Public Health Dual Degree Programs - BS

Students studying public health may apply their liberal arts education in the field of physical therapy or advanced study in public health through five dual degree programs. The Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies, Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (MAOT), Doctor of Occupational Therapy-Entry Level (OTD EL), Master of Public Health (MPH) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs offer students the opportunity to enter the graduate program as undergraduate students in their senior year. Students complete their bachelor's degree while pursuing the graduate degree.

Public Health: Public Policy/Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies (MAHS)

St. Kate’s offers the opportunity to apply a liberal arts education to the growing field of Holistic Health Studies through a unique 3+2 dual-degree program in applied science in Public Health: Public Policy/Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies (MAHS). The dual-degree program allows students to complete their bachelor’s degree while pursuing the MAHS degree. Students graduate in five years with an undergraduate degree in biology and a master’s degree in Holistic Health Studies. 

The MAHS opens doors of insight into new paradigms of health and healing that integrate mind, body and spirit. This emerging model draws from the best of modern scientific medicine and cross-cultural healing wisdom passed down over centuries. The program offers opportunities for personal empowerment, skill development and spiritual transformation and will prepare students to face today’s health and wellness challenges, and lead in the advancement of health and healing. 

The public health: public policy courses focus on the core disciplinary areas of study in public health. Students will take classes in areas such as behavioral/social science, biostatistics and epidemiology, global health, environmental health, administration and management, maternal and child health, nutrition, and biomedical/health sciences. If students choose to complete the fourth-year course work prior to applying for the MAHS program they will be prepared for employment in public health, and will have strengthened their background for work as health professionals in public health practice areas.

To enroll in this program, students apply to the MAHS program during their junior year. If they are admitted to the MAHS program, they receive a B.S. in public health: public policy upon completion of the first year of the MAHS program. The curriculum for this dual degree program option is listed in the Pre-Professional Programs, Pre-Holistic Health Studies section of this catalog.

Public Health: Public Policy/Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy

Public health majors who select the public policy concentration will complete the public health: public policy pre-occupational therapy sequence of courses and supporting work for the MAOT program. This includes courses in biology, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and statistics, while providing a special emphasis in public health: public policy.

The public health: public policy courses focus on the core disciplinary areas of study in public health. In addition to MAOT prerequisite courses, students will take classes in areas such as behavioral/social science, biostatistics and epidemiology, global health, environmental health, administration and management, maternal and child health, nutrition, and biomedical/health sciences. If students choose to complete the fourth-year course work prior to applying for the MAOT program they will be prepared for employment in public health, and will have strengthened their background for work as health professionals in public health practice areas.

To enroll in this program, students apply to the MAOT program during their junior year. If they are admitted to the MAOT program, they receive a B.S. in public health: public policy upon completion of the first year of the MAOT program. The curriculum for this dual degree program option is listed in the Pre-Professional Programs, Pre-Occupational Therapy Masters section of this catalog.

Public Health: Public Policy/Doctor of Occupational Therapy-Entry Level

Public health majors who select the public policy concentration will complete the public health: public policy pre-occupational therapy sequence of courses and supporting work for the OTD EL program. This includes courses in biology, anatomy, physiology, psychology, and statistics, while providing a special emphasis in public health: public policy.

The public health: public policy courses focus on the core disciplinary areas of study in public health. In addition to OTD EL prerequisite courses, students will take classes in areas such as behavioral/social science, biostatistics and epidemiology, global health, environmental health, administration and management, maternal and child health, nutrition, and biomedical/health sciences. If students choose to complete the fourth-year course work prior to applying for the OTD EL program they will be prepared for employment in public health, and will have strengthened their background for work as health professionals in public health practice areas.

To enroll in this program, students apply to the OTD EL program during their junior year. If they are admitted to the OTD EL program, they receive a B.S. in public health: public policy upon completion of the first year of the OTD EL program. The curriculum for this dual degree program option is listed in the Pre-Professional Programs, Pre-Occupational Therapy Doctoral section of this catalog.

Public Health/Master of Public Health

Public health majors (with any of the four concentrations: health sciences, public policy, health promotion and education, or community health worker) will complete the public health sequence of courses and supporting work for the MPH program. This includes courses in global health, statistics, biology and/or chemistry and statistics, while providing a special emphasis in public health.

Public health is about influencing the behavior and attitudes of society for long-term change through education, health promotion and policy. Students who major in public health at St. Kate’s are ethical, patient and creative problem solvers. They’re eager and excited to solve complex health issues that affect us in an increasingly global world, such as access to healthcare, infectious diseases, water pollution and genetically modified foods. If students choose to complete the fourth-year course work prior to applying for the MPH program they will be prepared to work in a variety of areas of the public health discipline.

To enroll in this program, students apply to the MPH program during their junior year. If they are admitted to the MPH program, they receive a B.S. in public health upon completion of the first year of the MPH program. The curriculum for the public health major is listed in the Pre-Professional Programs, Pre-Public health section of this catalog.

Public Health: Health Sciences/Doctor of Physical Therapy

Public health majors who select the health sciences concentration will complete the exercise science pre-physical therapy sequence of courses and supporting work for the DPT program. This includes courses in biology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics, psychology, statistics and mathematics, while providing a special emphasis in public health: health sciences.

The public health: health sciences courses focus on the core disciplinary areas of study in public health. In addition to DPT prerequisite courses, students will take classes in areas such as behavioral/social science, biostatistics and epidemiology, global health, environmental health, administration and management, maternal and child health, nutrition, and biomedical/health sciences. If students choose to complete the fourth-year course work prior to applying for the DPT program they will be prepared for employment in public health, and will have strengthened their background for work as health professionals in public health practice areas.

To enroll in this program, students apply to the DPT program during their junior year. If they are admitted to the DPT program, they receive a B.S. in public health: health sciences upon completion of the first year of the DPT program. The curriculum for this dual degree program option is listed in the Pre-Professional Programs, Pre-Physical Therapy section of this catalog.