The intellectual, professional, and historical connections between public health and city planning have assumed
new urgency in the twenty-first century as the challenges of chronic illness, urban livability, and public safety
have come to the fore.  The built environment is increasingly seen as an important factor influencing physical
activity, which in turn has multiple positive impacts on health promotion and disease prevention.  The growth and
redevelopment of urban areas impact social and economic well-being, public health, and safety.  It is important
to reconnect the public health and urban planning fields through professional training that will encourage
greater synergies in professional practice.

The following dual degrees are offered:

Public Health and Planning (MPH/MRP)
The department of Health Behavior and Health Education (HBHE) in the School of Public Health and this department
offer the dual-degree program in public health and planning.  HBHE seeks to train future leaders in the planning,
management, and evaluation of health education programs.  Planning students will learn about the public health
impacts of planning and how public health professionals can be allies in achieving shared goals.  Students seeking
careers in public health will learn how to shape the physical and social urban community in health-enhancing ways.
This combination of skills will help forge broader and more powerful alliances that promote public health, safety,
and livability in American communities.

Healthcare Administration and Planning (MHA/MRP)
The department of Health Policy and Administration (HPAA) in the School of Public Health and DCRP offer a
dual-degree program in healthcare administration and planning.  This dual degree is designed to integrate planning
issues as they relate to the healthcare sector and provides strong preparation for students interested in management
careers in health systems, hospitals, consulting firms, managed care organizations, and other healthcare settings.

Public Health Science and Planning (MSPH/MRP)
The department of Health Policy and Administration (HPAA) in the School of Public Health and DCRP offer a dual-
degree program in science in public health and planning.  This dual degree is designed to prepare students for
careers in health policy analysis, planning, development, evaluation, and advocacy at local, state, federal, and
international levels.  It is particularly appropriate for individuals interested in pursuing careers with public policy
organizations, public advocacy organizations, consulting research organizations, federal and state government
entities, public health departments and international health organizations.



To enter these programs, students must apply separately to the Department of City and Regional Planning
and the School of Public Health (SPH) and must be accepted independently by both.  Students entering the program
spend their entire first year either in SPH or DCRP.  The second year is spent full-time in the other program.  In the
third year, students take both public health and planning courses.  Students should be able to complete both
programs in three years instead of four years.  Students are expected to produce Master’s Projects for both
DCRP and SPH at the end of the program that demonstrate mastery of the two fields and an understanding
of the interconnections between the fields.  Students must take 36 semester credits in planning including the
Master’s Project to fulfill the planning degree requirements.


To request an admission packet for the School of Public Health, please contact:
Linda Cook, Registrar
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education
CB# 7440, Rosenau Hall
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440
Phone: 919- 966- 5771
(email) lwcook@email.unc.edu
(Web) Department of Health Behavior and Health Education

To request an admission packet for the department of Health Policy and Administration, please contact:
Department of Health Policy and Administration
CB# 7411, McGavran-Greenberg Hall
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7411
Phone: 919- 966- 7391
(email) pam_mcdonald@unc.edu
(Web) Department of Health Policy and Administration