Admissions Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree in any discipline from a college or university institutionally accredited and recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) such as: the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the Higher Learning Commission, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. If you have any questions about whether a transfer course will be accepted, you should check with the Office of Admissions prior to enrolling in the course.
• Official transcripts from all previous postsecondary CHEA regionally accredited colleges or universities. If the student is applying for concurrent degrees in the College of Medicine, College of Nursing, or School of Health Professions, then transcripts need only be sent to those primary programs.
• An undergraduate record with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) is preferred. Applicants who have completed all or part of their education abroad, are required to have a course-by-course educational credential evaluation completed by an approved agency accredited by the National Association Of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org).
• For those interested in pursuing a concentration in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, or Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, a Bachelor of Science degree is preferred with at least one (1) undergraduate math and one (1) undergraduate biology course. For applicants to Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, an undergraduate chemistry course is preferred.
• Appropriate completion of the MPH Program application, including the personal statement. Please see information below in regard to the personal statement and essay (Written Essays Guidelines).
• Letters of recommendation
  • For students pursuing only the MPH degree: Two (2) letters of recommendation must be submitted addressing the applicant’s academic ability and professional experience or interest as it applies to public health issues.
• Proof of current licensure must be submitted for all licensed health professionals
• Test of English as a Foreign Language.The (TOEFL) is required for ALL applicants for whom English is a Second Language and who have not completed at least one year of full-time study in a regionally accredited college or university in the United States (at least 24 semester credits, including two courses in English composition). A minimum score for the paper exam of 536 (undergraduate programs) and 564 (graduate programs); a minimum score for the computer exam of 208 (undergraduate programs) and 223 (graduate programs; and a minimum score for the Internet-based exam of 65-78 (undergraduate programs) and 79-95 (graduate programs) is required on the TOEFL.
  • TOEFL Box 6151,
    Princeton, New Jersey 08541
    phone: (609) 771-7100
    web: www.toefl.org
    » Use the SUNY Downstate Institutional Code of 2534
    » Please note: Your application is not considered complete without the required standardized test score(s).
• A non-refundable application fee 

At the time of application, unofficial documents maybe submitted via the AMP application system. Upon acceptance, however, all students will be required to submit all final and official documents before matriculating.

Guidelines: Personal Statement. The statement, limited to 350-500 words, is a personal statement in which the applicant explains his or her reasons for pursuing the degree in a particular area of interest and plans for what he or she will achieve with that degree.

1. 1. Limit the statement to 350-500 words.
   2. Make certain that references are appropriately provided for work that is not the applicant’s.

MPH applicants can apply for either summer or fall semester except for MD/MPH applicants (see below). Applicants intending to enter in the Summer semester must have their applications completed and submitted by June 1st. Applicants intending to enter in the Fall semester must have their applications completed and submitted by August 1st of the academic year beginning in September. Applicants intending to enter in the Spring semester must have their applications completed and submitted by January 1st. Note that applicants may be admitted after these dates, but only on space-available basis.

For MD/MPH Applicants: Matriculated MD/MPH applicants can enter only during the summer semester. The deadline for declaring an interest in the MD/MPH program is May 1st to the SUNY Downstate Office of Admissions.

A maximum of twelve (12) credits from another CEPH and CHEA regionally accredited college and/or university can be transferred into the MPH program.  Transfer of credits for courses used towards the completion of a granted degree will not be considered.

Courses taken outside of SUNY Downstate’s School of Public Health while actively matriculated in the program will not be considered.

For transfer of credits, the accepted student must provide: 1) a detailed course syllabus and 2) an official transcript verifying at least a B grade (3.0 on a 4.0 system) in that particular course(s).

If the student fails to provide appropriate proof of course content equivalency and an official transcript in a timely fashion, the option for credit transfer may be denied.

Notification of action on the application is emailed after the complete admission materials are received and reviewed by the SPH Committee on Admission. Completed applications are reviewed on demand. A student accepted for admission into one of the graduate programs is required to secure his or her place in the class by submitting a deposit that will be applied to the first semester's tuition.

If accepted, individuals may request a deferral for up to one year for personal or professional reasons. Requests must be made in writing and submitted to the Office of Admissions and to the Chair of the specific department. No extensions beyond the one-year are permitted.

Accepted students are required to submit all required documents, including final transcripts for all college and universities attended, to the Office of Admissions prior to the start of classes. Note that required health documents must be submitted directly to the Student Health Office.

Please note that all students who attend SUNY Downstate Medical Center will be required to complete a background check prior to enrollment, at your expense. Background Checks will be conducted post-admission and are not used by the Admissions Committee to determine admissibility. Once you are accepted, you should complete the criminal background check by following the instructions here.

Some "re-applicants" are admitted each year with improved credentials. Re-applicants should contact the Program Office to schedule a pre-application advisement appointment to discuss how to improve their credentials in a reapplication. Re-applicants must submit a new application form, application fee, transcripts, and at least one new letter of recommendation.

International applicants are welcome to apply to any of our degree programs. Applicants who have completed all or part of their education abroad, are required to have a course-by-course educational credential evaluation completed by an approved agency accredited by The National Association Of Credential Evaluation Services (http://www.naces.org). This evaluation must include a breakdown of each course by name, US equivalent semester hours, and the corresponding letter grade. These requests should be done and completed well in advance of the semester deadlines.

International students should not consider assistance from the college in their financial planning. On-campus employment is not recommended because of the demanding nature of the academic program. Many international students have visa restrictions on working. All international applicants must document their ability to finance their education as part of the admissions process.

International Medical Graduates who wish to be considered health care professionals are required to either have a valid and current state license in the United States or have passed Steps I and II of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) before they can be considered for entry into the program.

All applicants are instructed to submit the application for admission and all official supporting credentials via the AMP application system for internal applicants or SOPHAS for external applicants. When an application is complete that application is forwarded to the School of Public Health for review by the Committee on Admissions.