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Physical Therapy and Public Health

Degree Types: DPT/MPH

The combined DPT/MPH degree is available to physical therapy students in the Feinberg School of Medicine. Students in the combined degree program can earn both the DPT and MPH degrees in three years.

The program is designed for students desiring to: 

  • Be high-quality, public health-oriented practitioners for people and communities with potential or existing movement dysfunction
  • Contribute to the knowledge base in population health through nationally recognized research
  • Drive efforts to improve population health and reduce health disparities.

 Students in the Dual DPT/MPH degree program complete coursework and clinical requirements to satisfy the requirements for each degree. DPT courses are scheduled during the day while MPH courses are offered in the evenings. Students begin MPH coursework the summer before matriculation into the DPT program and then take one or two MPH courses each term along with the regular DPT courseload. The required professional experiences for each degree coordinate so that MPH field and culminating experiences coincide and complement DPT clinical education and the synthesis research project. 

Additional resources:

Program Contact

Contact Kisha Nelson
Senior Program Coordinator
312-503-4873

Degree Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide.

Course Title
Core and Required Courses (5.5 units)
BIOSTAT 301-0
Introduction to Epidemiology
PUB_HLTH 302-0
Introduction to Biostatistics
PUB_HLTH 350-0
Dual Degree Seminar: Topics in Public Health for the Physical Therapist
PUB_HLTH 306-0Health Literacy, Communication, & Systems Change
PUB_HLTH 418-0
Applied Practice Experience I
PUB_HLTH 419-0
Applied Practice Experience II
PUB_HLTH 560-0
Culminating Experience
Intermediate Requirement (1 unit)
PUB_HLTH 421-0
Intermediate Biostatistics
PUB_HLTH 422-0
Intermediate Epidemiology
Methodology Selective (1 unit)
PUB_HLTH 416-0
Program Evaluation
PUB_HLTH 425-0
Introduction to GIS and Spatial Analysis for Public Health
PUB_HLTH 438-0
Survey Design & Methodology
PUB_HLTH 439-0
Qualitative Research Methods
Equity Selective (1 unit)
Choose one:
PUB_HLTH 323-0
Health Equity
PUB_HLTH 446-0
LGBTQ Health
PUB_HLTH 447-0
Structural Racism in Public Health
Electives (5 units)

Additional Resources:

Last Updated: September 29, 2025