Admissions Requirements

To be admitted to the MPH Program, you must have...

1. Completed Application for Graduate Admission
2. Completed MPH Program Personal Data Sheet (PDF)
3. Official transcripts of all coursework from all universities, colleges, and/or technical schools attended
4. A personal essay which
   • Explains ways in which the student's educational and experiential background has led to the decision to pursue a graduate public health degree
   • Describes the professional aspirations and career objectives of the student
   • Discusses specific issues and challenges in public health that are of particular interest to the student
5. Current resume or curriculum vitae.  Please explain any significant gaps in educational or work experience.
6. Two (2) letters written by individuals who are well-acquainted with the applicant; can attest to the applicant's intellectual, experiential, and interpersonal abilities; and can provide insight into the applicant's potential for success in the graduate program and in his/her subsequent career.  Letters from university faculty members or employment-related professionals are encouraged.
7. Official GRE score report is required.  GRE score reports must be sent directly by the Educational Testing Services (ETS) to the MU Graduate School using the Institutional Code: 6875 (University of Missouri-Columbia) and Department Code: 0616. Alternative qualifying exams for advanced degrees will be considered as well, including the LSAT, MCAT and GMAT.
8. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or other institution of post-secondary education.  Colleges and universities from outside the United States must be recognized as degree-granting institutions by their country's Ministry of Education.
9. A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.
10. For international applicants: Official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) report for international applicants whose native language is not English. The TOEFL exam results must be current (taken within two years of admission to the MPH Program), and scores must be sent directly by the Educational Testing Services (ETS) to MU Graduate School using the institutional code: 6875 (University of Missouri) and Department Code: 0616.  For the TOEFL, admission will require a score of 550 or better on the paper-based version, a score of 215 or better on the computer-based version, or a score of 80 on the internet-based version.  For IELTS, a minimum score of 6.0 is required.
11. An interview (either on campus or by telephone) with program faculty may be requested.

All students who are not native English speakers will be tested through the MU Intensive English Program unless this requirement is waived by the acceptance committee.  Placement into intensive English classes will be determined by test scores.

If one or more specific elements of an application for admission fall short of the above standards (e.g., GPA is less than 3.0), then the Admissions Committee may approve "Conditional Acceptance" into the graduate program whereby the applicant is admitted conditional to achieving and maintaining a 3.0 GPA.

Please note also that the committee may waive the GRE requirement, the English competency examination, and/or the grade point requirement for applicants who have either completed or are currently enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program such as DVM, MD, or Nursing.  Applicants should include any waiver requests on their applications.

Application deadlines for Fall 2008:

June 30, 2008: Final deadline to apply for Fall 2008.

Still have questions about the MPH Program?  Call (573) 884-6844 or email Katherine Kirkpatrick for more information.