MD/MPH

dual degree program

UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

and
UMDNJ-School of Public Health
M.D./M.P.H. DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and UMDNJ-School of Public Health jointly
offer a comprehensive curriculum leading to the M.D./M.P.H. (Master of Public Health). Stu-
dents earn both the M.D. degree and the M.P.H. degree during the course of five-year medical
school program. Application to this dual degree program is limited to students who already
have been accepted to the medical school. A number of tuition scholarships are available for
students completing the M.P.H. prior to graduation. Students may begin their M.P.H. studies
before or after the first year of medical school.

The UMDNJ-School of Public Health is a nationally recognized, statewide partnership of edu-

cators, researchers and practitioners working to improve the health and well being of communi-
ties and populations. The UMDNJ-School of Public Health is sponsored by the University of
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in cooperation with Rutgers, The State University of
New Jersey and New Jersey Institute of Technology and in collaboration with the Public Health
Research Institute.

Today’s health care issues are persuasive evidence for combining studies for both the M.D.
and M.P.H. degrees. Training in public health provides a broad, contemporary perspective for
future health care leaders, who must deal with such problems as medical care for the poor and
uninsured, the AIDS epidemic, drug and alcohol abuse, air and water contaminants, and cost-
effective use of health care technologies.

While physicians can make important contributions to the health of the community without spe-
cial training in public health, the study of epidemiology, environmental health, behavioral sci-
ences, family health sciences, and other public health fundamentals can significantly increase
the impact of their work.

Public health training assists physicians in understanding the risks to which patients are ex-
posed, while knowledge of sound administrative practices and up-to-date health education
techniques increases the efficiency and effectiveness of care provided to individuals, families,
and communities.

Career opportunities are broadened by combining studies for the M.D. and M.P.H. degrees.
The combination is considered and important asset in the route to leadership as a health care
policymaker, administrator, researcher, or educator.

The M.P.H. degree provides students with a clear understanding of the roles of the core disci-
plines in public health. It also provides students with sufficient knowledge of the theory and
terminology used by these disciplines to allow effective participation in interdisciplinary public
health efforts and with specialized skills in at least one public health discipline. Your area of
specialization should play an important role in your choice of Division.

M. P.H. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The Master of Public Health degree program requires 45 credit hours.

MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Area Credit Hours

Core Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Specialty Divisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-24
Electives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-15
Fieldwork/Thesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
CORE COURSES

All students must take the following core public health courses: Health Education and Behav-
ioral Science in Public Health; Health Systems and Policy; Introduction to Biostatistics; Intro-
duction to Environmental Health; and Principles and Methods of Epidemiology. Some of the
Public Health course work will substitute for medical school courses, such as:

1) Epidemiology and Biostatistics may be substituted by Principles of Epidemiology And

Introduction to Biostatistics and Biocomputing.
2) Environmental and Community Medicine I may be substituted by Health Systems and
Policy Or Health Education.
3) Environmental and Community Medicine II may be substituted by Introduction to Envi-
ronmental Health.

HEALTH SYSTEMS AND POLICY

Against the background of changes in population health, this course introduces the history,
organization, financing and regulation of medical and public health services in the United
States. Special emphasis is placed on the social and behavioral factors that shape health,
inequalities in health and health services. A central theme in this course is the tension between
the need for health care organizations to position themselves for success in the changing
economic environment and the basic public health principles of access, equity, quality care,
health promotion and prevention.G R A M

PRINCIPLES AND METHODS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY

This course introduces students to the study of disease and ill health through their patterns of
occurrence in human populations. The approaches of epidemiology in estimating the burden of
disease, in making inferences about cause of disease, and in evaluating primary, secondary
and tertiary prevention strategies are presented.

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

This course explores the way in which particular characteristics of our environment impinge
upon health. The course examines health problems associated with chemical, physical, and
biological agents, how they impact food safety, infectious disease, air quality, water quality and
land resources in community and occupational settings. Policies intended to improve public
health through mitigation of environmental impacts will be reviewed.

INTRODUCTION TO BIOSTATISTICS

An introduction to biostatistical concepts and methods commonly encountered by public health

professionals. Students are also expected to complete several computer-based exercises for
this course.

