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Earn Your Bachelor's Degree and Master of Public Health in Just 5 Years

The Ϲ (Ϲ) Master of Public Health program offers an accelerated pathway to earning an MPH degree. Our unique partnerships with institutions across Wisconsin allow students to earn their bachelor's degree and MPH in 5 years total. This provides an opportunity to save both time and money while fast-tracking your entry into the public health workforce. All courses in the MPH program at Ϲ are completely online.
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How the Dual-Degree Program Works

Year 3 at Undergraduate Institution:
Apply for the dual degree Master of Public Health (MPH) program by April 1 during junior year

Year 4:
Begin the MPH program in the summer before your senior year. During this year, you will complete the final requirements for your Bachelor's degree while also starting the first year of coursework for your online MPH program. Up to 15 graduate credits may be applied toward both your undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Year 5:
Continue as a graduate student at Ϲ for approximately one additional year until completion of all MPH requirements.

Who should apply?

Students who are…
  • In their junior year and enrolled at one of our dual-degree partner institutions
  • Who are interested in public health, community engagement, or improving the health of their communities

  • Maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher

  • Self-directed, comfortable with online learning, and skilled in time management

Our Partner Schools

We are proud to collaborate with six partner institutions across Wisconsin, each committed to expanding opportunities in public health education and practice. These partnerships strengthen our shared mission to support students, communities, and the public health workforce throughout the state. Learn more about each 4+1 MPH Program partner and how we work together to make a difference in education and community health.
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Learn More about the Dual-Degree Program

Kim Contardi and Sarah Curry-Link are happy to meet with you to discuss your participation in the dual-degree program! Click the email link below to schedule a time to chat.

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Sarah Curry-Link, M.Ed

Program Manager I

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Kim Contardi, MPH

Program Manager II

Why Choose the Ϲ Master of Public Health program?



Online Learning

  • Complete MPH coursework 100% online
  • Balance your studies with work, internships, and other commitments

Accelerated Pathway to MPH

  • Earn both your bachelor’s and MPH in just 5 years
  • Save time and enter the public health workforce sooner

Focus on Public Health Practice

  • Develop skills in program planning, implementation, and evaluation
  • Open doors to a wide range of careers in public health

Hear What 4+1 Students Have To Say About The Program

Ryan Pogodzinski - July '24

4+1 partner school: St. Norbert College
Current place of employment: Oak Street Health
Job title: Analyst, Development Program – Population Health
Ryan Pogodzinski_MPH_Testimonial
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Describe your overall experience with the 4+1 MPH program.
I was pleased with the level of support I received during my time enrolled in the MPH program at Ϲ. Whether it was career advice, professor support during late hours, or just general conversations, I was never turned away when I reached out in need of help. Those who run and teach the program are truly involved in student development, and I can't be more grateful that I chose Ϲ to complete my MPH at.
How did the program prepare you for your current/future job position or career? 
The MPH program at Ϲ provided me with a strong foundation of public health principles that I utilize each day at my current position. Through the rigorous coursework and applied practice experiences that the MPH program through Ϲ provided, I was able to develop the skills necessary to successfully jumpstart a career in applied Public Health Practice. Overall, Ϲ has equipped me with the knowledge, confidence, and skillset to acknowledge and address the evolving public health challenges and contribute in a meaningful way.
What advice would you give to prospective students considering this program? 
The one piece of advice I would give to prospective students considering this program is to connect with other students in the program and develop strong relationships with your professors early. Professors in the MPH program at Ϲ truly care about student development and want each individual to succeed, so reaching out early and often for help / guidance is crucial for success.

