Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants to the MSPH program complete a SOPHAS online application. The application requires several supporting documents including a statement of purpose and objectives, a resume or CV, letters of recommendation, and official transcripts and/or credential evaluations. GRE scores are optional. See the Office of Admissions Services for further general information. International applicants may visit the admissions page for International Applicants for information about English Language Proficiency Tests, transcript credentialing, and visas. 

Applications are verified by SOPHAS and reviewed for completion by the Bloomberg School of Public Health Admissions Office. PFRH faculty review applications. Applicants are notified of an admissions decision by the Admissions Office through their applicant portal.

Yes, international students are eligible to apply. Many international applicants must submit an English proficiency test score, such as TOEFL, IELTS Academic, Duolingo English Test, or the Pearson Test for English. All coursework and degrees completed outside the U.S. or English Speaking Canada (except study abroad coursework) must be evaluated by an approved credentialing agency. For more detailed information visit the admissions page for International Applicants. Prospective applicants can also view an information session for international applicants hosted by the School. 

The MSPH program is a two year, full-time degree program. See the MSPH Timeline page for more details.

MSPH students select one the department’s areas of interest, which include: Child and Adolescent Health; Maternal, Fetal and Perinatal Health; Population and Health; and Women’s, Sexual and Reproductive Health. Explore courses by area of interest as well as foundational and cross-cutting courses in the department.

For the MSPH degree, students take biostatistics, epidemiology, ethics, and other courses to meet Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH) requirements. Students also complete coursework to meet five program competencies; course selection may be guided by area of interest. Students also earn academic credit as they complete a field placement (in terms 1 and 2 of year two) and  master’s essay (in terms 3 and 4 in year two). Visit the 2024-2025 Academic Catalogue for complete PFRH MSPH course requirements.

The Bloomberg School offers courses in the following formats: in-person, hybrid (in-person course with a virtual section), and asynchronous online. International students must contact the Office of International Services for guidance on registering for online courses.

In the first year of the program MSPH students must successfully complete either:

140.621, 140.622 and 140.623 Statistical Reasoning in Public Health (taken in terms 1-3)

or

140.611 and 140.612 Statistical Methods in Public Health (taken in terms 1-2)

Students can visit this page for guidance on selecting a biostatistics course series.

The field placement is an integral component of the MSPH Program. It provides an opportunity for students to enhance their educational experience by integrating basic understanding of concepts, methods, and skills developed during the first year of the program with the experience of full-time work in an appropriate practice setting. Students set specific learning objectives and produce deliverables for each field placement. Students complete the field placement in terms 1 and 2 of the second year of the MSPH program.

Field placement settings mirror settings where our graduates find exciting and rewarding positions upon completion of the program. Students find field placements in hospitals, nonprofit organizations, for-profits organizations, universities, and government agencies. Recent examples of MSPH field placements can be found on our Field Placement page.  

In year two of the MSPH program, students complete a PFRH master’s essay (Terms 3 and 4). With the guidance of a faculty essay reader, students apply the skills and knowledge they have acquired during the MSPH program to a public health issue of interest to them. In addition to the written essay, students deliver a 10-minute public presentation about their essay. View recordings of PFRH master’s essay presentations. 

Several scholarships are available to MSPH students.

The Master’s Tuition Scholarship (MTS) is available to students in good academic standing in a two-year, full-time MSPH program. The MTS is a 75% reduction in tuition for year two of an eight-term program. Students have the option of receiving a 25% reduction in tuition their first year and 50% in their second year. 

Additionally, Johns Hopkins University, thanks to support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, offers need-based scholarships for students enrolled in an MSPH program. These need-based scholarships cover up to 50% of tuition costs in the first year of study. Students who are first-generation graduate students, and have exceptional undergraduate academic records, will be prioritized for this need-based scholarship. To receive priority consideration for an MSPH need-based scholarship, applicants should submit their SOPHAS application and supporting documents by February 15, along with the CSS profile to the Financial Aid Office using code 5315.

The PFRH Department provides tuition support to top MSPH students with interests in maternal and child health; family planning; international women's, sexual, and reproductive health; and other topics relevant to the department. Applicants are considered for these PFRH scholarships based on their previous academic performance, professional and volunteer experience, and personal statement.

For more information, visit the School’s tuition and fees page. 

Yes, the PFRH MSPH program is STEM designated. Eligible international students can receive an additional 24 months of work authorization, beyond the initial 12 months of post-completion OPT, for employment that directly relates to their program of study in an approved STEM field. For further information on STEM OPT, please review the additional eligibility information on the Office of International Services website.

Yes. Certificate Programs offer focused academic training in specific areas of public health, with topics ranging from human rights to health informatics, from vaccine science to public health economics. Our Department sponsors several certificate programs. PFRH students may also pursue any of the certificate programs offered in the Bloomberg School for which they qualify. For more information about certificate programs, please visit the School’s certificates program page. 

The MSPH program allows students considerable flexibility to create a program of study that meets their unique career goals. Explore the Bloomberg School's course directory. 

Yes, many students engage in RA and TA experiences as students. Available PFRH positions are advertised in our weekly PFRH Student Digest email communication.

To get to know the faculty in our department and their research interests, experiences, accomplishments, publications and projects, please visit our faculty page.

The Bloomberg School of Public Health is proud to call Baltimore our home. Learn what makes Baltimore so special and why it has earned the nickname “Charm City.” Read what PFRH master’s students have to say about their time in Baltimore. As current MSPH student Flo Awde reflects, “Baltimore is a community in every sense of the word. It is warm, tight-knit, welcoming, and truly makes you feel at home. As an international student with no family in the country, it can be nerve-racking moving to an unfamiliar place. However, to those coming in, I assure you that whether it's catching an Orioles game with friends, grabbing coffee by the harbor, or even studying outside in Patterson Park, Baltimore becomes an instant home that welcomes you in with open arms.” 

The Admissions Office hosts on-campus and virtual open houses each fall for prospective students as well as virtual chat sessions and campus tours. 

You can connect with current PFRH MSPH students by selecting “MSPH in Population, Family and Reproductive Health.” 

If you have further questions about the PFRH MSPH program, please contact PFRH Academic Program Manager Kristen McCormick at <kmccor14@jhu.edu>.