Program overview
The Ph.D./M.P.H. degree is offered jointly by the Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and the M.P.H. program in the College of Public Health and Health Professions. Psychologists with M.P.H. degrees are uniquely qualified not only to treat patients with behavioral and mental health conditions, but also to promote health and prevent these conditions before they become problematic. Graduates of this combination degree program have a broad perspective and specialized population-based problem-solving, program development, evaluation and research skills that are applicable in many settings. Clinical and Health Psychology Ph.D./M.P.H. plans of study are developed for each student individually, taking into account the public health competencies to be achieved and the manner in which M.P.H. courses will be integrated into the four years of course and laboratory work normally required for the Ph.D. Students in the Ph.D. program may take M.P.H. courses concurrent with their Ph.D. courses. However, it is recommended that students devote one continuous year, usually the third, to M.P.H. coursework.
Graduation requirements
All students in combination M.P.H. programs must meet graduation requirements of the M.P.H. All students must also satisfy the curriculum requirements for each degree before either degree is awarded. Nine credits of appropriate Ph.D. coursework may be applied to requirements in the 48-credit M.P.H. program. The nine credits selected from the Ph.D. curriculum must be approved by the M.P.H. program upon the recommendation of the student’s supervisory committee.
Students must meet graduation requirements for both programs.
- Requirements for graduation from the M.P.H. program are outlined on the Campus M.P.H. degree webpage.
- View the graduation requirements for the Clinical and Health Psychology Ph.D. program.
Admission criteria and process
Candidates for the program must:
- Meet the M.P.H. entrance requirements and procedures for admission to the Master of Public Health program
- Meet the Clinical and Health Psychology entrance requirements and procedures for admission to the Clinical and Health Psychology Ph.D. program
Timing of application/admission
Students may apply to both programs simultaneously, or they may enter one degree program and apply to the other after beginning the first program. However, the sequencing of applications and acceptances is important. Since the Ph.D. program is much smaller than the M.P.H., students usually begin their Ph.D. studies and confer with CHP faculty mentors and M.P.H. faculty before applying to the M.P.H. program. After acceptance into the M.P.H., Combination Degree Program forms are completed and submitted to the Graduate School for classification as a combination program student. The nontraditional degree program is not open to students who have already earned one of the two degrees.
The Graduate School maintains the Combination Nontraditional Doctoral/Master’s Degree Form.
Students should feel free to contact Telisha Martin if they have questions regarding the M.P.H./Clinical and Health Psychology Ph.D. program.