Admissions

Applicants to the M.P.H. must demonstrate adequate preparation to complete graduate study for the M.P.H. degree.

Evidence of preparation for graduate work is indicated by the grade point average (GPA) from all post-secondary schools attended; work experience and accomplishments; and professional references.

Applications to the M.P.H. are reviewed on a rolling basis. The Program admits students for fall, spring and summer matriculation. Applications are reviewed until the class is full.

All admission decisions are based upon full review of all information in the application in order to ensure fairness and to balance the limitation of any single indicator. Strong preference for admission will be given to applicants with at least one year of public health-related work experience, either paid or unpaid.

No standardized test, including the GRE, is required for admission to the UND Public Health Program.

This page contains admission and application requirements for traditional MPH applicants, MPH/JD applicants, and accelerated Bachelor's/Master's applicants. Please scroll to the appropriate section for more information.

General Admission Requirements

Completion of the SOPHAS online application (traditional applicants only), UND School of Graduate Studies application, and payment of the application fee(s).
A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or equivalent.
An undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00.
Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies' English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

MPH Application Requirements (all applicants)

A written statement that describes the applicant’s professional goals and motivation for seeking a degree in public health. In addition, applicants should comment on any personal qualities, characteristics, and abilities they believe will enable them to be successful in achieving their career goals (limit 2 pages).
Applicants to the Population Health Research & Analytics specialization are also required to submit evidence of analytic/quantitative abilities by presenting at least one of the following:
- Academic background in health, public health, or natural sciences with a math/science GPA of 3.0 or better;
- Written product from a professional experience demonstrating analytic/quantitative skill; or
- Letter(s) of recommendation that gives specific examples of applicant’s analytic/quantitative abilities.
Resume listing work experience, including voluntary, and relevant accomplishments, awards, and honors.
Official post-secondary academic transcripts from all institutions attended.
Three (3) letters of recommendation from academic and professional sources who the applicant feels are most qualified to evaluate their academic potential and leadership potential in public health. At least one of the three letters must come from an academic source. The applicant may submit more than three letters of recommendation.

Students applying to the traditional MPH degree program will submit all required materials through the SOPHAS application. A supplemental application through the UND School of Graduate Studies is also required.

Students applying to the Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's or Joint MPH/JD program will submit all required materials to the UND School of Graduate Studies admissions application. They do not need to complete the SOPHAS application.

The Admissions Committee may request an in-person or Zoom interview with an applicant to assist in the decision process. A background check will be completed on each student before admission is final.

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) Admission Requirements

The Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s (ABM) 4+1 program allows exceptional undergraduate students at UND an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees at an accelerated pace. All requirements for both degrees must be met, and these students may double count up to 12 graduate-level credits towards the requirements for both their Bachelor in Public Health Education and their Master of Public Health degree requirements. ABM students must obtain their Master of Public Health degree within 12 months of completing the Bachelor of Public Health Education degree, provided that the degree requirements can be completed in that timeframe.

Admission is a competitive process. The following are minimum eligibility requirements:

Students may apply upon completion of a minimum of 60 credits, including credits earned from advanced placement and dual credit. Students must apply before completion of the undergraduate degree.
Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 at the time of admission into the ABM program.
Current enrollment in or completion of Introduction to Public Health (PHE 101), Epidemiology in Public Health (PHE 102), Introduction to Global Health (PHE 103), and Community Health (PHE 302), with a minimum grade of B in each course.
In addition to the standard application requirements, ABM program applicants must submit a detailed Program of Study that describes the 12 credits of double-counted courses, the courses that will be taken after being accepted into the MPH program, the courses that will be taken before graduation from the Bachelor of Public Health Education program, and the expected graduation date for each degree. The submitted program of study must be signed by the student, the student's undergraduate advisor, and the Public Health Graduate Director.

Joint MPH/JD Admission Requirements

The joint MPH/JD degree program will enable a student to receive the two degrees upon completion of 81 law credit hours and 36 MPH credit hours. The School of Law thus accepts 9 credit hours of MPH coursework that will be applicable toward the J.D. degree, and the MPH Program accepts 6 credit hours of J.D. courses toward the MPH degree.

Admission is a competitive process. The following are minimum eligibility requirements:

Students are required to apply to both the Law School and the School of Graduate Studies. Admission recommendations will be made to the School of Graduate Studies by the Director of the Public Health Program and approved by the Graduate Dean. The Law School Admissions Committee will determine admission into the Law School.
Students pursuing a J.D. degree and wishing to add the MPH degree must do so no later than the third semester of the J.D. program.
Admission requirements of each program will remain the same in the joint admission process as is currently required to be admitted into each program separately.

Technology Requirements

Upon matriculation, all M.P.H. students are required to have their own personal computer that is no older than 3 years upon entering the Public Health Program. This requirement applies to both on-campus students and distance students. Please read Public Health Program Computer Requirements for minimum requirements in hardware and software.

Policy on Transfer of Graduate Credits

A limited number of graduate school credits completed at an accredited U.S. or Canadian institution of higher learning prior to, or after matriculation in the program, may be applied toward the M.P.H. degree. Graduate work is considered for transfer on an individual basis.

The work must have received graduate credit at the institution where it was earned.
The student must have earned a grade of B or better.
The work must be less than seven years old at the time the M.P.H. degree is awarded.
The maximum amount of transfer credit that will be accepted toward the M.P.H. degree is nine.

Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE)

The M.P.H. participates in WICHE's Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). The WRGP allows masters, graduate certificate, and Ph.D. students who are residents of WICHE member states to enroll in selected programs at 56 participating institutions outside of their home states and pay resident tuition. M.P.H. students from the following states are eligible for North Dakota resident tuition rate through the WRGP:

Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
New Mexico
Oregon
South Dakota
Utah
Washington
Wyoming

WGRP students must fulfill all the usual requirements of the M.P.H. and meet all admission deadlines.

WRGP WebSite