The Master’s Degree in Public Health in Public Health Practice

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are you accredited?

A: Yes, the University of Massachusetts is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and the School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Q: Am I eligible to apply for admission to the program and to the Graduate School?

A: To be eligible to apply for admission, you must have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree, a minimum GPA of 2.75 out of 4.00, a minimum of three (3) years of full time work experience in public health or health care, and be currently employed in public health or health care.

Q: How do I apply?

A: You can apply to the MPH in Public Health Practice program by requesting application material online at the Graduate School's website (application information and materials available here), or by writing the Graduate School, 530 Goodell Building, University of Massachusetts, 140 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003-9333, or by calling the University at (413) 545-0722. We encourage applicants to the PHP program to use professional references whenever possible, and to have their personal statements emphasize their current experience as a public health or health care professional.

Q: What are the deadlines for applying?

A: Learners are accepted into the MPH in PHP program on a bi-annual admissions schedule, based on entry into the program in the Fall and Spring semesters. The deadlines you must meet in order to be considered for admission are the following: applications must be completed by March 1st for acceptance in the Fall term and completed by October 1st for acceptance for the Spring term.

Q: How are admission decisions made?

A: Your application material will be forwarded from the Graduate School to the School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS). The SPHHS Public Health Practice Admissions Committee will review your application, consider your GPA, GRE scores, TOEFL (if applicable), and letters of recommendation. No single criterion determines your eligibility. The committee recognizes individuals will not be equally strong in each of the admissions criteria. If you have a concern about your qualifications, contact us at phonline@schoolph.umass.edu to set up a time to talk with program staff. The SPHHS encourages individuals from all cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds to apply to the School. Diversity enriches the learning experience for us all, learner and faculty alike. To read the entire UMass non-discrimination policy, please go to the UMass Affirmative Action and Non-Discrimination Policy web site.

Q: I have an advanced degree; do I have to take the GRE?

A: Perhaps. The Graduate School requires all applicants to take the GRE. The Graduate School grants waivers in very limited cases. Please contact either the Graduate School at gradques@grad.umass.edu or the PHP program office phonline@schoolph.umass.edu for more information about who qualifies for the GRE requirement waiver.

Q: When do I hear whether I have been accepted?

A: The Public Health Practice Program Admissions Committee will forward their decision to the Graduate School, and the Graduate School will send letters to applicants by mail confirming the decision. This process will be completed as quickly as possible.

Q: How do I contact Continuing & Professional Education?

A: For information about the classes or programs in public health offered online through Continuing & Professional Education, you can click "Curriculum" in the menu at the top of this page or go to http://UMassULearn.net. Under "Programs" click "Graduate" scroll down to "School of Public Health and Health Sciences" and click "Online Master of Public Health" (where you can also click on a course for its description). For general information regarding Continuing & Professional Education registration, payments, and course offerings visit the UMass Amherst Continuing & Professional Education web site or call (413) 545-2414

Q: How do I register for classes?

A: You register for classes through Continuing & Professional Education at the University of Massachusetts. For directions on how to register for courses, go to http://UMassULearn.net. Under "Information" click "Registration". To register for the Capstone Experience you need to contact Continuing & Professional Education at (413) 545-3653 or e-mail the Registrar at regoff@contined.umass.edu. An online registration procedure simplifies and streamlines the process. In addition, online courses are password protected. This means that only students registered for the class have access to the courses, but that once you are enrolled, you can access the course from remote sites wherever there is access to the Internet.

Q: When do classes start?

A: Fall and Spring semester courses follow the usual UMass Amherst Academic Calendar available at http://www.umass.edu/registrar/html/academic_calendar.html. There are two six week summer sessions. Students are welcome to take courses while preparing their applications for one of the three deadlines. The following box lists approximate start dates for different semesters. The actual start dates will vary from year to year.

Fall Semester: Fourteen (14) weeks, after Labor Day - mid December
Spring Semester: Runs for fourteen (14) weeks, end of January - mid May
Summer session #1: First session, six (6) weeks, early June to mid July
Summer session #2: Second session, six (6) weeks, mid July to mid Augustt

Q: How many credits must I take in order to earn the MPH degree?

A: Forty two (42) credits are required for the MPH degree in Public Health Practice (PHP).

Q: What is the statute of limitations for completing the online MPH degree?

A: PHP students have a four (4) year statute of limitation. If students need extensions, they should contact the PHP program office to request the extensions and to explain their reason(s) for the request. If the Graduate Program Director approves, s/he will make a request to the Graduate School to grant the extensions.

Q: Do I have to take any courses at Amherst?

A: No, the entire degree may be completed online; there are no residency requirements.

Q: Will the diploma indicate that the degree was earned online?

A: No, the diploma is the same for all concentrations at the SPHHS. The mode of delivery is not relevant to the degree.

Q: May I take courses before being enrolled in the program?

A: Yes, students can take classes as non-degree students. If their applications should be successful and if they earn grades of "B" or better in the courses, they can transfer up to twelve (12) UMass PHP credits towards their MPH degrees. This provision allows you to experience online education before deciding on whether to apply to the MPH in PHP program.

Q: May I transfer credits from other institutions?

A: Yes, you may transfer up to six (6) credits, or two courses, from regionally accredited institutions with approval from the Graduate Program Director and the Graduate School. Each course needs to cover the same subject matter as one of the courses in the MPH in PHP, which you would need to demonstrate by including a completed Request for Course Transfer Form [which can be obtained upon request from the PHP program office (phonline@schoolph.umass.edu) or downloaded using the links below] along with a description of the course, the name, e-mail address, and phone number of the professor who taught it, and a copy of the course syllabus. This material needs to go to the Graduate Program Director.

