To learn about the HSPop MPH program and application requirements:

1. We highly recommend that prospective applicants attend one of our monthly Zoom information sessions.
   • In this presentation, we’ll walk you through details about the program, including curriculum, projects, funding, career outlook, and the application process; followed by Q&A. For many, this is the most efficient way to learn about the program.
2. Review our courses and concentrations page to learn about all of the program requirements and experiential projects.
3. Review the admissions page for the most up-to-date application information as well as the FAQ page.
4. We’re happy to answer remaining questions over email (hservask@uw.edu) or during a virtual advising appointment.

HSPop MPH program applicants must submit applications to both the UW Graduate School and SOPHAS portals.

The Schools of Public Health Application System (SOPHAS) is used by many public health schools in the nation. The UW School of Public Health requires that all MPH programs use this application portal. Most application materials will be submitted to SOPHAS.

As a public university, however, the UW must adhere to state law for student and applicant records, and the UW Graduate School is also required to have an application for each and every applicant in our application system. This will serve as a supplemental application.

Please ensure that your name, email address, and concentration match on both application portals.

We understand that applicants occasionally experience difficulties beyond their control. If you experience a technical issue with your application and cannot submit by the deadline, please email us (hservask@uw.edu) to explain your situation, and we will work to help resolve it.

No. We understand it can take a few extra days for the SOPHAS application to go into verified status, especially if you apply right before the deadline at the same time as so many other people. This is okay as long as all materials (including transcript uploads, letters of recommendation, resume/CV, essays, and payment/fee waiver) are completed and submitted by the deadline.

This page defines each SOPHAS application status.

Note: If you choose to go the manual transcript entry bypass route, your application will remain in “undelivered” status indefinitely, but our admissions committee will still be able to see your materials and review your application. See more details.

If you started a SOPHAS application to a different UW MPH program before ours or simply have multiple programs “added to your cart”, you might have trouble seeing the AI, Personal History, and Mission, Vision, and Values Statements.

These statements are required by all UW MPH programs you apply to. You only need to enter these statements once and they will copy to all of your UW MPH applications. If you edit them on one application, they will be updated on all UW MPH applications this cycle.

How to reveal the essays: At the top of the Questions tab of your application, expand the accordion by clicking “> University of Washington School of Public Health Questions.”

The HSPop MPH program offers three concentrations:

• Generalist
• Health Systems and Policy
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

Applicants apply directly to one of the three concentrations. Please carefully review each concentration before applying and ensure that the concentration matches on both SOPHAS and the UW Graduate School application portals.

If admitted students change preference for concentration during their course of study, they may petition to switch to a different concentration by Winter quarter of their first year.

Please Note: Apply to only ONE concentration. DO NOT submit multiple applications for different concentrations in a single application cycle.

Yes! You may apply to as many UW programs as you like in a given application cycle. Though every program will have their own admissions requirements, committees, application fees, and deadlines. We cannot transfer your application from one MPH program to another.

There are several MPH programs at the UW School of Public Health that you can apply to in addition to HSPop MPH. This includes the two other MPH programs in our department, the COPHP MPH and Online MPH programs, which have their own application deadlines and admissions committees.

This is how our department’s other two MPH programs are listed on the application:

• Health Systems and Population Health Community-Oriented Public Health Practice
• Health Systems and Population Health Online MPH

However, please only apply to ONE of the HSPop MPH program’s concentrations, as they’re all part of one program and share an admissions committee.

The GRE is no longer required. No one will be penalized for not submitting GRE scores.

Submission of GRE scores is optional for students who feel that their scores are a better representation of their current academic preparedness for the program than their transcripts.

See the admissions page for application instructions and admissions requirements.

Admission deferrals are typically only allowed for students who were accepted in a dual program at the UW. If you receive an offer of admission and are unable to attend, reach out to the student services counselor, hservmph@uw.edu to discuss your situation and options.

We cannot guarantee that we will allow deferrals most years. So you may need to reapply the following year. While admission is not guaranteed, most applicants who receive an offer are competitive again in the following year.

Applicants are not required to have post-baccalaureate work experience, and some students who just completed an undergraduate degree are admitted each year. In those situations, applicants usually have an undergraduate degree in public health or a related field, along with internships and other experiences that have informed their decision to apply to the Health Systems and Population Health MPH program.

Additional experience does strengthen an application and can also enhance students’ experiences in the programs.

Most accepted applicants have at least two or three years of relevant work and volunteer experience.

The program may accept up to six transfer credits that have not been applied to a previous graduate degree. A total of 63 course credits are required to complete the Health Systems and Population Health MPH degree. It is also possible to waive out of certain courses or to replace them with advanced courses because of previous experience. This cannot be guaranteed beforehand, and arrangements are coordinated once the student is enrolled in the program.

