General MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The Master of Public Health (MPH) program at Northeastern University trains diverse and skilled professionals to promote and protect the health of all communities. It emphasizes innovation in experiential education, research, and service. The program is grounded in social justice and health equity, aiming to prepare graduates to tackle complex public health challenges locally, nationally, and globally. Northeastern's MPH program is ranked #12 among Public Health Programs in the 2024 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Accreditation: The program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) . CEPH is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and public health programs.

Delivery Modes

The MPH program offers flexible learning options to meet the needs of working professionals and diverse student schedules:

• Formats: Available online, on-ground (Boston, Charlotte), or in a hybrid format (combination of both).

• Pacing: Students can enroll full-time or part-time.

• Accelerated Option: A 1-year accelerated MPH is available online.

• On-Campus Schedule: Boston on-ground core courses are typically offered in the evening (5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.), meeting once a week.

• Charlotte Campus: MPH students on the Charlotte campus participate in residency courses.

Curriculum Overview

The MPH curriculum requires a total of 42 semester hours and is a generalist MPH with a concentration in the Social Determinants of Health. A minimum GPA of 3.000 is required for graduation. Key components include:

• Public Health Core (18 credits): Introduction to Epidemiology, Biostatistics in Public Health, Public Health Administration and Policy, Environmental Health, Health Education and Program Planning, Society, Behavior, and Health.

• Social Determinants of Health Core (9 credits): Race, Ethnicity, and Health in the United States, Principles and History of Urban Health, Urban Community Health Assessment.

• Experiential Core (6 credits): Public Health Capstone (3 credits) and Practicum (3 credits). The practicum involves a minimum 200-hour community-based internship.

• Electives (9 semester hours): Students can choose electives from a wide range of topics, including cross-departmental offerings. Elective pathways are available in Public Mental Health and Public Health Technologies.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must submit their application via SOPHAS. Key requirements include:

• A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited university.

• Official transcripts from all colleges attended.

• A GPA of at least 3.0 or higher.

• Two letters of recommendation (academic and professional).

• A personal statement.

• Official TOEFL or IELTS scores for international applicants whose native language is not English (DuoLingo scores are not accepted).

• GRE scores are not required.

Application Deadlines: Fall priority deadline: June 1; Final Fall deadline: July 12; Spring deadline: December 5. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants interested in merit-based scholarships are encouraged to apply by the February 1 priority deadline for scholarship consideration.

Career & Practical Experience

Graduates of the MPH program are equipped with technical expertise, strategic thinking, and cultural competency to be impactful collaborators, innovators, and advocates. They find employment in a variety of settings, including:

• Federal, state, and local health agencies

• Universities and colleges

• Hospitals and healthcare systems

• Community health centers and nonprofit organizations

• Public health research institutes

• Insurance and pharmaceutical industries

• Healthcare consulting organizations and health technology companies

The practicum experience (minimum 200 hours) allows students to apply classroom learning in a real-world public health setting. Recent placements include Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Public Health Commission, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.