John Pierce, Ph.D,
Professor, Family & Preventive Medicine
University of California, San Diego

Additional information may be obtained from San Diego State University's Graduate School of Public Health. Please contact the following staff members for Ph.D. Program application materials:

Kristin Deveraux
Graduate Coordinator
Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health (Epidemiology)
University of California San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093-0607
Email: kdeveraux@ucsd.edu
Phone: 858-534-0517
Fax: 858-534-8625

Florencia Davis
Assistant Coordinator
Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health (Epidemiology)
College of Health and Human Services
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego , CA 92182-4162
Email: fdavis@mail.sdsu.edu
Phone: 619-594-2743
Fax: 619-594-6112

M.P.H. Program

Frequently Asked Questions about SDSU's MPH Program
 
Must I be accepted to the GSPH to take classes?

You must submit an application for admission to SDSU if you are going to pursue a degree. Formal admission is not required if you wish to take a course or two to increase knowledge or learn new skills. Enrollment in each class is subject to space limitations, and you must meet the course prerequisites.

How do I apply to the GSPH?

Applications are available through Mrs. Brenda Fass-Holmes at the GSPH, as well as from the Graduate Division, the Office of Admissions and Records, and the University web site. Mrs. Fass-Holmes is located in Hepner Hall 129 on the SDSU campus and can be reached at (619) 594-4492. She is most knowledgeable about the program and can provide useful guidance through the process of admission, matriculation, and registration. She can also refer you to faculty for answers to specific questions. Note that you need to be aware of and meet all deadlines for applications, enrollment, and graduation. Consult the Bulletin of the Graduate Division for the current academic calendar. The Bulletin is available on the SDSU web site, www.sdsu.edu, or may be purchased at the campus bookstore.

Because they have taken the MCAT and been admitted to medical school, UCSD Medical School students are not required to take the GRE.

Who should I contact on the UCSD campus?

The person who coordinates the program at the UCSD campus is Michael Criqui, M.D., MPH. His phone number is (858) 534-3722, and his office is located at 352 CSB.

How many units do I get credit for as the result of being a student at UCSD?

If you have completed two years of medical school at UCSD you may claim credit for three courses: PH 601 Introduction to Epidemiology, 602 Introduction to Biostatistics and 605 Planning Administration and Policy Analysis in Health Services Administration. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE THESE COURSES. Up to eight semester units (12 quarter units) of courses you have completed will be accepted as transfer credit. After your second year at UCSD Medical School, you must request transfer of these credits to SDSU. You may do that at the Medical School Admissions and Records Office by requesting that an official transcript be sent to the Admissions and Records Office of SDSU. In effect, you begin the program with 8 units of graduate credit.

By petition and agreement of the SDSU faculty advisor, graduate advisor, and Graduate Division, UCSD Medical School students may transfer up to six semester hours of electives from UCSD. These units cannot be units required for the medical degree; they must be units "above and beyond" those required for the medical degree.

How many credits must I complete?

That depends, in part, on the concentration and the degree objective. The most important advice is to consult the Bulletin of the Graduate Division at SDSU and advisors at either SDSU or UCSD. In general, the MPH degree, the most likely degree objective, in the concentrations of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Promotion, and Environmental Health require a total of 48 semester units (which includes the 8 units of transfer credit). The Health Services Administration MPH program requires 61 (which includes transfer credit) semester units for the degree. The requirements for the Ph.D. and the MS degree are outlined in more detail in Bulletin of the Graduate Division.

What courses are required / recommended?

In most of the MPH concentrations, students must complete PH 603 and 604. If you are in Health Promotion, instead of PH 603, you must complete 661 and 662. Health Administration students must complete 641 and 661A. This latter must be completed even if PH 605 is transferred. You must complete the required courses listed in the Bulletin of the Graduate Division as well as the required number of electives. In addition, you must complete a field placement. This field placement can be taken at UCSD Medical School and, if it is in preventive medicine, some medical school credit may be available. Check with the MD/MPH advisor at the UCSD Medical School for advice. The number of units of field placement varies by the concentration and with the student. It is the responsibility of the student to consult with their faculty advisor to ascertain the fieldwork requirement. Students are expected to complete PH 799A if they are doing a thesis or project and in many cases are expected to enroll in PH 797 Research if they are planning on taking a comprehensive exam.

Where is all of this information available?

There are two major sources of information to students. The Bulletin of the Graduate Division is filled with information that you need in order to complete your degree. The GSPH has a student handbook that contains much of this information, other valuable tips, and examples of an official program of study for each concentration. The Handbook is distributed at fall orientation or may be obtained from Mrs. Fass-Holmes.

