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

Requirements for Admission into the MPH

Any individual with a bachelor’s degree or higher with a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 grading scale from an accredited university and a minimum of three (3) years’ full time experience in public health or health care is eligible to apply for admission. You must be currently employed in a public health or health care position or be enrolled in an accredited medical residency program.

The following application materials are required for consideration:

1. A completed formal application. (Click here for application information and materials).
2. An application fee of $40.00 for Massachusetts residents, $50.00 for U.S.citizens and permanent residents, and $65.00 for international applicants.
3. A minimum of two letters of recommendation are required from individuals best suited to assess the applicant’s abilities. Although the use of the Graduate School's Recommendation Form is not necessary, if you use it please complete the top portion of the form and submit it as a cover page with the letter of recommendation. All recommendations will be considered non-confidential unless the applicant waives his/her right of access. Please make sure that all letters are typed.
4. Two official transcripts for each previously attended educational institution.
5. Official current (within 5 years) GRE scores (The GRE may be waived for those with a doctoral degree or its equivalent (Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., JD.) from a regionally-accredited US institution. (More information on GREs).
6. TOEFL* if applicable. (Please contact the Graduate School to see if this is applicable to you). (Click here for more information on TOEFL).

In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, applicants for the MPH degree in Public Health Practice must have:

1. three years minimum full time professional experience in the field of public health or health care, and
2. be currently employed in a public health or health care position, or
3. be currently enrolled in an accredited medical residency program.

* Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): The University of Massachusetts does not require TOEFL from US citizens. Permanent residents whose undergraduate institution is outside of the United States and not from an English speaking country will be required to demonstrate their English language proficiency by sitting for TOEFL. The minimum TOEFL score as set by the Graduate Council is 550 (213 for computer based test), although for most graduate programs their minimum may be as high as 600, particularly if financial assistance is required. TOEFL scores are valid for two years from anticipated date of entrance. The Institutional Code for the University of Massachusetts Amherst is 3917.

TOEFL is not required if an applicant satisfies one or more of these conditions:

• Citizenship of Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Guyana, an Anglophone country of Africa, or an English speaking country of the Caribbean.
• A college or university degree earned in the United States or in one of the countries listed above.
• A degree earned from the American University in Beirut, American University in Bulgaria, American College in Greece or from Bogazigi University.
• Current enrollment as a full-time student who will have completed two academic years of college/university work in the United States prior to the date of anticipated entrance at the University of Massachusetts.
• Holds a foreign medical degree and received ECFMG certification prior to July 1, 2005.

These requirements are similar to those of the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts. For more information, visit the Graduate School Website.

You can apply to the MPH program in Public Health Practice directly online or by requesting application material online at the Graduate School’s website (Click here for application information and materials) or by writing the Graduate School, Goodell Building, University of Massachusetts, 140 Hicks Way, Amherst, MA 01003-9333, or by calling the University at (413) 545-0721. We encourage applicants to the PHP program to use both professional and academic references whenever possible, and to have their personal statements emphasize their current experience as a public health or health care professional.

Your submitted application materials will be forwarded from the Graduate School to the School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS). The Public Health Practice Program Admissions Committee will review your application, consider your GPA, GRE scores, TOEFL (if applicable), letters of recommendation, and personal statement. The final decision regarding a student’s admission to the program is based on a review of all the supporting documentation. No single factor determines admission. 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 Admissions Committee will forward its 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.

The University prides itself on the diversity of its student body, and is committed to the principles of affirmative action, civility, equal opportunity, and the free exchange of ideas. Click here to view the University’s Non-discrimination Policy.

Transfer Credits

Up to 12 UMass PHP credits may be taken as a non-degree student and transferred in later. This option allows you to sample the program without being officially accepted. Or you may use the six-credit transfer option to transfer up to six credits of grade B (3.0) or better from other regionally accredited graduate programs. Transfer credits require written approval from the Graduate Program Director and approval from the Graduate School. All transfer credits must have been awarded within three years of a student’s entrance into the MPH program in Public Health Practice.

A Request for Course Transfer form can be obtained from the PHP program office (phonline@schoolph.umass.edu). You can also download the form in either Microsoft Word or PDF format by using the links below. Courses need to cover the same subject matter as courses offered in the MPH in PHP program. You need to demonstrate this by including the course syllabus and the name, e-mail address, and phone number of the instructor who taught it. This material needs to be documented on the Request for Course Transfer form and be returned to the Graduate Program Director at the PHP program office.

Download the Request for Course Transfer form in Microsoft Word.

Download the Request for Course Transfer form in PDF.