See Policy 1.1: Graduate Degree Requirements for more information.

Yes! Applicants interested in MPH concurrent degree programs should (in most cases) apply to the other program first. If accepted to the other program, students work with that program to determine the appropriate time to subsequently apply to our MPH program.

Please carefully review the concurrent degree information linked below.

Learn More

It may be possible to take certain courses as a non-matriculated student. Read the information on graduate non-matriculated (GNM), and contact the MPH program coordinator (hservmph@uw.edu) to discuss options.

Learn More

If English is not your first language, carefully review the UW Graduate School’s English Language Proficiency (ELP) Requirements Policy for the most up-to-date information on how to demonstrate proficiency for your specific situation.

It’s the responsibility of each applicant to review the policy. There are no waivers for the policy, but there are multiple ways to demonstrate English proficiency including education background and submitting test scores.

If you’re required to submit test scores, they must be sent directly to the UW by the Educational Testing Service using the UW Institution Code, 4854. Only scores less than two years old will be accepted.

No. The HSPop MPH program is only offered in a 2-year, full-time, on-campus format during regular business hours. We’re not able to offer online/hybrid classes for students in this program.

We do not recommend working full-time while in this program. Students who attempt to continue working full-time usually report being overwhelmed by the demands of the program and work.

It is sometimes possible to extend this period, due to unforeseeable circumstances. But our required courses are not offered every quarter, so your time in the program may be extended even longer than you anticipated if you need to take time off. See the schedules on our curriculum page for more information.

We do not recommend working full-time while in this program as it can be overwhelming.

Applicants who need more flexible study or an online, asynchronous schedule should apply to the UW Online MPH program.

Online MPH is offered in both full-time (2 years) and part-time (3 years) options and classes meet mostly asynchonously. Online MPH is the ideal program for applicants who are working professionals who wish to complete their MPH without pausing their full-time jobs, and for those who have life circumstances that require a more flexible program.

The Online MPH program also resides in the Department of Health Systems and Population Health. Taught by shared HSPop faculty, the biggest difference between the programs is the learning style. Online MPH also emphasizes curriculum that builds a solid foundation in the disciplinary competencies of biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health, health management and policy, and social and behavioral health.

• Attend an Online MPH information session or email Wade (onlinemph@uw.edu) for details.

No. We only have the capacity to offer Autumn enrollment.

From 2020-2024, about 73% of HSPop MPH applicants received offers with about 40 incoming students in each cohort.

Individual class size depends on the course and varies from quarter to quarter.

• MPH Common Core (PHI) classrooms can hold up to 130 students. PHI courses are the six foundational courses that are taken together with MPH students from across all UW SPH departments in the first year.
• HSPop MPH concentration required courses and electives/methods offered in our department (HSERV) usually range from about 15-40 students. See our curriculum page to learn more about required courses.

The UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health also offers two additional Master of Public Health programs. All of the MPH programs in this department train students for influential careers as leaders in public health practice and research, health promotion, and/or health policy.

• Online MPH: General MPH with a focus in public health leadership, and the only online MPH program offered at UW
• Community-Oriented Public Health Practice MPH: Unique program focused on community collaboration through problem-based learning

Beyond our department, the UW School of Public Health offers several other MPH programs.

Our alumni work across the United States and world as public health practitioners, researchers, and leaders within universities, the health care industry, government agencies, and research and policy-making organizations. View our careers page for more details.

Yes! The UW School of Public Health receives its accreditation through the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Schools of public health are required to be re-accredited every seven years. The first accreditation for the UW SPH was at its inception in 1970, with no accreditation lapses.

Learn about our CEPH accredidation.

No. None of the programs in the UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health are STEM designated.

Though quantitative training is part of our program, we specialize more in social science and policy it’s not considered a hard-science department for purposes of aligning with DHS STEM-designated CIP codes (such as Biostatistics and Epidemiology).

To identify STEM programs, visit the UW Graduate School’s Find a Program page and filter for STEM programs.

The HSPop Master of Science is pursued by those who are more research-oriented. They typically have research experience and often have advanced degrees, such as an MD. They also might be clinical fellows. The MS program offers two tracks: Generalist track and a Clinical and Translational Research track, which is available to students in certain fellowship programs.

Students in both programs are mentored by many of the same faculty. The MPH program is more cohort-oriented and for students who are interested in both/either public health practice or research. Unlike the MS degree, the MPH requires the practicum project and has more course requirements.

Since the MS program has less foundational public health course requirements, it allows more time to pursue advanced research courses.