Due to COVID-19 our MPH deadline and application have been modified to the below requirements:
- DEADLINE: June 15th extension, with 1-2 week turn around
- 2 letters of recommendation
- The GREs have been waived
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Program Overview
Through innovation in experiential education, research, and service, the Master of Public Health Program at Northeastern University trains diverse and skilled professionals who promote and protect the health of all communities.
In order to help prepare the next generation of public health leaders and professionals, the MPH Program offers our diverse graduate students a variety of course options.
NOTE:
Fall 2023 Deadline
June 30
GRE waived
Online, In-Class, or Hybrid
Evening Classes; Part-time or Full-time Option
Cross-Departmental Course Offerings
Supportive Learning Environment
with Outstanding Student Mentoring
Program Director Welcome Video
Student Testimonials
Faculty Perspective on Capstone
How to Prepare for Today's Emerging Public Health Trends
Learn more about how you can solve the complex problems facing complex environments.
Download Free E-BookWhat can you do with a Master’s in Public Health?
Urban Health Concentration
Rapid urbanization worldwide drives the need for innovative public health approaches that take into careful account the unique characteristics, challenges, and opportunities that exist in urban environments.
The Master of Public Health Program’s concentration in Urban Health has been developed specifically to meet the growing demand for public health professionals who have the ability to navigate the complex issues inherent to the urban context.
One of the few of its kind, our program brings together interdisciplinary faculty with expertise in working with diverse urban populations and builds upon Northeastern’s rich history of community engagement to provide students with the experience and skills needed to address urban public health issues.
With a focus on racial and ethnic health disparities, students examine how the characteristics of the urban environment can effect health and well-being. Sample topics include:
- The built environment
- Poverty, violence, and substance abuse
- Health education and promotion
- Barriers to health and healthcare
- Preventing and controlling chronic diseases
- Immigration, migration, and suburbanization
- Childhood obesity
- Adolescent health behaviors
- Community-based participatory research
- Health and political advocacy
- Evaluation techniques
- Municipal policy and administration
- Global health concerns
- Containing outbreaks and epidemics
- Emergency preparedness
- Theories of social and behavior change
We are committed to building an effective and diverse public health workforce. Our students are motivated by the urgent need to address the inequities in health that burden urban populations, both within the United States and abroad. Graduates from our program have both the technical expertise to handle complex urban health problems, as well as the cultural sensitivity to interact effectively with and advocate for diverse urban populations.
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Program Goals ▷
Education Goals
- Educate students in program-identified core public health competencies with an accredited curriculum
- Provide students with practice-oriented education that will prepare them to effectively address the multi-level public health risks faced by diverse urban communities
Research Goals
- Generate public health knowledge using interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary approaches that emphasize urban, community-engaged, and translational research
- Provide opportunities in urban settings for students to apply research and evaluation skills
Service Goals
- Facilitate engagement in public health advocacy, policy, and practice at local, regional, national, and global levels
- Improve the health of diverse urban communities in collaboration with community organizations; federal, state, and local agencies; and the private sector
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Competencies
The MPH Program in Urban Health has identified the following core public health and urban health competencies, which guide all program activities:
General Public Health Competencies
Analytic/Assessment Skills
- Assess the health status of populations and their related determinants of health and illness
- Selects variables that measure public health conditions
- Interprets qualitative and quantitative data
- Utilizes data to address scientific, political, ethical, and social public health issues
Policy Development/Program Planning Skills
- Articulates the implications of policy options
Communication Skills
- Communicates in writing and orally, in person, and through electronic means, with linguistic and cultural proficiency
- Applies communication strategies in interactions with individuals and groups
Cultural Competency Skills
- Explains the dynamic forces that contribute to cultural diversity
Public Health Sciences Skills
- Describes the scientific foundation of the field of public health
- Applies the basic public health sciences (including, but not limited to: biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health services administration, and social and behavioral health sciences) to public health policies and programs
- Determines the limitations of research findings
The MPH Program has one area of specialization, which is “Urban Health”. The specific competencies selected for this specialization mirror the general competencies the guide the entire program and have been amended to take into account the health of urban populations:
Urban Health Competencies
Analytic/Assessment Skills
- Describes the characteristics of an urban population-based health problem
- References sources of urban public health data and information
Policy Development/Program Planning Skills
- Articulates policy options to address an urban health issue
Communication Skills
- Solicits input from individuals and organizations in urban environments
- Presents demographic, statistical, programmatic, and scientific information for use by professional and lay audiences
Cultural Competency Skills
- Considers the role of cultural, social, and behavioral factors in the accessibility, availability, acceptability and delivery of urban public health services
Community Dimensions of Practice Skills
- Establishes linkages with key stakeholders in an urban environment
Public Health Sciences Skills
- Conducts a comprehensive review of the scientific evidence related to an urban public health issue, concern, or intervention
- Retrieves scientific evidence from a variety of text and electronic sources
Leadership and Systems Thinking Skills
- Promotes individual, team, and organizational learning opportunities
All graduates fulfill the competencies that guide the MPH Program.
