Westminster College students interested in careers in public health now have an accelerated pathway through the College’s Early Acceptance Program (EAP) with Juniata College, enabling them to earn a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree following completion of a Westminster bachelor’s degree.

Juniata’s MPH program prepares graduates for careers in public health, epidemiology, clinical research, community health and health policy. The 4+1 pathway combines undergraduate study at Westminster with graduate coursework through Juniata, allowing qualified students to earn both degrees in less time than completing the programs separately. Qualified students are guaranteed acceptance into Juniata’s MPH program, providing a defined route to graduate study before completing their undergraduate degree.

“This program provides a fantastic opportunity for Westminster students to enhance their learning experience and boost their qualifications for a variety of pre-health career paths,” said Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett, associate professor of biology and MedPAC coordinator at Westminster College. “Qualified juniors and seniors can take a variety of public health graduate courses while completing their undergraduate degree and then complete their Master of Public Health within one year of graduating from Westminster.”

Graduate-level study in public health can help students develop research skills, gain field experience and understand how socioeconomic factors affect health and medicine in their communities.

Corrette-Bennett noted that the program can be particularly beneficial for pre-health students planning to take a gap year before applying to medical, physician assistant, dental or veterinary school. The additional graduate education and experience can help students strengthen their qualifications as they prepare for professional school.

The majority of graduate courses are online, allowing undergraduates to complete the introductory courses for this program while still on the Westminster campus. A few of the graduate courses that involve internship and hands-on experience are typically completed during the second year of the MPH program, after students have graduated from Westminster.

To qualify for early acceptance, Westminster students must have completed at least 60 undergraduate semester hours, including a minimum of 48 in-person credits at Westminster, and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. Students also need written approval from their Westminster academic adviser and must complete an approval meeting with Juniata’s MPH program director.

For more information about Westminster’s Pre-Public Health Program and Early Acceptance Program, visit here.

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By Betsy Fontaine Hildebrand ’92
Betsy Fontaine Hildebrand ’92 is the director of communication in Westminster College's Office of Marketing and Communication.

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