Joint degree JD/MPH? Forum

[GypsyGrL]

Anyone out there doing JD/MPH? I started thinking about this recently and would love to hear from anyone who is on that path. I am very interested in healthcare but somewhat concerned that I would not get into a joint degree program since I basically have nothing that indicates an interest in healthcare on my resume..at all. I am also not a very quantitative person (to say the least) and I'm not sure how quant-heavy the courses are (aside from the required biostat). Any guidance would be appreciated.

[tarheelz]

I'm glad you posted this -- I'm also interested in the MPH/JD but not really sure what I want to do with it. I've been wondering if it improves your chances of getting into certain schools if you shoot for the dual degree program and are really qualified in both fields??

Health policy work sounds interesting to me or even working for the government. I don't exactly know what I want but as a former pre-med student, I feel like I'd be a strong candidate for MPH from some of my extracurriculars.

Having spoken to a few people in health care, it sounds like you are qualified to do real policy work and write laws whereas the folks with just an MPH can't get involved in nearly as much of the actual law-writing.

[taylor]

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[nahgems]

I currently work in health care policy / research. If you aren't a math/science person, you won't be happy in an MPH program (and the program won't be happy with you). Also, the last thing this field needs is another hugs-and-rainbows non-quantitative person. You will hate the program, and (if you make it through) you will hate the career. Your coworkers will probably make lame stats jokes about you behind your back.

If you look at the prerequisites for UC Berkeley's MPH program they include:

A baccalaureate or higher degree in physical, chemical or biological science; engineering; or medicine with a GPA of 3.0 (minimum). Applicants with non-science majors who meet the undergraduate course work requirements will be considered.

An undergraduate major in public health is available through the School of Public Health.

Course Work:

Calculus (one year minimum), Chemistry (two years minimum, including Organic Chemistry), and Biology (one year minimum). All of these courses must be completed prior to enrolling in the program.

[hoffb86]

I'm thinking about it!

Have to see where 1L year takes me and see if it is something I am still interested in doing after that....

[GypsyGrL]

Thanks nahgems for that realistic perspective - helps me to think maybe mPH is not for me. I continue, though, to be really interested in health law and bioethics. I know UPenn has a bioethics program but I don't see it too many other places - anyone know anything about this? I also have a harder time assessing the value of a "bioethics" program vs. a master in public health, which is a bit clearer. Thoughts??

[sour apple]

I'm doing a JD/MPH.

As far as the quantitative stuff goes, I agree with the above poster that said you need to be okay with math. I was a Neurobio major in undergrad, so I had all the stuff I needed when I went to apply. There are a lot of people in my program who are miserable in biostats and epi bc they aren't comfortable with math, BUT there are other specializations that are less math-centric and most public health schools don't have the science pre-reqs that berkeley does.

Generally speaking, I have found the degree useful. Firms that have a health care practice have acted very interested in it, but I don't know that it will necessarily secure me any jobs. I've found that the MPH has sort of reinforced my reasons for going to law school and that I genuinely enjoy the classes.

At the end of the day, I realize that I'll end up in a job that only requires one of the two degrees, but I've found the process so far to be intellectually worth it. I should mention that I'm at a state school so the MPH is only adding around $3k to my total bill. I'm not sure an extra year at $50k would be worth it.

PM me if you have any specific q's.

[DavidYurman85]

My really good friend is getting her JD from GLUC. She is clerking on the Hill for a firm that does a lot of work with health care policy. The general consensusis that; While useful, an MPH is not absolutely necessary because most of the work is more policy/legislative oriented vs. science/quantitative. Essentially, a JD would work fine unless you plan on doing something more specialized in the field.

[nhm25]

I received my MPH a two years ago. I concentrated in policy and management… Sadly, the university I attended did not offer a dual JD/MPH at the time… but it does now!

I was recently accepted into a number of law schools that have both Public Health Law and Health Law programs. After speaking to a few professors, it is important to know the distinction between the two when determining your course of study. I am currently deciding if the pursuit of a law degree on top of my MPH is entirely necessary.

Here is my question to the rest of you: What type of jobs are available for a person with a JD/MPH? Obviously government/public sector and non-profit organizations… but what about private sector? I’m also eager to know the median salary for those with a JD/MPH… since we all know law school is a serious financial investment. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[saandy]

bump. i want to know too.

[ATR]

Bump. I'm looking at some JD/MPH and JD?MHA programs. I think it'll be helpful for me, seeing as my goal is to be general counsel at a major medical center and to eventually work in an administrative capacity that influences hospital policy. Thus far, I've found the following schools offer a program like this:

Columbia University
Emory University
Georgetown University (MPH at Johns Hopkins)
Harvard University
Stanford University
University of California - Berkeley (ad hoc program)
University of California - Los Angeles
University of Michigan
University of Pennsylvania
University of Virginia
George Washington University
University of Miami
University of Minnesota

Anyone know of any other programs?

