Student Resources

Master's Degree Plan II

Plan II requires a minimum of 36 units of graduate and upper division courses, of which 18 units must be graduate courses in the major field. Not more than 9 units of research (299 or equivalent) may be used to satisfy the 18-unit requirement. The M.P.H. degree requires more units (56) than the University minimum (36 units) for master’s degrees; see section 3 below.

No thesis is required. Students in the M.P.H. program complete a Practicum Placement as the Capstone/Culminating Experience and write a Final Report at the end of coursework, typically in the Spring Quarter of the first year.

Advancement to Candidacy

Every student must file an official application for Candidacy (Plan II) for the Master of Public Health Degree after completing one-half of their course requirements and at least one quarter before completing all degree requirements. Students are expected to Advance to Candidacy during Spring quarter of year one (3rd quarter). The “Candidacy for the Degree of Master” form can be found online at http://www.gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/forms/.

Normative Time to Degree

The normative time for the M.P.H. degree is Summer Session II, Fall, Winter, Spring and an additional summer session or academic quarter. Part-time students or students enrolled as a UC Staff member can choose to complete the program in two years.

PELP, in Absentia, and Filing Fee Status

Information about PELP (Planned Educational Leave), In Absentia (reduced fees when researching out of state), and Filing Fee status can be found in the Graduate Student Guide: 
http://www.gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/publications