Master of Public Health 45-credit

The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program provides students with a breadth of knowledge, subject-specific expertise, specialized skills, and a powerful global network. MPH students benefit from an innovative curriculum that employs unique educational experiences in and out of the classroom. The MPH program is designed to teach analytical and quantitative methods, as well as cultivate problem-solving skills and the application of public health training in real-world situations.

With an array of options for specific fields of study, the MPH program will offer you the intellectual foundation and training needed to lead change and make a difference in communities around the world.

Details

The Master of Public Health 45-credit degree provides established professionals and medical students with the requisite knowledge and powerful global network needed to progress their careers in public health.

• Abbreviation : MPH-45
• Degree format : On campus
• Time commitment : Full-time or part-time
• Average program length : 1 year full-time (typically completed in 2 semesters)
• Estimated cohort size : 350
• Start term :
  • Clinical Effectiveness: Summer or fall, depending on PCE completion; contact admissions or the MPH office for details
  • Quantitative Methods: Summer or fall
  • Global Health, Health and Social Behavior, Health Management, Health Policy, and Occupational and Environmental Health: Fall
  Fields of study

  When applying to the MPH-45, applicants must choose one of the following specialized fields of study. Eligibility requirements vary by program format and field of study.

  • Clinical effectiveness (academic year and summer-focused options available)
  • Global health
  • Health and social behavior
  • Health management
  • Health policy
  • Occupational and environmental health
  • Quantitative methods
  • The MPH degree is the most widely recognized professional credential for leadership in public health.
  • Under a combination of group and individualized mentorship by Harvard faculty members, each student designs and implements a practicum proposal to gain field-based learning. The practicum provides students with the opportunity to apply their skills, address a health-related issue of interest, and showcase what they learned to the Harvard community at the on-campus symposium.
  • The Harvard Chan community offers support and networking at every stage of the MPH degree program. The academic departments affiliated with each MPH field of study, faculty advisors, and MPH administrative staff play an integral role in advising and guiding students along their academic journey.
  Career outcomes

  An MPH degree opens an extraordinary number of pathways to a meaningful career. Graduates of the MPH program are trained to pursue careers in a variety of industries:

  • Academic medicine
  • Biotech/pharma
  • Consulting
  • Government
  • Health care management
  • Hospital/health care delivery
  • Non-profit/Non-government organizations
  • Other/for-profit
  • Private practice
  • Private sector institutions
  • Public health agencies
  • University/research
  • MPH-65 in Health and Social Behavior
  • MPH-65 in Health Management
  • MPH-65 in Health Policy
  • MPH-EPI
  • MPH-GEN
  • SM-80 in Environmental Health
  • SM-80 in Global Health and Population

  Admission information

  Eligibility requirements

  In general, applicants for the MPH-45 degree must have one of the following:

  • A bachelor’s degree, plus five or more years of relevant health experience (for the epidemiology, generalist, global health, health and social behavior, health management, and health policy fields of study only).
  • A master’s degree in a health-related field—for example, MSN, MSW, MBA—plus at least two years of relevant health experience.
  • A prior doctoral degree—for example, MD, DO, DMD, DDS, PhD, SD, JD—or equivalent.
  • Completed the primary clinical year of medical or dental school or be a 1L student at Harvard Law School . For more information, visit Dual/Joint Degrees .

  Application requirements

  All applications must be submitted through SOPHAS – the centralized application for schools and programs of public health. In addition to the application, applicants must submit:

  • Statement of purpose and objectives
  • Official test scores (Optional with guidance)
  • Three letters of reference
  • Resumé/curriculum vitae
  • Post-secondary transcripts or mark sheets (World Education Services credential evaluation for applicants with degrees from outside of the United States.)
  • English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo English Test), if applicable

  Application deadline

  December 1

  Applicants may apply to only one degree program for either full- or part-time status. Applications are reviewed in their entirety and decisions are released via email in late February/early March. Decisions are not released until all application components are received.

  For more information

  Additional details about the MPH program.

  Request Admissions Information

  Attend Admissions Event

  MPH in Epidemiology: Online and on-campus

  The MPH-EPI program is a part-time, two-year degree combining online, in-person, and in-the-field training on advanced quantitative methods.

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  Watch our Virtual Tour to see Harvard Chan School’s campus and learn about life as a residential student.

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  Diversity at Harvard Chan

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