HEALTH EDUCATION AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH

The overall goal of this course is to introduce the M.P.H. student to learning and behavioral
science principles, theories and practices that provide the framework for the practice of health
education. Students will be introduced to health education in a public health context, will be
required to perform tasks frequently requested of health educators and will be introduced to
nationally endorsed competencies of certified health education specialists.
FIELDWORK

Fieldwork is a carefully planned and supervised learning experience that is required of all Mas-
ters degree candidates A fieldwork site is chosen based on its educational and career network-
ing potential for the student. Students are required to complete and present a final fieldwork
report.

Biometrics Division

ABOUT BIOMETRICS

Biometrics is a discipline that combines statistics, mathematics, computing, and other quantita-
tive methods and applies these topics to problems in the life and health sciences in both theory
and practice.

The goal of this division is to provide students with statistical knowledge and skills that are nec-
essary to undertake meaningful teaching, research, and service roles in the biomedical and
public health sector.

REQUIRED DIVISION COURSES (12 Credits)

Biocomputing I
• Regression Methods for Public Health Studies or Regression Analysis
• Categorical Data Analysis
• Advanced Multivariate Methods
79
ELECTIVES (12 Credits)

• Theory of Statistics I or Probability theory, distribution theory

• Theory of Statistics II or Theory of mathematical inference
• Modeling Binary Response Data
• Biocomputing II
• Clinical Trials: Design and Analysis of Medical Experiments
• Biostatistics for Environmental and Occupational Health
• Advanced Topics in Biostatistics
• Basic Statistics for Research
• Basic Applied Statistics
• Biostatistics I
• Design of Experiments
• Nonparametric Statistics

Environmental and Occupational Health

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

The adverse health impacts of environmental pollution are the number one public policy issue
in New Jersey. The public, private, and academic sectors are all striving to improve our ability
to understand and protect our environments. and to protect them. Accordingly, the primary goal
of this division is to train qualified professionals with expertise in environmental and
occupational health. The unifying feature lies in the identification of hazards, the recognition of
at risk populations, and the prevention of exposure. Many kinds of toxic agents are
encountered both in the community and in the workplace, but there are significant differences
in the circumstances and magnitude of exposure. Many kinds of toxic agents are encountered
both in the community and in the workplace, but there are significant differences in the
circumstances and magnitude of exposure and, therefore, on the strategies used for controlling
exposure and preventing disease.
REQUIRED COURSES: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH EMPHASIS (15 Credits)

• Environmental and Occupational Toxicology

• Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
• Environmental Risk Assessment
• Advanced Principles of Occupational Health
• Principles of Industrial Hygiene or Principles of Industrial Hygiene

REQUIRED COURSES: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH EMPHASIS (15-16 Credits)

• Introduction to Environmental Law

• Environmental and Occupational Toxicology
• Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
• Environmental Risk Assessment
• Principles of Industrial Hygiene or Principles of Industrial Hygiene
• General Ecology or Ecological Risk Assessment

Epidemiology Division

ABOUT EPIDEMIOLOGY

Epidemiology has been defined as the study of the distribution and determinants of disease
prevalence in man. Epidemiological studies are essential in identifying effective public health
interventions and in providing data needed for setting priorities in the field.

This Division formally recognizes the close nexus between epidemiology, quantitative methods
and computing. The goals of the Division are to provide students with epidemiological and
computing skills that will allow them to undertake meaningful research in the public health
sector. Specifically, graduates of the Division should be able to assist or lead in studies that
describe the distribution of disease in time and place, identify determinants of disease, and
perform quantitative evaluation of intervention programs.

