through HLT POL 400, listed in the required courses chart) | See HPM 400 above |
M.A./M.P.H. programs
M.A. in African Studies/M.P.H. in Community Health Sciences
The M.A. in African Studies/M.P.H. program with a specialization in Community Health Sciences requires 60 quarter units in the M.P.H. program, taken for a letter grade. All students must take at least six graduate courses. At least eight units must be 400-series courses. At least 32 units must be taken in Community Health Sciences.
| M.P.H. Community Health Sciences Requirements for the Concurrent M.A. African Studies/M.P.H. | |
| REQUIRED COURSES | |
| Public Health 200A | 8 units |
| Public Health 200B | 8 units |
| Community Health Sciences 210 | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211A | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211B | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 400 400 hours of fieldwork |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Public Health Practice Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Populations Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Individual and Structural Influences Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Elective (from within the department) |
4 units |
| Additional Elective(s) May not be used towards the M.A. in African Studies degree. See note below. |
4 units |
| REQUIRED UNIT TOTAL IN THE M.P.H. PROGRAM | 52 units |
| CAPSTONE
Master’s Comprehensive Exam, taken in the fall or spring quarter |
|
The remaining 8 units of the regular 60-unit requirement for the M.P.H. degree are fulfilled through courses taken for the M.A. degree. The M.A. in African Studies/M.P.H. program allows students to use a maximum of 8 quarter units of African Studies course work to be applied toward both the M.A. degree in African Studies and the M.P.H. degree through a pro forma petition to the Graduate Division upon application for advancement to candidacy.
M.A. in Asian American Studies/M.P.H. in Community Health Sciences
The M.A. in Asian American Studies/M.P.H. program with a specialization in Community Health Sciences requires 60 quarter units in the M.P.H. program, taken for a letter grade. All students must take at least six graduate courses. At least eight units must be 400-series courses. At least 32 units must be taken in Community Health Sciences.
| M.P.H. Community Health Sciences Requirements for the Concurrent M.A. Asian American Studies/M.P.H. | |
| REQUIRED COURSES | |
| Public Health 200A | 8 units |
| Public Health 200B | 8 units |
| Community Health Sciences 210 | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211A | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211B | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 400 400 hours of fieldwork |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Public Health Practice Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Populations Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Individual and Structural Influences Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Elective (from within the department) |
4 units |
| REQUIRED UNIT TOTAL IN THE M.P.H. PROGRAM | 48 units |
| CAPSTONE
Master’s Comprehensive Exam, taken in the fall or spring quarter |
|
The remaining 12 units of the regular 60-unit requirement for the M.P.H. degree are fulfilled through courses taken for the M.A. degree. The M.A. in Asian American Studies/M.P.H. program allows students to use a maximum of 12 quarter units of Asian American Studies course work to be applied toward both the M.A. degree in Asian American Studies and the M.P.H. degree through a pro forma petition to the Graduate Division upon application for advancement to candidacy.
M.A. in Latin American Studies/M.P.H. in Community Health Sciences
The M.A. in Latin American Studies/M.P.H. program with a specialization in Community Health Sciences requires 60 quarter units in the M.P.H. program, taken for a letter grade. All students must take at least six graduate courses. At least eight units must be 400-series courses. At least 32 units must be taken in Community Health Sciences.
| M.P.H. Community Health Sciences Requirements for the Articulated M.A. Latin American Studies/M.P.H. | |
| REQUIRED COURSES | |
| Public Health 200A | 8 units |
| Public Health 200B | 8 units |
| Community Health Sciences 210 | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211A | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 211B | 4 units |
| Community Health Sciences 400 400 hours of fieldwork |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Public Health Practice Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Populations Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Individual and Structural Influences Course (chosen from an approved list, see “Community Health Sciences” above) |
4 units |
| Community Health Sciences Elective (from within the department) |
4 units |
| Additional Elective(s) May not be used towards the M.A. in Latin American Studies. |
12 units |
| REQUIRED UNIT TOTAL IN THE M.P.H. PROGRAM | 60 units |
| CAPSTONE
Master’s Comprehensive Exam, taken in the fall or spring quarter |
|
Foreign Language Requirement
None.
Teaching Experience
Not required.
Field Experience
Field training in an approved public health program is required of candidates who have not had prior relevant field experience. A minimum of four units of 400, but no more than eight units, is required. Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of 3.0 or better, before beginning the field experience.
