The goal of the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) is to graduate clinician-citizens who are prepared to deliver excellent patient care while pursuing scholarly inquiry, serving as leaders and advocates to address population-level issues that have an impact on individual health, and engaging with communities to improve health at the local, national, and global levels. To further these goals, SMHS and the Milken Institute School of Public Health (GWSPH) provide a dual medicine–public health program (MD/MPH) for medical students. Upon completion of the dual program, students are eligible to take the Certified in Public Health (CPH) examination.

The MD students at SMHS can apply to the GWSPH to obtain a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree

MD/MPH students receive up to 15 credits from the MD curriculum to apply to the MPH curricular requirements. A minimum of thirty (30) credits must be taken at GWSPH.  Medical students may begin Public Health coursework during the summer following MS3 or MS4 of the MD program. All MD-MPH students are granted a one-year leave of absence after Year 3 of the MD program. In addition, SPH coursework is credited as four elective weeks during the fourth year of the MD program, reducing the MD school required curriculum accordingly.  

The MD degree is the primary degree in the dual MD-PH dual degree program. Students in the MD-MPH program receive the MD degree upon successful completion of all MD program requirements, but must successfully complete all requirements for both the MD degree and the MPH degree in order to receive the MPH degree.

Students may also apply to earn the dual MD/Certificate in Public Health.  See MD/Certificate in Public Health Tab for more information. 

Students must be actively enrolled in the SMHS MD program to be eligible for GW dual MD/MPH or the MD/Certificate in Public Health program credit sharing as described on this site. 

When activated, the application is available via the Blue APPLY Button on this page.

Eligible MD cohorts may submit applications for the MD/MPH to the SMHS Admissions Office by the designated due date advertised each year. MD students who wish to pursue the MD/MPH may apply in one of two application periods:  

The dual MD/Certificate in Public Health program follows the same admissions schedule and procedures. 

Contact the SMHS Admissions department directly for information about the admissions process for the MD-MPH program:

SMHS Office of Admissions                                                 
2300 Eye Street, NW
Ross Hall Suite 106
Washington, DC 20037

E-Mail: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 994-3506

Additional questions are welcomed at the School of Public Health:

Milken Institute School of Public Health Office of Admissions
950 New Hampshire Ave, NW
7th Floor
Washington, DC 20052

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 994-2160

The Certificate in Public Health is a 15 credit program.  

The MD/Certificate in Public Health students are required to take 4 specific courses (10 credits) to earn the Certificate as follows:

PUBH 6002 | Biostatistical Applications for Public Health (3 credits)
PUBH 6003 | Principles and Practices of Epidemiology (3 credits)
​PUBH 6007 | Social and Behavioral Approaches to Public Health (2 credits)
PUBH 6009 | Program Evaluation (2 credits)

Students enrolled in the dual MD/Certificate in Public Health program will receive cross-credits from the MD program for two courses:

PUBH 6011 | Environmental and Biological Foundations of Public Health (3 credits)
PUBH 6012 | Fundamentals of Health Policy (2 credits)

Year 1 MD students enrolling in the MD/Certificate in Public Health will complete coursework during Summer session between Year 1 and 2 and Summer session between Year 3 and 4. Students in the 3rd year cohort will enroll in all 4 required Certificate classes in Summer session between Year 3 and 4.  NOTE:  Please contact your advisor to determine available session timelines.

Upon completion of the the curricular requirements for the Certificate, students are eligible to take the Certified in Public Health (CPH) examination.

Non-Academic Requirements

All Milken Institute School of Public Health students, regardless of program or degree level, are required to fulfill these non-academic requirements:

Professional Enhancement

Students in degree programs must participate in eight hours of Professional Enhancement. These activities are pre-approved by an advisor and may be Public Health-related lectures, seminars, and symposia related to your field of study.

Professional Enhancement activities supplement the rigorous academic curriculum of the SPH degree programs and help prepare students to participate actively in the professional community. You can learn more about opportunities for Professional Enhancement via the Milken Institute School of Public Health Listserv, through departmental communications, or by speaking with your advisor.

Students must submit a completed Professional Enhancement Form to the student records department [email protected].

Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Training

All students are required to complete the Basic CITI training module in Social and Behavioral Research prior to beginning the practicum.  This online training module for Social and Behavioral Researchers will help new students demonstrate and maintain sufficient knowledge of the ethical principles and regulatory requirements for protecting human subjects - key for any public health research.

Academic Integrity Quiz

All Milken Institute School of Public Health students are required to review the University’s Code of Academic Integrity and complete the GW Academic Integrity Activity.  This activity must be completed within 2 weeks of matriculation. Information on GWSPH Academic Integrity requirements can be found here.

Program of Study

MD/PH Certificate 23-24
MD/PH Certificate 22-23
MD/PH Certificate 21-22
MD/PH Certificate 20-21

Flat Rate Medical School Tuition:  Students in the dual programs pay the prevailing MD tuition rate based upon their class of graduation during the semesters they are enrolled in Medical School courses.

Per Credit Hour Rate SPH Tuition: Students are charged the prevailing SPH tuition rates when only enrolled in SPH courses.  Tuition rates per credit do change annually.