Eligibility Criteria: Online MPH


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  6. Eligibility Criteria: Online MPH

Below are eligibility criteria and information for UW Online Master of Public Health (MPH) applicants.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria

  • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. or its equivalent from a foreign institution.
  • A minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 graded semester credits or the last 90 graded quarter credits (students with less than a 3.0 GPA will be considered on a case-by-case basis).
  • Two or more years of professional experience, preferably related to public health. This can include volunteer work and be non-continuous (e.g., six months here, 12 months there). It’s the experience that counts, not the employment.
  • Demonstrated English language proficiency for applicants whose first language is not English.
  • Attend the 3-day orientation at the UW Seattle campus (see Program Format).

International and/or Undocumented Applicants

We welcome international and/or undocumented applicants.

International students should confirm their eligibility before applying. The Online MPH program only accepts applications from students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents or who have or will obtain a non-student visa that allows them to study in the U.S.: H-4 (dependent of H1B work visa), dependents of H2B visa holders, etc.

The Online MPH program does not sponsor visas. Students who require an international student visa (e.g., F-1, J-1) are not eligible to apply to this program because the program requires students to attend one of the three in-person sessions in Seattle. Applicants on an F-2 visa may be eligible — see information for F-2 applicants on the Graduate School’s Admission FAQs page.

To learn more about applying to the university and available financial options, visit our department’s student resources page.


Graduate Nonmatriculated Options

Graduate non-matriculated (GNM) status allows post baccalaureate students who are not presently seeking a graduate degree at the University of Washington to take UW graduate courses and apply the credits toward degree requirements should they later be accepted into a graduate program at the UW. Although GNM status does not guarantee admission to the Online MPH program, you may apply up to 12 credits toward degree requirements if you later apply and are admitted to the Online MPH program.

You can start as a GNM student any quarter. Below are the deadlines to apply for GNM status in order to start the following quarter.

Starting Quarter

Application Deadline

Autumn Quarter

Last Monday in August before the autumn quarter

Winter Quarter

First Monday in December before the winter quarter

Spring Quarter

Last Monday in February before the spring quarter

Summer Quarter

Monday before Memorial Day in May

GNM Info
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