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MPH Pathways
| MPH Traditional | MPH 1-Year Accelerated | MPH in Charlotte | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to Complete | 16-24 months (+) | 1 year | 16-24 months (+) |
| Student Status | Full- or Part-time | Full-time | Full- or Part-time |
| Modality | Online or on-campus in Boston | Online | Online with course residency in North Carolina |
| Start Date(s) | January or September | September | September |
| Course-map | Flexible | Set | Set |
| Curriculum | Choice of electives and experiential learning | Set electives with your cohort, industry partnerships | Choice of electives with local public health experiential opportunities |
Curriculum
Our MPH Program is a professional (non-thesis) master’s degree program offered by the Bouvé College of Health Sciences Department of Health Sciences. Characteristics of the curriculum include academic rigor and competency-based education in a supportive and engaging learning environment rooted in the social determinants of health. The curriculum components meet the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH) accreditation requirements.
We currently offer one concentration, which is Urban Health.
All MPH degree candidates must complete a total of 42 credits consisting of:
5 courses, 3 credits each = 15 credits
- Biostatistics in Public Health
- Environmental Health
- Introduction to Epidemiology
- Public Health Administration and Policy
- Society, Behavior, and Health
3 courses, 3 credits each = 9 credits
- Principles and History of Urban Health
- Race, Ethnicity, and Health in the United States
- Urban Community Health Assessment
1 course, 3 credits = 3 credits
Students choose either:
- Health Education and Program Planning
- Techniques of Program Evaluation
3 courses, 3 credits each = 9 credits
Elective courses may be taken on a range of public health topics. Cross-departmental offerings are included in elective courses and provide MPH students with unique opportunities to focus their interests in emerging areas of public health practice. Some areas of interest and sample electives include:
Health Promotion/Education
- Health Advocacy
- Health Education and Program Planning
- Techniques of Program Evaluation
Research
- Advances in Measuring Behavior
- Advanced Methods in Biostatistics
- Applied Regression Analysis
- Intermediate Epidemiology
- Principles of Population Health
- Qualitative Methods in Health and Illness
Policy
- Economic Perspectives on Health Policy
- Evaluating Healthcare Quality
- Strategic Management and Leadership in Healthcare
Special Interest
- Budget Management in Public Health
- Exercise in Health and Disease
- Global Health
- Grant Writing in Public Health
- Project Management in Public Health
- Public Health Nutrition
MPH students are also able to use their electives to pursue certificate opportunities. Currently, the MPH Program has joined with the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at Northeastern to offer a certificate pathway specifically for MPH students. To learn more about the WGSS certificate option, please click here.
Minimum 200 hour, community-based internship (3 credits)
The goal of the Practicum is to provide the opportunity to integrate and apply classroom learning in a public health work environment, enabling students to observe and learn from professionals in the field. The student contributes to a community’s resources and to the solution of public health problems, while developing practical skills and personal confidence as a public health professional. The practicum serves as a transition point for the student from education to professional practice.
The nature and location of the practicum is flexible. Students have completed their practicum in many different settings, including:
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
- Boston Medical Center
- Boston Public Health Commission
- Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute
- The Fenway Institute
- Florida Department of Health
- Food and Drug Administration
- Framingham Heart Study
- Hebrew Senior Life
- Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health
- Michigan Institute of Social Research
- Year Up
Students in our program also have access to Northeastern’s Experiential Network (XN), which pairs students with industry partners to complete short (six-week), virtual projects that complement their academic work and enables them to build their professional network at the same time.
To learn more about how public health internships, like our program’s Practicum requirement and those offered through Northeastern’s Experiential Network (XN), can be used to gain pre-professional experience, click here.
