What is a Masters of Public Health?
The Dornsife School of Public Health's Master of Public Health degree gives students the skills needed to build exciting, rewarding careers in the wide-ranging field of public health.
This CEPH-accredited MPH public health program is grounded in the School’s expertise in urban health and its experience using data and knowledge to improve health in all types of communities.
Learn more: What is a Masters of Public Health?
Why Pursue a Masters of Public Health (MPH) Degree at Drexel Dornsife?
Dornsife's MPH program prepares students to make an impact and tackle tough public health challenges in the United States and around the world.
You will learn what it takes to address real-world problems and learn how to work on an interdisciplinary team. You will develop the skills required for a public health career in the 21st century.
Our MPH curriculum incorporates several key elements:
- A network of 70-plus corporate, non-profit, and public sector partners offering students community-based practice experiences across Philadelphia.
- A broad range of opportunities to conduct research working with award-winning faculty.
- Solid training in the Council on Public Health core competencies for each major.
- An extensive selection of minors to allow students to explore several areas of public health while working towards a Masters in Public Health.
A Masters of Public Health can open up a variety of career paths and enhance your career.
Start your application today
Public Health Minors
Minors in public health from Dornsife are open to all Drexel graduate students in all schools and colleges. The minors are designed to complement student’s training by providing knowledge and skills in public health topics outside their primary discipline.
Explore minors below:
To learn more about available minors, visit Drexel Dornsife’s Graduate Minors page.
Masters of Public Health Admissions
The Dornsife School of Public Health seeks students with intellectual and interpersonal competencies as well as those with potential for leadership. The school has set a high priority on establishing a student body within the Masters of Public Health program that is representative of the nation's population. We strive to recruit and to admit applicants from underrepresented minority groups who can contribute to the richness of our student population and to that of the nation's public health professionals.
Degree and GPA Admission Requirements for a Master of Public Health
To be considered for the Masters of Public Health program, students should have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or an equivalent international institution.
Regarding Master of Public Health GPA requirements, a GPA of at least 3.0 is preferred. Those with a lower GPA are encouraged to apply, and should highlight relevant work experience, professional certifications, and continuing education in their Statement of Purpose.
MPH Application Timeline
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.
| Endowed Scholarship Deadline: |
Apply by January 15 |
| 12-Month Program (Summer Start): |
Apply by April 1 |
International Students:
|
Apply by June 1 |
| Regular Decision (Fall Start): |
Apply by August 1 |
Applicants can expect to receive admission and scholarship decisions within 3-4 weeks of application completion.
Master of Public Health Prerequisites
Graduates of any major may apply; however, a previous course in statistics is highly recommended.
The hybrid Executive MPH program is the only MPH program that has a work requirement. All other MPH programs do not require work experience. Your classmates will have a mix of varied experiences. Most students have 1-2 years of work experience, while others have more extensive experience.
Application Requirements for the MPH Degree Program
Applicants for MPH admissions will need to submit the following:
- Online application
- Official transcripts from every college-level institution you attended (academic records from institutions outside the U.S. must undergo a credentials evaluation)
- English proficiency test score (TOEFL or IELTS), if applicable
- Three letters of recommendation (two for online programs)
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Statement of Purpose and Objectives
Applications for the Masters of Public Health program do not require the GRE.
Learn more about admission and application requirements
Master of Public Health Curriculum
With a curriculum that encourages problem-solving and research, the Master’s of Public Health program equips students with the skills to find solutions to complex health issues.
Within our rigorous learning environment, MPH students will focus on a variety of core skills and concepts. Among other skills, you will learn to:
- Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate
- Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings
- Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels
- Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
- Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
- Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
- Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
- Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity
- Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges
- Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
MPH Core Courses
All students will begin their studies in Public Health Foundations, a multidisciplinary core course within the MPH program that will be team-taught by faculty from each department. This format ensures that course development is shaped by content/disciplinary experts and includes the breadth and depth of relevant skills that all MPH graduates will need regardless of their chosen discipline.
Master of Public Health Sample Plan of Study
Discipline-Specific Courses
Students will take a minimum of five discipline-specific course in their chosen major field of study.
MPH Practical Experience
All Masters of Public Health degree students develop skills in basic public health concepts and demonstrate capacity to apply these concepts through a practical experience relevant to their area of specialization throughout the degree program. “Practice” refers to implementing (doing) public health, rather than understanding (studying, researching) public health.
The practical experience is an applied, field-based requirement that gives students approximately 120 hours of experience in the practice of public health (no credits). For students on a full-time plan of study (18 or 21 months), planning for the applied practical experience (APE) requirement generally begins during the third quarter of year one is completed during the summer after the first year of study.
The APE is "designed to create something tangible for the student...as part of their portfolio" after graduation, explained Gina Lovasi, PhD, MPH, Dornsife Associate Professor of Urban Health and Associate Dean for Education, to Fortune Education.
Learn more about Practical Public Health Experience
Integrative Learning Experience
The integrative learning experience (ILE) is the culminating requirement for MPH students. Each department/major within the MPH program has their own specific requirements for the ILE, which requires students to take 3-6 credits near the end of the program and to produce a high-quality written product that demonstrates mastery of core public health and discipline-specific competencies. Depending on the MPH concentration, the ILE can be an internship, capstone course, or data analysis project and can be coordinated with the public health field-based practical experience requirement (APE).
Learn more about the integrative learning experience
Masters of Public Health Degree Program Requirements
The full-time program is structured on a quarter basis, with 56 total credit hours required for completion of the degree.
Review on campus MPH degree requirements
Review online MPH degree requirements
MPH Career Options
There are many career options for those with an MPH degree, including positions in public service (local, city and state government), non-governmental organizations (local and international), and healthcare settings.
A Master’s of Public Health degree can prepare students for unique career paths, including:
- Clinical Researcher
- Environmental Health and Safety Specialist
- Epidemiologist
- Health Educator
- Health Services Manager
- Infection Prevention Associate
- Policy Analyst
- Program Manager
- Public Health Advisor
- Research Scientist
- Urban Planner
The coronavirus pandemic has created a new appreciation for the critical role of public health professionals and public health infrastructure. The future of the public health field will include increased opportunities to build a successful and meaningful public health career.
Apply now to begin working toward your MPH degree
Which MPH Program is Right for You?
Dornsife offers an on-campus MPH program in which students choose one of the following four majors: Community Health and Prevention, Environmental and Occupational Health, Epidemiology, or Health Management and Policy.
Dornsife also offers three fully online MPH programs in Epidemiology, Global Health, and Urban Health, and a hybrid Executive MPH.
MPH plans of study include 12-month, 18-month, 21-month, and 33-month timelines, allowing you to choose a degree program that fits your interests and schedule.
The Dornsife Difference:
300
Hours of on-the-job practice experience before graduation
87%
of Master's Degree students employed within a year of graduation
92%
of students receive scholarships