Master of Public Health (MPH) Program

The degree provides a practice-oriented approach for those who want to strengthen their general knowledge and skills in public health, either through a single degree or through one of the program’s many dual degree programs.

For prospective students

Is a career in public health right for you? Learn more about what public health is and find resources to explore potential career paths.

View the application deadline, minimum requirements, and information for international and dual degree applicants.

View current tuition and fees, along with information about financial aid and options to obtain funding for your education.

Dual degree programs

Certificate programs

Our program takes an interprofessional, practice-oriented approach to provide education and training to students in the Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Pharmacy, Nursing, Veterinary Medicine, Public Affairs, and Law. In the fall of 2019, our program will introduce a new, innovative curriculum that better prepares our graduates to take on the challenges they will face as they enter the public health workforce.

Curriculum (for classes starting in 2019 and later)

MPH Program competencies

For current students

Curriculum (cohorts before 2019)

Our curriculum provides a practice-oriented program for students in all health professions who want to strengthen general knowledge and skills in public health.

Approved electives

Students in the Master of Public Health Program are required to take 13 credits of electives. Electives assist students to individualize their program of study and develop specialty skills.

Fieldwork and capstone

The field experience and capstone are required of all students in the MPH program. Fieldwork provides students with practical experience to apply skills and knowledge, while the capstone is based on a non-thesis culminating MPH experience.

In the news

MPH contingent attends Planetary Health Alliance Meeting

June 27, 2018

In May, a group representing the Master of Public Health Program and UW-Madison traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland, to attend the annual Planetary Health Alliance Meeting. Read MPH student Kim Kassander's recap

Barb Duerst earns Dean's Teaching Award

May 18, 2018

Congratulations to our very own Barb Duerst on her recent Dean's Teaching Award, which recognizes her incredible contributions to not only the MPH Program, but the entire School of Medicine and Public Health community. Those familiar with the MPH Program know that Barb has provided leadership and instruction to our program for more than a decade. We couldn't be more proud of this great accomplishment!

Samantha Aisen earns Distinguished Poster Award

May 4, 2018

Master of public health student Samantha Aisen was awarded the Distinguished Poster Award at the UniverCITY Year Dane County Reception on May 4. Sam's poster was a continuation of the work she did in POP HLTH 780: Public Health Principles and Practice in the fall of 2017. Co-authors on the poster were MPH students Mitch Running and Lily Thompson.

View more MPH news

Accreditation

The UW-Madison Master of Public Health Program has been accredited by the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH), since 2009. The MPH program’s most recent accreditation site visit occurred in March 2014. The MPH Program was reaccredited in September 2014.

The final accreditation report and final self-study are available below:

Learn more about accreditation from the CEPH website

Diversity

Promoting and embracing diversity is central to the mission of the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program, the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For the past several decades, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has made promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion a top priority of institutional life. The MPH Program is committed to a strategy of inclusive excellence by recruiting and sustaining a diverse student body, faculty and staff and providing training that is dedicated to producing public health practitioners who understand the needs of diverse individuals, families and populations.