Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Admissions Review Process?
Once your application packet is deemed complete by the Bloomberg School’s Office of Admissions, your application is sent to the MSPH program faculty who review your application. Faculty look for solid academic performance and letters of recommendation, a strong link between the applicant’s stated career goals and mission of the MSPH program, and previous work or volunteer experience. Applicants are highly encouraged to participate in one of the visitor days organized by the Bloomberg School.
Where Do Students Find Field Placements?
Field placement settings mirror those settings where our graduates find exciting and rewarding positions upon completion of the program and include: social marketing and health communication firms; voluntary health associations; private, for-profit, and non-profit settings such as hospitals, businesses, and agencies; and federal, state, and local government agencies.
What Types of Certificate Programs are Available to Students?
Our Department sponsors several certificate programs. HBS 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.
Can I Complete the Master's Program on a Part-Time Basis or Online?
The MSPH program is available for part-time study. Candidates for the part-time program complete the Bloomberg School's application and indicate part-time status. These applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Part-time students have three years to complete the required curriculum AND complete the necessary electives to reach 64 credits. Field placement requirements are the same as for full-time students. Part-time students should plan their coursework carefully to avoid scheduling issues that may delay their completion. While students are allowed to take online courses, not all program requirements can be completed virtually.
How Many Electives Can I Take and How Should I Use Them?
The MSPH program allows students considerable flexibility to create a program of study that meets their unique career goals. Students are encouraged to plan their electives with their faculty advisors. Electives can be used to grow areas of strength or to address deficiencies in a student’s portfolio of experiences and competencies. Electives may be selected from graduate-level courses throughout the School or University.
Can I Become a Certified Health Education Specialist While Completing this Degree?
The MSPH coursework meets the eligibility criteria that allow our students to sit for the national exam coordinated by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. For more details about the CHES exam, please visit the NCHEC.
What is Available By Way of Financial Aid or Departmental Scholarship?
The Master’s Tuition Scholarship is available to students in good academic standing in a two-year, full-time master’s program. The MTS is a 75% reduction in tuition for year two of an eight-term program.
For more information, visit the School’s tuition and fees page.
Can I Schedule a Visit?
The Admissions Office schedules open houses each fall for prospective students, and HBS faculty and students are available to speak to visitors at that time. To view and register for HBS’s open house events, please visit the School’s information sessions and open house page.
Campus tours can also be arranged through the Admissions Office. If you are unable to attend the open house and would like to arrange a visit to the Department of Health, Behavior and Society before or after a campus tour, please contact the department's Academic Program Administrator.