Completing both an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in five years may not be part of every student’s plan, but for ambitious learners who have found their academic calling, an Undergraduate to Graduate program (U2G) can be a real time- and money-saver.

The recently established U2G program at the University of Iowa College of Public Health enables students to earn their undergraduate degree and a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree or Master of Science (MS) degree in five years instead of the typical six.

Gina Chieffo, a University of Iowa senior from Bettendorf, Iowa, is one of nine students currently enrolled in the College of Public Health’s U2G program. Chieffo is pursuing a double major in psychology and engaged social innovation along with an MPH in community and behavioral health.

“I got interested in public health because I took some public health courses for my engaged social innovation major. I realized that I really liked it and wanted to do the master’s program,” Chieffo says.

The engaged social innovation (ESI) track is an interdepartmental studies major established in 2014 that encourages students to seek out and develop solutions to social problems. Designed to pair with an existing major and extend that major’s scope into areas of social concern, the ESI track enables students to apply their learning in real-world settings.

“I did a lot of volunteer work with Crisis Center of Johnson County,” Chieffo continues. “I talked to a lot of people with mental health issues who didn’t have the resources or support network to get help. I was originally interested in doing clinical psychology, but seeing the social and structural issues instead of the individual-level issues from my volunteer work is what led me to want to do public health.”

A Diverse Field

“Public health is a diverse, multidisciplinary field that fits a lot of students’ interests and skills,” adds Tanya Uden-Holman, associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Public Health. “The Undergrad to Grad program is a great option for motivated students who are interested in improving the health of communities and populations. It saves time, money, and prepares them to enter a public health career or go on to further study.”

Currently, the U2G program is open to undergraduate students at the University of Iowa, Coe College, and Grinnell College who meet academic requirements. Students begin by taking the introductory course Fundamentals of Public Health during their freshman or sophomore year. During their junior year, they can apply to the U2G program after taking the GRE exam.

In addition to their undergraduate degree, students can choose to earn an MPH in community and behavioral health, epidemiology, occupational and environmental health, policy, or quantitative methods. Master of Science degrees are available in epidemiology or industrial hygiene.

Making Connections, Looking to the Future

Chieffo is also working with Natoshia Askelson, assistant professor of community and behavioral health, as a research assistant. She helps write blog posts for “I Am In Control,” a blog for teens on health, relationship, and life topics funded by the Iowa Department of Public Health. She also helps with data collection and coding as needed for a variety of projects.

“Having connections with professors helps add to my experience, since I can’t always attend the different talks the college offers,” Chieffo says of her research assistant experience. “It’s nice to be connected to what’s happening in the college outside of class.”

As for her future plans, Chieffo is eager to put her degrees to use.

“I want to work with an NGO at some point, and I’m interested in working globally too, but right now I’m interested in seeing all the different options public health has,” Chieffo says. “I could see myself working at a lot of different levels, maybe going back to get my PhD in community and behavioral health and doing research. I want to have a really broad perspective by working in different places. I just want to get into the field and see what connections I can make from there.”

For more information on the U2G program at the UI College of Public Health, visit www.public-health.uiowa.edu/undergrad-to-grad/.

Photo by John Choate