Concurrent MCP/MPH

Master of City Planning / Master of Public Health with the College of Environmental Design

This concurrent degree program is designed to examine research, practice, and policy at the intersection of urban planning, policy and design with population health. Special attention is given to understanding the forces that are shaping urbanization in the US and globally, what methods are necessary to analyze the relationships between urban policy and planning and human health, and to design and analyze interventions, frequently in partnership with community members and organizations, that can enhance urban health equity. The program prepares students for interdisciplinary careers in such fields as urban development, community health, housing, transportation, policy making, and others. Graduates secure jobs working in government, international organizations, non-profits, academia/research and the private sector.

Candidates for this program are recruited and admitted through both the School of Public Health and the Department of City and Regional Planning. Students complete the core curriculum of each area, as well as a track within MPH and an area of concentration in MCP.

Curriculum

Students must complete the required core courses for both the MCP and MPH programs. Students need to complete 36 units in MCP and 42 units in MPH. See sample 3 year course schedule to understand how students can complete required core courses, concentration requirements and achieve minimum units.

Students can select any concentration area in planning and public health; however, we strongly recommend that students consult with core faculty before selecting concentration areas.

MCP/MPH students are required to take the following courses:

  1. CYPLAN C256/PBHLTH C233: Healthy Cities by the end of their second year.
  2. Urban Health Equity Seminar. Year long, 299 seminar.

CYPLAN C256/PBHLTH C233, Healthy Cities, explores the multiple forces that influence urban population health, how to analyze these determinants, and what roles city planning and public health agencies, as well as other political institutions such as local governments, civil society, the private sector and international organizations, can play in research and action aimed at improving urban health. The course is taught in the Fall semester.

The Urban Health Equity Seminar provides an opportunity for students, faculty and practitioners whose work lies at the nexus of public health and city planning to exchange ideas and develop innovations in this growing field. This seminar series runs the entire academic year and aims to build an interdisciplinary community of research and action focused on issues of urban health equity and environmental justice through a variety of formats including sharing existing research, lectures, group workshops, film screenings and critical debates on current issues.

Capstone

Students must complete one capstone that satisfies the requirements for both degree programs. Students should work with program co-directors to develop one project, capstone, professional report or thesis. Students should use the summer between their 2nd and 3rd year to gather data and start the capstone project. Students must have a literature review and methodology section complete and submitted to their advisor by the end of their fifth semester. Students must enroll the appropriate capstone course in the Fall semester of their final year. Students should also present their work to the Urban Health Equity Seminar.

Sample Coursework Plans

See attached sample course 3-year course plans for MCP/MPH degree students. Actual course schedules may differ based on your area of concentration, so please check in with your program manager to develop a plan that best suits your needs and program requirements.

Health and Social Behavior concentration sample plan (.pdf)

Environmental Health Sciences Healthy Cities concentration sample plan (.pdf)

Faculty Advising

Students must select an affiliated faculty member from either the BPH or DECRP as their primary advisor.

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