About the Program

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The PharmD-MPH Combined Degree Program is designed for pharmacists interested in developing a deeper understanding of today's public health challenges. 

This four-year program allows UCSF pharmacy students to earn the Master of Public Health degree from the UC Berkeley School of Public Health during an additional year between the second and third years of pharmacy school. After completing the 11-month MPH program, they will return to UCSF to complete the PharmD degree. At the end of the combined degree program, students graduate with two degrees from two prestigious public universities and are prepared to develop innovative solutions in our rapidly-evolving health care environment.

Program at a Glance

FeaturePharmD-MPH Combined Degree
Degrees earnedDoctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Master of Public Health (MPH)
Program length4 academic years
Program modelIntegrated combined degree pathway
Application pathwayApply at the start of the second year of the UCSF PharmD program
Public health trainingEpidemiology, biostatistics, social justice, population health, health policy
Practice trainingPharmD coursework, IPPEs, and APPEs
Licensure preparationMeets PharmD curricular requirements for pharmacist licensure eligibility

Why combine a PharmD with a Master of Public Health?

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A PharmD-MPH combines expertise in medications and patient care with training in population health, epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy, health care leadership, and disease prevention. 

The combined degree is designed for pharmacists who want to influence health beyond individual patient encounters. Students will be uniquely qualified to address ongoing and emerging public health challenges from the pharmacist's perspective in a multidisciplinary environment.

PharmD-MPH graduates may work in hospitals, health systems, government agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, pharmaceutical companies, managed care organizations, and research centers.

Who should consider this program?

This program may be a strong fit for students who are interested in careers in:

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  • Clinical pharmacy
  • Clinical research, pharmacoepidemiology, outcomes research
  • Public or global health 
  • Health care administration
  • Managed care
  • Academia
  • Regulatory sciences and drug safety