JD/MPH
Graduate Program in Public Health Studies, School of Medicine
The JD/Masters in Public Health program provides students with a range of frameworks applicable to decision making in public health policy and health law. Students in the program develop new tools and strategies pertinent to emerging areas of prevention and disease control and have the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration in research planning and implementation.
Students can earn both degrees in four years. Penn Law gives credit for four relevant courses in the Graduate Program in Public Health Studies toward the JD. MPH candidates complete 16 course units. These include eight core requirements and additional courses in Public Health, plus the opportunity to take up to six electives. These electives can include courses taken at the Law School.
Students apply separately to each department. Applications to the MPH program are welcomed contemporaneously with the Law School application or during the 1L year. The LSAT is sufficient for both departments; no additional testing is required.
Here are possible tracks for completing the program.
| First year | Second year | Third year | Fourth year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Option 1 – | 1L | Public Health | 2L & Public Health courses | 3L & Public Health courses |
| Option 2 – | 1L | 2L | Public Health | 3L & Public Health courses |
| Option 3 – | Public Health | 1L | 2L & Public Health courses | 3L & Public Health courses |
* Please note that, in this option, courses taken in the M.P.H before matriculation as a Law candidate cannot be counted toward JD.
Additional Information:
- Graduate Studies in Public Health
- Public Health Admissions
- Contact: Rosie Frasso at rofrasso@mail.med.upenn.edu; or Moriah Hall at moriashh@mail.med.upenn.edu.
- To talk through scheduling/registration details and how this joint-degree program might complement your JD from Penn Law, please contact Amanda S. Aronoff, L’95, Associate Director of Cross-Disciplinary Programs at aramanda@law.upenn.edu.