General MPH Program

Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health offers various Master of Public Health (MPH) pathways, including a traditional two-year MPH and an Accelerated MPH program. The following details primarily pertain to the Accelerated MPH program, designed for individuals with significant prior healthcare experience.

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The Accelerated MPH program at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health is tailored for students who have at least two years of substantial healthcare-related work experience. It offers broader participation in the field of public health and provides formal training in its methods and substantive areas. The program serves as an excellent foundation for medical education and includes a practicum experience, allowing students to apply academic training in a real-world work setting. While specific accreditation bodies for the MPH program are not detailed in the provided context, the Mailman School is a renowned institution for public health education.

Delivery Modes

The Accelerated MPH is a one-year, full-time program delivered on-campus. It is designed for rapid completion by experienced professionals.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum for the one-year Accelerated MPH program includes five integrated components. Students begin with the Mailman Core Curriculum, covering:

• History and methods of public health

• Biological and environmental determinants of health

• Social, behavioral, and structural determinants of health

• Methods for public health research and programming

• Health systems

Students in the General Public Health track select coursework from various departments within the Mailman School. The program emphasizes the development of skills in a technical area such as research design, program evaluation, health education, health program planning, or administration. A practicum experience is a key component, providing hands-on application of learned concepts.

Admissions Requirements

Eligibility for the Accelerated MPH program requires a minimum of two years of work experience in a health-related field. For General Studies (GS) students, additional eligibility criteria include completion of the Core curriculum, a declared major, a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, a grade of B+ or better in University Writing (for undergraduates) or in mathematics and statistics courses (for postbaccalaureate students), and completion of a mathematics or statistics course at Columbia.

Application components include:

• Required Application (via SOPHAS)

• GRE scores (if undergraduate GPA is less than 3.5; Mailman waives GRE for students with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.5)

• 500-word personal statement

• Three letters of recommendation

• IELTS or TOEFL scores (for international students)

• CV or resume

• Academic transcripts from all previous undergraduate institutions.

Mailman waives the application fee for GS students. Admissions deadlines are typically December 1 (Priority) and January 15 (General).

Career & Practical Experience

The Accelerated MPH program prepares graduates for broader participation in the field of public health and can serve as a strong foundation for medical education. The curriculum's emphasis on developing technical skills in areas like research design, program evaluation, health education, program planning, or administration, combined with the mandatory practicum experience, equips students with practical expertise. The practicum allows students to apply their academic training within a professional work setting. Mailman also assists accepted students in finding placements in clinical and research settings with faculty prior to the start of their graduate program.