DVM/MPH Combined Degree Program

Iowa State University and The University of Iowa Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health

Objective

A variety of forces, such as the new focus on public health preparedness including areas of zoonotic diseases, food security and food borne/vector borne diseases; environmental health; and outbreaks of rabies and West Nile virus call for preparing professionals who possess knowledge and skills in both veterinary medicine and public health. The purpose of the dual DVM/MPH is to provide formal training in public health in addition to formal training in veterinary medicine. This dual degree is a natural combination of preparation in two related and complimentary health care disciplines.

Graduate veterinarians who also possess the MPH degree will have employment opportunities in:

1. Local and State health departments in epidemiology, zoonotic/vectorborne diseases, foodborne disease, bioterrorism, environmental health, emergency planning/response positions
2. State Public Health Veterinarian positions (there are about 39 state public health veterinarians in the US)
3. Scientific positions at CDC, ATSDR, EPA, USDA, and the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA.
4. The Public Health Service Commissioned Corp.
5. Military positions in public health
6. State agricultural departments
7. Universities doing teaching and research in the broad field of public health
8. International public health

Prerequisite

To be a candidate for this combined degree the applicant must be accepted into the DVM program as a condition of acceptance into the combined degree. This may occur concurrently but the condition of acceptance into the DVM must be made before final acceptance into the combined program. The admission committees of the two colleges will independently review the candidate for acceptance into the combined degree. For information about the DVM program at Iowa State University, please see http://www.vetmed.iastate.edu/home.aspx.

MPH Core Courses (18 s.h.)

The following courses are required of students in the MPH program. Students are expected to earn ≥ B- (2.67) on each core course and must earn a ≥ B (3.0) cumulative grade point average on all core courses. When necessary, a student may repeat a course to achieve this standard.

Capstone/Practicum Requirement (3 s.h.)

All MPH students are required to complete a 200 hours practice course (170:299) that includes a paper and an oral or poster presentation. The Practicum Experience must be related to skill demonstration in a setting that has components of public health and veterinary medicine.

Pre-Requisite:

Students should complete all Core Courses prior to registering for the Practicum.  In special circumstances, students may request to take a Core Course concurrently with the Practicum. 

For additional information, regarding the practicum experience, please visit the official practicum website.

Required Courses (12 s.h.)

ISU College of Veterinary Medicine (12 s.h.)

Transfer of 12 hours from the veterinary medicine course work includes the following courses:

Electives

Students must choose at least 9 s.h. from these on-campus and distance education courses. Only courses marked with an asterisk are available as distance education courses.