Capstone Plan
Students must fulfill the capstone requirement in their department which may consist of one or more of the following: written exam, oral exam, fieldwork completion, or written paper. The aim of the capstone, as a culminating experience, is to assess the student’s ability to select theories, methods, and techniques from across the content matter of a field, integrate and synthesize knowledge, and apply it to the solution of public health problems. Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of 3.0 or better, before taking the capstone.
Biostatistics: The MPH culminating experience in Biostatistics has written and oral components. MPH students in Biostatistics are required to complete an approved public health internship program of at least ten weeks (400 hours) as a Field Training Experience to provide practical experience applying biostatistics. Typically this would be done during the summer between the first and second year of the program. Following the internship, during fall quarter of the student’s second year, the student enrolls for 4 units of Biostatistics 400 (“Field Studies in Biostatistics”) with their academic adviser or MPH Field Training Experience faculty adviser. In the spring term of their second year, the student must enroll in Biostatistics 595 with the faculty adviser supervising their project and must complete the MPH Culminating Experience written and oral components. The MPH Culminating Experience promotes the ability of students to select relevant design and analysis techniques, synthesize knowledge, and apply insights to address public health problems. The MPH Culminating Experience Written Report should demonstrate application of material in the curriculum to a public health problem. The report is typically motivated by the Field Training Experience. The written report needs to be approved by the faculty member supervising the report. During the MPH Culminating Experience Oral Presentation, the student presents the MPH Culminating Experience Written Report to a faculty committee (consisting of a minimum of three members of the Biostatistics faculty, including the written report adviser) and answers related questions. The student must receive a pass from the faculty committee. The Oral Presentation and Written Report may be repeated only once.
Community Health Sciences: The Masters Comprehensive Examination is given twice a year, during the Fall and Spring quarters. The date and time (take-home exam, beginning on a Friday to Monday, halfway through the quarter) are announced in an Official Information Memo distributed during the first week of the Fall and Spring quarters. To sign up for the exam, students must follow the instructions in the Official Information Memo. In order to take the exam, students must meet eligibility requirements, which differs by which program they are in (MPH or MS program). The exam draws on knowledge from all required courses and tests the student’s ability to fulfill each of the departmental competencies. The exam has two parts. The first part requires the student to critically assess the research literature. Several research articles are provided; the student chooses one to write an article critique. The second part asks the student to create a health program. This program should draw upon the student’s skills in planning and evaluation. The written examination will be marked High Pass, Pass, Low Pass, or Fail. A grade of High Pass, Pass, or Low Pass is needed to pass the comprehensive exam. A student who fails the exam must retake it at the next scheduled exam date. Students may retake the exam only once.
Environmental Health Sciences: All students in the MPH Program in EHS are required to complete a 400-hour internship in an appropriate environmental health setting. Students must write a project summary paper related to the work performed during the internship; the paper must be approved by both the field mentor and the faculty adviser. The subject of the paper may be on the student’s research project, an environmental sampling or analysis activity, or a policy white paper related to the internship topic. Students should seek approval of their intended paper topic from their faculty adviser and field mentor prior to writing the paper to ensure that the topic is appropriate. In the final quarter of the internship project or the quarter following completion of the project, the student must enroll in their faculty adviser’s section of ENV HLTH 400, the product of which is the MPH Internship Report that is based on the internship experience. The report should show evidence of originality and critical thought. The faculty adviser assigns a letter grade to the report. Consult the EHS Internship Handbook for more information.
Epidemiology: The MPH Comprehensive Examination is offered once in fall and once in spring. Notices are posted asking qualified students to sign up. The Comprehensive Examination may only be repeated once. The MPH Comprehensive Examination is administered by the Department’s MPH Exam Committee. Students must successfully complete Epidemiology 200A and Epidemiology 200B to be eligible to take the Comprehensive Examination. There is no makeup exam offered. In the quarter that a student plans to take the MPH Comprehensive exam, the student must discuss any scheduling concerns with the Academic Affairs Officer by the end of the first week of the quarter. The MPH Exam Committee will make its best efforts to accommodate these concerns in planning the date and time of the exam.
Health Policy & Management: To supplement the classroom experience, students pursuing the MPH in Health Policy and Management are required to complete a 10-week, 400-hour full-time summer internship in an appropriate health care setting. During the summer internship and in the fall quarter following, students will prepare a written consulting report including a proposal, literature review, policy implications and/or management recommendations. The consulting report will focus on an operational problem or decision identified during the summer placement. This might be any organizational issue, process management initiative, policy white paper, research project, strategic plan, business plan, or any of a number of analyses. The consulting report documents student learning across the curriculum and serves as the culminating experience of the program. Health care settings may include hospitals, managed care organizations, medical groups, government agencies or departments, consulting firms, community organizations, advocacy agencies, or related health care settings. Students enroll in HLT POL 400 in the fall quarter of their second year to successfully complete the summer internship requirement and consulting report.
