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Admissions Requirements for the Graduate Major in Public Health

Applying

After exploring options and choosing a specific program, follow the steps on our University’s graduate application process:

Deadlines to apply

Admission Limited to

Consult department.

Exams & GRE Types

GRE: Not required

Letters of Recommendation

3, two from former professors and one from an employer; if no employer, three from current or former professors

UCLA-Wide Graduate Admissions Requirements

Degree-Specific Admissions Requirements

In addition to the University's minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit the program application through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS] and a statement of purpose.

Prior academic or professional experience in public health or a related field is not required as a condition of admission. Applications are reviewed by the department that corresponds with the concentration offered by the program. Applicants requiring assistance in deciding on a concentration should speak either to a department administrator or to staff in the Student Affairs Office.

Applicants must perform satisfactorily on the verbal and quantitative sections of a recent Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and have the requisite coursework needed for the concentration area. Applicants whose undergraduate coursework is deficient may be admitted but will be required to take specified undergraduate courses upon matriculation. At the discretion of the Associate Dean for Academics, the GRE may be waived for applicants who hold a doctoral degree from a U.S. university and have at least five years of relevant postdoctoral experience.

Master's degrees: .

Biostatistics

The Biostatistics concentration requires satisfactory completion of at least one year of college-level calculus. Students who lack proficiency in calculus will be required to take undergraduate courses in calculus upon matriculation.

Community Health Sciences:The Community Health Sciences concentration has no additional admissions requirements.

Environmental Health Sciences

The Environmental Health Sciences concentration requires a bachelor's degree in environmental health, life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, environmental science, or a related field. Applicants with non-science majors must have completed one college-level course in each of the following: (1) calculus, linear algebra, or statistics; (2) chemistry; and (3) biology or equivalent. Applicants who lack any prerequisites coursework at the time of application must take equivalent courses at UCLA in their first year.

Epidemiology

The Epidemiology concentration requires one college-level course in physical sciences and at least two college-level courses in each of the following: (1) mathematics or statistics, (2) biological sciences, public health, or health sciences, (3) and social sciences.

An accelerated one-year option is available for applicants with a clinical doctorate (MD or equivalent) granted by an accredited US institution, or who are currently enrolled in a US medical school. The exact length of the program and the nature of the field placement, if any, depend on the student's background.

Health Management

The Health Management concentration has no additional admissions requirements. An accelerated one-year option is available for applicants with prior doctoral-level training (MD, JD, PhD, or equivalent). The exact length of the program and the nature of the field placement, if any, depend on the student's background.

Health Policy

The Health Policy concentration has no additional admissions requirements. An accelerated one-year option is available for applicants with prior doctoral-level training (MD, JD, PhD, or equivalent). The exact length of the program and the nature of the field placement, if any, depend on the student's background..

African Studies, M.A./Public Health, M.P.H.

The School of Public health and the African Studies Program have a concurrent degree program whereby students can pursue the M.A. degree in African Studies and the M.P.H. with a specialization in Community Health Sciences at the same time. Applicants are required to satisfy the admission requirements of both programs, and students must meet the requirements in both programs to be awarded the degrees. Applicants interested in this concurrent program should contact the African Studies program, and the Student Affairs Office, School of Public health.

Asian American Studies, M.A./Public health, M.P.H.

The Asian American Studies Department and the Department of Community Health Sciences in the School of Public Health offer a concurrent degree program whereby students can work for the M.A. in Asian American Studies and the M.P.H. Students must complete the program requirements for both degrees. When applying, the same statement of purpose may be submitted to each program. Applicants interested in this concurrent program should contact the Asian American Studies Department and the Student Affairs Office, School of Public Health.

Latin American Studies, M.A./Public Health, M.P.H.

The School of Public Health and the Latin American Studies Program have arranged an articulated degree program, organized to permit specializations within the M.A. and the M.P.H. degrees, with the award of both degrees after approximately three years of graduate study. Qualified students apply to the Latin American Studies Program and to a relevant area of public health, such as: (1) environmental and nutritional sciences; (2) epidemiology; (3) health education; or (4) population and family health.

Potential applicants should contact the Graduate Adviser in Latin American Studies and/or the Public Health/Latin American Studies Articulated Degree Program Adviser, School of Public Health.

Law, J.D./Public Health, M.P.H.

