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, Coursework With Comprehensive Exam Option

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 credit 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
  • Public Health Foundation courses (20 credit hours): PUBH 509  (2 credit hours), PUBH 510 , PUBH 520 , PUBH 530 , PUBH 537 , PUBH 540 , PUBH 552  
  • Veterinary Public Health concentration courses (7 credit hours): Comparative and Experimental Medicine CEM 506 , CEM 611 , and either CEM 507  or CEM 508 .     
  • Internship courses (6 credit hours): PUBH 587 ; may be fulfilled by placement in an organization approved by the advisor.
• Consult with the College of Veterinary Medicine for the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine  (DVM) curriculum requirements

Additional Course Requirements

• Seven credit hours from the DVM program, shared between the two degrees and applied to the MPH total credit count, from any of the following courses: VMP 833 , VMP 836 , VMP 871 , or VMP 874 . Topics for VMP 871  and VMP 874  must be approved by the advisor. 
• Eight credit hours from the MPH program, shared between the two degrees and applied to the DVM total credit count, from any of the following courses: CEM 506 , CEM 507 , CEM 508 , or PUBH 587 .

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.