Program Overview

Introduction to the J.D./M.P.H. Program

The J.D./Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) program is offered jointly by Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This joint degree offers students an accelerated course of study of law and public health, enabling them to successfully enter the complex and ever-changing fields of public health and health law.

Program Overview

Students pursuing this degree will gain advanced knowledge of legal matters relating to public health; use legal tools to solve public health challenges; and train for a career in public health research, policy, and advocacy; health law; or environmental law.

Academic Advising

Students will have two academic advisors: one from the Department of Public Health Sciences at Penn State College of Medicine and one from Penn State Dickinson Law.

Admissions Requirements

J.D./M.P.H. students must meet the admissions requirements of both programs, and each program makes its own admissions decision.

Application Process

• The application process opens in August.
• Students must apply by January 15 to attend in the fall.
• Students will receive an admissions decision by April 15.

Degree Requirements

Students in the J.D./M.P.H. program fulfill all requirements to earn a J.D. from Penn State Dickinson Law and a M.P.H. from Penn State College of Medicine.

Coursework

Once enrolled in the joint degree program, students must complete the first-year J.D. curriculum before enrolling in any classes in the M.P.H. curriculum. After the first year, 12 credits of J.D. coursework may be double-counted toward the M.P.H. degree. Up to nine credits of M.P.H. coursework may be double-counted toward the J.D. degree.

Core Curriculum

All students take the following core courses, generally offered in residence at Penn State College of Medicine:

• PHS 501: Principles of Public Health (3 credits)
• PHS 504: Behavioral Health Intervention Strategies (3 credits)
• PHS 520: Principles of Biostatistics (3 credits)
• PHS 536: Health Survey Research Methods (3 credits)
• PHS 550: Principles of Epidemiology (3 credits)
• PHS 571: Introduction to Health Services Organization and Delivery (3 credits)

Practice-Based Learning

The Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic is built into the curriculum to reinforce students’ academic and professional development and their ability to become competent in the practice of public health and health law.

• IHCLN 997: Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic (3 credits)

Culminating Experience

All students participate in a capstone project — a unique opportunity to gain professional experience and apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to real-world public health settings.

• PHS 894: Capstone Experience (3 credits)

Electives

Students may select from a pre-approved list of electives or propose alternate electives for consideration and approval by the program. In addition to fulfilling the 18 credit elective requirement by selecting courses from the pre-approved list or by proposing alternate courses for consideration, students may specialize in a track for depth of training by selecting a specific configuration of pre-approved electives. Students will fulfill up to nine elective credits by double counting J.D. coursework to the M.P.H. degree program.