FAQs
Is an MPH at WSU right for you?
1) Why should I study public health at Wayne State University?
2) What types of jobs do graduates find?
3) How do I know if the Graduate Certificate is a better choice for me?
4) Is the MPH Program designed for both part time and full time students?
5) When are classes offered?
6) Do you offer online classes?
7) How many years do I have to complete my MPH or GC-PHP?
8) Can I be enrolled in two programs at the same time?
9) How much does it cost to obtain a degree in this program?
10) How long must I have resided in Michigan before I am eligible for resident tuition?
11) Is financial aid available for MPH students?
12) Are university housing opportunities available?
13) Is the MPH Program at WSU accredited?
Additional Information about Admission Requirements
1) How do I apply for a graduate school application fee waiver?
2) Why is a college-level math class required of all applicants?
3) What math classes do you recommend?
4) Does the math requirement apply to practicing physicians?
5) How many credits can I transfer into the program?
6) English is not my native language. How do I demonstrate English proficiency?
7) Are waivers available for tests of English language proficiency?
8) When are applications accepted?
9) How many students are accepted each year?
10) Do I have to fulfill the admission requirements of the Wayne State University Graduate School as well as the MPH program?
11) What if my undergraduate GPA is lower than 3.0?
Is an MPH at WSU right for you?
1) Why should I study public health at Wayne State University?
- Accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
- Options to attend during the afternoon or evening.
- Full or part-time options are available.
- Practicum and research experiences in urban settings
- Small classes
- Opportunities to participate in faculty health disparities research
2) What types of jobs do graduates find?
The MPH Program provides students with a strong foundation in general research skills, health promotion and prevention, urban community health issues, the organization of health care, and current health care policy issues. Students select a practicum and concentration to complement their career goals. Many students are building on their past skills and experience, so the type of job they take after completing the MPH degree is partially based on their previous work. Common job positions are in health care management, planning, evaluation, and research. Job titles include: community health educator, patient education coordinator, planning coordinator, project coordinator, research analyst, health planner, program specialist, and health policy analyst.
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3) How do I know if the Graduate Certificate is a better choice for me?
The Bridge Graduate Certificate in Public Health (BGC-PH) requires only 15 credits of coursework and can be completed in one year if attending fulltime. The BGC-PH provides a valuable credential for students who want a background in core areas of public health but are not sure that they are ready to complete the full MPH degree.
The BGC-PH is comprised of first year MPH courses. After completing the BGC-PH, students in good academic standing may apply to the MPH Program and upon admission, enroll as second year MPH students.
4) Is the MPH Program designed for both part time and full time students?
Yes. Full time students are expected to take a minimum of 3 classes most semesters and usually complete the program in in 5 or 6 semesters or 2 years. Part time students are expected to take 1-2 classes most semesters and complete the program n 3-4 years.
Your advisor will help you develop a Plan of Work to guide you through the program.
5) When are classes offered?
Most required MPH classes have a section that is offered at 5 pm to accommodate the needs of working professionals. Practicum hours often must be completed during the day or in some cases, students have used vacation time. There are no weekend courses at this time.
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6) Do you offer online classes? Our courses are usually scheduled as face-to-face or hybrid courses. We find that meeting face-to-face helps to establish a classroom community and complements the collaborative nature of public health work.
7) How many years do I have to complete the MPH?
The University requires that the BGC-PH be completed within three years and the MPH degree be completed within six years.
8) Can I be enrolled in two programs at the same time?
Yes. The University does permit this. For example students may enroll in a Ph.D. or a masters degree program and the MPH degree program simultaneously. Occasionally, a student may be enrolled in two Master's programs or a Master's and a Certificate program. Be sure to discuss this decision with advisors in both programs to ensure that it is the right decision for you.
9) How much does it cost to obtain a degree in this program?
The MPH program currently requires 42 credits. The BGC-PH requires 15 credits. Fulltime students typically enroll in 9 credits per semester. Part-time students enroll in 3 to 6 credits per semester. Tuition rates vary by school or college: the MPH Program is a graduate program in the School of Medicine.
The Wayne State University credit hour rate can be found at http://reg.wayne.edu/students/tuition.php .
10) How long must I have resided in Michigan before I am eligible for resident tuition?
You must have been a resident for a minimum of 6 months prior to the first day of classes in order to receive resident tuition. Residents of Ontario, Canada, and residents of Fulton, Lucas, Ottawa and Williams counties in Ohio who enroll in Wayne State University academic programs will have the non- resident portion of fees waived. https://wayne.edu/registrar/tuition/
11) Is financial aid available for MPH students?
Please contact Student Financial Aid for information about scholarships http://finaid.wayne.edu/
12) Are university housing opportunities available?
