UCLA Master of Public Health (MPH) Program: Requirements and Curriculum

The Master of Public Health (MPH) program at UCLA is a professional degree designed to equip graduates with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle public health challenges. This is achieved through the application of professional disciplinary approaches and methods, typically within local, state, or national public health agencies and healthcare organizations. The program offers comprehensive training in public health, coupled with specialized knowledge in one of five core public health disciplines, as represented by the school's departments: Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Environmental Health Sciences, and Health Policy and Management.

Program Overview

The MPH program at UCLA provides students with a strong foundation in public health principles and practices. It aims to cultivate professionals capable of advancing the health of populations by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of health services within both private and public health organizations. The curriculum integrates healthcare management and policy analysis with social values rooted in public health.

The MPH program typically spans two years, though accelerated options are available for students with specific qualifications, such as a clinical doctoral degree. These accelerated programs are often tailored for individuals with prior experience in healthcare or related fields.

Core Curriculum and Requirements

All MPH students are required to complete a set of core courses to ensure a broad understanding of public health principles. These core courses include:

Biostatistics 201A
Community Health Sciences 201
Environmental Health Sciences 201
Epidemiology 201
Public Health 401 (20 units)

The program requires a minimum of 68 quarter-credit units of graduate and upper division coursework. At least 40 units must be taken in the department. A maximum of 8 elective units from outside of the department may count towards the 68 graduate or upper-division units.

Students are required to select three (12 units) of methods & skills courses and three (12 units) of Department Elective courses.

Applied Practice Experience (APEx)

A crucial component of the MPH program is the Applied Practice Experience (APEx), which requires a minimum of 400 hours in the field. This field training takes place in a health agency or organization within the community, under the supervision of a qualified public health professional. The APEx serves as an internship, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world public health problems in a professional setting. Students must demonstrate key professional competencies by completing an APEx in an approved setting. Typically, APEx is a full-time experience completed during the summer between the first and second year of enrollment.

Concentrations

The MPH program offers various concentrations, allowing students to specialize in a specific area of public health. One such concentration is Health Policy and Management.

Health Policy and Management Concentration

The Health Policy and Management concentration is designed for individuals seeking to enhance their skills in healthcare management and policy analysis. The curriculum focuses on improving the effectiveness and efficiency of health services in various settings.

The Health Management concentration (56 units) requires Health Policy and Management 200B, 234, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, 403, M422, 433, 436, 441 and 20 units of graduate level (200 series and 400 series) coursework selected from departmental or School offerings. Students must also successfully pass an Excel knowledge exam consisting of eight tasks gauging basic knowledge and skills of the program. Students who do not pass the exam are required to take an additional four-unit course (Health Policy and Management 439).

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Course Requirements for Health Policy and Management Concentration:

Health Policy and Management 200B
Health Policy and Management M236 (or 230A and 230B)
Health Policy and Management 400
Health Policy and Management M422 or 423
Health Policy and Management 439
One course from Health Policy and Management 215A, M233, 403, 441
16 units of elective coursework selected from departmental offerings.

Accelerated One-Year Program in Health Management:

The Health Management concentration for students admitted to the accelerated one-year program (32 units) requires Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, 403, one course from 215A, M233, M422 or 423, 441, and 12 units of graduate level (200 series and 400 series) coursework selected from departmental or School offerings. Students in the accelerated one-year program must also successfully pass an Excel knowledge exam consisting of eight tasks gauging basic knowledge and skills of the program. Students who do not pass the exam are required to take an additional four-unit course (Health Policy and Management 439).

Summer Internship and Consulting Report:

To supplement the classroom experience, students in the Health Policy and Management concentration must complete a summer internship (10 weeks) with a health care organization. During the summer internship and in the fall quarter following, students prepare a written consulting report including a proposal, literature review, and policy implications. 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, business plan, or any of a number of analyses. Health care settings may include hospitals, managed care organizations, medical groups, government agencies or departments, consulting firms, community organizations, advocacy agencies, or related health settings. After completing their summer internship, students often work part-time at their summer placement site.

Capstone Project:

The M.P.H. in Health Policy and Management requires a written Capstone Project and must be satisfactorily completed by the last term of enrollment. The topic of the Capstone Project will be determined by the student in consultation with their Faculty Adviser. The aim of the capstone is to assess each 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. The requirement is fulfilled by completing a project or exam that is specifically designed for the concentration.

