Physician Assistant, M.M.S. and Public Health, M.P.H. Dual Degree

Saint Louis University's Master of Public Health (M.P.H) and Physician Assistant Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.) dual-degree program is a collaboration between the College for Public Health and Social Justice and the Doisy College of Health Sciences Department of Clinical Health Sciences.

Pursuing the two degrees as a dual degree allows students to complete both degrees in an accelerated fashion as compared to completing them separately or sequentially. Students in the dual degree focus first on the M.P.H., taking three consecutive semesters (summer, fall, spring) of M.P.H. coursework. Then students focus on their M.M.S. studies within the Doisy College of Health Sciences. Six credit hours of coursework in the M.M.S. curriculum also count as elective credits toward completion of the M.P.H. degree, providing the credit efficiency that allows students to complete both degrees in three and a half academic years. Students interested in earning the M.P.H./M.M.S. dual degree apply separately to both programs before starting either one.

SLU's College for Public Health and Social Justice is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The Physician Assistant Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA).

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

Physician Assistant, M.M.S.​

Public Health, M.P.H.

Admission Requirements

Students must meet the admission requirements and be admitted into both degree programs according to the processes of each participating academic unit to pursue a dual-degree program. 

Individuals may apply to the M.P.H. degree program concurrently with application to or following their admission to the Doisy College of Health Sciences; however, admission to the dual-degree program is contingent upon admission to both the M.P.H. and the M.M.S. degree programs.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For more information about student loans, please visit the Office of Student Financial Services. 

Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Saint Louis University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Saint Louis University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be June 2033. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-saint-louis-university/.

Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
3325 Paddocks Parkway, Suite 345
Suwanee, GA 30024
770-476-1224
https://www.arc-pa.org

Saint Louis University's College for Public Health and Social Justice is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). To see the most recent accreditation documentation, please visit the College for Public Health and Social Justice website.

Admission Requirements

Students interested in participating in the M.P.H./M.M.S. dual degree program must apply separately to both programs before starting either one. 

Students will focus first on the M.P.H., taking three consecutive semesters (summer, fall, and spring) devoted to M.P.H. coursework.

Program Requirements

Six credit hours of coursework in the M.M.S. curriculum also count as elective credits toward completion of the M.P.H. degree, providing the credit efficiency that allows students to complete both degrees in 3.5 academic years. 

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.

Program Notes

Extended spring semesters run from early January through late June, and extended fall semesters run from late June through December. Also, the six credit hours of coursework taken from the M.M.S. courses PAED 5010, PAED 5070, PAED 5300 and PAED 6000 (x2) also count as elective credits toward the student's M.P.H. degree.

The final semester of dedicated M.P.H. coursework may extend into the summer months prior to the beginning of the M.M.S. coursework as students complete the Practice Experience in Public Health (PUBH 5910).

For additional admission questions, questions, please contact,

Julie Miller (for physician assistant information)
Recruitment specialist - Doisy College of Health Sciences
314-977-2570
dchs@health.slu.edu

Bernard Backer (for M.P.H. information)
Director of graduate admissions - College of  Public Health and Social Justice
314-977-8144
bernard.backer@slu.edu

Apply for Admission