Applicable only to students admitted during the 2022-2023 academic year.
School of Public Health
The Fielding School of Public Health offers a school-wide Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree with specializations in Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Management, and Health Policy. In addition, the FSPH offers seven concurrent degree programs: the J.D./M.P.H., the M.B.A./M.P.H., the M.S.W./M.P.H., the M.A./M.P.H. with African Studies, the M.A./M.P.H. with Asian American Studies, the M.P.P./M.P.H., and the M.U.R.P./M.P.H.; and two articulated degree programs: the M.D./M.P.H. with Medicine and the M.A./M.P.H. with Latin American Studies.
For information on the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management, applicants should see the listings for those departments. For information on the interdepartmental Ph.D. degree program housed in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, applicants should see the listing for Molecular Toxicology.
Advising
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. Students are expected to meet with assigned faculty advisers each quarter.
Areas of Study
Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, and Health Management, and Health Policy.
Course Requirements
The M.P.H. requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401 (20 units). Public Health 401 is taken for S/U grading only. Students may also satisfy Public Health 401 with a School-approved alternative course or experience in consultation with the Associate Dean of Public Health Practice.
Biostatistics
The Biostatistics concentration (46 units) requires Biostatistics 100B, 200A, and 406; or Biostatistics 200A, 200B and 406; or Biostatistics 200A, 200B and 200C. In addition, students are required to complete Biostatistics 201A, 201B, 203A, 400, 402A, 595, and 12 units of graduate level (200 series and 400 series) coursework selected from departmental offerings.
Community Health Sciences
The Community Health Sciences concentration (40 units) requires Community Health Sciences 210, 211A, 211B, 400, twelve units with at least one course from each of the following three areas: (1) public health practice – Community Health Sciences 212, 213, M216, M218, M228, 238, 258, 271, 279, 282, 283, 288, 292, 295, 441, 444, 451, 451, 484, 485, and 487, (2) populations – Community Health Sciences 200, 205, M208, M209, 226, 231, M239, 246, 248, M260, M264, 290, M294, 427, 431, 432, 434A, 447, and 477, and (3) individual and structural influences – Community Health Sciences 220, 224, 227, 229, 235, 247, M250, M272, 273, 284, 291, 293, M430, 440, 448, 449, and CM470; four units of graduate level (200 series and 400 series) coursework selected from departmental offerings, and an additional eight units of upper division (100 series) and graduate level (200 series and 400 series) coursework from departmental or School offerings.
Environmental Health Sciences
The Environmental Health Sciences concentration (48 units) requires Biostatistics 100B, Environmental Health Sciences C200B, C200C, 200D, C240, C257, 400, 411 (taken twice), and 16 units of upper division (100 series) or graduate level (200 series) coursework selected in consultation with the faculty advisor. Students must also successfully pass a chemistry examination consisting of 30 multiple choice questions gauging basic chemistry knowledge and computational skills. Students who do not pass the exam are required to take an additional three-unit course (Environmental Health Sciences 101).
Students interested in Industrial Hygiene may choose to complete an additional 11-12 courses (42-46 units) that prepare them to enter the workforce and may assist in becoming a Certified Industrial Hygienists (see http://abih.org/). These additional courses allow industrial hygiene students to receive additional training on occupational exposure to chemicals; physical, biological, and mechanical agents; psychosocial factors, and ergonomic factors. Identification/recognition/anticipation, evaluation, control and prevention of hazards and risks are primary goals. Required courses include Environmental Health Sciences 230A, 230B, 230C, 252D, 252E, 253, 255, 259A, 259B, and 454. Environmental Health Sciences 252G is required if no field sampling has been done by Spring quarter of 2nd year. An additional four-unit course must be taken in consultation with the faculty advisor. U.S. citizens (or Green Card holders) applicants may qualify for fees and stipend support from the NIOSH Southern California Education and Research Center (http://erc.ucla.edu/industrial-hygiene/). Please contact the IH Director, Professor Shane Que Hee at squehee@ucla.edu with questions.
Epidemiology
The Epidemiology concentration (48 units) requires Biostatistics 100B, Epidemiology 200A, 200B, 220, 400, 401, M403, 413, one two or four unit course in chronic disease epidemiology selected in consultation with the faculty advisor, and at least ten units of graduate level (200 series and 400 series) coursework from departmental offerings.
