Academic Programs

The Mailman School offers dual degrees with 10 schools across the University through our MPH programs.

Once accepted into the programs, dual-degree students can begin their coursework at the Mailman School or the partner school, although it is recommended that students begin at the partner school (with the exception of dual degrees with the Graduate School of International and Public Affairs).

Dual-degree students are required to take 39 public health credits. Most of these students will complete the majority of their program in their first year of residence at the Mailman School and complete some requirements in their second year (when students are in residence at partner schools).  The requirements in year two potentially include some coursework and the student's capstone/thesis. 

Some dual-degree programs—including the P&S, Dental, Law, and Business programs matched with our health policy and management program (HPM)—can complete their entire MPH requirements in one year (Fall/Spring/Summer).  

As the School moves to launch the new Columbia MPH (two-year program with certificate) and Accelerated MPH (one-year program), dual-degree students should note:

• All students in the dual-degree programs will spend a consecutive Fall and Spring semester at Mailman earning a minimum of 32 credits through a flat-fee tuition model.
• All students will earn an additional seven credits in either the summer of their first year or in year two as a cross-registrant (or a combination of both). Some of these credits may be added to the Fall and Spring semesters of the first year.
• Certificate programs are not available to dual-degree students.
• The accelerated program is generally restricted to candidates with another advanced degree but has been expanded to allow students who are concurrently earning another advanced degree with a Columbia University partner school.
• All dual-degree students will pay a flat-rate tuition charge, based on the accelerated program rate. (The Mailman School is moving to a flat tuition rate in fall 2012 and will be posting the officially approved rates in the coming months.)
• Dual-degree students, when registered with Mailman, will need to register for PUBH P0005—Mailman Dual Degree—so that the School can monitor their progress and effectively communicate with them.
• There are 21 Mailman-wide credits (including our core) which cannot be substituted. (Courses from partner schools that counted towards the completion of the Mailman core will no longer be permitted.) With prior planning and prior-permission, Mailman department course requirements can, on occasion, be substituted for partner school courses, but the total number of PH credits (39) is not reduced.

Additional information on dual degree program requirements can be found in our Student Handbook.