Emory MSN-MPH?

cleback · Mar 26, 2018

I'm in a different nursing-mph program, but man, if you can make the move there, that's wonderful. The university and the affiliated hospital have such a reputation behind them. Being close to the cdc would be awesome as well. Kind of jealous actually!

Oops just saw you're interested in a whnp. Not sure about that specialty honestly. You'd have it made if you were interested in infectious or chronic disease though.

Digirols · Mar 29, 2018

Thank you Cleback for the feedback! It is nice to hear from someone doing a nursing-mph program, as I do not know anyone else doing this dual degree!

I originally wanted to attend NYU's MPH-MSN program as it is closer to home; but realized late in the process that I would not be able to combine the nursing specialty I wanted with the MPH :/. Am still half debating on Upenn's dual degree program, but I applied to their FNP specialty and realized they had no women's health specific classes! Hope I am making the right choice.

AlBradz, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2019

Hello! Digirols, I came across your post from a year ago and was wondering if you had any updates on how the program is going. I am looking into applying for next fall for the MSN/MPH dual degree program with the FNP specialty. I am a critical care nurse in Nashville and wouldn't know anyone moving to Atlanta either, but I'm very interested in the program.

Thanks!

Allie

Digirols · May 24, 2019

Hey Allie!

I am so sorry I am just responding! I saw this post a while back and forgot to respond with all my school work!

It is going really well! I’m definitely glad I chose this program. Emory’s program is a little different in that they separate the public health and nursing parts—year 1 is public health and the next year and a half is MSN. At first, I thought I would not like this and wanted to go to a school where I would be doing both nursing and public health classes at the same time. However, I am actually very glad the classes are separated. I feel like I am able to fully immerse myself in the public health school right now and will maintain my connections here as I go into the nursing school. And I am looking forward to doing something new in the fall! I feel like it would’ve been challenging balancing both at once—especially as the two schools do not communicate much (which I think is the case at most schools with the dual degree program).

Some con’s:

In the global health department we have to do a thesis. Most students don’t start their thesis until the summer. I won’t be starting it until this summer (hopefully at least!), but this means I will definitely be working on my thesis during nursing school (in which no extra time is given during the semester to work on this). So I am definitely nervous about this, but hoping it will turn out fine! Not all departments are like this (For example, I think Behavioral Health Science and Education can do a capstone, which is much more manageable, instead)

I wish there was a little more community among the dual degree population. I met some other dual-degrees on my own and am glad to have them as friends here! I think they do have a dual-degree club that meets every Tuesday, but I felt too busy.

Some pro’s:

Great sense of a community. It is easy to make friends in Rollins, which made moving to a new school much easier! Most of the students are from out of state and there are a lot of social events.

I have had great professors who truly care about their students

I love Atlanta!

You have some flexibility to gear your MPH towards a specific interest (I took a few classes in sexual and reproductive health)

Many, many opportunities to get involved in the greater local and global community. The MPH program sends out newsletters every week with various job opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and talks on campus. I also like that we have to do a 200 hour practicum (during the summer mostly—I squeezed mine in spring semester) because it gives you real world experience in public health.

I am definitely forgetting some things, but please feel free to reach out to me again with more questions :)

AlBradz, BSN, RN · May 29, 2019

Thank you so much for the detailed response! I'm looking forward to (hopefully) being there soon!

Kimber, BSN · Oct 25, 2019

Hi Digirols,

Thank you for sharing your experience in the program so far. I am also thinking of applying for the same program for 2021 cycle. What was the application process like for you? I dont even know where to begin!

maggie0519, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2020

Hi!!

I'm actually in an MPH Maternal and Child Health program right now, but I'd like to advance my nursing degree as well to Pediatric NP Primary Care. In my understanding of each of these degrees, they go together quite well. I love my MPH program, but I am missing the clinical side of work. Some feedback I've received as I plan to apply to PNP programs is that if I don't work in public health directly, then my MPH was kind of unnecessary. I think, especially with a focus on Child Health and electives specifically surrounding children's primary care, that it is very useful. As my MPH program is separate from an NP program, I am applying to a couple different schools (top choice would be the nursing school associated with my current graduate program though.) I'm just trying to research and gain insight from people who have/are going for a similar dual degree. Did obtaining an MPH the year before your NP benefit you in any specific ways that you wouldn't mind speaking to?

Thanks so much!