Q: May I audit classes?

A: You may audit classes with the permission of the instructor. Different instructors have differing criteria for class participation. These courses do not count for loan deferment purposes, but if you do not need or wish to receive graduate credits for a class, auditing classes may be a good choice for you. Learners are assessed full tuition for audited courses. Continuing & Professional Education's policy on auditing courses is available at their website: http://UMassULearn.net. Under "Information" click "Registration", then choose "Auditing" from the menu on the left-hand side.

Q: Is academic advising available?

A: Yes! Academic advising is available through the program office by e-mail, telephone, or in person throughout your MPH studies. You can also e-mail phonline@schoolph.umass.edu with your academic questions. The administrators of the MPH in Public Health Practice program are committed to making your academic experience personally rewarding as well as professionally enriching and year-round advising is an important part of that commitment.

Q: What is the cost of the program?

A: The MPH in PHP is a distance education degree program and thus has a different fee schedule than the on-campus programs. For the current fee schedule, please see the Continuing & Professional Education's website at https://www.umassulearn.net/. All courses are three (3) credits. Newly matriculated students will be billed for the Graduate School Registrar's Service fee. This one-time fee covers the costs of unlimited official transcripts, library binding, and commencement fees. Your total cost for the entire degree program will vary by how quickly you complete the required coursework and if fees need to be increased. The University of Massachusetts is committed to making distance learning available to everyone who qualifies and will make every effort to maintain reasonable course fees.

Q: Is there financial assistance available?

A: Financial aid in the form of University loans or other loan programs may be available if you qualify. Information about student loans can be found at the Graduate School Financial Aid web site, or call (413) 577-0555 for assistance. Because the online MPH program in not campus-based, several of the traditional graduate school approaches to financial support are not available, such as teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. Several other options such as University loans or other loan programs may be available by contacting the Continuing & Professional Education at (413) 545-2414. Information on tuition waivers and remission can be found at the Continuing & Professional Education website: http://UMassULearn.net. Under "Information" click "Fees and Expenses" then choose "Waivers" from the menu at the left-hand side.

We also encourage you to check your workplace for financial assistance opportunities such as partial tuition remission programs for employees. These forms of assistance may originate in the Office for Employee Relations or through your Human Resources Department.

Q: What is the refund policy?

A: Please refer to Continuing & Professional Education's website (http://UMassULearn.net) for the refund policy. Under "Information" click "Registration" then choose "Refunds" from the menu at the left-hand side. The refund policy does not apply to learners that are called to active military duty. The University provides a quick and simple method for these learners to withdraw from the University or otherwise conclude their semester without penalty. Please contact the Dean of Students Office at (413) 545-2684 if you must withdraw from courses for this reason.

Q: What is the Add/Drop and Withdrawal Policy?

A: Please refer to Continuing & Professional Education's website (http://UMassULearn.net) for the add/drop and withdrawal policy. Under "Information" click "Registration" then choose "Add/Drop & Withdrawal" from the menu at the left-hand side.

Q: If I am unfamiliar with using the Internet, can I still take an online course?

A: Yes. Because online education differs in many respects from the traditional mode of classroom delivery of courses, our MPH in Public Health Practice program begins with an orientation to Internet-based learning.

Q: What kinds of equipment will I need to take an online course?

A: Classes will be delivered online with interactive class assignments using specific courseware provided on a distant server. The courseware is supported by UMassOnline. They maintain a 24/7 helpline by phone (1-800-569-6505) and via email (amherstsupport@umassonline.net). Prospective students wishing to see a Demo Course can go to http://www.umassonline.net/home.html. Please log in with the username "demo" and password "welcome".

Here are the technical requirements (equipment and software) you must meet in order to take an online course. You will need a personal computer, an internet connection with atleast a 56 kbps modem, an email program and account, a Java capable browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer), the Shockwave plugin, a sound card, and speakers. You will need to use either Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator for your browser, and Real Player, which you can download for free off the web. For more information see http://www.umassonline.net/TechSupport.html.

Q: With the online courses, can I complete my coursework ahead of time?

A: If by that you mean take the entire course in a compressed timeframe, the answer is no. Courses are organized for learners to take time with the material, digest it, and synthesize the information with your personal and professional experiences. These learning opportunities take time. For this reason, class notes and weekly assignments will be posted online each week. Discussion through chat rooms or threaded discussion will also take place each week.

There will usually be textbooks that you purchase to accompany the online lecture notes and assignments. Just as with classes you attend, you can read ahead in your text and begin to work on some types of assignments ahead of time. Be aware that while the program allows you complete flexibility in scheduling your studies each week (working from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. if you like) online courses within the PHP program are designed for learning over the entire semester.

Q: What is it like to take an online course?

A: Just like with anything new you try, taking courses online may at first seem strange. Be assured that it will become second nature after a few sessions online! If you are new to computers it will take you longer to adjust to the new learning medium than those used to surfing the Internet. But the design of all our courses is to make them so user-friendly that the technology becomes invisible and what remains is a superb learning experience.

A demo course provided by UMassOnline can give you an idea of the way courses are organized and presented. Prospective students wishing to see a Demo Course can go to http://www.umassonline.net/home.html. Please log in with the username "demo" and password "welcome". Survey results have found that students particularly enjoy the flexibility of scheduling their study hours online and the ability to work on the readings and assignments at home at any hour of the day or night.