Online MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

Simmons University's online Master of Public Health (MPH) program focuses on health equity and social justice, preparing students to become change-oriented leaders. The program is designed to equip students with real-world skills to positively impact public health and address health inequity at local, national, and global levels.

The program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Key values underpinning the curriculum include Social Justice, Community Partnership, Scientific Rigor and Integrity, Critical Systems Thinking, and Transformative Leadership.

Delivery Modes

The program is delivered primarily online, combining live online classes and self-paced coursework. A significant component of the program involves two mandatory in-person immersion experiences: one on the Simmons campus in Boston, MA, and one in the US-Mexico borderlands region of Arizona.

Two program tracks are available:

• Traditional: Can be completed in as few as 24 months. This track allows students to work, offering flexibility often aligned with part-time study.

• Accelerated: Can be completed in as few as 15 months. This is a full-time track, and students are not permitted to be employed during the program. The accelerated track starts annually in the May term.

Curriculum Overview

The MPH degree requires 42 credit hours. The curriculum structure is as follows:

• 36 Core Credits: Covering foundational public health areas such as Health Equity & Social Justice, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Socio-Structural Determinants of Health, Community-Based Research for Health Equity, Health Policy Analysis & Change, Health Advocacy, Community Organizing, & Innovation, Global Health & Political Economy, and Environmental Health & Justice.

• 3 Elective Credits.

• 3 Immersion Credits: Earned through participation in the two required immersion experiences.

A key component is the Health Equity Change Project, which combines practice and culminating experiences. Students partner with an organization to analyze, design, implement, and evaluate a project addressing a local health inequity.

The curriculum also incorporates community-embedded learning, including a 20-hour service-learning experience and developing a small-scale research study with community leaders.

Admissions Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4-point scale).

• At least one college-level math course (statistics preferred) with a course grade of B or higher.

• Required application materials: Completed online application form, current résumé, an essay (describing interest/experience in public health, an observed inequity, and career goals), official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions, three letters of recommendation (professional or academic), English proficiency exam score (TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS) if applicable, and a nonrefundable application fee of $50 (waivers available).

• GRE scores are not required for admission.

Cost & Financial Aid

Information regarding tuition and fees, which are updated annually, can be found on the Simmons University Tuition and Fees page . A non-refundable enrollment deposit of $200 is required upon acceptance and is applied to the first term bill. Students are responsible for all travel, program, and accommodation expenses related to the two required immersions. Financial aid options include federal student loans (applicants should complete the FAFSA) and merit-based scholarships, for which applicants are automatically considered.

Career & Practical Experience

The program is designed to prepare graduates for careers focused on addressing health disparities and advancing health equity. The Health Equity Change Project offers significant practical experience, requiring students to design, implement, and evaluate a project in partnership with a community organization. Two mandatory immersion experiences (Boston and Arizona) provide hands-on learning and engagement with real-world public health issues and community partners. Additional community-embedded opportunities include service-learning and participation in community-based research projects.