Public Health, B.S. to Public Health, M.P.H. Accelerated Program

Saint Louis University's accelerated Bachelor of Science in Public Health/Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) is designed for students who demonstrate academic success in the public health major and related coursework. The B.S. in Public Health and the M.P.H. degrees are accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

This accelerated program enables public health majors to obtain their undergraduate and master's degrees in five years; they then enter the workforce up to a year earlier than with traditional two-year M.P.H. programs.

Students apply to the accelerated program during their junior year, and accepted students begin graduate coursework during their senior year. Students retain undergraduate status, financial aid and tuition rates until their undergraduate degree is conferred after year four. At that time, students attain official graduate student status, pay graduate tuition and become eligible for graduate assistantships.

Students in SLU's accelerated B.S./M.P.H. program choose one of eight concentrations:

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

Public Health, B.S.

Public Health, M.P.H.

Saint Louis University students in the public health major who meet the eligibility requirements may apply in the fall semester of their junior year.

Eligibility requirements include:

  • Students must be in their fifth semester of collegiate study.
  • Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.40.
  • Students must demonstrate a plan to complete 90 credits of the 120 credits required for their public health major by the beginning of their fourth year of studies.
  • Students must be eligible to complete the accelerated curriculum with no more than 15 credits during each semester in year four of the program.
  • Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing with Saint Louis University and the College for Public Health and Social Justice.
  • Students must demonstrate the potential for leadership in public health; this can be done through engagement in volunteer activities or work experience.

Application procedures and program details are outlined in the College for Public Health and Social Justice Undergraduate Public Health Student Handbook.

Undergraduate Course Requirements 

University Undergraduate Core32-35
Prerequisites for Major Courses
MATH 1400Pre-Calculus3
Required Public Health Major Courses
HCE 3100Public Health & Social Justice3
HMP 1300Contemporary Challenges in Health Care3
PUBH 2100Introduction to Global Health 3
PUBH 2300Contemporary Issues in Global Health3
PUBH 3200Evidence Based Public Health3
PUBH 4000Politics and Public Health Advocacy3
PUBH 4100Biological Basis of Public Health3
PUBH 4960Capstone in Public Health3
BST 3100Applied Biostatistics I (Accelerated Students substitute a graduate level class.)3
EPI 4000Intro Epidemiology: Foundations & Practice (Accelerated Students substitute a graduate level class.)3
Public Health Elective: Accelerated Students substitute a graduate level class.3
Public Health Elective: Accelerated Students substitute a graduate level class.3
Undergrad General Elective Courses
Select an additional 46-49 credits of general electives to achieve the minimum 120 credits for graduation.46-49
Total Credits120

Fulfills the cultural diversity core requirement.

The accelerated B.S./M.P.H. program allows students to use up to 15 graduate credits towards their undergraduate degree. 

Graduate Courses

Accelerated applicants choose one of six M.P.H. concentrations. The chosen concentration determines the graduate course requirements. Graduate requirements may change by the time students are formally accepted to the graduate program in the second semester of junior year. See the Master of Public Health requirements page for a list of the current courses.

  • Behavioral Science and Health Education
  • Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness
  • Biostatistics
  • Epidemiology
  • Global Health
  • Health Management and Policy
  • Maternal and Child Health

Continuation Standards

  • Cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.00
  • Cumulative GPA of at least 3.40 in order to participate in the graduate program
  • Minimum grade of B- in all graduate-level courses
  • Minimum grade of C in all  B.S. in Public Health major courses
  • Minimum grade of C- in all core courses
  • Minimum grade of D in all remaining general elective courses counting toward the minimum 120 credits required for graduation
  • Students who wish to apply for the accelerated B.S./M.P.H. program must meet additional requirements as outlined in the CPHSJ Undergraduate Public Health Student Handbook.
 

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.

Undergraduate to Graduate Program Roadmap 

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
CORE 1000 Ignite First Year Seminar 2-3
CORE 1500 Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community 1
CORE 1900 Eloquentia Perfecta 1: Written and Visual Communication 3
PUBH 2100 Introduction to Global Health 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Credits15-16
Spring
CORE 1600 Ultimate Questions: Theology 3
HMP 1300 Contemporary Challenges in Health Care 3
MATH 1400 Pre-Calculus (Ways of Thinking: Quantitative Reasoning) 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
CORE 1200 Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication 3
CORE 1700 Ultimate Questions: Philosophy 3
PUBH 2300 Contemporary Issues in Global Health 3
PUBH 3200 Evidence Based Public Health 3
General Elective 3
 Credits15
Spring
CORE 2500 Cura Personalis 2: Self in Contemplation 0
HCE 3100 Public Health & Social Justice 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
Critical course:  Eligible students formally apply to the Accelerated Program.  
CORE 2800 Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression 2-3
CORE 3400 Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture 3
PUBH 4000 Politics and Public Health Advocacy 3
General Elective: Global Interdependence Attribute 3
General Elective: Identities in Context 3
General Elective (Take if needed to reach 120 total undergraduate credit) 1
 Credits15-16
Spring
Department reviews applications, conducts interviews, and qualified students are notified of acceptance.  
CORE 3500 Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World 1
CORE 3600 Ways of Thinking: Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
CORE 4000 Collaborative Inquiry 2-3
PUBH 4100 Biological Basis of Public Health (Fulfills Core Way of Thinking: Natural Sciences) 3
General Elective: Reflection in Action Attribute 3
General Elective 3
 Credits15-16
Year Four
Fall
Undergraduate General Elective 3
EPI 4000 Intro Epidemiology: Foundations & Practice (Accelerated Students substitute a graduate level class, dependent on concentration.) 3
Public Health Elective: Accelerated Students substitute a graduate level class dependent on concentration. 3
General Elective: Accelerated Students substitute an MPH Class dependent on concentration. 3
General Elective: Accelerated Students substitute an MPH Class dependent upon concentration. 3
 Credits15
Spring
PUBH 4960 Capstone in Public Health 3 3
BST 3100 Applied Biostatistics I (Accelerated Students substitute a graduate level class, according to their concentration..) 3
Public Health Elective: Accelerated Students substitute a graduate level class, according to their concentration. 3
General Elective: Accelerated Students substitute an MPH Class according to their concentration. 3
General Elective: Accelerated Students substitute an MPH Class according to their concentration. 3
 Credits15
Summer
PUBH 5910 Practice Experience in Public Health 1
 Credits1
Year Five
Fall
Masters Level Course 3
Masters Level Course 3
Masters Level Course 3
Masters Level Course 2
 Credits11
Spring
Masters Level Course 3
Masters Level Course 3
Masters Level Course 3
Masters Level Course 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits144-147
Accelerated students double count 24 credits of the MPH courses toward their undergraduate degree.

Apply for Admission

For additional questions about undergraduate admission, please contact:
Katie Linnenbrink
Administrative Assistant
Tegeler Hall 300 West
314-977-3934
katie.linnenbrink@slu.edu