The Master of Public Health/Doctor of Pharmacy (MPH/PharmD) combined degree program simultaneously prepares students for the professional practice of pharmacy as well as providing training in the broader population health context.
The MPH/PharmD combined degree program is the first of its kind in Ohio, and only the second such program in the country.
Depending on the student’s choice of specialization within the MPH, the program could lead to a wide variety of career options. Challenging and exciting opportunities exist in the public and private sectors, using skills in population-based healthcare in applications such as infectious disease investigation, chronic disease prevention, managed care, and continuous quality improvement. MPH/PharmD holders might assume leadership roles in practice, governmental agencies, academics, health policy, and research.
Due to efficiencies in scheduling and the ability to count some work toward both degrees, the degrees can be completed within five years of study (at least two quarters sooner than pursuing the degrees separately), and they can be received at the same graduation ceremony. Both the PharmD and MPH are fully accredited by their respective accrediting agencies.
Curriculum
Ohio State has long been known as an innovator in pharmacy education, and the MPH/PharmD builds upon that experience to offer a rigorous but realistic program. The student will begin study in the pharmacy curriculum, completing the first through third years. The student then takes a year of full-time graduate study in the MPH curriculum. After the full-time MPH year, the student rejoins the pharmacy curriculum for nine months of advanced pharmacy practice experience rotations. Concurrent with the PharmD IV clinical rotations, the student will complete a public health practicum and a culminating project determined by the student’s field of specialization in the MPH. Because the PharmD/MPH student receives graduate credit for some work completed in the PharmD curriculum, all scheduled courses for the MPH can usually be completed in one academic year, leaving only the practicum and culminating requirement to be done after rejoining the PharmD curriculum.
Time Table for Application
Students will make application to the MPH program during the Autumn Quarter of their PharmD III year. Completed applications should be received no later than Jan. 15. This includes completing an Ohio State University Graduate Application and paying an application fee to the University Admissions Office. The reason for delaying formal application to the graduate program is that it preserves the student’s eligibility for some forms of fellowships or assistantships that are forfeited if the student does not begin graduate study in the Autumn immediately after they are awarded.
Students who wish to pursue the PharmD/MPH must be admitted separately to each program. Because the MPH is a graduate degree, an additional graduate school application must be completed. However, the process has been somewhat streamlined to take account of information already available in the PharmD application.
Visit the College of Pharmacy for more information about the PharmD program.
How to apply
Click here for information on how to apply to programs in the College of Public Health.