Capstone Project (3 credits)
Capstone is an opportunity for students to integrate their theory and practice experiences into a culminating experience that can take the form of either 1) a major research, program planning, policy development, management, service delivery, or evaluation project that they design in consultation with Northeastern faculty and community partners, or 2) preparing for and passing the Certified in Public Health (CPH) Exam. If completing a project, it should address issues relevant to urban public health or racial/ethnic health disparities, be guided by an overall research question, and be grounded in an appropriate theoretical framework.
Regardless of the route chosen for Capstone, students produce a written deliverable (for projects, this is a scholarly paper detailing the outcome of their projects and its contribution to the field of public health; for exam takers, this is a literature review on a relevant public health issue that ends with recommendations for implementation into practice). All students give a professional presentation on their Capstone projects or papers to the MPH Program community.
Students may enroll in the MPH program on a part-time (1 to 2 courses per semester) or full-time (4 courses per semester) basis. In general, the curriculum requires two years of full-time study to complete, but can be completed in up to five years, if done on a part-time basis. The on campus versions of the 8 core Public Health and Urban Health courses meet once a week and are taught from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, facilitating enrollment for students who work full or part-time. Various electives are also offered during the evening, the summer, as intensive courses, or in hybrid on-campus/online formats. Curriculum subject to change
Admissions
The MPH Program accepts students for entry in both the Fall and the Spring. Specific details and deadlines are outlined below.
Fall Entry |
Spring Entry |
|
|---|---|---|
| Applicants accepted |
On Campus: Domestic and International Online: Domestic and International |
On Campus: Domestic only Online: Domestic and International |
| Delivery options | Hybrid on campus/online 100 percent online |
Hybrid on campus/online 100 percent online |
| Student status | Full time Part time |
Full time Part time |
| Application deadline | 2/1 priority*, 6/30 final | 11/15 |
* The Admissions Committee reviews applications on a rolling basis and recommends applicants interested in merit-based scholarships and financial aid submit by the 2/1 priority deadline. However, all completed applications received by the 6/30 final deadline will be considered for merit-based scholarships as they are available. International students who need to change their visa status to F1 should also submit by the 2/1 priority deadline.
All applicants must apply via the SOPHAS application system:
The application process for the hybrid on campus/online program and the 100 percent online program are the same. Select your preferred term and delivery option when applying via SOPHAS. Please note that international students holding study visas must take classes on site.
Those applicants interested in applying for the either the dual EXSC/MPH or HINF/MPH programs should select their preferred program option in SOPHAS. Do not apply to both programs separately. Other dual degree program applicants (eg, BS/MPH; JD/MPH; PA/MPH; Direct Entry PharmD/MPH, Undergraduate PharmD/MPH) apply via a separate application system; please visit those programs’ websites for more information.
Admissions Checklist
Click each required application item for more information.
Completed Application via SOPHAS
Completed Application via SOPHAS
Our program accepts applications through SOPHAS, the centralized application system for schools and programs of public health: http://www.sophas.org/. Please note that application waivers are granted solely through SOPHAS.
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Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
Our program welcomes applicants from diverse academic backgrounds. While we do not have any course or discipline prerequisites, a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA is required.
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Official Transcripts
Official Transcripts
Applicants are required to submit via SOPHAS all transcripts of all college-level study. WES-evaluated transcripts (also via SOPHAS) are required for any study that took place outside the United States.
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Official Test Scores
Official Test Scores
Our program requires the following official test scores. Exceptions and the process for requesting waivers are outlined below.
GRE (code #7533)
GRE scores (taken within the last five years) are required of all non-Northeastern University graduates. The Admissions Committee typically looks for scores at or above the 50th percentile in each domain. In very rare circumstances, when the applicant has already obtained a PhD, MD, JD, or similar advanced degree, this requirement may be waived. If an applicant wishes to submit a petition to have the GRE waived, the GRE Waiver form should be sent to the MPH Program Director with supporting materials (CV and/or transcripts). The petition will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and the applicant will be notified directly of the decision.
MCAT
Starting with the Fall 2017 application cycle, the MPH Program will accept MCAT scores from 2015 onward. You must contact AAMC to have your MCAT scores released to SOPHAS in order for them to be added to your application.
TOEFL (code #5688)
Official TOEFL scores are required for those applicants whose native language is not English and/or who attended post-secondary institutions outside the U.S. and English-speaking Canada. The Admissions Committee looks for a TOEFL score of 100 or better. Other tests of English proficiency (eg, IELTS) are not accepted.
