School of Public Health and Community Medicine

Dean
Patricia W. Wahl

F350 Health Sciences

The School of Public Health and Community Medicine (SPHCM) is composed of five departments: Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Services, and Pathobiology.

Undergraduate Program

A Bachelor of Science degree and an undergraduate minor are offered in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. The Department of Health Services offers a Bachelor of Science degree in health information administration through the UW Evening Degree Program. Students may pursue a general studies bachelor's degree with an emphasis in public health by working with faculty in SPHCM and the College of Arts and Sciences, UW General Studies Office, 171 Mary Gates Hall. The SPHCM also offers a school-wide public health minor, requirements for which are described in the Health Services section.

Graduate Program

The SPHCM offers graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.), Master of Science (M.S.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).  Admission requirements vary by degree and field and are described in the sections of each department. 

Master of Public Health Degree: The M.P.H. is a professional degree that provides broad training in public health. Each track or program provides additional training in a particular area. Graduates pursue careers in public health practice settings, academia, or research. The M.P.H. degree is offered in the departments of Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology, and Health Services. Students earning the M.P.H. may choose from several areas including biostatistics, community oriented public health practice, environmental and occupational health, epidemiology, health and policy research, international health (in Epidemiology or Health Services), maternal and child health (in Epidemiology or Health Services), occupational and environmental medicine, public health genetics, public health nutrition, or social and behavioral sciences. The M.P.H. degree in public health nutrition is offered through the Nutritional Sciences Interdisciplinary Graduate Program and the M.P.H. in public health genetics is a multidisciplinary program that involves faculty from throughout the University. The Extended M.P.H. Program is a three-year, part-time program that allows mid-career public health professionals to pursue the M.P.H. degree in community practice, health education, maternal and child health, or oral health while continuing their employment.

Master of Health Administration Degree: The M.H.A. degree is offered by the interdisciplinary Health Services Administration Group in the Department of Health Services under the auspices of the Graduate School. The program prepares students for careers in management, planning, and policy analysis in a variety of settings in the health care field. The purpose of the M.H.A. curriculum is to integrate the knowledge, skills, and experience that encompass health services management, planning, and policy analysis. Students develop knowledge and skills that enable them to better understand and manage change, analyze information and make decisions, and manage organizations and the people in them. The Executive M.H.A. Program is a part-time program designed for mid-career health services professionals, including physicians and other experienced clinicians, who wish to continue their employment while pursuing the M.H.A. degree. The program provides a balance of theory and practical management skills.

Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees: The M.S. and Ph.D. programs in the departments of Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Services, and Pathobiology prepare students for academic or research careers. The M.S. and Ph.D. programs in the Nutritional Sciences program, and the Ph.D. program in the Institute for Public Health Genetics are administered in SPHCM, although the degrees are awarded through the Graduate School's interdisciplinary group structure.

The M.S. programs in biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, health and policy research, industrial hygiene and safety, nutritional sciences, pathobiology, statistical genetics, and toxicology offer focused research training in specific disciplines. Graduates of these programs often assume positions as senior technical staff in laboratories or other organizations and as research project coordinators, or pursue further graduate training. The M.S. program differs from the Ph.D. program in that more of the courses emphasize the concepts underlying methodological approaches rather than the ability to independently design a major research program.

The Ph.D. programs in biostatistics, environmental and occupational hygiene, epidemiology, health services, pathobiology, statistical genetics, toxicology, and the interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs in nutritional sciences and public health genetics, train future academicians as highly qualified independent investigators and teachers, and as well-trained practitioners. The doctoral programs are distinct from the M.S. programs by the addition of advanced coursework and the nature and scope of the dissertation research project.

Concurrent Degree Programs: The SPHCM has concurrent degree programs with the School of Business Administration, the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs, and the School of Nursing that lead to concurrent M.H.A.-M.B.A., M.H.A.-M.P.A., and M.H.A.-M.N. degrees, respectively. The SPHCM and the schools of Business Administration and Public Affairs offer these degree programs during both day and evening times. The SPHCM has concurrent degree programs with the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, the School of Social Work, the School of Nursing, and the School of Public Affairs that lead to the M.P.H.-M.A.I.S., M.P.H.-M.S.W., M.P.H.-M.N., and MPH-MPA and MS-MPA degrees, respectively. The M.P.H.-M.N. concurrent degree program provides students opportunities to study the areas of community health care nursing and child nursing. The School of Medicine and SPHCM have a concurrent degree programs that lead to the M.P.H.-M.D., M.H.A.-M.D. and Ph.D.-MD degrees. In the autumn of 2003 the concurrent degree program with the School of Dentistry that leads to the M.P.H.-M.S.D. degrees was approved, and the concurrent M.P.H.-J.D. degree program with the School of Law is expected to be approved during the 2004-2005 year.

Residency Programs: The SPHCM offers a residency in occupational and environmental medicine. Physicians are also welcome to apply to any of the School's graduate programs.

Certificate and Graduate Certificate Programs: The SPHCM offers several graduate certificate programs including a joint program with the School of Medicine in Biomedical and Health Informatics. The Department of Biostatistics offers a graduate certificate program in statistical genetics; the Department of Health Services in health behavior and health promotion, health policy, international health, and maternal and child health; the Extended Degree Program in public health; and the Institute of Public Health Genetics in public health genetics. The Department of Health Services also offers certificate programs in health information administration (HIA) and medical management.