The Epidemiology concentration for clinical scholars (36 units) requires Biostatistics 100B, Epidemiology 200A, 200B, 400, 401, M403, 413, and eight units of graduate level (200 series and 400 series) coursework from departmental offerings.
Health Management
The Health Management concentration (58 units) requires Health Policy and Management 200B, 234, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, 403, M422 or 423, 433, 436, 439, 441 and 20 units of graduate level (200 series and 400 series) coursework selected from departmental or School offerings.
The Health Management concentration for students admitted to the accelerated one-year program (38 units) requires Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, M422 or 423, 439, one course from 215A, M233, 403, 441, and 16 units of graduate level (200 series and 400 series) coursework selected from departmental offerings.
Health Policy
The Health Policy concentration (58 units) requires Health Policy and Management 200B, M233, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 286, M287, 400, M422, 439, 441, and 24 units of graduate level (200 series and 400 series) coursework selected from departmental or School offerings.
The Health Policy concentration for students admitted to the accelerated one-year program (38 units) requires Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, M422 or 423, 439, one course from 215A, M233, 403, 441, and 16 units of graduate level (200 series 400 series) coursework selected from departmental offerings.
J.D./M.P.H.
See the Biostatistics concentration requirements above. No more than 12 units may be applied to both the J.D. and the M.P.H.
See School of Law for degree requirements.
J.D./M.P.H, Community Health Sciences
See the Community Health Sciences concentration requirements above. No more than 12 units may be applied to both the J.D. and the M.P.H.
See School of Law for degree requirements.
J.D./M.P.H., Environmental Health Sciences
See the Environmental Health Sciences concentration requirements above. No more than 16 units may be applied to both the J.D. and the M.P.H.
See School of Law for degree requirements.
See the Epidemiology concentration requirements above. No more than eight units may be applied to both the J.D. and the M.P.H.
See School of Law for degree requirements.
J.D./M.P.H, Health Management
The concurrent degree with Law and the M.P.H. in Health Management (58 units) requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, M422 or 423, 439, two courses from 286, 287, or 403, and twelve units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings.
See School of Law for degree requirements.
The concurrent degree with Law and the M.P.H. in Health Policy (58 units) requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, M422 or 423, 439, two courses from 286, M287, or 403, and twelve units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings.
See School of Law for degree requirements.
M.S.W./M.P.H. Program
M.S.W./M.P.H., Community Health Sciences
See the Community Health Sciences concentration requirements above. No more than eight units may be applied to both the M.S.W. and the M.P.H.
See Social Welfare M.S.W. listing for degree requirements.
M.U.R.P./M.P.H. Programs
M.U.R.P./M.P.H., Community Health Sciences
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. with Community Health Sciences concentration.
See Urban and Regional Planning M.U.R.P. listing for degree requirements.
M.U.R.P./M.P.H., Environmental Health Sciences
The M.U.R.P./M.P.H. program with a specialization in Environmental Health Sciences is a three-year concurrent degree program requiring completion of 120 units (as opposed to 136 units if the two degree programs were completed sequentially as 16 units of credit overlap is allowed between the two programs), comprising 64 units for the M.P.H. and 56 units for the M.U.R.P.
M.B.A./M.P.H. program
Management, M.B.A./Public Health, M.P.H., Health Management
The concurrent degree with Management and the M.P.H. in Health Management (58 units) requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, M422 or 423, 439, and 20 units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings.
See Anderson Graduate School of Management for degree requirements.
Management, M.B.A./Public Health, M.P.H., Health Policy
The concurrent degree with Management and the M.P.H. in Health Policy (58 units) requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, M422 or 423, 439, and 20 units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings.
See Anderson Graduate School of Management for degree requirements.
M.P.P./M.P.H. program
M.P.P./M.P.H., Health Management
The concurrent degree with Public Policy and the M.P.H. in Health Management (58 units) requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M287, 400, M422 or 423, 439, and 20 units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings.
See Public Policy M.P.P. listing for degree requirements.
