PhD Program in Public & Community Health

Admissions

Academic Qualifications

In order to satisfy requirements for admission, students must:

• Have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better.
• Present evidence of capacity for graduate study in public health.
• Have a strong foundation in the quantitative, behavioral and biological sciences, regardless of undergraduate major.
• Provide three letters of recommendation.
• Have an interview that conveys an aptitude and commitment to research.
• Provide a carefully constructed personal statement describing career goals and reasons for interest in graduate school.
• Have an average of 60% or greater on the scores of the Verbal and Quantitative components and 3.5 or greater on the Analytical Writing component of the Graduate Record Examination. Tests must have been taken within five years from the date of application.
• Non-US citizens are required to take a TOEFL and make arrangements for an official score report to be sent directly from ETS to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. A minimum score of 100 is required on the Internet-based version (including Speaking). The Graduate School's Institution code is 1519, Department code is 99.

Other indicators of a commitment to a graduate program, which are carefully weighed in the admissions process, include participation in public health research, particularly mentored research programs, and related professional and life experiences.

If students have an undergraduate degree in public health, they automatically meet the requirements.

If not, students will be required to have:

• 6 credits of psychology, sociology or anthropology
• 3 credits of anatomy, physiology or biology (minimum)
• 3 credits of statistics
• 3 credits of research methods

Students deficient in any of these may still apply on the condition that they indicate a plan for completing the necessary coursework prior to matriculation.