Exemptions to this policy are reviewed on a case by case basis. To submit a petition to waive the TOEFL, please complete the TOEFL Waiver form and supply supporting documentation. Your request will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and you will be notified directly of the decision.
Please note that other comparable standardized test scores (eg, IELTS, GMAT) are NOT accepted by our program in place of those outlined above.
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Three Evaluations
Three Letters of Recommendation
These letters of recommendation should include academic references and professional references only.
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Personal Statement
Personal Statement
Approximately two to three double-spaced pages in length, describing your interest in and commitment to urban public health, including:
- Your interests and experiences in the field of public health
- What your goals are for a career in urban public health
- Why you would like to complete your MPH degree at Northeastern University
- You may include any other information that you feel might be useful to the Admissions Committee.
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Interview
Interview (Optional)
The Admissions Committee reserves the right to request an in-person or telephone interview with certain candidates; you will be notified directly if we would like to schedule an interview with you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the tuition costs for the MPH Program?
The program is 42 semester credits. For up-to-date information regarding Northeastern University tuition per credit, please refer to the University’s tuition page. Tuition is the same for on-campus and online only students, as well as for domestic and international students.
What kind of financial assistance is available?
Merit-based aid
The MPH Program offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships to qualified students.
Dean’s Scholarship
Tuition scholarship subject to the following guidelines:
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- Full-time students in graduate degree and certificate programs are eligible for a graduate tuition scholarship of up to 1/3 of their tuition to a maximum dollar amount not to exceed the tuition charged for 4 semester hours in each term of full-time registration.
- Part-time students in graduate degree and certificate programs are eligible for a graduate tuition scholarship of up to 1/4 of their tuition to a maximum dollar amount not to exceed the tuition charged for 2 semester hours in each term of part-time registration.
- Provisional, special, and other students are not eligible for scholarships.
- All applicants are automatically considered for this scholarship. Nothing additional, besides a completed application, is needed.
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Double Husky Scholarship
The Double Husky Scholarship helps Northeastern alums returning to the institution to earn their graduate degrees by providing a tuition discount of 25 percent. Alums are automatically considered for the scholarship when they apply to the MPH Program.
Full-time students and part-time students starting in Fall 2014 and beyond are eligible. If students receive other grants or scholarships from Northeastern, the award of higher value will be given.
Full Circle Scholarship
The Full Circle Scholarship offers a 25% tuition discount to graduate applicants who embody Northeastern University’s values of experiential and global learning. If you have completed a term of service with the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Teach for America, or have spent 1-year abroad volunteering or teaching English Language Learners (ELL), you are likely eligible.
If you’d like to apply for the Full Circle Scholarship, please include in your SOPHAS application a letter from your director, supervisor or program manager on organizational letterhead verifying your service. If you are an Overseas ESL Teacher or Volunteer you may submit your contract showing your term of service.
Graduate Fellowships in Urban Health Research
This fellowship provides graduate students with valuable opportunities to gain hands-on experience working on urban health research studies, learn about preparation of grant applications, attend research seminars, receive mentoring from experienced researchers, and meet local and national experts in the field. To date, the Institute on Urban Health Research and Practice (IUHRP) has funded 25 fellowships (2 undergraduates and 23 graduate students) in its Student Research Fellowship Program. Some of these student fellows have had multiple year awards. Student Fellows are assigned to an ongoing research project at the IUHRP through which they receive training in: data management, coding, and analyses; conducting critical literature reviews; grant writing; preparation of manuscripts and presentations; and field data collection. For further information please visit the Institute on Urban Health Research and Practice‘s website.
Graduate Achievement Award
The Graduate Achievement Award is a competitive scholarship that recognizes talented and motivated applicants who are seeking to earn their Master of Public Health in Urban Health. Recipients of this award are given a 15% tuition discount for the duration of their time in the program.
Graduate Student Scholarship
These scholarships provide a predetermined tuition discount by awarding students a specific number of graduate semester hours in free tuition (typically MPH students are given awards that cover four to six credits). There is no work requirement, and applicants are automatically considered for this scholarship. Nothing additional, besides a completed application, is needed.
