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Degree Programs: The Master of Public Affairs and Master of Public Health Dual Degree
The Master of Public Affairs and Master of Public Health Dual-Degree program prepares health policy professionals as policy analysts and public managers in the increasingly important area of health care. Dual-degree MPA/MPH students develop a firm foundation in policy analysis and public management offered by La Follette faculty and a deep substantive knowledge in public health that can only be offered through a program in the School of Medicine and Public Health. The dual degree requires 55 credits and takes two years and one summer to complete.
MPA/MPH Course Outline
Application Process
La Follette School of Public Affairs
School of Medicine and Public Health Application Process
La Follette School MPA Prerequisites
MPH Prerequisites
School of Medicine and Public Health
MPA/MPH Course Outline
- Students complete eight core public affairs courses. The remaining required MPA credits are met with courses that will also be counted toward the 42-credit public health program. For the MPH degree, students take six core courses, two field experience courses, and two one-credit seminars.
- Core courses in Public Affairs are: Policy-Making Process, Public Management, Quantitative Tools for Public Policy Analysis, Microeconomic Policy Analysis, Introduction to Policy Analysis.
- In addition, students choose three of the following courses:Advanced Quantitative Methods, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Program Evaluation, Advanced Public Management, Public Budgeting, State and Local Government Finance, or Performance Management.
- The MPH courses include: Public Health Principles and Practice, Introduction to Epidemiology, Biostatistics for Public Health, Introduction to Environmental Health, Health Management and Policy, Social Behavioral Sciences for Public Health, Public Health Field Experience and Health Practice Seminar.
Application Process
Students must concurrently submit separate applications to the Department of Population Health Sciences of the School of Medicine and Public Health and to the La Follette School. Departments can send copies of documents to the other department with a student’s permission.
La Follette Application Materials
To apply for the MPA program students submit the following materials to the graduate school:
- GRE scores (La Follette code is 2204 and the UW code is 1846.) Applicants for the dual degree may substitute the MCA.
- Three academic references
- Statement of purpose
- English language test scores if applicable
- application fee paid to the Graduate School
Other materials should be sent directly to La Follette School of Public Affairs
- Transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate studies
- Professional resume
Applications received by January 1 will be considered for graduate fellowships for the upcoming fall semester. March 15 is the deadline for all other applications.
MPH Application Materials
- GRE, MCAT, PCAT, LSAT or GMAT taken within five years.
- Transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate studies
- Public Health experience is highly recommended
- Three academic references
- Statement of purpose
- Applicants whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL results
The deadline for application to the MPH program is June 1.
MPA Course Prerequisites
Students must take the following introductory prerequisite courses by the time they begin the MPA program:
- A microeconomics course
- A statistics course
- An American government course
MPH Course Prerequisites
- One semester of college level mathematics such as algebra (equivalent to UW-Madison, MATH 112) or statistics (STATS 201)
- One semester of science from the areas of biology, nutritional science,
chemistry or physics
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