Frequently Asked Questions Administrative Questions Application Questions Financial Questions General Questions Frequently Asked Questions Administrative Questions Is there an MD/MPH Office in the School of Public Health?
Yes, the MD/MPH Office is located in the Dean’s Office, Suite 2430.
Marie A. Krousel-Wood, MD, MSPH
Associate Dean
504.988.7055
mawood@tulane.edu
Allys Dierker
Senior Program Manager
504.988.7055
adierke@tulane.edu Jessica Adams
Project Assistant
504.988.1145
jladams@tulane.edu Back to the top What is the web-page address for the SPH?
www.sph.tulane.edu How do I register for classes, including online classes?
You may register online by following the "TOUR" link from Tulane's Registrar's homepage. To register for online classes (i.e., most classes listed as section 40), you must register in person by contacting the department offering the class. For example, to register for BIOS 603-40, the online biostatistics core class, contact the Biostatistics Department. Plan your classes with your advisor before you register. Back to the top Where do I get my PIN/password?
You may get your PIN either from SPHTM Admissions (Tidewater Building, Suite 2460, 504.988.5387), or from Allys Dierker in the MD/MPH Program Office (Tidewater Building, Suite 2430, 504.988.7055, adierke@tulane.edu) How can I view my grades?
You may view your SPHTM grades online by following the "TOUR" link from Tulane's Registrar's homepage.
• You will need student ID and PIN
• Log in and select the "grades" option Back to the top Where can I get a curriculum catalog?
SPHTM Catalogs are available in the Admissions Office.
Tidewater Building, Suite 2460
504.988.5387
You may also view the catalog online. What are class registration deadlines?
View a full calendar of important SPHTM dates online. Back to the top What is MyTulane? How do I access it?
MyTulane is a course management system that provides capabilities such as document posting, Web bulletin boards, and real-time chat. You may access MyTulane online at http://tulane.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp. You will need your User ID and password to access MyTulane. Back to the top What are the computer lab hours of operation?
Weekdays: 8AM – 8PM
Weekends: 10AM – 5PM
Location: Tidewater Building, 12th Floor, Rooms 1220A-1220B and 1216 When does the summer course schedule come out?
The course schedule is available online at Tulane's Registrar's homepage. Follow the “Course Offerings” link. The Registrar generally posts summer and fall course offerings in late March or early April. For questions about offerings before the schedule is posted, contact the department offering the course. Back to the top How will I know when classes are added or cancelled for the semester?
Individual departments will inform students electronically if a course in which they are scheduled is cancelled. Announcements for new courses are typically made online, on announcement boards, and through email. Back to the top May I transfer to a different department?
Yes. Your request must be presented to the receiving department for approval.
Complete a Departmental/Program Transfer form (available in SPHTM Admissions or online at "Forms" link on the SPHTM Admissions site), have your new departmental advisor sign the form, take a photocopy to the MD/MPH Office and the original to SPHTM Admissions. Back to the top How do I request a leave of absence?
Students enrolled in the MD/MPH combined degree program are expected to complete all requirements for both degrees in four years. Requests for extended time in the combined degree program as well as scholarship status decisions are reviewed on an individual basis. To request a leave of absence, use the Leave of Absence Request Form from our Forms link. Have Dr. Kahn in the School of Medicine approve your request, then have your MD/MPH advisor approve your request, then submit your form to the MD/MPH Program Office for the MD/MPH Advisory Committee to review. Students will be solely responsible for School of Public Health tuition for any SPHTM coursework taken during a leave of absence from the School of Medicine. Back to the top Application Questions I have missed the April 15th deadline; may I still apply to the MD/MPH combined degree program?
Yes, the April 15th deadline is the early application deadline. There is a second deadline, October 15th, before which you may submit an application. If you have also missed the October 15th deadline, please contact the MD/MPH Office at 504.988.7055 to discuss your options. Back to the top I want to be in the International Health Track, but I don’t speak a second language, can I still enter the program?
Yes. However, students are required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English before graduation. For more details about the language requirement, see the information posted by the Department of International Health and Development. You may phone them at 504.988.3655. Financial Questions Is financial aid available for the summer? When should I apply?
Federal financial aid is available to eligible students who are enrolled at least half-time (defined as enrolled for 5 credit hours or more. Note: Capstone enrollment is considered full-time.) Students must complete a Summer Financial Aid Addendum and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming academic year. The recommended application deadline is April 15th. See the “Financial Information” section for additional Financial Aid details, and refer to the Office of Financial Aid website. Back to the top When can I apply for a scholarship? When will I be informed of the scholarship award allocations?
You are automatically considered for an MD/MPH combined degree scholarship award when you apply to the MD/MPH Combined Degree Program. There is no separate scholarship application. Scholarship awards coincide with the application deadlines: April 15th and October 15th. If scholarships are available, recipients will be notified during the first two weeks of May or November. The departments and MD/MPH Advisory Committee consider MCAT scores, undergraduate GPA, career statements, and letters of recommendation in the decision to award merit-based scholarships. Back to the top I am already receiving a scholarship for medical school; am I still eligible for a SPH scholarship?