REQUIRED COURSES (15 Credits)

• Biocomputing I
• Design of Experiments or Regression Analysis, Regression Methods for Public
Health Studies
• Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology or Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases
• Advanced Multivariate Methods
• Epidemiological Research Methods

ELECTIVES (9 Credits)

• Modeling Binary Response Data

• Clinical Trials: Design and Analysis of Medical Experiments
• Nonparametric Statistics
• Interpretation of Data I, II
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Disease Clusters: Science and Policy
• Reading/Research Topics in Epidemiology
• Seminar in Survival Analysis
• Classic Papers in Epidemiology
• Survey Research Methods
• Introduction to Outcomes Research
• Health Services Research and Evaluation
Health Education and Behavioral Science Division

ABOUT HEALTH EDUCATION AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE

The educational process has been identified as a principal method for achieving national health
objectives. The role of the well-prepared health educator is essential to facilitating individuals and
groups, altering lifestyles, improving the environment, controlling infectious diseases, and
appropriately utilizing available health care services. Substantial benefits can best be achieved
when initiatives are guided by persons possessing the competencies required to design,
implement and evaluate educational programs.

REQUIRED COURSES (15 Credits)

• Health Education Planning and Evaluation

• Modifying Health Behaviors: Theory and Practice
• Methodologies and Materials in Health Education
• Survey Research Methods
• Management Techniques in Health Administration

ELECTIVES (9 Credits)

Distance Learning
Public Health Grant Writing
Public Health Advocacy
Research Topics In Health Education
Seminar in Health Education Topics
Group Dynamics/Interpersonal Communication
Community Organization and Coalition Building
Health Communications/Risk Communication
Human Development Through the Life Cycle
Principles of Staff Training and Development
Immigration, Urban Policy and Public Health
Independent Study in Research Methods

Health Systems and Policy Division (HSAP)

ABOUT HEALTH SYSTEMS AND POLICY

The primary goal of the Health Systems and Policy Division is to provide students with an
understanding of current health care policies and the historical context of the organization,
financing and regulation of health care in the United States. The Division is designed to build upon
the skills of health care professionals and others with interests in health care delivery, program
planning and evaluation, and health care policy. Those students selecting a concentration in
Health Systems and Policy have the opportunity for more intensive educational experience through
fieldwork placements in specified areas of interest. Required Division courses provide students
with the information, knowledge, tools and skills necessary to participate in various facets of health
policy development and assessment, and in program evaluation and health care management
within public health, community and institutional health care settings. The Division attracts primarily
working health care professionals (physicians, nurses and allied health personnel, health officers
and government employees) and builds upon their existing understanding of how the health care
system operates. The Division offers courses that are directed at improving students’ evaluative,
analytic, and decision-making skills for the purpose of career development or Doctoral level
studies.
REQUIRED COURSES: (15 CREDITS)

Managing Health Care Delivery Organizations

Health Care Economics
Health Care Ethics and Law
Health Services Research And Evaluation
Health Care Policy

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES: (9 CREDITS)

Advanced Multivariate Methods for Environmental and Health Issues

Survey Research Methods
Community Organization and Coalition Building
Seminar: Problems in Health and Social Policy
Introduction to Outcomes Research
Management Techniques in Health Administration
Overview of Managed Care
Health Care Policy Making
Economic Employee Relations
Human Resource Administration
Organizational Behavior
Pharmacoeconomics
Decision Making for Public Policy
Accounting for Managers
Research Design for Public Policy
Financial Management

Quantitative Health Care Assessment: A Cross-Division Option

This new emphasis is a hybrid between Epidemiology and the Health Systems and Policy Division.
It focuses on health care outcomes and can be accessed either through the Health Systems and
Policy Division or through the Epidemiology Division. Dr. Stephen Marcella serves as the advisor
for students following this curriculum.

REQUIRED COURSES: (12 CREDITS)

Introduction to Outcomes Research

Health Care Economics
Overview of Managed Care
-Or-
Health Care Policy
Pharmacoeconomics

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES: (12 CREDITS)

Regression Analysis
-Or-
Regression Methods for Health Studies
-Or-
Survey Research Methods
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
-Or-
Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases
-Or-
Clinical Trials: Design and Analysis of Medical Experiments
Epidemiological Research Methods
Advanced Multivariate Methods for Environmental Health Issues
For additional information, please contact:

Steven Marcella, M.D., M.P.H.

Advisor
Environmental and Community Medicine
Phone: (732)235-4017

For admissions, please contact:

Tina Greco, M.S.M.

Campus Manager
UMDNJ-School of Public Health
EOSHI, Room 236A
170 Frelinghuysen Road
Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
Phone: 732-445-0199
[email protected]