[ATR]

I just found this list, for anyone that's interested:
http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/courses/ph_c ... -mph01.htm

University of Alabama at Birmingham and Cumberland Law School of Samford University
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MPH); dedicated faculty: 1.
Oldest joint degree program that Cumberland offers; started in 1987; 4-year program.
--LinkRemoved--

Boston University Schools of Law and Public Health
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MPH); dedicated faculty: 5.
Focus on public health care delivery; 3.5- to 4-year program.
--LinkRemoved--

Emory University Rollins School of Public Health and School of Law
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MPH). Strong affiliation with the CDC; numerous student interns are placed at the Office of General Counsel; 3- to 3.5-year program.
--LinkRemoved--

George Washington University Schools of Law and Public Health
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MPH). Focus is on Admin. Med., Environmental and Occupational Health, Epi, Biostat, Health Promotion-Disease Prevention, and International Health; 4-year program.
http://www.gwumc.edu/sphhs/jdllmmph.htm

University of Illinois at Chicago School of PH and Illinois Institute of Technology's Chicago-Kent University Law School
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MPH); 5 JDs involved, 3 JD/MPHs. Emphasis on public health law and not health care law. Future concurrent emphasis is going to be environmental health law; 3.5-year program.
http://www.uic.edu/depts/spha/academic/degree/joint.htm

Johns Hopkins University and Georgetown University Law Center
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MPH); 4-year program, including one summer at JHU's School of Public Health.
http://www.law.georgetown.edu/joint_degree/jdmph.html

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Schools of Law and Public Health
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MPH). No dedicated faculty, but a dedicated advisor at the SPH and health law faculty at the law school; 4-year program.
--LinkRemoved--

University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus Schools of Law and Public Health
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MS or JD/PhD). Focus is on environmental health and health services; no JD/MPH.
--LinkRemoved--

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Schools of Law and Public Health
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MPH). Full range of public health courses required; student chooses focus; 4-year program. Limited information about degree on website.
http://www.sph.unc.edu/page.cfm?pageID=1041

Northeastern University School of Law and Tufts University Medical School
Officially recognized program; students choose their focus in the MPH program (Environmental Health, Epi/Biostat, Health Communication, HS, or Nutrition); health law emphasis in the JD program; 3.5-year program.
http://www.tufts.edu/med/gpph/MPH/Jd/index.html

University of Ohio Schools of Law and Public Health
Officially recognized JD/MHA program with JD/MPH possible through arrangement with both schools.
http://www.sph.ohio-state.edu/handbook/sect9.html

University of Oklahoma Colleges of Law and Public Health
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MPH). Designed for students who wish to practice law in the public health arena or enter the public health field directly; 4-year program.
--LinkRemoved--

University of Pittsburgh Schools of Law and Public Health
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MPH). Focus on health policy and health care; 3.5-year program. A Health Law Certificate is also available to law students.
--LinkRemoved--

Saint Louis University Schools of Law and Public Health
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MPH). Oriented to augment the training of health law practitioners; 4-year program.
http://law.slu.edu/admissions/AcademicP ... grees.html

University of Texas, Houston School of Public Health and University of Houston Law Center
Officially recognized concurrent degree program (JD/MPH). Management orientation; 3.5-year program.
http://www.law.uh.edu/healthlaw/academi ... J.D./M.P.H. Program

Tulane University Schools of Law and Public Health
Officially recognized joint degree program (JD/MPH); focus on environmental health to train students to represent government or industry. MPH in Environmental Health Sciences only; no other divisions in public health school open to law students.
--LinkRemoved--

University of Washington Schools of Law and Public Health
Health law concentration available and it is possible to create ad hoc joint degree programs.
http://www.law.washington.edu/LawSchool ... rrent.html

Yale University Schools of Law and Public Health
Officially available by special arrangement with the Law School. The department mentioned is environmental health, but it seems that any emphasis in public health would be acceptable; 4-year program.
http://info.med.yale.edu/eph/html/educa ... grees.html

[brightside]

.

[ATR]

So is anyone else applying this cycle??

Are you applying for both programs right now, or are you waiting until 1L to apply for the MPH program? The latter is what I'm going to do.

[brightside]

edit

[ATR]

im applying for some right now, but am in the midsts of discovering that some
mph programs have dec due dates (harvard, jhu)... calling their schools to see
if i can use my dec lsat score for my application.

in any case, my priority right now is getting into law schools!!!

I'm intrigued by Hopkins... it seems a little too easy to gain admission as a law student. They waive the work experience requirement and take the LSAT instead of the GRE. Wherever I end up next year, I'll probably apply to the JHU program.

[saandy]

im applying for some right now, but am in the midsts of discovering that some
mph programs have dec due dates (harvard, jhu)... calling their schools to see
if i can use my dec lsat score for my application.

in any case, my priority right now is getting into law schools!!!

I'm intrigued by Hopkins... it seems a little too easy to gain admission as a law student. They waive the work experience requirement and take the LSAT instead of the GRE. Wherever I end up next year, I'll probably apply to the JHU program.

sounds like something I might want to do as well. Thanks for all the useful information!

[tea_drinker]

I am currently doing my MPH, and will start law school this Fall. PM if you have any questions about the program and I will do my best to answer them. My suggestion is to not commit to this dual degree program yet unless you know for sure you want it. I think having a MPH doesn't help your job prospect at all, if not limit it a bit.

[confusedprelaw]

Sorry for bumping this thread, but I was hoping for some additional insight on JD/MPH degrees. I'll be graduating next May with my MPH, and then attending law school (conditional on a school accepting me for their JD program, of course). My interests lie in health policy and administration -- what's the job market like in this specific sector? What sort of opportunities exist? Do these degrees even interact with one another in the actual field? I'd appreciate any insight! Thanks!