Pursuing a doctorate in psychology opens doors to diverse and impactful career paths. For those driven to address broad public health challenges, Doctorate Programs In Psychology offer unique specializations that bridge the gap between individual well-being and community health. One such compelling option is the dual MPH-Ph.D. program in Public Health and Community Psychology, designed to cultivate professionals equipped to tackle complex health issues from multiple perspectives.
Health is influenced by a web of interconnected factors, ranging from biology and genetics to lifestyle choices, environmental conditions, and socio-political landscapes. Addressing the multifaceted challenges to public health requires expertise from various disciplines. Both community psychology and public health fields strive to improve population health, yet they employ distinct but complementary approaches. Community psychologists often operate within public health contexts, championing social change, advocating for marginalized groups, and fostering empowerment. Public health professionals, on the other hand, concentrate on assessing disease prevalence and incidence, pinpointing risk and protective factors, and promoting positive changes in health behaviors at a population level.
This innovative dual doctorate program merges the strengths of both disciplines. It allows students to gain comprehensive knowledge and skills in both public health and community psychology. Students will earn a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree alongside a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in psychology, specializing in community psychology. The MPH degree can be focused on either health behavior & promotion or epidemiology, providing a robust foundation in public health principles. The Ph.D. concentration in community psychology delves into social determinants of health and strategies for community-level interventions.
Admission to this rigorous dual degree program requires candidates to meet the application criteria for both the community psychology concentration and the School of Public Health. It’s important to note that acceptance into one program does not automatically guarantee admission into the other. When applying, prospective students should clearly indicate their interest in the community psychology (COR) concentration and specify their application to the dual MPH-Ph.D. program, along with their preferred MPH concentration in Health Promotion and Behavior (HPMB) or Epidemiology (EPID). The application materials are then jointly reviewed by the admissions committees of both the Psychology Department and the School of Public Health.
Applicants are encouraged to identify faculty members in both Psychology and the School of Public Health whose research interests align with their own. This proactive step can facilitate mentorship and research opportunities throughout their doctoral journey. Students in the dual program are jointly enrolled in both schools initially, transitioning fully to the Psychology Department after completing the MPH requirements. Faculty from the School of Public Health provide academic advising for the MPH curriculum and may serve as thesis advisors or co-advisors. In certain instances, School of Public Health faculty may also offer research mentorship, particularly when funding is available, extending through the completion of the Ph.D.
