MPH – MA Latin American Studies

Admissions

Applicants for the MPH/MA Latin American Studies Dual Degree Program must meet the same requirements as those for the standard MPH program, and apply to the MPH/MA Dual Degree Program following the same instructions as for the standard MPH program.

• See the Admission Requirements and Application Instructions for All MPH Applicants.

Your application information will be shared with the SDSU Department of Latin American Studies.

Do not apply to the Department of Latin American Studies separately.

Overview

The SPH and the Center for Latin American Studies offer a concurrent graduate program leading to a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Master of Arts (MA) in Latin American Studies.This concurrent degree program offers preparation in the fields of Public Health and Latin American studies for the purpose of promoting health, preventing disease, and enhancing the delivery of social and health services for Latine communities. We offer the Master of Public Health (MPH) in the following concentrations:  Epidemiology, Environmental Health, or Health Promotion and Behavioral Science. 

The students in this unique program work with communities throughout San Diego and Latin America and research a variety of topics, such as reproductive justice, migrant mental and physical health, environmental justice, chronic disease and food security, and healthcare access.

Our graduates build successful careers in numerous fields, with many working in non-profit and community-based organizations, healthcare agencies, local and national government agencies, and research organizations

Key Program Information

• This is a 3-year program 
• Students fulfill the requirements to earn both an MPH and an MA 
  
  • The MA is in Latin American Studies
  • For the MPH, students can choose to concentrate in one of the following areas of public health, though they’ll be encouraged to study aspects of Latin American health regardless of which concentration they choose: epidemiology, environmental health, health promotion and behavioral science
• Graduation requirements include:
  
  • Foundational public health and Latin American studies coursework (see Curriculum section below)
  • Fieldwork experience
  • Spanish or Portuguese language proficiency demonstration (either coursework or American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages [ACTFL] oral proficiency examination)
  • Thesis 

Curriculum

The program consists of 63 units of joint programming as follows:

• Core Courses
  
  • 27 units of core courses in Public Health and Latin American Studies
• Elective Courses
  
  • 15 units of prescribed electives from Latin American Studies taken from at least two different departments
    
• Public Health Concentration Courses
  
  • 15 units from selected PH concentration (Epidemiology, Environmental Health or Health Promotion and Behavioral science)
• Culminating Experience
  
  • 6 units of culminating experience (3 units of 797 Research and 3 units of 799A Thesis)
    

Please note that the requirements will differ based on which PH concentration you are in. Please check with the Division Chair for your concentration or your advisor for current course requirements.

See the SDSU Graduate Bulletin for descriptions and prerequisites for these courses.

See also…

• The SDSU Degree Catalog lists all current requirements for this degree (Please be sure to review the degree requirements for the year you entered the degree program; you can do this by looking at the University Catalog year in the upper right corner of the page)
• Educational Objectives – MPH/MA-Latin American Studies (pdf)

Time Limitation

The school expects a student to complete the degree within seven years. Failure to complete the degree requirements within seven years will result in dismissal from the program.

Testimonials

“The dual degree program (MPH/MA Latin American Studies) was one of the key factors that influenced my decision to pursue graduate studies at SDSU. At my core, I love interdisciplinary studies and the ways in which they prompt us to look at situations more holistically and critically. Having the opportunity to take courses in anthropology, political science, literature, and public health, provided me with a stronger foundation to explore how history, policies, and societal structures drastically impact the ways we engage with health systems. I also was able to benefit from the exemplary faculty guiding both programs! For me, this made a world of difference when conducting my independent thesis research on prenatal care and cesarean sections and as I’ve explored these types of questions academically and professionally. I could not more highly recommend the dual degree program for those interested in the content area and who are looking to develop as well-rounded researchers and public health practitioners. I would encourage students interested in pursuing this program to take advantage of as many opportunities to work closely with faculty and gain as much as you can from those hands-on experiences.” -Adam Hunn, Class of 2022, Epidemiologist/Anthropologist/Health Educator/Healthcare Compliance

“I chose the program because there isn't anything else like it out there as far as I know. Having an interest in migrant/Latinx health, and living on the Mexico-U.S. border, I always knew I'd need a wider perspective to practice Public Health. If we're serious about achieving health equity, we must have an interdisciplinary knowledge and consideration of the social determinants of health to make a difference. Balancing practical skills with historical knowledge and awareness of how systems interact and affect our communities' health is essential. It just made sense to me! (My advice is to) take advantage of the wide range of courses available to you to enrich your experience. As a graduate of this program, you will have a very unique profile and perspective to bring to any job. You will also be well-positioned to either go straight into practice or continue in academia to a PhD program.” - Isela Martinez Sanroman, Class of 2024

Where to learn more?

Learn more about the three MPH concentrations on the School of Public Health website

Contact Dr. Ramona Pérez, [email protected]