Accelerated Public Health Program (APHP)

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The Accelerated Public Health Program (APHP) at Northwestern University provides high-achieving undergraduate students the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees in five years. Students in this selective program benefit from early MPH Program acceptance, specialized advising, the opportunity to complete their MPH field experience abroad, and an exemption from the GRE requirement for MPH admissions. Undergraduates from every Northwestern school and major are eligible to apply. This program was established through collaboration between Weinberg College’s Program in Global Health Studies and Feinberg’s Program in Public Health.

Distinctive features of the APHP include:

• Completion of the MPH in one year (as part of the five-year combined degree)

• Early acceptance into the MPH program at Northwestern

• Exemption from the GRE requirement

• Up to three courses double-count toward a student’s bachelor’s and MPH degrees

• Ability to begin earning credit toward the MPH during a student’s fourth undergraduate year at Northwestern.

  • Click here for a list of the PUB_HLTH courses you can take during your final undergraduate year.

• Specialized advising

• Opportunity to complete the MPH field experience abroad

No specific accreditation bodies (e.g., CEPH) for the MPH program are mentioned in the provided information.

Delivery Modes

The APHP is an accelerated, full-time program designed for current Northwestern undergraduate students, implying an on-campus delivery format. The MPH portion of the degree is completed in the fifth year.

Curriculum Overview

Students accepted into the APHP begin earning credit towards the MPH during their fourth undergraduate year. Up to three courses can be double-counted towards both the bachelor's and MPH degrees. Approved Public Health (PUB_HLTH) classes taken during the senior year of APHP may be used as elective courses for those with a GHS major or minor but do not fulfill core GHS requirements.

The curriculum includes specialized advising to help students plan their MPH field experience and culminating experiences. During their MPH year (the fifth year), APHP students pursue the generalist track or a concentration in global health, epidemiology, or community health research.

Admissions Requirements

Eligible applicants are Northwestern undergraduate students who apply during the Winter Quarter of their third year. A minimum GPA of 3.5 is required. Students from all Northwestern undergraduate schools and majors are eligible. Successful candidates are high academic achievers with a demonstrated commitment to public health and health equity, interested in developing data and analytical skills.

Prerequisites (must be completed before matriculating to the Program in Public Health in year 5):

• One human biology class

• One statistics or mathematics class

• Three courses double counted towards the bachelor's and MPH degrees (optional)

• One other MPH course not counted towards the bachelor's degree (optional)

• Prerequisites may be fulfilled after acceptance to APHP. A list of courses that can count is available (see APHP Prerequisite Options ).

Application components:

• A statement of purpose

• Two references (one academic)

• A resume or CV

• A .pdf outlining prerequisite completion plan (template here )

• Transcripts (including grades through fall quarter of 3rd year)

• $95 Application Fee (contact Global Health Studies if concerned about payment)

• Select students will be invited to a 30-minute interview.

For the 2025 application cycle: Applications are due April 1, 2025. Mandatory in-person interviews will be in April 2025, and admissions decisions will be released in early May 2025.

Career & Practical Experience

The program includes an MPH field experience, with an opportunity to complete it abroad, and culminating experiences. It aims to equip students dedicated to understanding and promoting health equity with the theoretical background, data, and analytical skills for public health practice. Specific career services or target careers beyond general public health practice are not detailed in the provided text.