Need info about Columbia Nursing/Public Health Joint Program

LookingAhead · Nov 14, 2011

I was considering doing this, although ultimately I decided not to. I went to an admissions event at Mailman and they were more helpful with info on the joint program - I believe it essentially takes an extra year to do the MPH if you are enrolled in the MSN program. I'm sorry I can't remember the details of this - but my basic question when I was considering the joint program was about how you actually complete both programs - I don't think you can really do it simultaneously. The Mailman admissions person made a reference to students "taking a year off" to complete the MPH portion of the joint degree.

Bottom line is that you should get in touch with admissions at Mailman, since I think they have more detailed info than the nursing school. Let me know what you find out!

Mission · Nov 15, 2011

I was in the joint degree MSN/MPH program though I ended up not finishing my MSN. How long it will take you depends on what your nursing specialty is, if you plan to go part-time or full-time and if you plan to do the general MPH program or one of the specialty tracks. I was in the part-time FNP program and general MPH. I would have finished both in 2 1/2 years.

bocaburger · Nov 15, 2011

It's so good to hear from someone who was in the program! What did you think of it? If you don't mind me asking, why didn't you finish the MSN?

I am hoping to do the Women's Health NP and Family & Population Health MPH. I would do both full-time. Do you have any idea how long that would take?

Also, it seems that neither admissions office really knows how the joint program works. Once you start, is there support? Do they have a good advising system or some sort of point person you can go to with questions?

Thank you!!!

I was in the joint degree MSN/MPH program though I ended up not finishing my MSN. How long it will take you depends on what your nursing specialty is, if you plan to go part-time or full-time and if you plan to do the general MPH program or one of the specialty tracks. I was in the part-time FNP program and general MPH. I would have finished both in 2 1/2 years.

bkhiyw · Nov 16, 2011

I'm so glad there are other people out there, I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing with this dual degree program which is unfortunate because it sounds so amazing!

Rebecca, are you applying through the direct entry program or are you already an RN/BSN?

I'm doing direct entry though I've realized that may not be the degree path for which the program was designed. In any case I am determined to make this work should I be accepted to both schools. I figure since no one seems to know what is going on it should be easier to design a course of study that works for what I have in mind. I have my BA in Community Health and International Relations (Global Health concentration) with a strong background in epi. I'm hoping that works in my favor should I need to plead my case.

For what it is worth I applied for the Pediatric NP and Epidemiology MPH. Submitted the PH application today actually, so glad that is done! My plan of action is to meet with both schools (ideally together but at least on the same day) to figure this all out if/when I am accepted to the nursing school since I will get a decision from them first.

Mission · Nov 16, 2011

I thought the program was great. Nursing and public health go really well together of course. My friend did peds and pop fam and it took her 3 1/2 years to finish both masters. She also worked full-time at the hospital which I think is the best because she was able to get nursing experience and tuition reimbursement. Of course, this was before the economy tanked and we were all able to get jobs pretty quickly.

So I did this 5 years ago so I know things have changed but the fastest way to finish both programs was to do the MSN part-time. That will give you some semesters the first year where you can take full time credits in the MPH program and a class here or there the second year. So you'd always be enrolled in school full time just splitting which schools you were taking classes in. What will make it harder is since your doing pop fam (rather than the general program which is really what the dual degree is designed for) you'll have more required classes to take, which makes the timing tougher. Basically, the nursing program is completely inflexible. All your classes are required, have to be taken in a certain order, and most are offered only once a year so you'll have no problem figuring out what to take. There's more flexibility with the MPH but the advising is pretty good there.

On a personal note, I dropped the MSN because I decided I liked research more and switched to the PhD program.

LookingAhead · Jan 18, 2012

I recently found out a little more about this, so I thought I would share:

1) Not all MSN specialties at CUSON allow for you to do the joint MPH. In order to do the joint degree, you have to be able to either take a year off during your time at CUSON (not sure if you could do this between the ETP/prespecialty year and the MSN portion, or if it would have to be during the MSN portion) or be doing the two degrees concurrently by doing the MSN part time. I'm not sure about other specialties, but the midwifery specialty for example does not allow for this; you can't take time off or go part time during the MSN, so the joint degree is impossible. For any specialty, you can't complete the MSN and then start the MPH and still be considered a joint degree student (that would just be doing the two degrees consecutively, and it wouldn't save you any credits or shorten the time to graduation from both).

2) There is a second option that shortens the length of the MPH in the same manner as the joint degree (from 2 years to 1): the accelerated MPH. In the past, the only track available as been General Public Health. However, starting in fall 2012 Mailman will be beginning several new 1-year accelerated options that are department-specific (epi, biostats, etc.). In order to be eligible for these accelerated programs, however, you have to be in a doctoral program (I'm not sure if the DNP is included in this, but it seems reasonably possible), already have a doctorate, or have a masters degree and 5 years of relevant work experience. The accelerated MPH is very intensive, and is a 3 semester program (fall-spring-summer for the new department-specific programs, starting in other semesters possible for the General Public Health track). In the first semester you are taking all of the core courses, the on-campus commitment is 5 days a week, and they stress that it is basically impossible to hold down a job at the same time. Apparently that is a little easier in the second semester, but not a lot easier.

That's all I've got for now!