Master of Public Health
The Master of Public Health (MPH) is a professional degree designed to prepare graduates to tackle real public health problems, as practitioners who can apply their breadth of understanding as well as some degree of expertise and experience in at least one specific area of public health. The School's interdisciplinary MPH degree program allows students to apply cutting edge scientific and technical knowledge to preventing disease and promoting wellness through organized community efforts. Click for more information.
The diversity and complexity of today's public health concerns require practitioners who understand the political, ethical, economic, and scientific concerns involved in addressing the great challenges to the modern world. The school focuses on linking academic studies with a broad base of knowledge, skills and experience necessary to meet today's public health challenges. To complete the requirements of the degree, all students will participate in at least two distinct public health internships.
Biomedical Sciences
Biostatistics
Environmental Health
Epidemiology
Health Policy
Social Behavior/Community Health
Biomedical Sciences
Graduates completing the Biomedical Sciences concentration will understand the biomedical basis of public health, including the molecular basis of disease and implications for public health programs. Students will acquire a foundation of knowledge in the core areas of biomedical sciences, and understand the fundamental role of the biomedical sciences in public health, with emphasis on, the detection, treatment and prevention of genetic, infectious, and other human diseases. They will understand the strengths and limitations of various laboratory methodologies and their application to public health problems. (Plan of study/ Classes required)
Basic Admission Criteria
- must hold a bachelors degree from a college or university of recognized standing
- grade point average of 3.00 or better
- one year of biology (either basic biology or physiology or microbiology)
- a college level course in mathematics (algebra) or statistics and a semester of social sciences
- two semesters of chemistry
Biostatistics
Graduates completing the Biostatistics concentration will be prepared to serve as collaborators in public health projects, providing expert advice on the use of statistics in the analysis of public health data. Students will gain a strong foundation in the core areas of statistical science, develop skills in defining a problem and determining the variables that are relevant to solving a public health problem, understand the appropriate use of data, the integrity of data sets, and how data might be used in public health issues, and acquire specialized knowledge in two areas of statistical science. (Plan of study/ Classes required)
Basic Admission Criteria
- must hold a bachelors degree from a college or university of recognized standing
- grade point average of 3.00 or better
- one year of biology (either basic biology or physiology or microbiology)
- a college level course in mathematics (algebra) or statistics
- a semester of social sciences
Environmental Health
Graduates completing the Environmental Health concentration will be prepared to assess environmental quality and risk and apply scientific knowledge to solving environmental health problems. Students will acquire knowledge of environmental health, including two of three sciences relevant to environmental health: chemistry, toxicology, and environmental and occupational health. They will acquire skills in collecting and analyzing environmental data, dose-response assessment and risk assessment, and they will understand the strengths and limitations of various laboratory methodologies so as to make valid use of scientific data and their application to environmental health problems. (Plan of study/ Classes required)
Basic Admission Criteria
- must hold a bachelors degree from a college or university of recognized standing
- grade point average of 3.00 or better
- one year of biology (either basic biology or physiology or microbiology)
- a college level course in mathematics (algebra) or statistics
- a semester of social sciences
- two semesters of chemistry
Epidemiology
Graduates completing the Epidemiology concentration will understand the design, application and interpretation of epidemiological studies of public health problems in the community. Students will become familiar with the range of epidemiologic practices, including surveillance, etiologic investigation, and the evaluation of preventive interventions. They will be able to define, compute and interpret fundamental epidemiologic measures, explain the principles, strengths and weaknesses of epidemiologic study designs, know how to apply the fundamental techniques for selection of study populations, have experience with techniques for collecting data and evaluating the quality of data, demonstrate basic skills for managing computer-based data, and demonstrate the ability to interpret and present the results of epidemiological research. (Plan of study/ Classes required)
Basic Admission Criteria
- must hold a bachelors degree from a college or university of recognized standing
- grade point average of 3.00 or better
- one year of biology (either basic biology or physiology or microbiology)
- a college level course in mathematics (algebra) or statistics
- a semester of social sciences
Health Policy
Graduates completing the Health Policy and Management concentration will be prepared to manage public health programs. They will learn to articulate alternative models of management/organizational functioning, learn how these might bear on defining and resolving problems, and understand the uses of organizational research methods in existing organizations. Graduates will be able to utilize communication as a tool for developing participation and motivation among organizational members, as well as performing such core leadership tasks as directing, mentoring, facilitating and brokering. They will be able to state options for change and their supporting theoretical rationale, identify barriers to change, and develop mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating programs for their effectiveness and quality. (Plan of study/ Classes required)
Basic Admission Criteria
- must hold a bachelors degree from a college or university of recognized standing
- grade point average of 3.00 or better
- a college level course in mathematics (algebra) or statistics
- a semester of social sciences
Social Behavior/Community Health
Graduates completing the Social Behavior/Community Health concentration will understand the influence of individual, group and cultural factors on the health of populations as well as the ways in which these factors influence the development and organization of public health programs and service delivery in communities. Students will learn to distinguish the relative effectiveness of different public health interventions utilizing the appropriate principles and methods from social and behavioral sciences that address the behavior of individuals, groups and communities, and learn how to design a strategy for developing and/or improving a community-based public health program to reduce the prevalence of a particular risk behavior. They will be able to develop a data management plan for assessing the need for a program, relate the relevance of evaluation or research findings for implementing a program, and develop mechanisms to monitor and evaluate community intervention programs for their effectiveness and quality. (Plan of study/ Classes required)
Basic Admission Criteria
- must hold a bachelors degree from a college or university of recognized standing
- grade point average of 3.00 or better
- a college level course in mathematics (algebra) or statistics
- a semester of social sciences
Application Process
Graduate students applying to the University at Albany School of Public health can apply through SOPHAS, a centralized application service for schools of public health.
Application requirements
In addition to the application, through SOPHAS, the following materials are required:
- Undergraduate transcripts
- Graduate Record Exam (*GRE) or MCAT scores
- Three references from persons familiar with your academic qualifications
- Personal Statement about your education and professional goals
- TOEFL score (required of international students)
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
All applicants must submit GRE scores to be considered for admission. Scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) may be substituted for the GRE.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score on the TOEFL prior to be considered for admission. The minimum acceptable score is 600 on the paper-based test or 250 on the computer-based test.
Letters of Recommendation All applicants must submit three (3) letters of recommendation prior to being considered for admission. At least one letter must be from a former university teacher.
Statement
All applicants must submit a statement explaining why they wish to pursue a career in public health. There is no limit to the length of the narrative statement. These statements are judged for grammar and spelling as well as for content. The admission committee evaluates not only the academic preparation of candidates, but the degree to which the candidate's goals are appropriate for the program.