Yes. For more information visit the Office of Housing and Residential Life web site at http://www.housing.wayne.edu
13) Is the MPH Program at WSU accredited?
Yes. The WSU MPH Program is accredited by the Council for Education for Public health (CEPH) through December 31, 2023. CEPH is an independent agency recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit public health programs. More information may be found at www.ceph.org.
Additional Information about MPH Admission Requirements
1) How do I apply for a graduate school application fee waiver? The Office of Graduate Admissions approves application fee waiver requests. Review eligibility requirements at https://gradschool.wayne.edu/admissions/fee-waiver-eligibility . If you are eligible, e-mail the Office of Graduate Admissions at gradadmissions@wayne.edu.
2) Why is a college-level math class required of most applicants?
We require a B or better in a statistics or college algebra class within the last five years to ensure that our students are successful in our required biostatistics and epidemiology courses. Students whose math skills are rusty often have a difficult time in biostatistics and epidemiology.
3) What math classes do you recommend?
The acceptable courses offered at WSU are: MAT 1070 Algebra and Trigonometry, STA 2210 Probability and Statistics, or PH 3200 Introduction to Biostatistics.
You will need to contact the math department about placement tests if you want to take a math course at WSU. http://www.math.wayne.edu/.
If you take a class at another university or community college, make sure that it is a college-level course, not a remedial high school course. Before you enroll, send the course syllabus to mph@med.wayne.edu to make sure that this course will fulfill our math requirement.
4) Does the requirement regarding having a math class apply to practicing physicians?
Yes. As noted above, success in biostatistics and epidemiology requires good math skills. Our requirement is a college-level degree course (or equivalent) which is typically about 32-45 hours of class time. Most medical schools do not provide that many hours of biostatistics. If you are in doubt about your math skills, you should take the WSU Math Department's placement exam to evaluate your proficiency. http://www.math.wayne.edu/
5) How many credits can I transfer into the program?
Note that students must complete required MPH classes at Wayne State University to fulfill the requirements of our accreditors the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The MPH Program does allow the transfer of graduate credits to fulfill our MPH degree 4 credit elective requirement. The course must be appropriate for MPH elective credit and must not already have been used to earn a previous graduate degree. You will need to provide syllabi and official transcript for each course reviewed for MPH elective credit.
Credits may not be transferred to the BGC-PH.
6) English is not my native language. How do I demonstrate my English language proficiency?
The MPH Program accepts the minimum score requirements on the tests of English language proficiency below. The MPH Program may require higher minimum English language proficiency scores than those set by the WSU Office of Graduate Admissions . Use the WSU school code 1898 to send official test scores to the Wayne State University Office of Graduate Admissions.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL internet based) 90
- International English Language Test System (IELTS) 7
- Duolingo -125
- Michigan Language Assessment (MET) 64
- Pearson English Language Test (PTE) - 58.
Please note that the admissions committee makes the final decision regarding your admission to the MPH Program.
7) Are waivers available for tests of English language proficiency?
Yes, if you completed a bachelor's degree or higher (e.g. MS, MA, MBA, MSN, Ph.D.) from an accredited U.S. institution, you are eligible to apply for an English proficiency waiver.
In addition, if you completed a bachelor's degree or higher from an institution outside of the U.S., consult the Exemption of English proficiency requirement provided by the WSU Graduate School to determine if you are eligible to apply for an English proficiency waiver.
8) When are applications accepted?
The MPH Program admits students during the fall, winter, and spring summer semesters.
Fall semester application deadline: July 1
Winter semester application deadline: November 1
Spring summer semester application deadline: March 1
9) How many public health students are accepted each year?
Approximately 50 -60 students.
10) Do I have to fulfill the admission requirements of the Wayne State University Graduate School and the MPH Program?
Yes, the Graduate School requirements are minimum standards that must be met by all graduate students, regardless of their program of study. You are also required to submit additional information to address requirements specific to the MPH degree. Applications will not be reviewed until all required materials have been submitted.
WSU Graduate School admission requirements
WSU MPH Program admission requirements
11) What if my undergraduate GPA is lower than 3.0?
If you do not meet our minimum admission requirements you may consider the options below to strengthen your application. Please note that the Wayne State University Graduate School requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75.
- Write a letter to the admissions committee providing evidence that your GPA does not reflect your academic ability. This evidence could include information about undergraduate or post baccalaureate courses that you have taken, skills that you utilize in your employment, leadership experiences, experiential learning related to public health, and any recognitions, awards or scholarships that you have received. Title the letter "GPA Explanation" and upload the letter to the additional documents section of your application.
- Make sure that your referees include professors who can speak to your academic achievement and ability to be successful in a graduate program.
- Earn GRE or standardized test scores at or above the 50th percentile.
Please note that the admissions committee makes the final decisions regarding admission to the MPH Program.
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