The joint degree program normally requires two and one half years of study. Successful candidates are awarded the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree and the Master of Arts (MA) degree at the conclusion of the two and one half year period. A joint degree student will pay tuition to YSPH for three semesters and to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for two semesters.

A joint degree is more than simply a list of courses taken at both Schools. It is an integrated educational program which is designed to achieve a combination of the two programs in a way that is complementary to both while protecting the integrity of each separate program. The Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in International and Development Economics and the Dean of Student Affairs at YSPH will consult regularly to review the progress of students in the joint program.