Lifetime Learning Membership
The Lifetime Learning Membership allows parents and siblings of full-time undergraduate day students to return to school and receive a 25 percent tuition discount. In order to be considered, MPH applicants should email to Alison Gillis, the MPH Program Manager at [email protected], the Northeastern University ID number of your son, daughter, or sibling (who must be currently enrolled at Northeastern as a full-time undergraduate day student) at the time of your application.
Martin Luther King Fellowship Scholarship
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Graduate Fellowship Program provides up to nine graduate student scholarships each year, covering full tuition and general fees for the student’s graduate program. The Program is administered by the John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was an accomplished scholar who exemplified the utmost qualities of leadership. In keeping with the high standards exemplified by Dr. King, recipients of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Graduate Fellowship should be of African origin, demonstrate high standards of leadership, and have a record of community service.
Professional Advancement Award
The Professional Advancement Award is a competitive scholarship that recognizes the talent and experience of select applicants to advance the field of public health with a focus on improving the health of urban communities. Recipients of this award are given a 25% tuition discount for the duration of their time in the program.
Need-based aid
Federal financial aid and institutional scholarships may be available to qualified students. The Office of Student Financial Services provides the most up-to-date information and recommends that every student consider applying for financial aid, regardless of his/her income and assets. You may also call 617.373.5899 or email [email protected].
We also encourage you to visit the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health webpage, Financing Your Degree, for more information.
How many students do you accept each year?
The MPH Program in Urban Health does not place a cap on the number of qualified applicants it accepts. Typically, it enrolls approximately 30 to 40 new students each year. We value small class sizes so that students are able to receive personal attention and have opportunities to learn in interactive, rigorous, and supportive learning environments.
The Admissions Committee reviews applications for Fall and Spring on a rolling basis from October through June and is typically able to render decisions within a four-week time frame. Please note that the Admissions Committee will only review an application once it is considered complete (ie, coursework has been verified, official test scores have been received, and all letters of recommendation have been submitted).
Can I speak to a current student in the program?
Absolutely! Please email the MPH Program at [email protected], and we will put you in touch with a current student.
Can I take a class without being admitted to the MPH Program?
If you would like to take a class in the MPH Program without officially enrolling, you may register as a Special Student at Bouvé College of Health Sciences. You may complete up to 12 credits of MPH core courses and then apply to the program.
What employment opportunities are there for a graduate of the MPH Program?
A graduate from our MPH Program has both the technical expertise to address specific urban health issues as well as the strategic and cultural competency needed to interact effectively with and be an advocate for diverse urban populations. Completing your public health training at Northeastern University affords the opportunity to learn from and work with urban public health professionals striving to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities in the Greater Boston area and beyond.
Graduates with an MPH degree are employed in number of varied professional settings including: federal, state, and local health agencies; universities and colleges; hospitals; ambulatory medical centers; nonprofit organizations; community-based agencies; insurance and pharmaceutical industries; health maintenance organizations; and private foundations.
There are a number of online resources with open positions for individuals beginning or continuing their careers in public health. A few are listed below:
Is the MPH Program considered a STEM program?
No, the MPH Program is not considered a STEM program.
Where can I find information related to the MPH Program’s policies and regulations?
For an overview of the curricular policies that guide our program, please consult the Bouve College of Health Sciences Graduate Handbook
Upcoming Events
TIPH Graduate School Fairs
Check out our program at 9/10, 9/11, 10/15, 10/16, 10/17, and 11/6 fairs around the country. We will also be holding virtual fairs on 9/18 and 11/20!
Fall Graduate Open House
Whether you’re thinking about advancing your career or reinventing it, Northeastern will help you take the next step.
Learn more
APHA
Annual Meeting & Expo
This is the largest annual gathering of public health professionals with more than 13,000 attendees. Thousands of new abstracts are presented each year, making APHA 2019 the most influential meeting in public health.
MPHA Annual Meeting
The Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) is a statewide membership organization that promotes a healthy Massachusetts through advocacy, education, community organizing, and coalition building.
MPH Joint Info Session
Join us and representatives from other area MPH programs for a joint info session at BU School of Public Health!
Contact Information
We welcome any questions you might have about our program! Please feel free to send general program inquiries and admissions-related questions to [email protected].
Neil Maniar, PhD, MPH
Program Director
Emily Grilli-Scott, MPH
Assistant Program Director
Request Program Information
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Accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health
The MPH Program’s latest CEPH Accreditation Self Study Document and CEPH Accreditation Final Report are available upon request. Please email [email protected].
