Johns Hopkins Launching DNP/MPH Program in 2021

Starting in summer 2021, nursing graduates interested in working with local and global health agencies, advocacy groups, non-governmental organizations, or other setting related to health policies will be able to pursue a dual-degree Doctor of Nursing Practice Executive/Master of Public Health (DNP/MPH) program at Johns Hopkins.

The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health are now accepting applicants for their new DNP/MPH program. The prerequisites for applicants are a master’s degree in nursing, RN licensure, and 2 years of health care experience. The combined program can be completed in as little as three years.

The DNP/MPH courses will be a hybrid of online and onsite learning. Students will be able to customize their public health coursework and implement their integrated DNP project in a real-world setting.

Dual degree programs can be valuable tools for professional advancement. They also offer advantages of economy and speed: dual degrees require fewer credits, so students can attain their degrees at a faster rate and a lower cost than other programs.

One of the great virtues of the DNP/MPH degree, according to Bloomberg School of Public Health Dean Ellen J. MacKenzie, PhD, ScM, is that “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.”

The benefit of combining public health studies with nursing practice in a DNP/MPH program is particularly timely, says Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Dean Patricia Davidson, PhD, MEd, RN, FAAN: “COVID-19 has amplified the critical importance of nurse leaders who develop interventions that are based in both nursing and public health,” Davidson remarked in the announcement. “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.”