FAQs

Who is eligible for the program?

Applicants must have a completed undergraduate degree, be currently admitted into an accredited college of veterinary medicine and meet the prerequisites for admission. Students are encouraged to begin the M.P.H. program the summer before beginning veterinary medicine school. Early application is encouraged.

The D.V.M./M.P.H. program is open to students of all accredited veterinary schools.

How long does it take to complete the M.P.H. degree?

It depends on you. You have up to seven years to complete the M.P.H. The basic (required) curriculum is offered online throughout the year. Focus area (elective) curriculum is traditionally completed via attendance of two or more Public Health Institutes. Usually veterinary students complete the M.P.H. degree in three to five years; it depends on how you schedule the courses and if credits are transferred from your D.V.M. program.

What is the Public Health Institute?

The Public Health Institute is held annually for three weeks during May and June. It offers cutting-edge courses in your focus area of choice.  Because of this, courses for each focus area may change or expand according to current social issues and concerns. Please contact the Program Coordinator for current information.

Course offerings and descriptions for the Public Health Institute are usually posted to the Public Health Institute website in February.

What are my focus area choices?

You can choose one of three focus areas:

• Food Protection
• Preparedness, Response and Recovery
• Occupational Health and Safety

What is a Field Experience?

The field experience allows you to formally apply what you’ve learned.

This experience is a curricular element required by the Council on Education for Public Health, the primary accrediting body for Schools of Public Health.

All professional degree students must develop skills in basic public health concepts and demonstrate the application of these concepts through a practice experience that is relevant to the students' areas of specialization. 

The overall goal of the field experience is to bring public health to life, and specifically to help students strengthen their philosophy and understanding of public health and to begin to identify themselves as public health professionals. The field experience enables students to learn first-hand about organizations, operations, and special activities of selected agencies, institutions, and industries concerned with public health practice.

The field experience can be a voluntary or paid position.

What is the Registration Requirement for the School of Public Health?

Students must complete at least 15 credits as an active School of Public Health student. This requirement will typically be met since students complete a minimum of 28 credits (based on a total of 42) through online courses and Public Health Institute attendance.

Will a course I took while completing my bachelor’s degree transfer?

Yes. Once a student has completed their undergraduate degree and has been accepted into the D.V.M./M.P.H. program, courses taken as a veterinary student without an undergraduate degree are eligible for transfer with appropriate approvals.

What should I consider when transferring credits into the D.V.M./M.P.H. degree program?

Up to 14 credits can be transferred (with approval), which will save you tuition dollars. The following conditions must be met in order for a course to be eligible for transfer.

• A grade of "B" (3.0) or better is required.
• Course credit can not be older than five years.
• You must submit a petition to have the course be reviewed for approval.

If I am a veterinary student without a completed bachelor's degree and I take courses at the University of Minnesota during the Public Health Institute or the regular summer session, will those credits be considered transfer credits once I am admitted to the D.V.M./M.P.H. program?

Yes. Credits completed at the University of Minnesota as a non-admitted School of Public Health student will count as transfer credits and contribute to the 14 credit transfer limit. Public Health Institute courses are taught at a graduate level.

What if I don't finish my M.P.H. by the time I'm done with my D.V.M.?

Although you are encouraged to complete your M.P.H. within three to five years, you have seven years to complete the M.P.H. The clock starts when you take your first M.P.H. course.

Is financial aid available?

Limited scholarships are available for students to take courses at the Public Health Institute each spring. Early application is encouraged.

Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA should be forwarded to both the University of Minnesota (Institution code: 003969) and to your college of veterinary medicine. While a student may receive federal loans while enrolled at multiple institutions; federal aid eligibility through the University of Minnesota is contingent on the amount and type of federal loan(s) offered and accepted at the home institution.

How do I apply?

Learn more about the application for admission process.

For more information: