The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS) and Miller School of Medicine are delighted to announce the launch of two new joint-degree programs that are the first of their kind in Florida.
The 4+1 BSHS/MPH and 4+1 BSHS/MSPH programs will enable health science undergraduates at SONHS to apply for a program to obtain their Master of Public Health (MPH) or Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) degree in just one year.
The first health science 4+1 cohort will start in Fall 2023, says Professor Arsham Alamian, PhD, MSc, FACE, FRSPH, associate dean for Health Studies at SONHS. Those interested in the program can take part in live, hour-long information sessions via Zoom (ID 503 909 3108), currently scheduled for the following dates in 2023: January 18, February 1, and February 17.
Dr. Alamian collaborated on developing the curriculum with Professor Viviana Horigian, MD, MHA, the director of public health education for the Miller School’s Department of Public Health Sciences.
“Academically qualified juniors or sophomores majoring in health science at SONHS now have the unique opportunity to complete both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years,” says Dr. Alamian. “The combined BSHS/MPH or BSHS/MSPH degree will open doors to many jobs in public health, including employment opportunities in Departments of Health, not-for-profit, and governmental agencies. We are proud to be the only academic institution in Florida, and among a very small number of other academic institutions across the U.S., to offer these joint degrees.”
For the health science 4+1, accepted students will take 12 credits of graduate-level public health courses (fees waived by the public health sciences department) during their undergraduate senior year; these 12 credits will count toward the MPH (public health administration) or MSPH (public health research) degree.
SONHS has offered its public health students a similar 4+1 degree option for several years now. That program’s success—also a collaboration with the Department of Public Health Sciences—inspired the idea of opening this unique opportunity to health science students as well, notes Dr. Alamian. In addition, he sums up four key benefits of this unique 4+1 program:
- It cuts in half the time of achieving a public health master’s degree.
- It reduces the cost of obtaining a public health master’s degree.
- It multiplies health-related career opportunities.
- It gives SONHS students excellent networking opportunities on the medical campus.
“I encourage students interested in our health science program to consider this opportunity,” says Dr. Alamian. “In just one year, they can amplify exponentially the already-rich experience, knowledge, and exposure our health science curriculum provides. In today’s complex health marketplace, pursuing a medical career requires a well-rounded, multifaceted understanding of public health and its affiliated concerns.”
For more information about the new 4+1 BSHS to public health master’s programs, call 305-243-0291, email publichealthadmissions@miami.edu, or visit the SONHS website.
