Please note: The application deadline for Fall 2013 admission has now passed. The SOPHAS application for Fall 2014 will open on September 3, 2013.
The on-campus/online M.P.H. Professional degree program is accepting applications for Fall 2013 from March 1, 2012 through May 1, 2013.
For more information,
see the program's website.
We will not accept late applications under any circumstances!
Requirements
Public health degree programs prepare students for a variety of careers—as academics, researchers, administrators, policy analysts, regulators, educators, program planners, evaluators, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, environmental health specialists, and biotechnical specialists in government and non-government health agencies and organizations, as well as educational settings. We offer a variety of academic and professional degrees at the master’s and doctoral levels, including concurrent degree programs with other campus departments. Applicants to our programs must first choose the degree program and area of concentration to which they will apply; please research these in detail before beginning the application process. Applicants may only apply to one program, and should tailor their applications to the program of choice. Please note some programs will have additional requirements. You will find detailed admissions instructions below for all programs.
Exceptions
The following applicants will not follow the same instructions as the rest of our applicants. Please see if you fall into one of these categories.
- If you are a Previous or Current UC Berkeley Graduate student please follow these downloadable instructions.
- If you are applying to the M.B.A./M.P.H. program please click here.
- If you are applying to the M.S.W./M.P.H. program please click here.
- If you are applying to the On-Campus/Online M.P.H. program click here.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL PROGRAMS
- The deadline is 11:59 (PST) December 3, 2012 for both applications. Due to the processing time at the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS), we strongly recommend submitting your application to SOPHAS by early November.
- At least a B (3.0) grade-point average or equivalent in work completed in the last two years of a bachelor’s degree program and in all post-baccalaureate course work.
SOPHAS and UC Berkeley Application:
- We do require both applications to be completed on time and paid in full (or a waiver in process) in order for your application to be considered for review.
- There is a fee for both applications (SOPHAS- $120 for the initial application; UC Berkeley- $80 domestic and $100 international)
- Late applications will not be considered unless there is a verifiable technical difficulty on the part of the application. The official deadline is still December 3, 2012, however we recommend starting early and submitting by early November to compensate for the processing time at SOPHAS. There will be no penalty for submitting on December 3rd, this is simply a recommendation.
GRE Scores
- Valid scores are those from July 1, 2007 to present.
- GRE Codes
- 4227: If you are applying to SOPHAS, use this code
- 4833: If you are applying to the online MPH program or are a previous/current Berkeley graduate use this code
- NOTE: For those applying through SOPHAS, the code 4227 is correct, but it will never show as received on the UC Berkeley-specific application. As long as it shows as received on your SOPHAS application, you needn’t be concerned.
- Applicants who hold a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral-level degree at the time of application from an accredited institution are not required to submit GRE scores. Equivalent doctoral-level degrees as used by the School of Public Health in application of GRE waivers are defined as: Chiropractic, Dentistry, Medicine, Osteopathy, Podiatry, Pharmacy and Veterinary. (Please note: The M.B.B.S. is not a doctoral-equivalent degree in regards to GRE waivers)
- Students currently enrolled in medical or dental school can submit their MCAT or DAT scores in lieu of the GRE.
TOEFL Scores
- TOEFL scores are required from all applicants from countries in which the official language is not English. However, if you have completed at least one year of full-time (12 units) academic coursework with grades of B or higher in residence at a U.S. university, you do not need to take the TOEFL. Please note: If you are a citizen of the United States or Puerto Rico and have completed all your higher education outside the United States, you will also need to provide the TOEFL.
- TOEFL scores are valid two years from the test date.
- TOEFL Codes (note you must submit to both SOPHAS and UC Berkeley if you are using the SOPHAS application)
- SOPHAS: 5688
- UC Berkeley: 4833
- Minimum Scores Required
- Paper: 570
- Internet (iBT): 68
Letters of Recommendation
- We require a minimum of three letters of recommendation to be submitted electronically via the SOPHAS application. We do not accept hard-copy letters sent to our offices.
- Do not send Letters of Recommendation to the UC Berkeley Application, simply mark this section as "Not applicable." Letters of Recommendation should only be sent to SOPHAS.
- If you are applying to the Health Policy and Management program, please make sure that at least one letter is from someone familiar with your academic potential, and at least one is from someone familiar with your management, policy analysis, or planning potential.
- If you are applying to a concurrent degree please make sure letters of recommendation are sent to both SOPHAS and the UC Berkeley application.
Essays - Statement of Purpose and Personal History Statement
- You will need to upload your essays to both the SOPHAS application and the UC Berkeley application. These must be identical statements that adhere to the word/character limits of the SOPHAS application. Although the UC Berkeley application allows for a larger file upload, you must follow the SOPHAS limitations.
- DO NOT upload your essays to only one application and indicate that we need to see the other application to find your essay. This will be considered incomplete.
- Word Limits
- Statement of Purpose - 1500 words
- Personal History Statement - 4800 characters
- Guidelines
- Statement of Purpose - Your Statement of Purpose should explain what has brought you to pursue graduate training in Public Health. It should also explain your eventual career goals and why you need a degree in your specific program. It may also explain why you are pursuing this degree now, and why at Berkeley. Please be sure to check your program’s page, as some programs have specific prompts they like you to follow. If a prompt is not listed, please follow these guidelines.
- Personal History Statement - Your Personal History Statement gives you an opportunity to add some individuality and depth to the basic information contained in your Statement of Purpose. You may write about who you are as a person, about your family, your ethnicity, and the experiences that make you unique. This essay will play a large role in consideration for fellowships. For more information see the Personal Statement Guide on the Graduate Division web site. You will enter this essay in the "Additional Questions" section of the SOPHAS application.
Transcripts
- Official transcripts of all schools attended since high school must be sent to SOPHAS. Unsolicited materials sent to the School of Public Health will be destroyed.
SOPHAS
PO BOX 9111
Watertown, MA 02471-9111 - Unofficial transcripts of every school attended after high school must be uploaded in PDF format to the UC Berkeley specific application. If you are admitted and choose to attend Berkeley be prepared to send another official set to UC Berkeley. We do not see your SOPHAS transcripts and they cannot be forwarded.
PLEASE NOTE
Due to the large volume of applications we receive, we cannot confirm receipt of individual applications or application materials. Both the SOPHAS and UC Berkeley application have a status page that you can access by logging back into your application. SOPHAS will use this as a mechanism to communicate to you that there may be something amiss with your application. The completeness and timeliness of your application is your responsibility, so check back often. Be sure to allow yourself enough time to turn in the application by the deadline, remembering that unanticipated technical difficulties do sometimes occur. We will not accept late applications.