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MSN/MPH Public Health Nursing

MSN/MPH Public Health Nursing Joint Degree

Leading Community Health Reform

Make an Impact

This joint degree prepares students to integrate advanced nursing practice with population-based public health perspectives. Offered jointly through the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the MSN/MPH Joint Degree equips students with advanced mastery of nursing theory and practice, while public health training provides a population-based, multidisciplinary team perspective. Students learn to work with and guide teams in the development of innovative, evidence-based, and culturally appropriate health care services for identified high-risk populations locally and globally.

Integrate Skills

The MSN/MPH Joint Degree is designed specifically for nurses seeking to link their clinical expertise and interests with population health in various local and global settings. With the joint degree, students acquire complementary skills, knowledge, and perspective of both disciplines. Topics include: epidemiology, health promotion, illness prevention, biostatistics, clinical care of marginalized populations (e.g. women and girls, LGBTQ, indigenous populations, sex workers), health systems, humanitarian health, environmental health, program development and implementation, management and leadership, and program evaluation, among others.

Certification

A new assessment methodology to achieve ANCC board certification in advanced public health nursing is in place. Although no exam is required, certification is through a portfolio. Information about the portfolio requirements is available at nursecredentialing.org.

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Program Overview

In 2015, the global community adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all. Each of the goals has targets to be achieved over the next 15 years. For the SDGs to be achieved, we need a productive, skilled, and professional nursing and public health workforce with global health expertise that includes epidemiology, clinical care of marginalized populations (e.g. women and girls, LGBTQ, indigenous populations, sex workers), health systems, humanitarian health, environmental health, program development and implementation, management and leadership, and program evaluation, among others.

The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s MSN/MPH Joint Degree is designed specifically for nurses seeking to link their clinical expertise and interests with population health in various local to global settings. As leaders in global and public health, the Johns Hopkins schools of Nursing and Public Health are in a unique position to prepare and inspire nurses to effectively deliver care in community settings around the world.

You'll learn to guide teams in the development of innovative, evidence-based, and culturally appropriate health care services for identified high-risk populations, and your management, knowledge, and experience will inform your contributions to global and public health care. In the ever-changing world of global and public health, you need a clear path to smart solutions. Let Johns Hopkins start you on the journey.

Those who earn a Hopkins MSN/MPH Joint Degree:

  • Design, implement, and evaluate behavior change programs for health agencies
  • Find jobs in local, state, and federal agencies, advocacy groups, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and faith-based initiatives
  • Influence local and global strategies for health promotion and disease prevention in vulnerable populations

Graduates of the program receive a single diploma signed by the Deans of the School of Nursing and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Additional Information

View a recording of the MSN/MPH Public Health Nursing Joint Degree virtual information session.

Watch Now

The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is sunsetting the MSN/MPH with a Nurse Practitioner track and is no longer accepting applications. For currently enrolled students, click here for curriculum information for MSN/MPH with NP options. The School of Nursing will continue to offer the MSN/MPH with a Public Health Nursing track only.

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Program Options

MSN/MPH Public Health Nursing Joint Degree is online with onsite immersions.

On-Campus Requirement for MPH

Up to 80% of the curriculum may be completed online. For the remaining 20%, students have the opportunity to attend on-campus courses. The required “face-to-face” time adds up to a minimum of 4 weeks over the course of 2-3 years.

There is no limit on the number of on-campus courses that an online/part-time student can take. On average, these students complete about 25% of courses on campus.

To learn more, please visit the Johns Hopkins Institutes of Public Health.

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Priority Application Deadline

Summer Entry
November 1, January 1

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Additional Program Options

Learn about our Master's and Doctoral program offerings.

Degree & Programs

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Jeane Garcia Davis
Jeane Garcia Davis
MSN/MPH '10, BS '08, RN
Whether you want to focus on global health, domestic health, or a specific population, you have someone who can be a potential mentor here.

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi, Jeane Garcia Davis saw what life is like in a village with too few medical resources. "I remember feeling like I needed more information, skills, and resources to really be able to help people," she says.

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Requirements

Admission Criteria

Students may apply for full- or part-time study.

