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Prospective Students

Admission Requirements

Each department or degree program sets unique entrance requirements. Please review the information below and work with the appropriate graduate student coordinator for your desired department or program if you have questions.

Requirements by Department/Program


Additional information for international students.

Biostatistics

A bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00 is required. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required, with a minimum recommended combined verbal and quantitative score of 1050; however, the average combined GRE score for new students in recent years has been 1250 or higher. Prerequisites for admission are training in single-variable and multi-variable differential and integral calculus and vector algebra, and ability to program in at least one computer language.

For the Ph.D. program, completion of a master's degree in statistics or biostatistics is generally required.

Community and Behavioral Health

The department bases all admissions decisions on:

  1. an applicant's academic potential as demonstrated through grade-point average, test scores and academic and personal references;

  2. an applicant's motivation and interest in an area of community and behavioral health as demonstrated by prior experience and the statement of purpose. In addition, Ph.D. admissions decisions are strongly affected by an applicant's fit with the research interests of the community and behavioral health faculty.

For the M.S. and M.P.H. programs, a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00 is required. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores that are less than five years old are required. Preference will be given to applicants who achieve a verbal score of at least 520 and quantitative score of 600. A background in social science is recommended. For applicants to the M.P.H. program, significant work experience is recommended.

For the Ph.D. programs, a prior graduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.40 is required. GRE General Test scores that are less than five years old are required. Preference will be given to applicants who achieve a verbal score of at least 520 and a quantitative score of 620.

Epidemiology

For the M.S. and M.P.H., a bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00 is required. A background of science, mathematics, or health sciences is recommended, though our students come from a variety of undergraduate majors. Undergraduate preparation must have included two semesters of biological science and mathematics through algebra. The recommended minimum score on the required Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is 1050 (combined verbal and quantitative)

For the M.S. in Clinical Investigation, a clinical doctoral degree is required. This program is designed as a training program for clinical researchers.

For the Ph.D., an M.S. or M.P.H. in epidemiology or a closely related field is generally required. The minimum GPA requirement for admission is 3.00. Courses in the biological, physical, and mathematical sciences provide important background coursework and are highly recommended.

Health Management and Policy

M.H.A. Program: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 is required. GRE verbal and quantitative combined score of 1100 or GMAT scores above 600 are preferred. However, official MCAT, VAT, LSAT, PCAT, and DAT scores will be accepted in lieu of the GRE or GMAT.

M.P.H. Program: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 is required. GRE verbal and quantitative combined score of 1050 is required.

Ph.D. Program: A bachelor's or master's degree in social science, management, or health is acceptable and others may be accepted. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 is generally required. GRE verbal and quantitative combined score of 1100 is preferred. Experience in health care and a master's degree in health administration, public health, or health planning are excellent preparation for this program.

Master of Public Health Program

Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. The minimum GPA requirement for admission to the M.P.H. program is 3.00. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required; however, the following scores may be substituted for the GRE: LSAT, VAT, VCAT, MCAT, DAT, GMAT or PCAT. The recommended minimum is the median score.

Occupational and Environmental Health

M.S. and M.P.H. programs: A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and a minimum GRE score (combined verbal and quantitative) of 1050 are required. A background of science, mathematics, or health sciences is recommended, although our students come from a variety of undergraduate majors.

Ph.D. program: A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 and a minimum GRE score (combined verbal and quantitative) of 1100 are required. Coursework in the biological, physical, and mathematical sciences provide an important background and are highly recommended. To be accepted as a Ph.D. candidate, you must receive the written endorsement of a faculty member in the department willing to act as your dissertation advisor. You are strongly encouraged to contact and visit faculty in the department who conduct research in your area of interest prior to submitting an application.

International Students

International applicants are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), unless they have a degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S., the U.K., Canada (except Quebec), Australia, or New Zealand. A minimum score of 250 (computer-based), 600 (paper-based), or 100 (internet-based) is recommended. International applicants whose TOEFL scores range from 550 to 599 (paper-based) or 213 to 249 (computer-based) are required to take English fluency courses.