The School of Public Health and the School of Law offer a four year concurrent degree program in which students complete both the M.P.H. and the J.D. degree programs simultaneously. The program comprises three years in the School of Law and one year in the School of Public Health. In addition, the M.P.H. degree requires field-training experience, which is generally completed in the summer following the public health study. Applicants apply separately to the School of Law and the School of Public Health. Students enrolled in the first year of either the J.D. or the M.P.H. program may also apply for admission to the concurrent program. Interested applicants should contact the School of Law and the Student Affairs Office in the School of Public Health.

Management, M.B.A./Public Health, M.P.H.

The Anderson School of Management and the Department of Health Policy and Management in the Fielding School of Public Health offer a concurrent degree program in which students complete both the M.P.H. and the M.B.A. degree programs simultaneously in three years. The M.P.H. requires field-training experience, which is generally completed in the summer following the year of public health study. Applicants apply separately to the M.B.A. program and the M.P.H. program. Those interested should contact both the Anderson School of Management and the Student Affairs Office in the Fielding School of Public Health.

Medicine, M.D./Public Health, M.P.H.

The School of Public Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine have an articulated degree program designed to enable students to complete both the M.P.H. and the M.D. degree programs in five years. The program includes four years of medical school and one year plus one additional quarter in the School of Public Health. Additionally, up to ten weeks of field training is required for the M.P.H. The field training is generally completed in the summer after the year of public health coursework. UCLA medical students apply for admission to the School of Public Health in the fall quarter of their third year.

Public Policy, M.P.P./Public Health, M.P.H.

The Department of Public Policy and the Department of Health Policy and Management offer a concurrent degree program whereby students may pursue the Master of Public Policy degree and a Master of Public Health degree at the same time. For admission, applicants are required to satisfy the regular admission requirements for both the M.P.P. and the M.P.H. programs. During the first year, students generally begin with the first year core courses in Public Policy. In Spring Quarter students also begin taking the required Health Policy and Management courses. For the remaining two years of the concurrent degree program, students take both Public Policy and Health Services courses for a total of 68 units in Public Policy and 56 units in Health Policy and Management. Applicants interested in the concurrent program should contact the graduate adviser in Public Policy.

Social Welfare, M.S.W./Public Health, M.P.H.

The Department of Social Welfare and the Department of Community Health Sciences (Public Health) offer a concurrent program whereby students pursue the Master of Social Welfare and the Master of Public Health at the same time. Applicants are required to satisfy the regular admission requirements of each program. Studentsin the three-year concurrent program complete their first year curriculum in either Social Welfare or Public Health. During the second year, students complete the first-year core courses in the other department along with certain electives. In the third year, students complete the advanced practice methods and field internship course sequences in Social Welfare, complete requirements and electives in Public Health, and meet remaining requirements for both programs. Students must meet requirements for graduation in both programs to be awarded either degree. Applicants interested in the program should contact the department of Social Welfare or the department of Community Health Sciences.

Urban Planning, MURP./Public Health, M.P.H.

The Community Health Sciences and Environmental Health Sciences departments in the School of Public Health and the department of Urban Planning in the School of Public Affairs offer a concurrent plan of study providing an integrated curriculum for students interested in interdisciplinary training on the public health consequences of urban planning. Students in this program study how public health intersects with urban design and land use patterns, location choices and activity participation, economic factors, equity and social justice, governance and institutional management and planning for sustainability.

Concurrent students pursue studies in both schools/departments and following three years of full time study earn both the Master of Public Health with an emphasis in Community Health Sciences or Environmental Health Sciences and the Master of Urban and Regional Planning.

Applicants must apply and be admitted to both the M.P.H and MURP programs. Further details regarding coursework and program structure may be obtained from the admissions office or graduate adviser in either the department of Urban Planning or the department of Community Health Sciences or Environmental Health Sciences.

Program Name

Public Health

Information regarding the Executive MPH and the MPH for Health Professionals appear separately.

Leading to the degree of

Dr.P.H.

Dr.P.H. only:Not accepting applications for the Dr. P.H. for 2022-23.

Major Code

0789

Address

A1-269 CHS
Box 951772
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772

Phone

(310) 825-5524

Email

sagoo@ph.ucla.edu

Website

www.ph.ucla.edu