The school seeks individuals who will bring to the student body the qualities of scholarship, motivation, and commitment. The Admissions Committee is interested in each applicant as an individual and will consider both academic potential and personal qualities. Therefore, school records, test scores, recommendations, and essays about goals and interests are important.

Recommendations about a student's character, intellectual curiosity, seriousness of purpose, and range of extracurricular activities are considered.

Selection factors include:

  • Bachelor of Science degree in nursing
  • GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited college or university
  • GRE scores within the past five years (school code is 5767)
  • Demonstrated commitment to nursing practice and scholarly pursuit
  • Community service and professional commitment
  • Interview with faculty member*
  • Written expression of goals
  • Letters of recommendation**
  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools
  • Current Resume/CV
  • Applicants must submit evidence of current nursing licensure. Students must have or obtain Maryland Registered Nurse licensure for matriculation (or RN license from compact state)

*Interview with a faculty member may or may not be requested.

**References should be recent, written for the purpose of your application to this program and from professors who know you as a student or employers who know you as a professional in a job setting preferably in a supervisory role. Personal references from colleagues, friends, or family members do not meet the requirement.

 

Prerequisites

  • Undergraduate Statistics  Take at Hopkins Nursing. Course must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university with a letter grade of B or better.
  • College level course in Quantitative Science (ex. Algebra, Calculus, Statistics)
  • General Biology
  • Health Related Science (ex. Nutrition, Anatomy, Physiology) Take at Hopkins Nursing

Transfer of Credits

Transfer of credit is granted on an individual basis. The decision is based on equivalent content (for required courses), credit allotment, and satisfactory completion of courses. You may petition for permission to substitute a course from another college or university by submitting a request to the Office of Admissions and Student Services along with the complete course syllabus.

Up to 6 credits of graduate course work taken at Johns Hopkins University or elsewhere may be accepted for transfer. Course work must have been completed within the last five years. Course work at the undergraduate level will not be considered for advanced standing credit.
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Curriculum

MSN/MPH Public Health Nursing

Curriculum includes nursing requirements and electives from each master's program allowing students to pursue specific interests. Program may be completed in 36 credits/60 units and provides 504 clinical hours. Students work closely with faculty academic advisers in the School of Nursing and the School of Public Health to plan individual academic curriculum.

Full Curriculum

  • Core Courses (14 Credits, 168 Clinical Hours)
     
    • Philosophical, Theoretical, and Ethical Basis for Nursing (3)
    • The Research Process and Its Application to Evidence-Based Practice (3)
    • Context of Healthcare for Advanced Practice Nursing (3)
    • Program Development and Evaluation in Health Care (2)
    • Population-Based Public Health Nursing Interventions (2-3, 112-168 cl)
       
  • Joint MSN & MPH Requirement* (12 Credits / 20 Units, 336 Clinical Hours)
     
    • Public Health Nursing Theory & Practice (3/5u)
    • Public Health Nursing Theory & Practice - Practicum (3/5u, 168 cl)
    • Public Health Nursing Leadership & Management (3/5u)
    • Public Health Nursing Leadership, Management, & Evaluation Capstone Practicum (3/5u, 168 cl)

    *These courses count towards the 36 MSN credits and 60 MPH units simultaneously

  • Biostatistics* (4-12 credits & 6-16 units)
     
    • Statistical Reasoning in Public Health I-II (4/6u), or
    • Statistical Methods in Public Health I-III (9/2u), or
    • Methods in Biostatistics in I-IV (12/16u)

    *These courses count towards the 36 MSN credits and 60 MPH units simultaneously.  

  • Public Health Requirements
     
    • Environmental Health (5u)
    • Principles of Epidemiology (5u)
    • Public Health Policy (4u)
    • The Tools of Public Health Practice (1u)
    • Introduction to Bioethics in Public Health Practice and Research (1u)
    • Population Dynamics and Public Health (2u)
    • Introduction to MPH Studies (0u)
    • Academic & Research Ethics at JHSPH (0u)
    • Public Health Biology Requirement – select one course from 20 options (2-6u)
    • Management Sciences Requirement – select one course from 10 options (3-4u)
    • Social and Behavioral Sciences Requirement – select one course from 12 options (3-4u)

       
  • Electives
     
    • 6 MSN credits
    • 0-8 MPH units*

    *Number of MPH elective units will depend upon courses selected to meet required MPH courses, as well as the sequence of biostatistics courses selected; students can take as much additional electives outside of these as desired (these can be used to complete certificates and concentrations with the School of Public Health)

 

* Curriculum, credit hours, and sequencing are subject to change.

