Johns Hopkins schools of Nursing and Public Health launch dual degree

The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have launched a dual-degree Doctor of Nursing Practice Executive/Master of Public Health program to prepare students at the highest level of advanced practice nursing and public health leadership.

The program's integrated course format will allow students to earn two degrees—the DNP and an MPH—in as little as three years, significantly shorter than pursuing each degree separately. Graduates will gain a blended knowledge and skill set in nursing practice and population health to further health care innovation and policy.

"COVID-19 has amplified the critical importance of nurse leaders who develop interventions that are based in both nursing and public health," says Patricia Davidson, dean of the School of Nursing. "We are excited to be able to launch the program during this time in history when the perspective of nursing is well recognized and ever essential to creating the path forward to a healthier and more population-focused future."

Through the dual-degree format, students will take classes from the top-ranked Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Courses will be held online with on-site immersions to provide accessibility, convenience, and in-person networking. Students will be able to customize their public health coursework to their areas of interest and refine the direction of their integrated DNP project, which will be implemented within a real-world setting.

"When nursing and public health bring the best of their skills together, there is so much to be accomplished within advancing health equity and developing solutions to our changing national and global health needs," says Bloomberg School of Public Health Dean Ellen J. MacKenzie. "This program is geared toward leadership, reach, influence, and the ability to leverage knowledge and skills. We hope it serves as a model and testament to the power of interdisciplinary efforts."

The dual DNP/MPH program will prepare graduates to serve communities through local and global health agencies, advocacy groups, nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, and settings where there is a need for leadership that improves health outcomes, advances health equity, and influences policy. Students who wish to apply must have a master's degree in nursing from an accredited college or university, RN licensure, and two years of health care experience. The program will launch in summer 2021.

Applications for this program are now open.