Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of individuals and their communities. The work involved includes improving lifestyles, researching diseases, developing policies, injury prevention and detecting, preventing and responding to infectious diseases.

All public health programs require a BA/BS prior to entry.

Each school of public health is organized differently. The most quantitative departments are Biostatistics and Epidemiology. Most schools have a Health Management or a Health Policy and Management Department. Depending on the size of the school one can find a Health and Social Behavior Department and a Department in Global Health/Population Health Sciences. Toxicology, Nutrition and Maternal and Child Health can also be found in some, but not all, schools.

There are a variety of degrees offered by schools of public health. The best known is the MPH, which is typically a practitioner degree. Degrees like MS and MSPH are typically more research-focused. These degrees are not necessarily defined consistently, so check schools of interest to see what they offer and how it meshes with your interests.

The more quantitative fields will require more courses in the STEM fields. Epidemiology often requires applicants to have taken biology, calculus and statistics prior to applying. Biostatistics requires high level computing skills (python, C+++), advanced calculus, linear algebra and statistics. The Health Management/Policy departments often require statistics, financial accounting and microeconomics. Other schools/departments simply state that successful applicants display a solid mix of quantitative, verbal and reasoning skills. Please check the schools and programs that are of interest to you to ensure that you have taken all the required prerequisites.

Most MPH programs require some sort of work experience prior to applying. Some schools will include your undergraduate volunteer, research and/or internship experience relevant to public health to be a valued part of the review process. Please check the school/program that you are applying to regarding their requirements for prior work experience.

Most schools do not require the GRE and submitting it is of no benefit to your application. Again, check all schools of interest to see what their testing policies are.

Schools of public health prefer applicants to have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher at the point of application. Again, this differs from program to program.

SOPHAS (Service of the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health) is the centralized and secure application website for public health. The majority of schools require that you complete this application. In addition, it is common that individual schools/programs will have additional questions on their website.

.5 unit equals 2 semester hours
1 course unit equals 4 semester hours
2 course units equals 8 semester hours