Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I take courses without being a registered student?
- Can I transfer in any credits toward the M.P.H. degree?
- Do my letters of recommendation have to be written by professors?
- Does the School offer spring admissions?
- Does the School offer a one-year program?
- Does the School offer a program in international health?
- Does the School offer any certificate courses?
- How do I request an application?
- How long does it take to complete the M.P.H. program?
- How many applications does the school receive? How many applicants are accepted?
- Is it possible to pursue a part-time program?
- Is there a general M.P.H. degree?
- Is there funding for international students?
- Is work experience required for admission to the M.P.H. degree?
- What about financial aid?
- What are the application requirements?
- What are the average GRE scores of applicants/What GRE scores are you looking for?
- Do GRE scores expire? What are the institution and department codes for UC Berkeley and the School of Public Health for the purposes of registering for the GRE exam?
- Do TOEFL scores expire? What are the institution and department codes for UC Berkeley and the School of Public Health for the purposes of registering for the TOEFL exam?
- What are the requirements for foreign applicants? Do you require the TOEFL?
- What is the average GPA of applicants/What GPA are you looking for?
- What is the size of the School? How many students are enrolled?
- What type of course work preparation do I need?
- What type of undergraduate degree do I need to apply to the School?
- When is the application deadline?
- Who can I contact if I need assistance with my application?
- What is the cost to attend the graduate School of Public Health?
- What career opportunities are available with a degree in Public Health?
- What is the School doing in the areas of Multi-culturalism and diversity?
Answers
- Can I take courses without being a registered student?
Yes. You can enroll through UC Berkeley Extension.
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- Can I transfer in any credits toward the M.P.H. degree?
A maximum of 4 units may be accepted towards the M.P.H. degree; however, the course curriculum must be reviewed and approved.
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- Do my letters of recommendation have to be written by professors?
No. Letters of recommendation should come from someone who is able to discuss your intellectual abilities and reasons why you are a strong applicant to the program to which you are seeking admission. Letters of recommendation should be requested as early as possible, at least six to eight weeks before the deadline. You are encouraged to follow up with your recommenders to ensure that your letters are received by the application deadline. It is advisable to give a copy of your resume and statement of purpose to your recommenders.
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- Does the School offer spring admissions?
No. Applications are only accepted for the fall semester.
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- Does the School offer an 11-month program?
The School of Public Health offers 11-month programs for applicants who hold a Ph.D., M.D., or other advanced degree. Medical school students are also eligible to apply for the 11-month program.
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- Does the School offer a program in international health?
The School of Public Health offers a specialty area study in Global Health for students enrolled in any of the areas of concentration. A specialty area of study is equivalent to a minor.
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- Does the School offer any certificate courses?
No. Certificate courses are taught through UC Berkeley Extension.
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- How do I request an application?
You must apply online through SOPHAS and through UC Berkeley Graduate Division.
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- How long does it take to complete the M.P.H. program?
The M.P.H. program is a two-year, full-time program. There are several one-year M.P.H. programs for people holding an advanced degree or currently enrolled in an accredited medical school.
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- How many applications does the school receive? How many applicants are accepted?
Each year about 1,000 applications are submitted to the School of Public Health for admission to the various areas of concentration and degree programs, of which approximately 200 new students are enrolled.
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- Is it possible to pursue a part-time program?
No. All degree programs are full-time and all classes are held during the daytime.
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- Is there a general M.P.H. degree?
No. In order to apply for the M.P.H. degree an applicant must select one area of concentration.
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- Is there funding for international students?
International applicants must provide documentation that they will have sufficient financial support to complete the requested program of study. International students in need of financial support should contact international sponsoring organizations and their Ministries of Health regarding the possibility of fellowships or scholarship aid.
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- Is work experience required for admission to the M.P.H. degree?
No. Work experience is not required for the M.P.H. degree; however, many of the applicants are professionals returning to obtain an advanced degree.
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- What about financial aid?
UC Berkeley has various types of financial aid, including graduate fellowships and scholarships, federal traineeships, need-based scholarships and loans. In order to apply for any type of financial assistance the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be submitted. The FAFSA is available beginning January 1 of each year and is due March 2. Please visit the FAFSA web site for applications and additional information at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
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- What are the application requirements?
There are specific requirements for each area of concentration and degree program. The general application requirements can be found under admissions.
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- What are the average GRE scores of applicants/What GRE scores are you looking for?
Competitive applicants score in the 50th percentile or above. The average percentiles of an admitted applicant are 595/79%-Verbal and 690/67%-Quantative.
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- Do GRE scores expire? What are the institution and department codes for UC Berkeley and the School of Public Health for the purposes of registering for the GRE exam?
Yes, tests taken before 2003 will not be accepted even if your score was reported to UC Berkeley.
The institution code for UC Berkeley is 4833. The department code for Public Health is 0616. The code for SOPHAS is 5688.
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- Do TOEFL scores expire? What are the institution and department codes for UC Berkeley and the School of Public Health for the purposes of registering for the TOEFL exam?
Yes, tests taken before June 2006 will not be accepted even if your score was reported to UC Berkeley. The institution code for UC Berkeley is 4833. The department code for the School of Public Health is 50. The code for SOPHAS is 5688.
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- What are the requirements for foreign applicants? Do you require the TOEFL?
Applicants from other countries are held to the same admissions regulations as applicants from the United States. In addition, foreign applicants are expected to have an excellent command of English before beginning studies at Berkeley. Therefore, applicants whose schooling was not in English-speaking country are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum TOEFL scores for admission to the Graduate Division are Paper Version, 570 minimum score; Computer Version, 230 minimum score; and Internet Version, 68 minimum score (newest version established October 2005). The TOEFL scores must not be more than two years old.
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- What is the average GPA of applicants/What GPA are you looking for?
All applicants must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average or the equivalent in work completed after the first two years of a bachelor's degree program and in all post-baccalaureate course work. The average undergraduate grade-point average of admitted applicants is 3.55.
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- What is the size of the School? How many students are enrolled?
An average of 480-505 students are enrolled at the School each academic year.
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- What type of course work preparation do I need?
Because quantitative methodology is an important part of the M.P.H. curriculum, it is strongly recommended that a basic college-level mathematics course (i.e., linear algebra, calculus) be taken before entry. It is highly recommended that a statistics course also be taken if possible.
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- What type of undergraduate degree do I need to apply to the School?
To be considered for admission, an applicant must hold a bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution and have adequate preparation in the biological, physical, and/or social sciences. Each area of concentration has slightly different criteria, so it is important to select an area of concentration to determine what background the program is looking for.
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- When is the application deadline?
The deadline for Fall 2009 is December 1, 2008. You must apply online through SOPHAS and through UC Berkeley Graduate Division.
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- Who can I contact if I need assistance with my application or have questions?
Please call our office of Student Services and Admissions at 510-643-0881 or e-mail sphinfo@berkeley.edu.
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- What is the cost to attend the graduate School of Public Health?
Incoming California resident M.P.H. and Dr.P.H. students pay $14,809.10 for the 2008-09 academic year. Non-California residents and international students pay $29,963.10 for the 2008-09 academic year.
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- What career opportunities are available with a degree in Public Health?
See the following: - What is the School doing in the areas of multiculturalism and diversity?
Director of Diversity, Abby M. Rincon, M.P.H., provides leadership in the development and implementation of a strategic plan for multiculturalism and diversity in the School.
To reach the Director of Diversity call (510) 643-7900 or e-mail arincon@berkeley.edu.
In addition, the School offers a specialty area in Multicultural Health.