Academic Planning & GWSPH Dual Degrees

Fast-track your graduate studies with a dual degree at GWSPH, saving time and tuition while gaining advanced expertise that sets you apart for medical school, health professions, the job market, and beyond.

PROGRAM Highlights

• No risk, all reward. All GWSPH dual degree programs are non-binding. If you decide not to continue with your graduate program, all graduate credits earned still count towards your undergraduate degree and any relevant approved requirements - no questions asked!
• Count select crossover courses toward both degrees! Graduate-level classes replace undergrad requirements, saving students time and money.
• Balance school and career with classes in the late afternoon or evening. Take up to 15 graduate credits online after completing your bachelor’s.
• Graduate early and stand out: Enter your field with advanced training and expertise!

How Does It Work?

Dual degree students are eligible to complete select graduate courses that double-count toward both their undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. This allows students to save time and money on their master's degree while creating a seamless transition into their future MPH or MS program. 

MPH Track

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To complete an MPH at GWSPH, students must successfully complete 45 credits of graduate-level coursework. Up to 12 credits are eligible to be used as crossover credits. 

These 12 credits of pre-approved graduate coursework count towards both the 120 credits required for one's undergraduate degree and the 45 credits required for their MPH.

 

MS Track

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To complete an MS at GWSPH, students must successfully complete 36 credits of graduate-level coursework. Up to 9 credits are eligible to be used as crossover credits.

These 9 credits of pre-approved graduate coursework count towards both the 120 credits required for one's undergraduate degree and the 36 credits required for their MS.

 

Dual degree students may also enroll in additional graduate-level courses that do not count toward their undergraduate degree but do apply toward their graduate credit requirements. These non-crossover courses allow students to make further progress toward their MPH or MS while still completing their bachelor’s degree.

To remain classified as undergraduates, students must maintain at least a 51% undergraduate / 49% graduate course load during any semester in which they take graduate coursework. This ensures continued progress toward the bachelor’s degree while permitting early advancement in the master’s program.

Non-crossover courses require prior approval from the student’s graduate advisor via the Dual Degree Registration Request Form. Once earned, these credits apply exclusively to the student’s graduate degree requirements.

To remain classified as undergraduates, students must maintain at least a 51% undergraduate / 49% graduate course load during any semester in which they take graduate coursework.

Save Courses To Save Money

Thoughtful academic planning is vital for maximizing the benefits of GWSPH dual degree programs. (Be sure to review our page on Academic Planning if you haven't done so already!) To maximize one's crossover credits, it is recommended that students wait to take courses eligible for crossover until after they apply to the dual degree program. 

If you're interested in a GWSPH dual degree program, aim to plan the following courses for your junior and/or senior year:

MPH Track

• PUBH 2142  Introduction to Biostatistics for Public Health 
• PUBH 3131  Epidemiology 
• PUBH 2112  Principles of Health Education & Health Promotion 
• PUBH 3132  Health & Environment

BS Nutrition/MPH Public Health Nutrition ONLY:

• EXNS 2120  Assessment of Nutritional Status 
• EXNS 2122  Food Systems in Public Health 
• EXNS 2124  Lifecycle Nutrition 
• PUBH 2112  Principles of Health Education & Health Promotion 
• PUBH 2142  Introduction to Biostatistics for Public Health 

MS Track

• PUBH 4201  Practical Computing
• CSCI 1011  Introduction to Programming with Java
• CSCI 1012  Introduction to Programming with Python
• PUBH 4202  Bioinformatics Algorithms & Data Structures
• CSCI 1112  Algorithms & Data Structures
• PUBH 3201  Introduction to Bioinformatics
• PUBH 3242  Health Data Visualization

Already took one of these courses? No problem! Some graduate-level requirements may be waived if you’ve completed the undergraduate equivalent with a strong grade. Waived courses are replaced with graduate-level electives to satisfy your program’s graduate-level credit requirements and avoid unnecessarily duplicative coursework.

Applications

Eligibility

GWSPH dual degree programs maintain rigorous eligibility standards to ensure that students are prepared to balance graduate-level coursework with their undergraduate studies. While there is not currently a limit to the number of applicants who can be admitted each cycle, applicants must meet all minimum requirements to qualify for dual degree candidacy. 

Students who do not meet these criteria may consider applying in a future application period or applying to the traditional GWSPH MPH or MS programs.

To be eligible to apply to any GWSPH dual degree, a student must meet the following requirements:

Application Materials

Applicants submit the following materials via the application portal, which will be shared when applications open:

• Personal Statement
• Resume or CV
• Unofficial Transcript (must include spring semester grades)*
• Two (2) Faculty Recommendation Forms (Full letters are not required; forms are submitted digitally via a link provided in the application.)

*Students studying abroad during the spring prior to applying may submit an unofficial transcript without final spring grades but must provide updated grades once available.

Application Timeline

• Application Period: Early May - Early June
• Admission Decisions: Mid-July
• Dual Degree Orientation: Late-August

Additional Information

Graduate Degree Requirements

To earn the MPH or MS, dual degree students must complete all core and program-specific requirements outlined by their academic department. Full curriculum details are available on the GWSPH Master’s Programs website.

Program Timeline & Expectations

GWSPH dual degrees are NOT considered 4+1 programs. 

While many students finish their graduate degree within one year of completing the bachelor’s, the precise timeline for completion varies greatly depending on a variety of factors. These include (but not limited to):

• Graduate course sequencing and availability
• Number of crossover credits completed as an undergraduate
• Number of non-crossover credits completed as an undergraduate
• Enrollment in summer courses
• Part-Time or Full-Time Enrollment:
  • Undergraduate: Minimum of 12 credits for full-time in fall/spring 
  • Graduate: Minimum of 9 credits for full-time in fall/spring (6 credits for full-time in summer)
• And more

Students should work closely with both their undergraduate and graduate advisors to understand their individual requirements and their overall completion timeline.

Program Benefits

• No GRE requirement or application fee.
• No application fee.
• Non-binding admission, meaning students can opt out of their MPH or MS with no financial penalty.
• Opportunity to double-count crossover courses, reducing repetition of core material.
• Reduce time spent in graduate school by at least one semester.
• Graduate coursework completed during one's undergraduate studies is lumped in with undergraduate tuition at no additional cost.
• Eligible for 10% Grad2Grad tuition discount on remaining graduate coursework upon matriculating into the master’s program.
• Establish stronger faculty connections, expanded research opportunities, and enhanced professional networking.
• Maintain existing internships and jobs while completing graduate studies.

Want to learn more? Check out our official Dual Degrees page to learn more specific dual degree programs and the curriculum!

Curriculum Details