Naomi Olatunji - May '25

4+1 partner school: Mount Mary
Current place of employment: Aurora Sinai
Job title: Registered Nurse
Naomi Olatunji_MPH_Testimonial
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What advice would you give to prospective students considering this program?
Honestly, be ready to stretch yourself! It's not just about taking more classes. The program really challenges the way you think and pushes you to connect what you’re learning to the bigger picture. I’d say go in knowing your “why,” but also staying open to discovering new interests along the way. Staying organized is also important, and having a support system makes a big difference because juggling undergrad and grad work can be a lot. But if you’re passionate about public health, the program really gives you a head start and helps prepare you to be a competent public health professional.
What aspects of the program stood out to you/appealed to you compared to other Master's options?
What really stood out was the 4+1 structure and how it allowed me to deepen my education without delaying my career goals. But beyond that, the program’s emphasis on equity, community engagement, and real-world application set it apart. It wasn’t just about checking boxes to get a degree, but instead it felt like I was being trained to lead, to listen, and to think critically about public health systems. That made the program feel purposeful.

Alex Papiez - May '25

4+1 partner school: Carthage College
Current place of employment: Loyola MacNeal Hospital
Job title: Emergency Department Technician
Will be attending medical school in Arkansas starting fall ‘25
Alex Papiez_MPH_Testimonial
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How did the program is preparing you for your current/future job position or career?
As an aspiring physician, I have always focused on clinical health and patient care. I began the 4+1 program while I was unsure of my place in the medical field. Thankfully, I was able to study the politics, culture, interventions, and the necessary role public health plays in American and international healthcare. I have gained a deeper understanding of the multifaceted American healthcare system and its numerous cogs and wheels. Healthcare extends beyond individual patient care and necessitates consideration of a complex system and its implications. I never experienced a drive for cultural competence like I did during this program. To be wholly competent may be impossible, but I feel confident engaging diverse patient populations and their families. I seek new opportunities and holes in interventions that I am exposed to. Ϲ has provided me with a critical lens through which to view American healthcare. I practiced within the realms of finance, administration, and leadership, much of which lies outside the scope of many medical school programs. Most importantly, Ϲ has taught me to think critically and independently. I now have the tools and disposition to continue learning, engaging with communities, and improving the public’s health.
What advice would you give to prospective students considering this program?
I understand the apprehension that comes with committing time and money to an educational program while still in college. For anyone considering medicine, this program has given me a deeper understanding of all the components outside of clinical patient care. I believe I will be a better physician and a more informed American. For those wishing to pursue a career in public health, the faculty and staff at Ϲ are unparalleled. I will carry the relationships and ties I have developed with my faculty into and beyond medical school. The field placement requirement will allow you to practice as a public health professional while connecting with experts in the field. For anyone considering a career in the healthcare workforce, public health is an incredibly expansive and encompassing field. Many jobs and sectors, from business to finance to transportation, interface with traditional public health departments and their work. Public health will continue to play a crucial role in improving American health outcomes.
What aspects of the program stood out to you/appealed to you compared to other Master's options?
My senior year was going to be only a semester long, and I was going to graduate early. I did not have a great plan for utilizing my newfound free time. Luckily, my pre-health concentration in college aligned with the requirements for the 4+1 dual degree program. I was not ready to begin medical school, but I was increasingly curious about how I could apply politics, community engagement, and research to benefit the health of the public. This program appeared, randomly, in my college inbox at the perfect time. I was particularly excited about this program due to its low barriers to entry and my ability to start the program during my college years. Most students focusing on core sciences, social sciences, healthcare, or the allied sciences have the required prerequisites to apply. Because the program was asynchronous, I would be able to attend despite uncertain housing and the next steps in my medical journey. The ability to finish the program during my gap year solidified my choice to choose Ϲ and its MPH.

Contact Us For More Information on the MPH Program

Sarah Curry-Link, M.Ed
Program Manager I, Master of Public Health (MPH) and Certificate Programs
scurry@mcw.edu
(414) 955-4527
Kim Contardi, MPH
Program Manager II, Master of Public Health Program
Institute for Health & Humanity
kcontardi@mcw.edu
(414) 955-4510
Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the Ϲ Google map location