Yes, you will still be considered for a scholarship award for the MD/MPH combined degree program. I did not receive a scholarship this year. May I reapply next year?
There is no separate application for the scholarship award. The MD/MPH Office will assess students completing the program and their scholarship award status as appropriate. Back to the top Is my chosen department related to my combined degree merit-based scholarship eligibility?
For the MD/MPH Combined Degree Program merit-based scholarship, no specific scholarships are allotted by departments. However, departments do provide input into scholarship awards. Contact your SPHTM department to inquire about the availability of departmental scholarships. Back to the top How much is the tuition?
Newly admitted MD/MPH students pay for SPHTM tuition, academic services fees, and technology support fees as they enroll in classes. Back to the top
General Questions When do I have time to take my public health courses?
MD/MPH students are strongly encouraged to begin public health classes the summer before they begin School of Medicine coursework. MD/MPH students typically do not take MPH courses during the first semester of the first year of medical school or during their third year unless special arrangements have been made in advance. On Wednesday and Friday afternoons, T1 (spring semester) and T2 medical students who are MD/MPH students do not have medical classes during this time, so MD/MPH students may use this time for public health classes. Evening courses and summer courses are available each year. Core courses may be offered in an online format. Back to the top How many SPHTM classes do MD/MPH students take each semester?
In general, students take two SPHTM classes each semester or summer session. Students generally do not take any SPHTM classes during the fall of their first year, or during their third year. Each student will likely schedule classes differently depending on his or her department, willingness to take summer classes before School of Medicine begins, the difficulty of his or her classes, and his or her ability to take medical school and public health curriculum simultaneously. Consult with your advisor regularly to plan a schedule that fits your academic needs and fulfills your department’s requirements. Back to the top Are there any clubs at the School of Public Health that MD/MPH candidates can join?
There are many special interest groups within the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine: African American Congress of Tulane, Amnesty International, Campus Organization for AIDS Prevention, Circle K, Community Action Council of Tulane University Students, India Association of Tulane, Jewish Student Union, Latin and American Student Association, Movement for Peace in Central America, Muslim Student Association, People’s Republic of China Association, Physicians for Human Rights, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Taiwanese Student Association, Tulane African Students Association, Tulane International Students Organization, Student Government Association, and Tulane University Vietnamese Association. Back to the top What is a Culminating Experience?
Students in all programs are required to complete a culminating experience that integrates and applies knowledge and skills acquired through course work. Culminating experience options differ by department. Please discuss your department's culminating experience options with your departmental advisor. Back to the top I have already taken one of the core courses; do I need to take it again?
MD/MPH students receive internal transfer credit from their School of Medicine coursework and are, therefore, not eligible to transfer credit from other institutions. However, graduate courses taken at other institutions may be used to waive a core requirement. The department chairperson and the Associate Dean of Admissions approve waiver requests. Course waivers do not waive credit hours or contribute to your GPA. You must check with the department whose course you wish to waive for additional requirements for waiving the course. To waive a required course, you must complete the following steps: Complete a core course waiver form, which must be approved by the appropriate chairperson and associate dean of Admissions. The form is available in SPHTM Office of Admissions and Student Affairs or online at the "Forms" link on the SPHTM Admissions page). Submit supporting documentation (i.e., transcript, course syllabus, course work, etc.) reflecting successful completion of the course. Approval is at the discretion of the department.
Back to the top Do my grades at the School of Public Health contribute to my GPA in the medical school?
No, your SPHTM GPA is completely separate from your GPA at the School of Medicine. Back to the top Is there a Pass/Fail option?
No. All SPHTM students, including MD/MPH students, receive letter grades in accordance with the SPHTM Grading System. Back to the top When we apply for residencies, do we submit our public health transcripts?
Residency programs typically require your medical school transcript to evaluate your ability to function in and successfully complete a particular program. Unless the residency program requires an MPH, the MPH transcript should not be required. Back to the top Are international culminating experiences limited to students in the International Health track?
Your department approves culminating experiences for MD/MPH students—see your advisor for appropriate culminating experience options, projects, and academic and administrative requirements. Back to the top Is there a limit to the number of independent study courses that I may complete?
Yes. You may not exceed 20% of your total degree hours in independent study course hours. You must find a professor to sponsor your independent study. Begin registering for an independent study in the department offering the independent study. You may find an independent study form by following the "Forms" link. Keep a photocopy of the completed form before you submit it to the department or to SPHTM Admissions (suite 2460, Tidewater Building) for registration. Back to the top If I make below a B- in a class, who decides if I have to repeat the class?
Your home department will decide if you must repeat a course in which you’ve earned lower than a B-. Please see your MD/MPH advisor. Back to the top
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