Public Health

Students at Fielding School of Public Health ...

• Receive state-of-the-art public health training combined with practical, hands-on experience.
• Are engaged in research and consultation in some 70 countries throughout the world.
• Get involved with cutting edge health care issues
• Have access to unparalleled opportunities for research, teaching and service here in Southern California where many of the health system changes currently sweeping the country have their origins and, where a melting pot of cultures, industries, and urban issues come together. 
• Find faculty and students who share in their passion for public health and who are committed to strong scientific principles, the core competencies of public health, and the translational science to apply these skills sets in local, national or international settings.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) is a professional degree that will prepare you to solve public health problems by applying professional disciplinary approaches and methods in professional environments such as local, state or national public health agencies and health care organizations.  

The MPH is a Schoolwide degree, allowing you to gain broad training in public health, but you’ll also specialize in one department so that you can concurrently gain focused knowledge in a particular area. Students specialize in one of the School’s five departments: Biostatistics, Community Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Environmental Health Sciences or Health Policy and Management.

The MPH is typically a two-year program, though there are accelerated options for students with particular qualifications, such as a clinical doctoral degree.  Additionally, our Executive MPH programs cater to professionals who want to earn an MPH while continuing to work full-time.

Students must complete at least one year of graduate residence at the University of California and a minimum of 11 full courses (44 units), at least six of which must be graduate courses and at least two of which must be 400-series courses. Only one 596 course (four units) may be applied toward the six graduate courses; 597 and 598 courses may not be applied toward the degree.

Students who complete the UCLA undergraduate minor in Public Health have already completed the four 100-level core courses (Biostatistics 100A, Environmental Health Sciences 100, Epidemiology 100, and Health Policy and Management 100). Accordingly, these students should not re-take these courses but replace them with four additional elective courses in order to complete the 60 units required for the master's degree. Students must consult with their adviser when selecting these replacement courses. For any courses taken outside of the FSPH, students must file a blue petition and have it approved prior to registration. If the blue petition is not approved, the student must consult with their adviser about selecting other options. Replacement courses within the FSPH do not require a blue petition.

Required school core courses include Biostatistics 100A or 110A; Community Health Sciences 100 (210, 211A, 211B for community health sciences majors); Environmental Health Sciences 100 (C200B-C200C for environmental health sciences majors); Epidemiology 100 (200A-200B-200C for epidemiology majors) and Health Services 100 (200A-200B for health services majors). Each core course may be waived via blue petition if the student has taken a similar college-level course, and passes the waiver examination. Students wishing to take a higher level course(s) in lieu of the 100-level series required core course can substitute the following: Biostatistics 100A with 110A, Community Health Sciences 100 has no substitutions, Environmental Health Sciences 100 with C200B, Epidemiology 100 with the entire series of Epidemiology 200A, 200B, and 200C, Health Policy and Management 100 with the 200A. Students must file a blue petition for the substitution.

In addition to the core courses, at least three courses (two or four units) outside the student's area of specialization are strongly recommended.

Courses taken for S/U grading may not be applied toward the degree requirements. Students must maintain an average of no less than 3.0 (B) in all courses required or elected during graduate residence at the University of California.

Areas of specialization and typical course plans, in addition to mandatory courses, are listed below.

Biostatistics

A minimum of 62 quarter units are required for the M.P.H degree. Required department courses include Biostatistics 110A, 110B, (100A and 100B may be substituted with departmental permission); Biostatistics 201A, 201B, 400 (field training comprised of approved internship), 402A, 403A and 406; and 12 units of elective courses from Biostatistics 200B, 200C, M210 through M238, or M403B, 410 through 419. Additional elective courses are recommended and should be selected in public health, biomathematics, or mathematics. Biostatistics 595 is required as part of the culminating experience, which includes an oral presentation and a written report.

Community Health Sciences

A minimum of 60 units of graduate and upper division course work is required for the M.P.H. degree. Normally two years or six quarters are needed to complete the 60 units of course work required. No less than 32 units must be taken in the department. A maximum of 12 elective units from outside the department may count towards the 60 units. Candidates with a prior doctoral degree or advanced preparation in a related field may petition the departmental faculty to waive up to 12 units for the M.P.H. degree.

All students are required to complete Community Health Sciences 210, 211A-211B, and four units of 400 (400 hours of field work).

Students are required to select one course from each of the three curricular areas of a) Public Health Practice, b) Populations, and c) Individual and Structural Influences (12 units).   The courses for these three areas are listed below.  New CHS department courses will be added to these areas as appropriate. Students are required to take at least one additional course (4 units) within CHS. An additional course in research methods or program planning, similar to CHS 211 A&B is strongly recommended for students in the second year of the program.

Students have the option to focus their studies in areas such as social and behavioral sciences, health education/promotion, international health, child and family health, public health nutrition, health policy, disaster planning and relief, aging and life course, women's health, and population health.

Students focusing in health education/promotion may select course work to meet the requirements for the Society for Public Health Education, and students with appropriate prerequisites may select course work to meet the requirements set by the Association of Graduate Faculties in Public Health Nutrition.

Environmental Health Sciences

A minimum of 62 quarter units are required for the M.P.H degree.  Required department courses include Biostatistics 100B; Environmental Health Sciences C200B, C200C, 201, C240, 400, and 411 (to be taken once a year for two years). At least 16 units of upper division or graduate level elective courses are required and are selected by students in consultation with the faculty adviser. At least 4 of the 16 units must be taken from the 400 level series. Any departmental required course may be waived by instructor consent if the student either has taken a similar course or can pass a waiver examination. Students who do not have the prerequisites at the time of application may take equivalent courses at UCLA in their first year.

