The coordinated Public Health/Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree program is offered through the UAB School of Public Health (SOPH) and the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine (AUCVM). The addition of an MPH degree to the DVM can broaden career opportunities, providing a foundation for positions in research, government, and international health as well as private industry.

Students in this coordinated program earn an MPH with a concentration in Population Health. In this individualized concentration, students gain a solid foundation in public health through completion of the MPH core (based on the Evidence-based Public Health framework), an Applied Practice Experience (Internship), and an Integrative Learning Experience (Capstone). Students also select from among all master’s level Public Health courses (e.g., health economics, strategic planning, health policy) to build a unique curriculum that supports their career goals. Specialized advising is provided to assist students in designing their individualized curriculum.

Curriculum

Students must complete the MPH Core plus 7 credit hours of MPH focus courses for a total of 30 credit hours, in addition to the required DVM curriculum requirements. Twelve credit hours from the DVM curriculum are credited toward the MPH degree, for a total of 42 MPH credit hours.

Online students pay less than the out-of-state tuition rate for the MPH portion of this coordinated degree.

Download Sample Curriculum Planning Sheet (pdf)

Admission

Students must be admitted to the AUCVM DVM program before being considered for the coordinated MPH/DVM program.

Students who intend to earn a bachelor's degree while enrolled in the DVM program can apply to the coordinated program for the term directly following the awarding of their bachelor's degree. In this case, students can start taking MPH coursework in the semester following the completion of their bachelor's degree and are permitted to include the 12 shared hours.

Students are admitted separately to the MPH and DVM programs. Upon acceptance to the AUCVM DVM program, students will be accepted automatically to the UAB MPH degree program.

• To apply for this degree, you will submit a supplemental application directly through the UAB Graduate School.
• Learn how to apply to the AUCVM DVM program.
• Learn how to apply to the School of Public Health. Select "MPH dual program" and then the MPH/DVM track. Special instructions:
  • Test score field is required, so enter "GRE" and a date to advance in the application.
  • The reference letter field is also required, so enter three names from the VMCAS application and select “No” when asked if they will be electronic submission.
  • Once the student is admitted to the DVM program, they will be automatically accepted to the MPH portion of the coordinated degree once they submit their application to the UAB Graduate School.
• Students should note that the Population Health program curriculum has been updated. If a student is submitting to switch from a different degree program or department into a Coordinated Degree or the General MPH in Population Health Degree, the student will be responsible for completing the current Population Health program requirements. Students should meet with the current program manager prior to submitting a petition to switch programs.

Student Spotlight

I chose the DVM/MPH coordinated degree program due to my interest in exploring the integration of public health and veterinary medicine. Veterinarians play a crucial role in maintaining public health through disease prevention, antibiotic stewardship, and food safety inspection. The online format of the MPH program enabled me to complete the coursework around my DVM schedule each week, and I chose to incorporate a zoonotic focus into my projects whenever possible. I especially enjoyed the infectious disease course. Upon graduation, I’m interested in applying what I’ve learned through working for the USDA.
- Blake Branham, MPH (’25), DVM (’27)

Photo by Blake Branham

Contact

For additional information concerning the coordinated MPH/DVM program, contact the School of Public Health at soph@uab.edu.