Dual Degree Program in Master of Public Health and Master of Medical Science (Physician Assistant)
Coordinators
- Andrea Crivelli-Kovach, Ph.D., M.A., MCHES, Professor and Director of Community and Global Public Health Programs, College of Health Sciences
- Michael Dryer, Dr.P.H., PA-C, Chair and Director of Medical Science Department, College of Health Sciences
About Arcadia’s Dual Degree Program in Public Health and Physician Assistant
With dual degrees, students gain knowledge in two fields as they prepare for their professional careers.
Arcadia’s College of Health Sciences has nationally recognized healthcare, science programs that make the world a laboratory by providing real-world, integrative learning experiences. Graduate programs use evidence-based research and project-based learning to prepare healthcare professionals for a rapidly changing global environment. Applied and pro bono clinical research, clinical rotations, public health internships, international fieldwork, and multicultural assessment are threaded through the curricula. Graduate students also conduct research and publish with expert faculty in many fields.
Dual-degree candidates must be accepted into each of the programs in order to pursue dual degrees: Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.) and Master of Public Health (M.P.H.).
This dual-degree program prepares graduates for leadership roles in meeting community health care needs in today’s rapidly changing medical environment. The master’s degree program in Medical Science (M.M.S.) is designed to produce graduates who are well-equipped to deliver high-quality, cost-effective primary healthcare in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices and other community settings. The Master of Public Health degree focuses on population health and includes the disciplines of epidemiology and biostatistics with an in-depth fieldwork thesis project oriented toward a student’s primary area of research interest
This dual-degree option in Public Health and Medical Science prepares students to integrate their knowledge of public health, along with program development, implementation and evaluation skills, to their training as Physician Assistants for work in medical settings and within community centers.
Arcadia has one of the largest Physician Assistant programs in the nation, with campuses in Glenside, Pa., and Christiana, Del. Arcadia utilizes the region’s medical communities for diverse clinical experiences and offers opportunities for service learning in international settings.
Course requirements and sequencing are available by contacting the Director of the program. The three-year program encompasses 154 total credits, and students study year-round, including summer terms and clinical rotations. Three four-week clinical rotations are elected from among cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, dermatology, forensic medicine, neonatology, neurology, orthopedics, radiology, rehabilitation, and trauma surgery.
