Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Dual MPH-DVM Program, Public Health - Veterinary Medicine


Needs and opportunities for veterinarians are expanding in organizations ranging from public agencies dealing with animal and human health, to agencies and corporations charged with food safety and security from the farm to the consumer level. The demand is increasing for veterinarians with additional education in food safety, food and animal production, zoonotic diseases, biosecurity, research methods and public policy. The veterinary degree alone is not enough to prepare veterinarians to meet these challenges and opportunities. A Master of Public Health (MPH)  degree is an excellent and necessary addition to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)  degree for those individuals wanting to make a career in public health and service.

Concentrations (Required) and Options

Public Health — Veterinary Public Health Concentration, Courses with comprehensive exam

Veterinary Medicine — None

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

  • Students must be currently enrolled in the professional DVM degree program at the University of Tennessee (DVM students) to enter the dual MPH-DVM program; all requirements for both the MPH and DVM degrees must be met for admission.
  • DVM students may enroll in the program at any time during years 1 - 3, but progress and time to completion will be affected by when a student starts the dual program and how many courses are satisfactorily completed each semester.

Credit Hours Required

  • 180 graduate credit hours
    • 153 credit hours for the DVM that accepts 7 credit hours from the MPH, for 146 credit hours
    • 42 credit hours for the MPH that accepts 8 hours from the DVM, for 34 credit hours

Required Courses

  • Students will be expected to complete MPH-specific courses during the two summers following the first and second years of veterinary school.
  • Public Health—Health Policy and Management courses
  • Consult with the College of Veterinary Medicine for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine  (DVM) curriculum requirements

Additional Course Requirements

Non-Course Requirements

  • Students will pay graduate tuition fees during the summer semester and professional DVM tuition during the fall and spring semesters.
  • Students are required to pass an MPH comprehensive exam.
  • Degrees do not need to be awarded simultaneously; if a student has not completed the requirements for the MPH, the student may still receive the DVM but must complete the MPH requirements within one year to take advantage of the shared credits.
  • If a dual student completes the MPH requirements, but does not complete the DVM, the student may still be awarded the MPH.