Course Schedules and Descriptions     Academic Catalog       Public Health Course Catalog

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Tuition & Other Costs

Billed Expenses

(July 2017 - May 2018)

Tuition: $65,440 (full time per year)1
Per Credit Cost: 1,636
Matriculation Fee: $500 (one-time-only fee for first-time enrolled JHU students)
Health Insurance: $3,5322
Health Fee: $475
Total Billed Expenses: $69,947

The Cost of Attendance (COA)3

COA Statement: The costs listed represent direct costs, which are billed directly by the School of Nursing. Students can still expect to incur indirect costs such as room, board, travel expenses, personal expenses, etc. Unlike direct costs, indirect costs will vary from student to student. A full projected annual Cost of Attendance, including both direct and indirect costs can be found here.

View the Cost of Attendance

1Full-time: 16 credit hours per semester; 6 credits hours summer semester. Students enrolling less than full-time will incur less tuition charges.
2All students must have health coverage.  Purchase of the School’s plan is optional.
3Amounts for other expenses vary based upon student's selection of books, supplies, and living arrangements.

Billed expenses are subject to change without prior notice. Changes to a student’s program or course load may result in additional tuition charges and fees.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What time of year does this program begin?

    The program begins in July of each year, combining the one-year Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a focus in Public Health Nursing and the 11-month Master of Public Health (MPH) into 18 months of full-time study. Part-time study is also available.

  • Who should apply?

    Nurses seeking to integrate advanced nursing practice with population-based public health perspectives and link their clinical expertise and interests with population health in various local and global settings. Nurses with an interest and/or experience in global and public health, including former Peace Corps Volunteers.

  • What does this program teach me?

    With the joint degree, students acquire complementary skills, knowledge, and perspectives of nursing and public health. Graduate work in nursing equips students with advanced mastery of nursing theory and practice, while public health training equips students with the knowledge and skills to tackle major public health problems locally and globally. Topics include: epidemiology, health promotion, illness prevention, biostatistics, clinical care of marginalized populations (e.g. women and girls, LGBTQ, indigenous populations, sex workers), health systems, humanitarian health, environmental health, program development and implementation, management and leadership, and program evaluation, among others.

  • What does the coursework look like?

    Two-thirds of the program includes core courses from each master's program; the remaining elective courses allow students to pursue curriculums customized to their specific interests, in such areas as: infectious diseases, child and adolescent health, health leadership and management, health systems and policy, humanitarian health, women’s and reproductive health, social and behavioral sciences, global environmental sustainability and health, and food systems and health. Courses include both theory and skills-based work, using a variety of assessments (e.g. quizzes, exams, papers, group work, presentations). Students will also undertake three practicums, with the opportunity of working with organizations locally or globally for extended periods of time in the implementation, assessment, and evaluation of public health interventions and programs. 

  • What kind of job could I get after completing the program?

    Former students have found jobs in local, state, and federal agencies, and national and international advocacy groups, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and faith-based initiatives. Upon completing the program, students have gone on to design, implement, and evaluate behavior change programs for health agencies, as well as influence local and global strategies for health promotion and disease prevention in vulnerable populations, among other things.

     

     

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Funding Opportunities

Scholarships & Grants

Grants are awards based on financial need that do not have to be repaid. Many students also benefit from scholarships and awards based on merit.

To be given consideration for a Merit Scholarship Award, you must be accepted for admission by March 1.

Scholarships & Grants

Loans

Many students will avail themselves of loans to help finance their School of Nursing Education. If necessary, we encourage you to borrow only what is absolutely essential to cover your educational costs.

Loans

Employment

Many students locate part-time employment to help pay education expenses. Numerous positions are available on campus and within various community-based organizations. These jobs provide students with opportunities to gain practical work experience. Most positions are funded through the Federal Work-Study Program. 

Employment

Other Funding Sources

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