General MPH Program

Program Highlights

The MPH@GW program at George Washington University trains aspiring public health leaders to make a difference in local, national, and global communities. It is delivered completely online, offering the same world-class faculty, admissions requirements, and academic standards as GW’s on-campus MPH programs.

MPH@GW students benefit from:

• Establishing connections with influential public health educators and practitioners on the front lines of policy and advocacy in Washington, DC.

• Learning to respond to the growing public health needs of their communities and society at large through analytical research and in-person practicums at well-established health organizations.

• The opportunity to customize their curriculum through general electives or by selecting a concentration focus to reflect specific public health interests and aspirations.

Delivery Modes

The MPH@GW program is delivered completely online.

Curriculum Overview

The Master of Public Health program requires the completion of 45 credits. This includes 17 credits in core courses, 10 credits in program-specific courses, 16 credits in elective courses, and a 2-credit culminating experience.

Core courses cover foundational public health areas such as Biostatistical Applications for Public Health (PUBH 6002), Principles and Practices of Epidemiology (PUBH 6003), Social and Behavioral Approaches to Public Health (PUBH 6007), Environmental and Biological Foundations of Public Health (PUBH 6011), Fundamentals of Health Policy (PUBH 6012), and Essentials of Public Health Practice and Leadership (PUBH 6021, PUBH 6022).

Program-specific courses include Practical Data Management and Analysis for Public Health (PUBH 6052), Comparative Global Health Systems (PUBH 6442), Planning and Implementing Health Promotion Programs (PUBH 6500), and Introduction to Public Health Communication and Marketing (PUBH 6503).

Students complete 16 credits in any graduate-level SPH elective courses. An updated list of elective options can be found on the MPH@GW website .

The curriculum includes a 2-credit culminating experience (PUBH 6060 MPH@GW Culminating Experience I and PUBH 6061 MPH@GW Culminating Experience II).

Admissions Requirements & Graduation Standards

For detailed admissions information, including application requirements and deadlines, please visit the GWSPH Graduate Admissions website . The MPH@GW program shares the same admissions standards as GW’s on-campus MPH programs.

Key graduation requirements for the MPH degree include:

1. Completion of 45 graduate credits.

2. Successful completion of all core and program-specific courses.

3. Fulfillment of the Applied Practice Experience (Practicum) ( PUBH 6000 MPH Applied Practice Experience ).

4. Participation in an authorized Interprofessional Education Experience (IPE) ( PUBH 6023 Interprofessional Education Experience ).

5. Maintenance of a minimum 3.0 (B) cumulative grade-point average.

6. Completion of the degree within five years.

7. Adherence to CITI training requirements for human subject protection and HIPAA.

8. Completion of the SPH Academic Integrity Quiz.

9. Participation in eight hours of professional enhancement activities.

Transfer credit policy: Up to 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution (earned in the last three years with a minimum grade of 3.0) may be transferred, subject to approval. Graduate certificate students may transfer up to 18 credits.

Career & Practical Experience

The MPH@GW program equips students with the skills to address public health challenges and make a difference in local, national, and global communities.

Practical experience is a cornerstone of the program, fulfilled through the PUBH 6000 MPH Applied Practice Experience (Practicum), where students engage in in-person work at well-established health organizations. Students also participate in an PUBH 6023 Interprofessional Education Experience .

To further enhance their professional development, students are required to participate in eight hours of public health-related lectures, seminars, and symposia relevant to their field of study.