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

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.

Around 40 students are in each cohort.

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.

The GRE is no longer required.

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 Health Systems and Population Health MPH admissions webpage for details.

Late applications will be accepted through the end of the next business day following the deadline.

We understand that applicants occasionally experience difficulties beyond their control. If an applicant is unable to submit their application by the deadline, they should NOT contact the UW Graduate Admissions. They should email us (hservask@uw.edu) about their situation, and we will work with them to help resolve it.

Applicants who know their dominant interests are in one of the three concentrations should select it when applying. Noting the concentration better ensures that their application will be reviewed by faculty with similar interests.

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

The generalist option is for applicants whose focus is not in one of the two formal concentrations. Generalist is an excellent choice for students who want to individualize a course of study by choosing from the wide selection of courses offered by the UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health (HSPop) and the School of Public Health (SPH).

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

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

No. Apply only to ONE concentration. You can switch after you are admitted to the program.

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

DO NOT submit multiple applications for different concentrations during in a single application cycle.

Admission deferrals are only allowed for students who were accepted in a dual program at UW.

If applicants receive an offer of admission and are unable to attend, they will need to reapply for a future term. The process is simplified for those re-applying because only a few application items need renewal: a revised statement of purpose, current resume or curriculum vitae (CV), and one new letter of recommendation.

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.

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.

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.

The MPH program is intended to be completed in 2 years. It is sometimes possible to extend this period, due to unforeseeable circumstances, but applicants who need more flexible study should consider the UW Online Master of Public Health (MPH).

The UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health (HSPop) within the School of Public Health also offers two additional Master of Public Health (MPH) programs. All of our MPH programs 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.

The Health Systems and Population Health Master of Science is pursued by some of the more research-oriented HSPop students. It also offers an optional clinical pathway available to students in certain fellowship programs.

Health Systems and Population Health M.S. students are mentored by many of the same faculty. However, the M.S. degree does not require the public health practicum and has fewer public health course requirements. These differences leave more time to pursue advanced research courses.