Thesis Plan
None.
Time-to-Degree
From graduate admission to award of the degree, normal progress is six quarters of enrollment, including quarters enrolled in previous graduate study at a UC campus prior to admission to the School of Public Health. Maximum time allowable from enrollment to graduation, including leaves of absence, is five years (15 quarters).
| DEGREE | NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters) | NORMATIVE TTD |
MAXIMUM TTD |
| M.P.H. | 6 | 6 | 15 |
Doctoral Degrees
Advising
An academic adviser is assigned to each new student by the chair of the respective department. Student and adviser together agree upon a study list for each academic quarter; any subsequent alterations must be approved both by the student’s adviser. Students may change advisers after the first quarter as long as the student and the new adviser agree. This is done by filing a petition countersigned by the area head/department chair and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
Within the first three quarters of study, students file Doctoral Form 1, Petition for Establishment of Three-Member Guidance Committee and Study in Major and Minor Fields for the Dr.P.H. The guidance committee comprises three members including the student’s adviser in the major field and the student’s adviser in the minor field. On this form students list the courses to be taken for the minor which must be approved by the student’s adviser and the department chair
Major Fields or Subdisciplines
The UCLA Fielding School of Public Health offers the Dr.P.H. in the concentration of Biostatistics.
Foreign Language Requirement
None.
Course Requirements
Course requirements in the major field depend on the department/program and the field chosen. Students must take a minimum of six full courses (four must be at the 200 or 400 level) in at least two School of Public Health departments outside the major department.
The major department requires an additional area of concentration which may be either inside or outside the school. In departments allowing it, an equivalent field experience completed while a doctoral student and approved by the guidance committee may be substituted for the additional area of concentration.
Biostatistics
A written screening examination of all students entering the doctoral program is required and must be successfully completed before the end of the first year in the program, if not taken prior to entering. Courses covered by this and other examinations are determined in consultation with an adviser and the department faculty. Students must complete the following courses, unless previously taken: Biostatistics 200A-200B-200C, 202A, 202B, M215, 250A-250B; any three additional graduate-level courses in biostatistics selected with consent of the adviser; three courses in the 400 series selected with consent of the adviser. All registered doctoral students must enroll in Biostatistics 409 (doctoral statistical consulting, field training course) for two consecutive quarters, Biostatistics 245 every quarter and Biostatistics 246 in spring quarter every year of study.
In addition, required for breadth are 24 units of courses at the 200 or 400 levels selected with consent of the adviser in at least two School of Public Health departments/programs other than Biostatistics. The School also requires students to select an additional area of concentration. Biostatistics students fulfill this requirement by enrolling in Biostatistics 409 for two consecutive quarters. This requirement must be met prior to advancement to candidacy.
Electives, selected in consultation with the adviser, should be chosen from courses in mathematics, biomathematics, human genetics, AIDS, survey research methods, operations research, computer data processing, and other appropriate areas.
Teaching Experience
Teaching experience is recommended but not required for the doctoral degree.
Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations
Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass university written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations, the University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to university requirements, some graduate programs have other pre-candidacy examination requirements. What follows in this section is how students are required to fulfill all of these requirements for this doctoral program.
All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.
Before advancement to candidacy, students must pass written examinations in the major prepared and administered by the guidance committee or by the faculty of the department. Normally no more than one reexamination after failure is allowed. The doctoral committee is nominated after the student has made a tentative decision on a dissertation topic. The doctoral committee administers the University Oral Qualifying Examination after the written examinations have been successfully completed.
Advancement to Candidacy
Students are advanced to candidacy upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.
Doctoral Dissertation
Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.
Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)
Required for all students in the program.
Time-to-Degree
Maximum allowable time for the attainment of the degree is 24 quarters of enrollment or eight years. This limitation includes quarters enrolled in previous graduate study at a UC campus prior to admission to the doctoral degree program and leaves of absence. However, the approved normative time-to-degree is 18 quarters (six years). It is expected that students will normally complete course work by the end of the third year in residence (nine quarters); complete written and oral examinations and advance to candidacy by the middle of the fourth year in residence (11 quarters); and complete the dissertation and defense by the end of the sixth year (18 quarters).
| DEGREE | NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters) | NORMATIVE TTD |
MAXIMUM TTD |
| Dr.P.H. | 11 | 18 | 24 |
Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination
University Policy
A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.