The concurrent degree with Public Policy and the M.P.H. in Health Policy (58 units) requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M287, 400, M422 or 423, 439, and 20 units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings.
See Public Policy M.P.P. listing for degree requirements.
M.D./M.P.H. program
See the Biostatistics concentration requirements above. M.P.H. elective courses may not be used towards the M.D. in Medicine.
See School of Medicine for degree requirements.
M.D./M.P.H., Community Health Sciences
See the Community Health Sciences concentration requirements above. M.P.H. elective courses may not be used towards the M.D. in Medicine.
See School of Medicine for degree requirements.
M.D./M.P.H., Environmental Health Sciences
See the Environmental Health Sciences concentration requirements above. M.P.H. elective courses may not be used towards the M.D. in Medicine.
See School of Medicine for degree requirements.
See the Epidemiology concentration requirements above. M.P.H. elective courses may not be used towards the M.D. in Medicine.
See School of Medicine for degree requirements.
M.D./M.P.H., Health Management
The articulated degree with Medicine and the M.P.H. in Health Management (58 units) requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, M422 or 423, 439, and 20 units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings. M.P.H. elective courses may not be used towards the M.D. in Medicine.
See School of Medicine for degree requirements.
The articulated degree with Medicine and the M.P.H. in Health Policy (58 units) requires Public Health 200A, 200B, and 401, Health Policy and Management 200B, M236 (or 230A and 230B), 400, M422 or 423, 439, and 20 units of elective courses from departmental or School offerings. M.P.H. elective courses may not be used towards the M.D. in Medicine.
See School of Medicine for degree requirements.
M.A./M.P.H. programs
M.A. in African Studies/M.P.H., Community Health Sciences
See the Community Health Sciences concentration requirements above. No more than eight units may be applied to both the M.A. and the M.P.H.
See African Studies M.A. listing for degree requirements.
M.A. in Asian American Studies/M.P.H., Community Health Sciences
See the Community Health Sciences concentration requirements above. No more than 12 units may be applied to both the M.A. and the M.P.H.
See Asian American Studies M.A. listing for degree requirements.
M.A. in Latin American Studies/M.P.H., Community Health Sciences
See the Community Health Sciences concentration requirements above. M.P.H. elective courses may not be used towards the M.A. in Latin American Studies.
See Latin American Studies M.A. listing for degree requirements.
Foreign Language Requirement
Teaching Experience
Field Experience
Field training in an approved public health program is required of all degree candidates. Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of 3.0 or better, before beginning the field experience.
Capstone Plan
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. Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of 3.0 or better, before undertaking the completion of the capstone requirement.
Biostatistics: The M.P.H. in Biostatistics requires a Capstone Project with written and oral components 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. For Capstone Project guidelines, please consult the department for more information.
Community Health Sciences: The M.P.H. in Community Health Sciences requires a Master’s Comprehensive Examination in the final year of the program. The Master’s Comprehensive Examination may cover material from the program’s core courses, electives, field experience, and will include demonstrating proficiencies in the competencies related to the concentration. For guidelines concerning the Master’s Comprehensive Examination, please consult the department for more information.
Environmental Health Sciences: The M.P.H. in Environmental Health Sciences 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. For Capstone Project guidelines, please consult the department for more information.
Epidemiology: The M.P.H. in Epidemiology 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. For Capstone Project guidelines, please consult the department for more information.
Health Management: The M.P.H. in Health 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. For Capstone Project guidelines, please consult the department for more information.
Health Policy: The M.P.H. in Health Policy 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. For Capstone Project guidelines, please consult the department for more information.
Thesis Plan
Time-to-Degree
From graduate admission to award of the degree, normal progress is six quarters of enrollment, Maximum time allowable from enrollment to graduation, including leaves of absence, is five years (15 quarters). Students must complete at least three quarters in residence at the University of California, including at least two quarters in residence at UCLA. Upon petition to Graduate Division, courses completed at other UCs may fulfill up to one-half of the total course requirement, one-half of the graduate course requirement, and one-third of the academic residence requirement.
The Doctor of Public Health degree is suspended pending discontinuance.
Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification
University Policy
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 of 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. University guidelines governing academic disqualification of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.
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