Public Health, M.P.H. & Law, J.D. Dual Degree

Saint Louis University School of Law and the College for Public Health and Social Justice have partnered to offer the dual Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health degrees with a concentration in health management and policy.

A law degree combined with a master's in public health gives students a unique set of skills — an in-depth understanding of the legal system and how laws and regulations affect public health, along with a comprehensive insight into the social, environmental and physical influences that determine the health and well-being of people and communities. The dual degree distinguishes graduates as highly trained and highly motivated and provides the chance to effect meaningful change through any chosen career path.

Program Highlights

• SLU's dual-degree program enables students to earn both degrees with significantly less time and expense than if obtained separately — roughly four years compared to five.
• SLU LAW's Center for Health Law Studies is consistently ranked as the premier health law program in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The College for Public Health and Social Justice's public health program has been recognized among the top programs in the U.S.
• Students in this dual-degree program receive training from internationally renowned professors, unparalleled professional opportunities at field placements, and access to a robust alumni network.

Careers

Graduates of the dual-degree program have diverse employment opportunities. They often serve in influential positions in health care systems, nonprofit institutions, large health law firms, health policy and human rights organizations, federal and state regulatory agencies, think tanks, and pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology corporations.

Programs

For additional information, see the catalog entries for the following programs:

Law, J.D.

Public Health, M.P.H.

Accreditation

Saint Louis University School of Law has been continuously accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) since December 1924. The accrediting body is the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738.

Saint Louis University's College for Public Health and Social Justice is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). To see our most recent accreditation documentation, please visit the College for Public Health and Social Justice website.

Students must meet the admission requirements and be admitted into both degree programs according to the processes of each of the participating academic units in order to pursue a dual-degree program.

Individuals may apply to the Master of Public Health program concurrently with application to the School of Law or following admission to the School of Law; however, admission to the dual-degree program is contingent upon admission to both the Master of Public Health and the J.D. programs.

Six credits from the School of Law J.D. requirements will be used to satisfy M.P.H.-Health Management and Policy (HMP) degree elective requirements.

The courses used must be taken from the approved M.P.H.-HMP list. Approval for any LAW seminar course should be obtained from the M.P.H.-HMP advisor/program director before taking the course to ensure that it will be accepted.

Nine credits from the M.P.H.-HMP degree requirements will be used to satisfy J.D. requirements. J.D. advisor approval is required.

HMP 5000 Health Care Organization (3 cr) fulfills the M.P.H. core requirement for Health Management and Policy.

LAW 8000 Health Care Law (3 cr) substitutes for HMP 5510 Health Policy & Law (3 cr)

PUBH 5070 Translating Evidence and Theory for Community Practice (3 cr) is taken in semester three or four depending on participation in the health law semester in Washington, D.C.

Students pursuing the J.D./M.P.H. must complete between 117 and 121 credits, depending upon the area of concentration. All students pursuing a J.D./M.P.H. must also complete an internship in public health.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

M.P.H. with Health Management and Policy Concentration 

¹

PUBH 5050: Students in the health management and policy concentration and the public health practice concentration will take HMP 5000 in place of PUBH 5050.

²

PUBH 5070: Students in the behavioral science and health education concentration and the global health concentration will take BSH 5400 in place of PUBH 5070.

³

PUBH 5910: Internship/practice experience mentor approval required.  Students in the health Management and policy concentration will take HMP 5910 in place of PUBH 5910. Students in the health management and policy/epidemiology and health management and policy part-time concentrations can choose between either course depending on their interests.

⁴

PUBH 5950: Registration in this class indicates student has completed coursework required to sit for the CPH exam in the spring semester.  

§

Either taken in third year fall, if participating in Health Law Semester in Washington, D.C., or third year spring.