44 hours minimum

Step 1: Apply to SOPHAS

MPH degree program applicants must apply via the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS). For detailed information, please visit our website here: https://publichealth.uga.edu/apply-now/master-of-public-health-program/ . Official academic transcripts from every institution(s) an applicant has attended should be sent directly to SOPHAS from the registrars or records offices at the institutions you attended. SOPHAS accepts both electronic and paper transcripts. Electronic is the most expeditious. A resume/CV and statement of purpose must also be included in your SOPHAS application and can be uploaded to the applicant portal. The statement of purpose must be uploaded. It should communicate how this program fits with your career and educational goals. Also, highlight relevant work and/or research experience, and preparation for this program.

Three letters of recommendation must also accompany your SOPHAS application. List the names and email addresses of your recommenders in the applicant portal. It is recommended that students have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Health Promotion and Behavior applicants are not expected to have a comprehensive public health background, but exposure to coursework in social sciences, research methods, and/or behavioral health is preferred. The GRE is no longer required for consideration in MPH admissions.

International Applicants

Official TOEFL or IELTS scores must be sent directly to the University of Georgia by the testing agency. For institutions outside of the U.S. and Canada, a World Education Services (WES) transcript evaluation is required. WES evaluations must be sent directly to SOPHAS. For specific details, please visit: https://applications.wes.org/cas/.

Step 2: UGA Graduate School Supplemental Application Fee

Applicants are not required to submit a supplemental UGA Graduate School application. However, a supplemental application fee is still required. A link to the payment portal is shared during the SOPHAS application process.

Application Deadlines:

Fall Admissions Cycle January 5: Deadline to have a complete application submitted to be considered for available assistantships and other financial aid opportunities. May 1: Final application deadline to be considered for an August start. Spring Admissions Cycle October 15: Deadline to have a completed application submitted to be considered for a January start Summer Admissions Cycle March 1: These cycles are only open to UGA students who are beginning the MPH portion of the Double Dawgs Pathway or a dual-degree program of study.

MPH Core

BIOS 7010  Analytical Thinking

Fundamentals of Biostatistical Reasoning

3

EHSC 7010

Fundamentals of Environmental Health Science

3

EPID 7010

Fundamentals of Epidemiology

3

HPAM 7010

Fundamentals of Health Policy and Management

3

HPRB 7010

Fundamentals of Health Promotion and Behavior

3

Health Promotion and Behavior Core

HPRB 7270

Resource Development and Program Implementation in Health Promotion

3

HPRB 7470

Program Evaluation in Health Promotion and Health Education

3

HPRB 7510

Health Promotion Research Methods

3

HPRB 7920

Health Behavior

3

HPRB 7990

Diversity and Social Justice in Public Health

3

Practicum & Professional Development

Students are required to complete a course on professionalism and career development, an internship advisement course, and the requisite course for the Applied Practice Experience (APE).

PBHL 7460  (1 hour)*

Professionalism in Public Health

1

PBHL 7560  (2 hours)**

Public Health Integrative Learning Experience Advisement

2

PBHL 7660  (6 hours)^

Applied Practice Experience in Public Health

1-6

*Should be taken instead of GRSC 7001 to fulfill GradFirst requirement, in the 1st semester of the MPH program of study. ** Taken the semester before the MPH APE. ^ The APE occurs in the final semester of the MPH program.

Choose a minimum of 5 credit hour(s) from the following:

Electives chosen from courses offered by the Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, from other units at the College of Public Health, or with prior approval from courses offered by external units at UGA.

Select additional courses, as needed, in consultation with an advisor to meet the minimum 44 credits required for this program. Graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and cannot count courses with a grade below B- on a graduate program of study. Students must earn a B- or above on the MPH Core Coursework and the MPH Practicum. For all other coursework, no grade below C will be accepted on the MPH program of study. To be eligible for graduation, a student must maintain a 3.0 (B) average on the graduate transcript and a 3.0 (B) average on the program of study.

The MPH program had a 92% placement rate for the class of 2024. Many of our Health Promotion and Behavior graduates go on to federal and state agencies as well as non-profit organizations. Roughly 20% of total graduates go on to advanced degree programs such as medical or doctoral programs. The top graduate schools for our MPH Alumni include medical or allied health programs at Augusta University, Emory University, and Mercer University, as well as academic programs at the University of Georgia, University of Florida, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, and Clemson University. Top employers include Amazon, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emory University, Georgia Department of Public Health, Amazon Corporate, Georgia Health Policy Center, Kaiser Permanente, US State Department, FEMA, FDA, and Johnson & Johnson, to name just a few.

A few career outcomes include health educators, program planning and evaluation specialists, communications specialists, special programs coordinators, program directors, and community health coordinators.

Students accepted to the MPH program may transfer up to 8 credits of coursework from an accredited institution and must fall within a 6-year timeframe. The student must have received a B or better, and the coursework cannot have been used to fulfill another degree requirement. It is up to the student to apply for the transfer credits with the Graduate School and have transcripts available for review. Only credits approved by the Graduate School will be permitted to count toward the student’s MPH program of study.

The College of Public Health does award a small number of assistantships. Graduate Assistants work for the college for 13-20 hours per week. In addition to their monthly paycheck for their work, their tuition is waived (though student fees must still be paid by the student). Assistantships are generally awarded by faculty who receive money from research grants for research assistants. There is no formal application process. Students are encouraged to contact their department head to determine the best way to find available assistantship positions. Generally, once students are admitted to the program, they will receive any announcements regarding open positions through the student e-mail listservs. Assistantships are generally awarded for one academic term (Fall and Spring semesters) at a time.

The College of Public Health hosts study-abroad opportunities in Thailand and Japan, and has proposed a third site in Northern Europe. The UGA Office of Global Engagement coordinates study away programs with hundreds of locations around the globe. Students can select a program hosted by the College or identify an external experience that has relevance to public health and with approval, can get elective credits for coursework completed during study away.

The MPH program has a dedicated practice coordinator and currently has 200 approved sites for the required Applied Practice Experience (APE). Students can select from agencies currently partnered with the MPH program or can find a unique APE experience for the program to establish a new partnership.

Students can obtain a certificate in Disaster Management, Crisis, Risk, and Disaster Communication, Gerontology, Global Health, Infectious Disease, Obesity and Weight Management, and Social Determinants of Health. Many faculty at the College of Public Health conduct research in communities and offer students the opportunity to engage in service and experiential learning, during their time in the MPH program.

Public Health Association (PHA) UGA Future Health Promoters Environmental Health Science Club at UGA Graduate Scholars of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UGA American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) -UGA Chapter Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) – UGA Chapter American Mock World Health Organization – UGA Chapter Partners in Health: Engage UGA UGA Global Health Union Disaster Dogs Sigma Phi Omega

Dual degrees available: DVM/MPH (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine / MPH) PharmD/MPH (Doctor of Pharmacy / MPH) MSW/MPH (Master of Social Work / MPH) MD/MPH (Medical Doctor / MPH) MBA/MPH (Master of Business Administration / MPH) MHA/MPH (Master of Health Administration / MPH) Available Graduate Programs: Doctor of Public Health Master of Health Administration Online MPH