Concurrent Degree Programs

UCLA offers concurrent degree programs for students interested in pursuing multiple disciplines simultaneously. These programs allow students to combine the MPH with degrees in other fields, such as Medicine (M.D.), Public Policy (M.P.P.), Law (J.D.), and Business Administration (M.B.A.).

M.D./M.P.H.: The articulated degree with Medicine and the M.P.H. Epidemiology 201, and Public Health 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, 403, and 16 units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings. M.P.H. elective courses may not be used towards the M.D.

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The articulated degree with Medicine and the M.P.H. in Health Management (52 units) requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, 403, and 16 units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings. M.P.H. elective courses may not be used towards the M.D. in Medicine. Students who do not pass the exam are required to take an additional four-unit course (Health Policy and Management 439).

M.P.P./M.P.H.: The concurrent degree with Public Policy and the M.P.H.

The concurrent degree with Public Policy and the M.P.H. in Health Management (56 units) requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M287, 400, M422, and 20 units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings. Students who do not pass the exam are required to take an additional four-unit course (Health Policy and Management 439).

J.D./M.P.H.: The concurrent degree with Law and the M.P.H.

The concurrent degree with Law and the M.P.H. in Health Management (56 units) requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), M287, 400, two courses from 286, 403, or M422, and twelve units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings. Students who do not pass the exam are required to take an additional four-unit course (Health Policy and Management 439).

M.B.A./M.P.H.: The concurrent degree with Management and the M.P.H.

The concurrent degree with Management and the M.P.H. in Health Management (56 units) requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, M422, and 20 units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings. Students who do not pass the exam are required to take an additional four-unit course (Health Policy and Management 439).

M.A./M.P.H.: See the Community Health Sciences concentration requirements above. No more than eight units may be applied to both the M.A. See African Studies M.A. See the Community Health Sciences concentration requirements above. No more than 12 units may be applied to both the M.A. See Asian American Studies M.A. See the Community Health Sciences concentration requirements above. M.P.H. elective courses may not be used towards the M.A. See Latin American Studies M.A.

M.S.W./M.P.H.: See the Community Health Sciences concentration requirements above. No more than eight units may be applied to both the M.S.W. See Social Welfare M.S.W.

M.U.R.P./M.P.H.: See the Community Health Sciences concentration requirements above. No more than four units may be applied to both the M.U.R.P. and the M.P.H. See Urban and Regional Planning M.U.R.P.

These concurrent programs offer students the opportunity to gain expertise in multiple fields, enhancing their career prospects and allowing them to address complex issues from a variety of perspectives.

Academic Advising and Support

Upon entering the program, students are assigned a faculty adviser whose responsibility is to counsel students concerning program of study and progress toward the fulfillment of degree requirements. Students may request a change in faculty advisers at any time during the course of study by submitting a request directly to the department. Throughout the course of study, the program director and student will meet with the student academic advisor and faculty as needed.

Academic Standing and Disqualification

From graduate admission to award of the degree, normal progress is six quarters of enrollment. A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from 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 on 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.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the MPH program are expected to fulfill the minimum requirements for admission to the Fielding School of Public Health. Early applications are encouraged. Prospective students are encouraged to attend an information session or contact us for an admissions consultation.

General Requirements:

Resume/CV: A minimum of three years of full-time work experience is required. Experience does not have to be clinical or in public health.
Official Transcripts: A bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA (cumulative or upper division).
Letters of Recommendation: Letters should be from either a professional and/or academic source.
GRE Scores: The GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) requirement can be waived for applicants who have at least a 3.0 GPA. A recent GRE score (within the last 5 years) is required for those who have a GPA lower than the required 3.0.
Review the Application Checklist and submit an online application to UCLA Graduate Admissions. Please be sure to fill in all sections (except personal history statement).

NOTE: applicants applying to the MPH | HP program do NOT need to submit a SOPHAS application. Select “Master of Public Health in Community Health, Health Promotion, and Education MPH” as the major and “Community Health Sciences” as the Department of Specialization.

Additional Information

This information is intended as an overview and should be used as a guide only. Admission requirements listed are departmental requirements and are in addition to the University's minimum requirements. Many programs receive more applicants than can be admitted, so meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not ensure admission. Fees are subject to change and should be used as a guide only. For information on the M.S. and Ph.D.

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