General MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The University of Delaware’s Master of Public Health (MPH) is an interdisciplinary program that combines faculty and resources from across multiple departments and colleges. It focuses on preparing students for careers in both applied and research settings, aiming to develop the next generation of leaders to create healthy, equitable, and thriving communities.

The MPH program contributes to advancement and innovation in public health through actionable research, collaborative interprofessional education, and community-engaged service by:

• Expanding student capacity to understand, integrate, and use public health tools and methods in applied public health careers through engaging and innovative learning environments.

• Conducting interdisciplinary research that contributes to reducing health disparities and improving the lives of individuals in resource-constrained communities.

• Engaging in partnerships and collaborations to meet critical public health challenges.

The University of Delaware is an applicant for accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The accreditation review will address the MPH in Epidemiology and the MPH in Health Policy and Management.

Delivery Modes & Duration

The MPH program is offered on-campus. The Health Policy and Management concentration is designed to be completed in 15 months on a full-time, accelerated basis.

Curriculum Overview

The program offers two concentration areas: Epidemiology (housed within the College of Health Sciences) and Health Policy and Management (resides within the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration). Applicants must apply to a specific concentration area.

The concentration areas share 21 credits of core courses but diverge in specialized coursework. The MPH in Health Policy and Management is a 42-credit graduate program. This track includes core courses, specialized courses in areas such as program evaluation, financial management, and conflict resolution, public health electives, a required applied practice experience, and an integrative learning experience. Students in the MPH in Health Policy and Management can pursue various areas of focus like inequities in health and healthcare, health policy, health systems, and program evaluation by selecting relevant elective courses.

An Online Epidemiology Certificate (12 credits) is also available, and all its credits can be applied toward the MPH in Epidemiology degree.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must submit an application and all required materials through SOPHAS, the Centralized Application Service for Public Health. Applicants should not apply through the UD Graduate College for the MPH in Health Policy and Management.

Application Deadlines for Fall admission:

• January 15: Priority consideration for admission.

• August 1: Final deadline to apply.

The Biden School does not require the GRE for admission. International applicants must meet minimum English proficiency test scores as listed in the Graduate Admissions Test scores section.

Cost & Financial Aid

The 2024-2025 UD graduate student tuition rate per credit hour is $1,069 for both the Epidemiology MPH and the Health Policy and Management MPH.

For detailed information on overall costs and financial aid opportunities, applicants can refer to the UD Graduate College Cost of Attendance page and the Biden School Scholarships & Funding page .

Career & Practical Experience

The MPH program prepares graduates for careers in applied public health settings such as healthcare institutions, nonprofits, and local, state, or federal agencies, as well as in research settings. The MPH in Health Policy and Management curriculum is designed to provide graduates with skills in policy and management tools, economic analysis, understanding the US healthcare system, communicating evidence-based options, and project management.

A required applied practice experience and an integrative learning experience are part of the curriculum. The Biden School emphasizes the “Delaware Model,” where education and experience meet, offering students opportunities for paid fellowships, internships, and research assistantships. Information on career outcomes for MPH graduates is available on the university's Success After UD page (Health Policy & Management) and Success After UD page (Epidemiology) .