Who is my faculty advisor?

After acceptance, every student is assigned a faculty member as a primary advisor. You should contact your advisor during orientation week. She or he can assist you in formulating your program of study.
Since the program of study is a plan that matches degree requirements and student interests, all students are highly encouraged to complete this plan early in their first semester.

Who should I talk to at the GSPH about the concentration requirements?

Each of the concentrations at SDSU is in a Division. Please consult with the Head of the Division in which you are interested. Brenda Fass-Holmes can answer questions about admissions, matriculation, registration, fees, and enrollment. Dr. K. Michael Peddecord can address questions about policy and procedures of the Graduate Division at SDSU.

What is the Program of Study?

The "Official Program of Study" is a form that lists your academic plan. It specifies the SDSU courses, UCSD transfer courses, field training courses, and thesis or comprehensive examination option that will be taken to complete the MPH degree. When approved by your faculty advisor and the Graduate Dean the plan becomes "official": when the work is completed the degree is awarded. You should draft a plan prior to meeting your faculty advisor during orientation week before classes begin. See the GSPH Student Handbook for further details. Electronic copies of official program forms are available on the GSPH server that can be accessed in the Hardy Tower Room 222 computer facility.

How many units may I take each semester?

You may not enroll in more than a full time load. The full time load is usually defined as 15 semester units at SDSU or 23 quarter units at UCSD. The conversion factor is that a semester unit is worth 1.5 quarter units.

All of your coursework should not be in the classroom. PH 650 Field Practice and PH 750 Advanced Field Practice allow an opportunity to spend time in a community or research setting. In some instances, you may arrange an individual study (PH 798) that may consist of directed readings or other non-classroom activities.

You do not need to be on campus or enrolled in didactic classes in order to complete Field Practice or Research. If you complete two full-time semesters (usually 30 semester units), this will normally leave 10 units since 8 units have been transferred. Students completing a thesis will typically enroll in 3 to 6 units of PH 797 Research while writing a proposal and initiating their project. An additional 3 units of PH 799A are taken in the semester when the thesis is submitted for approval. This will leave a typical student with a few additional hours to complete, usually in field practice.

How about fees?

There is an affiliation agreement that allows UCSD medical school students to take courses in the GSPH without any additional fees. Be sure that you discuss with Mrs. Fass-Holmes how to handle fees on the SDSU campus. It is easier to avoid paying fees than to get a refund. You may, if you wish, take a Leave of Absence from UCSD prior to receiving your MD degree and enroll full time at SDSU. If you do so, you will pay SDSU fees, as you are no longer covered by the affiliation agreement. Careful attention to these issues can save you money. You are encouraged to discuss your individual circumstances with advisors on the two campuses.

Must I do a thesis?

The thesis requirement varies by concentration. All MPH programs have some culminating experience, either a thesis or a project or a comprehensive exam. The Epidemiology/Biostatistics Concentration requires a thesis. Check the Bulletin of the Graduate Division for specific culminating experience requirements.

May I use the same project for my Independent Study Project (ISP) and the thesis?

Completion of the MPH degree at SDSU completes your ISP requirement at UCSD.

How much additional time will it take to earn my MPH in addition to my MD degree?

That depends on several issues, such as what concentration you choose, how many courses you pursue each semester at the GSPH, and the availability of courses at SDSU. It should be clear that more than two semesters will be required to complete the MPH. In general, students would have 8 units of transfer credits already; thus they need 40 additional semester units. If a total of 30 units are taken during the two full-time semesters at SDSU, the remaining units can be completed via thesis work, field practice, or additional transfer credit. Students are expected to enroll for three units in conjunction with the culminating experience; assuming the student enrolls in 6 units of field placement, there are 31 units remaining to be completed. Also, if a student were to take 6 or 9 units sometime during their first two years of medical school, it is possible for them to finish the requirements for the MPH in a year, taking the maximum permissible load, full time, on the SDSU campus.

There are usually no summer classes at the GSPH, which should be considered when the student is planning their program of study. There may be acceptable electives or alternative courses in other SDSU departments which would count toward the degree. Summer is usually the best time to arrange Field Practice (PH 650& 750) or to work on a thesis project. This should be discussed with the student's advisor prior to enrolling in those courses.

Other collaborations

The GSPH and the UCSD have a long history of collaboration intended to improve the academic environment for students of both institutions. This is only one component of this collaborative relationship. The two institutions are anxious to work with all students to maximize their learning while they are students of one of our fine universities. Please feel free to direct questions to anyone at either campus who can assist you as you make decisions regarding your academic career.