The University at Albany School of Public Health has received a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to provide full scholarships to incoming Master of Public Health (MPH) students who will join the Strengthening the Public Health Workforce Training Program.
Students selected for this program will receive full scholarships for the MPH program plus a Health Disparities or Maternal and Child Health certificate, special training to enhance their ability to address health disparities and current and emerging public health crises, and dedicated career development resources to facilitate their entry into the public health workforce.
To be eligible, an applicant must:
- Be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.
- Be an incoming graduate student pursing an MPH full-time on campus or a part-time online student enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits.
Applicants who will contribute to the diversity of the program and the future public health workforce through their lived experiences and/or work with underserved and socially vulnerable communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Requirements:
If you wish to be considered for the SPHWSP training program, you must:
- Submit your application and all required materials for MPH admission in the School of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS) portal by January 15.
- Complete a supplemental application for the SPHWSP in SOPHAS. The supplemental application requires a statement of purpose that should address your interest in public health disparities and/or social determinants of health; long-term career goals; and how this training program will help you advance those goals. The statement should also describe how you will add to the diversity of the program and the future public health workforce. The statement should not exceed 500 words.
Selection:
The Selection Committee in their review of applicants will take the following into consideration:
- interest in addressing health disparities and/or social determinants of health;
- interest in future employment in state or local health departments;
Special consideration will be given to applicants from underserved communities, including but not limited to the list below, as well as to applicants who will enhance the diversity of the future public health workforce in other ways, and to applicants with experience working with underserved and socially vulnerable populations.
- First generation college status
- Rural residence
- Racial/Ethnic diversity
Trainee Benefits:
Financial: A scholarship that covers the full-tuition and fees of the MPH degree and a specialized certificate program*
Experiential learning: Training through two required practice-based internships - one at the New York State Department of Health or a local health department, and one at a community based organization.
Academic: Advanced curriculum that enhances students’ understanding of the complexities in the public health field through completion of one of the following graduate certificate programs:
- Health Disparities – The certificate provides in-depth knowledge of the causes of health disparities as well as strategies for eliminating disparities while improving students’ multicultural competence and leadership fields.
- Maternal and Child Health (MCH) – The certificate offers students the opportunity to explore and deepen their understanding of the field of MCH. MCH focuses on promoting the health and well-being of women, infants, children, adolescents, fathers and families, with special concern for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, including children with special health care needs.
Career Development: A non-credit seminar series on topics such as emerging workforce needs, culturally and linguistically appropriate services, COVID-19, and other career development fundamentals to accelerate and enhance workforce preparedness.
Workforce pipeline (or career services): Support to facilitate entry or advancement in the public health workforce.
*Continued support dependent on satisfactory academic achievement and participation in required programming.
Disclaimer: Scholarships are limited so not all applicants who meet eligibility requirements will receive one. Federal employees are not eligible for this scholarship.