FAQs

The Master in Public Health (MPH) is a school-wide degree program designed to provide students with broad-based education in the areas of population health and disease, as well as training to work on a variety of public health issues. Applicants must have a minimum 2 years of full-time, post-baccalaureate, health-related work experience prior to matriculating.

The Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) is a department-based degree program designed for students who don’t have any health-related experience and who are looking to begin a career in a specific area of public health. It provides a foundation in core public health disciplines, while allowing students to develop more specialized skills in a particular area of interest.

The degrees are equivalent in terms of their level of recognition and respect in the field of public health.

The Bloomberg School offers classes in a quarter system. Therefore, 80 quarter system credits are equivalent to approximately 53 semester system credits.

The health-related experience is fulfilled through 2 years of post-baccalaureate, full-time, paid professional work or a doctoral degree in a field underlying public health. A variety of backgrounds can fulfill this requirement, like health-related Peace Corp work, managing a research lab or covering health policy as a journalist. We encourage professionals from all fields to apply. 

Yes, most online/part-time students work full-time. This format was designed specifically to accommodate full-time or part-time work schedules. The inherent flexibility of the Bloomberg School’s online and compressed on-site institute courses allows students to fulfill the requirements.

Yes. Regardless of format or concentration, all Bloomberg School students in the MPH program graduate with the same degree—a Master of Public Health. There is no reference to the online/part-time format or full-time format indicated on the diploma.

No. We do not accept credits from other academic institutions.

Yes. Up to 16 credits may be applied toward the MPH degree, assuming that the courses were completed within 5 years of matriculation. To learn how to enroll as a non-degree seeking student, please visit the Office of Student Accounts and Business Services.

No. In some exceptional circumstances, students may petition for a waiver/modification of a core requirement if they can demonstrate and document that they have previously acquired the core competencies. If the request is granted, 80 credits are still required for graduation.

Once admitted to the MPH program, you can request a deferral by emailing the MPH Admissions Coordinator, Ms. Sharese Essien. Deferrals are granted for 1 year beyond the initial date of admission to the program. Students who request a deferral must pay the non-refundable $600 enrollment deposit before a deferral is granted.

Courses are offered in a more compressed format.   The 11-month program comprises of five 8-week terms, as compared to traditional 15-week semesters.  Also, since Hopkins MPH students are required to have more experience, we do not require a 6-month or yearlong internship like other programs.

Yes, the Online/Part-time format is very flexible. Depending on your schedule you can take a light to full course load, ranging from 1-22 credit units per term.