Graduate programs
The School of Public Health graduate programs are designed to prepare students for professional work in the fields of community health, health promotion, health management, health policy and aging in a wide variety of settings. Students may also complete a plan of study that prepares them to pursue a doctoral degree in a health-related area.
The School of Public Health offers three graduate degrees, two doctoral programs and one certificate:
1. A Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree in Health Promotion.
2. A Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree in Health Management and Policy.
3. A Master of Arts/Master of Science (M.A./M.S.) degree in Health Studies.
4. The Institute on Aging offers a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology.
5. The doctoral program (PhD) in Community Health is an interdisciplinary course of study designed to provide students with advanced learning in conducting research and developing instructional skills in public health with a focus on community engagement and the social determinants of health.
6. The doctoral program (PhD) in Health Systems and Policy is an interdisciplinary course of study designed to provide students with advanced knowledge, analytic skills, and competencies in conducting research and developing teaching and learning skills in health systems and policy.
Students with a wide variety of undergraduate degrees and professional experience are admitted to the School of Public Health.
Admission requirements
MPH - Health Promotion
To apply for admission to the MPH graduate degree program in Health Promotion, students are required to:
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or higher.
- Provide scores for the Graduate Record Examination and TOEFL if applicable.
- Provide three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to assess the applicant’s potential as a graduate student.
- Submit a 500-1000 word essay describing the applicant’s professional goals as they relate to the graduate program in Community Health.
In addition to providing academic transcripts, a resume of professional work-related experience (if any) should be submitted. The application deadline for admission to the MPH is February 1st of each year. The early admission deadline is December 1st.
All MPH materials are to be submitted via SOPHAS
M.A./M.S. - Health Studies
The application deadline for the MA/MS is May 1st.
MPH - Health Management and Policy
In determining admission to the MPH in Health Management and Policy, the faculty considers the following:
- The appropriateness and quality of academic preparation demonstrated by the breadth and content of prior academic coursework. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate coursework is generally expected of students seeking regular admission status.
- Three independent assessments of the applicants ability to perform adequately in graduate studies and potential for high-level performance. The three levels of assessment and supplemental personal letters should be provided by faculty members from colleges or universities previously attended or by other persons in a position to comment on the applicant's academic background and professional experience. One letter should be from the applicant's current employer, if any.
- A resume of professional work experience, if any.
- A 500-word statement concerning the applicant's professional goals and how the program relates to the achievement of his or her goals. This statement should indicate whether the student plans to participate in the program on a full- or part-time basis and when program requirements are expected to be completed.
- A TOEFL score of 550 on paper, 213 on computer or 80 on internet is required of every applicant whose first language is not English. This is a requirement even if the applicant has earned an undergraduate degree in the United States.
- Submission of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores (required).
- In addition to the above, the MPH requires completion of an undergraduate course in statistics for admission.
All MPH materials are to be submitted via SOPHAS. The MPH in Health Management and Policy accepts applications Fall, Winter and Spring terms. The deadline are as follows: March 1st for Fall term, August 1st for Winter term, and October 1st for Spring term.