Students may choose to focus on Industrial Hygiene. The M.P.H. program in Industrial Hygiene is fully accredited by the Related Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET/ASAC). In addition, students in the M.P.H. program in Environmental Health Sciences may choose to pursue a curriculum that has been approved by the California Registered Environmental Health Specialist program.

Epidemiology

Students are required to complete a minimum of 68 units of graduate or upper division course work for the M.P.H. degree. Students who hold a clinical doctorate from an accredited U.S. institution, or currently enrolled in a US medical school will be required to complete 56 rather than 68 units.  Students completing the 68-unit program are required to complete Biostatistics 100AB; Community Health Sciences 100; Environmental Health Sciences 100; Epidemiology 200A-B-C, 220, 400, 413, Health Policy and Management 100, an approved course in chronic disease epidemiology, and an approved course in management of health data. Remaining course work will be selected from the Department’s eligible courses. At least two units must be taken from the 400 level series. With the consent of the adviser and by petition, up to eight units of the remaining course work can be graduate-level courses (200 or 400 series) outside of Epidemiology that are taken for a letter grade.  Students with a prior U.S. clinical doctorate degree or currently enrolled in a U.S. medical school are required to complete a minimum of 56 units of graduate and upper division course work for the M.P.H. degree. These students are required to complete Biostatistics 100A-B; Community Health Sciences 100; Environmental Health Sciences 100; Epidemiology 200A-B-C, 400, 413; and Health Policy and Management 100.  Remaining course work will be selected from the Department’s eligible courses. At least two units must be taken from the 400 level series.

All Epidemiology-M.P.H. students must submit a report demonstrating competence in epidemiologic methodology. The report may not be submitted prior to the completion of Epidemiology 400. Students enrolled in the 68-unit program may enroll in Epidemiology 400 after successful completion of Epi 200A-B-C.  Students enrolled in the 56-unit program may concurrently enroll in Epi 400 and Epi 200C after the successful complete of Epi 200A-B.

Health Policy and Management

Health Policy and Management specialization programs include (1) Health Care Management, (2) Health Policy, (3) Executive (4) Health Services Organization, (5) a concurrent M.P.H./M.B.A., (6) a concurrent M.P.H./M.P.P., (7) J.D./M.P.H., and (8) M.D./M.P.H. All specialization programs require Health Policy and Management 200A-200B, 400, and a summer internship in a local health care organization, as well as School of Public Health core courses: Biostatistics 100A, Community Health Sciences 100, Environmental Health Sciences 100, and Epidemiology 100.

Students who hold an M.B.A. and three years of managerial experience in health care will be required to take 15 courses rather than 18. In addition, students who have had the equivalent course work in their M.B.A. program may petition to waive out of an additional 3 courses. Petitions will be considered on a case by case basis.

Health Care Management. The Health Care Management specialization is a two-year program requiring 23 full courses (88 units) and a major written research report based on the summer internship at a local health care organization. Required courses include Health Policy and Management 232, 234, M236, M285, 215A, 400, 403, M422, 433, 436, 437, 440A, 441 and 445. In addition, students select at least three elective courses from Health Policy and Management or other academic schools/departments approved via blue petition.

Health Policy. The Health Policy specialization is a two-year program requiring 22 full courses (88 units), and a major written research report based on the summer internship in a local health care organization. Required courses include Health Policy and Management 232, M233, M236, M285, 215A, 286, M287, 400, M422, 441, and Biostatistics 100B. In addition, students select at least five elective courses from Health Policy and Management or other academic schools/departments approved via blue petition.

Executive. The executive program is for people with at least three years of managerial experience in the health care field. It is a two-year program requiring 18 full courses and a major written research report based on the summer internship. Required courses include Health Policy and Management 234, M236, 251, M422, 431, 433, 436, 450, and Biostatistics 419.

Health Services Organization. The health services organization specialization is a one-year program requiring a minimum of 13 full courses (56 units). Admission is limited to students with prior doctoral-level degrees completed in the U.S. (M.D., Ph.D., J.D., D.D.S., or equivalent). Required courses include Health Policy and Management M236, 400 and 403. In addition, students select at least four elective courses from the Department of Health Policy and Management or other academic schools/departments approved via blue petition.

Requirements

1. Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
2. Statement of Purpose
3. Three Letters of Recommendation - two from former professors and one from an employer. If the applicant has been out of school for over 5 years, three letters from employers are acceptable. *Please note letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically.
4. One set of Official Transcripts from each institution you have attended.  International applicants must submit transcripts through World Education Services (WES) for an official WES evaluation.
5. Official GRE Test Scores - UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Code for ETS to report to SOPHAS: 4225
6. Official TOEFL - Code 5688 SOPHAS in Massachusets - www.toefl.com. 
7. Writing Sample (for doctoral applicants applying to Community Health Sciences or Health Policy and Management)
8. SOPHAS Application Fee - Nonrefundable (the amount will vary according to the number of applications submitted)

International applicants, please send the following four documents:

• one official transcript in English
• one official transcript in the official language of the country
• one certificate/diploma showing degree conferred in English
• one certificate/diploma showing degree conferred in the official language of the country. 

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

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Scholarships

Since the University cannot assume financial responsibility for its students, U.S. government regulations require that the University be satisfied that entering international students have sufficient funds to meet all expenses while at UCLA. To meet this requirement, all international applicants must complete and return the Confidential Financial Statement. Be advised that all fees and expenses are subject to change; it is best to plan to have additional funding well beyond the minimum.

Unless you have been officially notified in writing of an award from the department or the Graduate Division, you should not expect any financial support from UCLA. Teaching and research assistantships, fellowships and stipends, as well as tuition fellowships, are not guaranteed for the full academic year or for subsequent years of study, unless stated in writing.