Director:
Patricia A. Wren
3098 Health Sciences Building
(248) 364-8664
wren@oakland.edu
Program description
The Master of Public Health (MPH) program seeks to improve the health of individuals and communities by strengthening the foundational skills, core capacities, diversity, preparation and responsiveness of public health professionals. These public health professionals may be employed in a variety of settings including, but not limited to, international health organizations (e.g., World Health Organization, Doctors Without Borders), federal government agencies (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health), state and local health departments (e.g., Michigan Department of Community Health and Oakland County Health Division), voluntary and philanthropic organizations (e.g., American Red Cross, Kaiser Permanente), corporations and worksite wellness sites, local hospitals and non-profit organizations (e.g., Migrant Health Promotion, Alternatives For Girls).
Admission terms and application deadlines
Applicants are admitted Fall semester only. Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.
- February 1 for fall semester
Readmission and program transfer
Requests for readmission and program transfers must be completed and approved prior to the beginning of a semester.
International application deadlines
International applications are reviewed for fall admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least nine months before the desired date of intended enrollment in the University. All international application materials must be submitted by January 1 for fall admission. International applicants are not eligible for Special Graduate classification.
Special Graduate classification
Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission, may contact the department and request Special Graduate temporary admission. The applicant must submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Study, plus a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study as required by the department. Up to 12 credits may be earned in the Special Graduate classification. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program.
Students may request special graduate classification from the department beginning with the dates below.
- August 1 for fall semester
- December 1 for winter semester
- April 1 for summer semester
Note: Special Graduate classification will not be granted after the first week of classes in a semester.
Application requirements
To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following University and Program application documents by the published application deadlines:
University graduate application requirements
- Online Application for Admission to Graduate Study
- Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
- Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
- As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
- Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
(Note: Some programs require more than two recommendation forms. Refer to the program application requirements listed below for the total number of recommendations and specific requirements for the recommendations.)
- Proof of English language proficiency
- International supplemental application and supporting documentation must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.
Program application requirements
- Undergraduate overall grade point average of at least 3.0
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score from within the last five (5) years.
- Additional Recommendation for Graduate Admission form
In addition to the two recommendations listed above, a third recommendation is required by the program.
Requirements for recommendations
All three forms must be from faculty members, supervisors, or professional mentors and must include letters attached to the forms. The letters must be on letterhead, be signed, and include a statement describing the referee’s relationship to the applicant, duration of the relationship, and an assessment of the applicant’s aptitude for graduate school and public health practice.
- Personal statement of no more than 1000 words describing the applicant’s reasons for seeking an MPH degree, related public health experiences, and long-term professional goals.
Admission review and assessment
Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, personal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.
Return to: