The School of Public Health’s minimum graduate admission requirements are defined below. More information can be found on the UC Berkeley Graduate Division website:
- a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;
- a satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum B average (3.0) or equivalent (focused on work completed in the last two years of a bachelor’s degree program and in all post-baccalaureate coursework)
- Note: If your undergraduate GPA does not meet the minimum, you may still submit an application. Remember to provide evidence of other academic and professional accomplishments to demonstrate your capability to be successful in an academically rigorous environment. Alternative evidence may include courses you have successfully completed as work-related training.
- enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen area of study – see the Individual Program Requirements section below for more information
- evidence of English Language Proficiency (only for applicants from countries/regions in which the official language is not English) – see the International Student section on the Application Instructions page for more information
- submission of all required application materials.
Application Requirements
- SOPHAS Application and fee ($145) if applicable – view which programs require it here
- Berkeley Graduate Application and fee ($100 – $155)
- Official Transcripts from each institution you have attended
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Personal History Statement
- CV/Resume
- GRE scores if applicable – view which programs require it here
- Additional application items for applicants with Bachelor’s Degrees from non-US and non-English speaking Canadian institutions
- Degree Certificates (if your transcript does not contain conferral date)
- Official TOEFL or IELTS test score (test taken after June 1, 2021)
- SOPHAS Applicants only: WES ICAP course-by-course evaluation of international transcripts sent to SOPHAS ($208 + delivery fees)
See our application instructions page for more detailed information about these requirements.
Individual Program Requirements and Qualifications
All applicants to our on-campus graduate degree programs must choose a degree program; applicants may apply to only one program and should tailor their applications to their program of choice. The coursework, application materials, and amount of work/research experience required by each program varies. Please thoroughly review the webpages for the program you are applying to for more guidance.
DrPH
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Applicants must hold a master’s degree in the health sciences OR in another related field or non-US equivalent degree.
- Applicants must have a minimum of two years of professional experience post-master’s degree showing progressive responsibility and evidence of leadership potential.
- Submission of all required application materials.
- A writing sample. Writing samples should be no more than 7,000 words in length and all or mostly written by the applicant.
- Examples include: publications in peer-reviewed journals on which you were the sole or first author, papers written for a graduate course, media pieces, or reports written for public agencies.
PhD
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: Biological sciences, math, statistics
- Common work experience for admitted applicants: Typical admitted applicants have work experience in quantitative analysis in a research setting. Many of them have co-authored articles published in medical or scientific journals. The following is a sample of the job-titles of successful applicants: Research Analyst, Data Director, Biostatistician, Programmer Analyst, Statistical Consultant, Research Assistant.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Master’s degree in Statistics or Biostatistics is required. Applicants who are interested in the PhD but do not have an MA may apply to the Biostatistics MA program.
- Applicants should have completed undergraduate and graduate work in calculus, linear algebra, statistics, and have a strong overall quantitative background.
- GRE Required: Yes (General Test); waived if applicants meet exemption criteria, see program website.
- Completed two semesters of calculus for a letter grade and earned a grade of “B” or higher.
- Completed one semester of linear algebra for a letter grade and earned a grade of “B” or higher.
- Completed one semester of statistics for a letter grade and earned a grade of “B” or higher.
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Overall quantitative/math GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- For international students: TOEFL score of 100 or higher OR IELTS score of 7.0 or higher
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- A master’s degree in epidemiology or a related field is preferable.
- The amount of coursework necessary for each doctoral student in the PhD program varies greatly, depending on previous coursework, experience, and background.
- Successful applicants often have work experience in a public health setting or in epidemiologic research.
- Applicants are welcome to reach out to faculty they are interested in working with to inquire if they are taking on new students.
- Submissions of GRE scores are optional but recommended for this program, especially if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
Submissions of GRE scores are optional but recommended for this program, especially if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Applicants must hold an MS or MPH in a related field and display a clear research orientation and firm knowledge of research techniques.
A Writing Sample
Writing sample (approximately 10 pages is typical) that highlights your writing, research, and analytical skills. The writing sample may be a published paper, a draft research paper (e.g., a preprint), a final paper from a class, a report, a Masters thesis, an undergraduate thesis, etc.
Preferred writing samples demonstrate your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, solve technical problems, estimate key parameters from observations, construct and evaluate arguments, and/or sustain a focused and coherent discussion. If there were multiple authors, please describe your specific contributions to the writing and project, either as an added page to the document or upload a note to the “other” documents section.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
Submissions of GRE scores are optional but strongly recommended for this program. Especially if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application. If not submitting a score, competitive applicants will need to provide alternative evidence of strong quantitative capability and should speak to their analytical and quantitative preparation for the PhD program in their application based on past coursework (e.g. statistics, microeconomics, math) and/or professional experience.
Admissions and Application Requirements
- A master’s degree is not a requirement for this program, however, entering students should have completed introductory coursework in statistics, microeconomics and epidemiology. Most students admitted do have a master’s degree.
- Students without master’s-level coursework in these areas are required to take relevant courses at UC Berkeley or otherwise demonstrate mastery of these areas.
- Please submit a writing sample and provide a list of publications and/or presentations related to your academic or professional background (include the PubMed ID if applicable).
- If your work is published as a website or part of it, please provide the URL. Your writing sample can be a written assignment, journal article, report, Op-Ed, commentary, conference abstract, or other publication. Please enter your most recent citation first.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: Biology, integrative biology, microbiology, biological sciences, biology and communications
- Common work experience for admitted applicants: Work experience is not required for admission, but relevant Wet lab experience related to infectious diseases, in wet laboratory and/or surveillance work is important for the IDI PhD program. Successful admitted applicants all have strong lab and research experience.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admissions and Application Requirements
The following subjects are normally required as undergraduate preparation for all candidates. Deficiencies must be made up early during the graduate program.
- Biology: General biology lecture and laboratory; genetics; and a basic course(s) in molecular biology.
- Chemistry and biochemistry: Inorganic chemistry; biochemistry; and associated laboratories
- Physics: General physics
- Mathematics: Calculus; one course in probability or statistics.
MA or MS
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Previous coursework in calculus, linear algebra, and statistics is strongly recommended.
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: Biomedical and biological sciences, mathematics, statistics. Common work experience for admitted applicants: Typical successful applicants have work experience in Research Assistant positions at a health department.
Admissions and Application Requirements
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Special note: The Epidemiology MS program admits about one to two students each year. Interested applicants are encouraged to also consider the Epidemiology and Biostatistics MPH program as the coursework is similar and that program admits a cohort of 20 to 25 students each year.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: Biological, social, or mathematical sciences.
- Work experience in a public health setting.
- Submissions of GRE scores are optional but recommended for this program, especially if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Applicants must have a strong background in biological, social, or mathematical science, which will provide a basis for the application of epidemiological methods and principles to the study of diseases.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Candidates with undergraduate coursework in calculus, chemistry and biology are preferred.
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: engineering, microbiology, environmental science, biology, chemistry, other biological, natural or physical sciences fields, population sciences and biomedical fields.
- Common work experience for admitted applicants: applicants in past years have worked as lab technicians, student researchers, research scientists, environmental consultants, post-graduate fellows, toxicologists, industrial hygiene engineers, and for the Peace Corps.
- Submissions of GRE scores are optional but recommended for this program, especially if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- A writing sample. There is no length requirement for the writing sample, but a sample approximately 10 pages in length is typical. The writing sample may be a final paper from a class, a popular media article, a report, a blog entry, an undergraduate thesis, etc. The purpose of the writing sample is to demonstrate your preparation for graduate-level coursework and research at Berkeley by sharing an example of your prior work that exhibits your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, solve technical problems, construct and evaluate arguments, and/or sustain a focused and coherent discussion. The writing sample should be your own work; if there were multiple authors, please describe your specific contributions to the writing and project.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Candidates with undergraduate coursework in calculus, chemistry and biology are preferred.
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: engineering, microbiology, environmental science, biology, chemistry, other biological, natural or physical sciences fields, population sciences and biomedical fields.
- Common work experience for admitted applicants: lab technicians, student researchers, research scientists, environmental organizers and advocates, program managers, engineers, post-graduate fellows, in global health programs and for the Peace Corps.
- Submissions of GRE scores are optional but recommended for this program, especially if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
A writing sample. There is no length requirement for the writing sample, but a sample approximately 10 pages in length is typical. The writing sample may be a final paper from a class, a popular media article, a report, a blog entry, an undergraduate thesis, etc. The purpose of the writing sample is to demonstrate your preparation for graduate-level coursework and research at Berkeley by sharing an example of your prior work that exhibits your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, solve technical problems, construct and evaluate arguments, and/or sustain a focused and coherent discussion. The writing sample should be your own work; if there were multiple authors, please describe your specific contributions to the writing and project.
Two-Year MPH
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: Health, biological, natural, social, and cognitive sciences.
- Common work experience for admitted applicants: Volunteer work in public health, research assistant, lab technician.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Completed undergraduate coursework in mathematics, biological sciences and/or, social sciences.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Ideally, applicants should have completed one undergraduate course in chemistry and one undergraduate course in biology. An undergraduate course in mathematics (e.g., calculus, linear algebra or statistics) is also desirable.
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: chemistry, biology, microbiology, molecular biology, nutrition, ecology, public health and environmental studies.
- Common work experience for admitted applicants: Work experience is not required for admission, but successful applicants in past years have worked as lab technicians, student researchers, research assistants, environmental consultants, industrial hygienists, community organizers, study coordinators and post-graduate fellows, as well as for the Peace Corps.
Admission and Application Requirements
- A writing sample. The writing sample may be a final paper from a class, a popular media article, a report, a blog entry, an undergraduate thesis, etc. The purpose of the writing sample is to demonstrate your preparation for graduate-level coursework and research at Berkeley by sharing an example of your prior work that exhibits your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, solve technical problems, construct and evaluate arguments, and/or sustain a focused and coherent discussion. The writing sample should be your own work; if there were multiple authors, please describe your specific contributions to the writing and project.
- We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Ideally, applicants will have completed one undergraduate course in chemistry and one undergraduate course in biology.
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: any biological, natural or physical science; public health; environmental studies; international studies; economics; political science; anthropology; and sociology.
- Common work experience for admitted applicants: Work experience is not required for admission, but successful applicants in past years have worked as student researchers, environmental organizers and advocates, lab technicians, program managers, research scientists, engineers and post-graduate fellows, as well as for global NGOs and the Peace Corps.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- A writing sample. Writing samples should be approximately 10 pages and highlight your writing and analytical skills.
- The writing sample may be a final paper from a class, a popular media article, a report, an undergraduate thesis, etc.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- We strongly prefer at least 2 years of full time work experience after the undergraduate degree. Can be paid or volunteer (e.g. PeaceCorp, AmeriCorp, etc). Ideally an applicant will have had relevant experience in related health policy or management areas. The program may request a short video interview for applicants who are recent graduates and/or have less than 2 years of work experience.
- Contribution to diversity of the program and the public health workforce.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Hold a bachelor’s degree with a strong background in science and a demonstrated interest in public health.
- Students in their senior year are welcome to apply.
- Common undergraduate majors: any major in biological sciences or any other major with courses equivalent to those of a biological science major, e.g. microbiology, genetics, and molecular biology. The courses listed are examples of courses taken by successful applicants; however, they are not prerequisites and not having taken one or more of them does not preclude admission to our programs.
- Common work experience for admitted applicants: Work experience is not required for admission, but relevant volunteer, service and/or work experience related to infectious diseases and public health (e.g., community service, laboratory or surveillance work, and Peace Corps) is a plus. Many of our admitted applicants have some research experience.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Contribution to diversity of the program and the public health workforce.
- Academic excellence in undergraduate (and graduate, if applicable) studies.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Course work in one or another of the behavioral, social, or biological sciences.
- Work experience in community, health promotion, or health-related practice or research. Most students admitted to the program have two years or more of paid work experience. We strongly urge you to apply to our program only after you have worked in a professional capacity in public health or related fields.
- A writing sample that highlights your writing and analytical skills is required. The writing sample may be a final paper from a class, a research article, a report, an undergraduate or graduate thesis chapter, or similar document. The purpose of the writing sample is to demonstrate your preparation for graduate-level coursework and research at Berkeley by sharing an example of your prior work that exhibits your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, solve technical problems, construct and evaluate arguments, and/or sustain a focused and coherent discussion. The writing sample should be your own work; if there were multiple authors, please describe your specific contributions to the writing and project.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Applicants to this program should be post-baccalaureate students who possess public health work and research interests in the field of maternal, child, and adolescent health.
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: biology, medicine, sociology, anthropology, global studies, political science, and public health.
- Applicants should have or express aspirations to gain knowledge and skills in MCAH focused epidemiology and quantitative data analysis.
- Have a minimum of two years of significant post-baccalaureate work/volunteer experience in the field of maternal, child, and adolescent health.
- Examples of experience in the field of MCAH include: epidemiological and/or quantitative research, data analysis, program planning, implementation and/or evaluation.
- The admissions committee may occasionally consider applicants who do not meet this requirement if other measures of performance, such as research experience, are particularly strong.
- Demonstrate leadership potential.
- Demonstrate academic and professional capability to study at the graduate level in a quantitative and epidemiological focused program.
- Application materials focused on work completed after the bachelor’s degree program and in all post-baccalaureate coursework.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Completed at least one college-level mathematics or statistics course with at least a grade of B or equivalent, reflected on an official transcript.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Generally, some coursework in the sciences underlying human nutrition (including biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physiology), and in food and nutrition sciences, with good to excellent grades in these courses.
- Cultural competence and demonstrated knowledge of and interest in other cultures and languages.
- Critical thinking ability with an analytical approach to solving current issues in nutrition and public health.
- Enthusiasm for and commitment to making a contribution to the public’s health as reflected in your Statement of Purpose.
- Relevant work experience in public health nutrition or related fields.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
11-month MPH
All of our 11-month programs require that you have an advanced degree at the time of applying. For more information about our 11-month programs and what their specific requirements are, please go to the program page for the degree you are interested in.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Common work experience for admitted applicants includes medical doctor, dentist, pharmacist, veterinarian, and/or research experience in a public health setting.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Applicants must be doctoral level health professionals (e.g. physicians, veterinarians, and dentists), have a prior doctoral degree in a related discipline (e.g. anthropology, sociology, psychology, demography, the biology sciences), or be concurrently enrolled in a doctoral level degree program in a health profession or related discipline.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Prefer candidates to have some volunteer and/or paid experience in related health policy or management areas.
- Contribution to diversity of the program and the public health workforce.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Must be doctoral-level clinical students or graduates (MD, DDS, PharmD).
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Demonstrate ability to work both independently and within a team-based structure.
- While many successful applicants are health professionals, applicants from disciplines not traditionally associated with public health are also encouraged to apply.
- The program is also appropriate for dual-degree students completing an MPH in conjunction with an MD, MSW, MPP, or other graduate degree. Medical students from Stanford and UCSF should consult their dual degree liaisons for details on our inter-campus collaboration.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Hold a graduate degree (Master, PhD, MD, JD, DO, DVM etc.) or its academic equivalent from an accredited institution.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Application materials focused on work completed after the bachelor’s degree program and in all post-baccalaureate coursework.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Applicants to this accelerated 11-month MPH program must have a prior master’s or doctoral degree. We also accept current medical students. Note: We will not accept applicants who only have a bachelor’s degree, unless they are currently enrolled in medical school.
- Common master’s or doctoral degrees held for admitted applicants: medicine, nursing, social work.
- Work experience in a health-related field, particularly with women, children, adolescents, and/or families.
- Common work experience for admitted applicants includes health professionals (e.g., pediatricians, obstetricians, gynecologists, nurses and social workers, and other qualified master- or doctoral-level trained health professions) and/or research in a public health setting.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Generally, some coursework in the sciences underlying human nutrition (including biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physiology), and in food and nutrition sciences, with good to excellent grades in these courses.
- Cultural competence and demonstrated knowledge of and interest in other cultures and languages.
- Critical thinking ability with an analytical approach to solving current issues in nutrition and public health.
- Enthusiasm for and commitment to making a contribution to the public’s health as reflected in your Statement of Purpose.
- Relevant work experience in public health nutrition or related fields.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Be a professional Registered Dietitian (RD) with at least 2 years of experience as an RD.
Concurrent Degrees
For information about concurrent MBA/MPH, MCP/MPH, MJ/MPH, MPP/MPH, and MSW/MPH degrees, go to the concurrent degrees page.
Master of Business Administration / MPH
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- We strongly prefer at least 2 years of full time work experience after the undergraduate degree. Can be paid or volunteer (e.g. PeaceCorp, AmeriCorp, etc). Ideally an applicant will have had relevant experience in related health policy or management areas. The program may request a short video interview for applicants who are recent graduates and/or have less than 2 years of work experience.
- Contribution to diversity of the program and the public health workforce.
Admissions and Application Requirements
- While GRE scores are optional for the MPH, they are required for the MBA for the fall 2023 admissions cycle.
- For the concurrent MBA/MPH you must apply through the UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business to learn more about the MBA application requirements and instructions.
Master of City Planning / MPH
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: Health, biological, natural, social, and cognitive sciences
- Common work experience for admitted applicants: Volunteer work in public health, research assistant, lab technician
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Applicants should have completed undergraduate coursework in mathematics, biological sciences and/or, social sciences
- Please visit the UC Berkeley, College on Environmental Design to learn more about the MCP application requirements and instructions.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Ideally, applicants should have completed one undergraduate course in chemistry and one undergraduate course in biology. An undergraduate course in mathematics (e.g., calculus, linear algebra or statistics) is also desirable.
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: chemistry, biology, microbiology, molecular biology, nutrition, ecology, public health and environmental studies.
- Common work experience for admitted applicants: Work experience is not required for admission, but successful applicants in past years have worked as lab technicians, student researchers, research assistants, environmental consultants, industrial hygienists, community organizers, study coordinators and post-graduate fellows, as well as for the Peace Corps.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- A writing sample. There is no length requirement for the writing sample, but a sample approximately 10 pages in length is typical.Writing samples should be approximately 10 pages and highlight your writing and analytical skills. The purpose of the writing sample is to demonstrate your preparation for graduate-level coursework and research at Berkeley by sharing an example of your prior work that exhibits your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, solve technical problems, construct and evaluate arguments, and/or sustain a focused and coherent discussion. The writing sample should be your own work; if there were multiple authors, please describe your specific contributions to the writing and project.
- Please visit the UC Berkeley, College on Environmental Design to learn more about the MCP application requirements and instructions.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Contribution to diversity of the program and the public health workforce.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Course work in one or another of the behavioral, social, or biological sciences.
- Work experience in community, health promotion, or health-related practice or research. Most students admitted to the program have two years or more of paid work experience. We strongly urge you to apply to our program only after you have worked in a professional capacity in public health or related fields.
- A writing sample that highlights your writing and analytical skills is required. The writing sample may be a final paper from a class, a research article, a report, an undergraduate or graduate thesis chapter, or similar document. The purpose of the writing sample is to demonstrate your preparation for graduate-level coursework and research at Berkeley by sharing an example of your prior work that exhibits your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, solve technical problems, construct and evaluate arguments, and/or sustain a focused and coherent discussion. The writing sample should be your own work; if there were multiple authors, please describe your specific contributions to the writing and project.
Please visit the UC Berkeley, College on Environmental Design to learn more about the MCP application requirements and instructions.
Master of Journalism / MPH
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Applicants should have completed undergraduate coursework in mathematics, biological sciences and/or, social sciences
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: Health, biological, natural, social, and cognitive sciences
- Common work experience for admitted applicants: Volunteer work in public health, research assistant, lab technician
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Please visit the UC Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism to learn more about the MJ application requirements and instructions.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Ideally, applicants should have completed one undergraduate course in chemistry and one undergraduate course in biology. An undergraduate course in mathematics (e.g., calculus, linear algebra or statistics) is also desirable.
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: chemistry, biology, microbiology, molecular biology, nutrition, ecology, public health and environmental studies.
- Common work experience for admitted applicants: Work experience is not required for admission, but successful applicants in past years have worked as lab technicians, student researchers, research assistants, environmental consultants, industrial hygienists, community organizers, study coordinators and post-graduate fellows, as well as for the Peace Corps.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- A writing sample. There is no length requirement for the writing sample, but a sample approximately 10 pages in length is typical. Writing samples should be approximately 10 pages and highlight your writing and analytical skills. The writing sample may be a final paper from a class, a popular media article, a report, a blog entry, an undergraduate thesis, etc. The purpose of the writing sample is to demonstrate your preparation for graduate-level coursework and research at Berkeley by sharing an example of your prior work that exhibits your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, solve technical problems, construct and evaluate arguments, and/or sustain a focused and coherent discussion. The writing sample should be your own work; if there were multiple authors, please describe your specific contributions to the writing and project.
- Please visit the UC Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism to learn more about the MJ application requirements and instructions.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Contribution to diversity of the program and the public health workforce.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Course work in one or another of the behavioral, social, or biological sciences.
- Work experience in community, health promotion, or health-related practice or research. Most students admitted to the program have two years or more of paid work experience. We strongly urge you to apply to our program only after you have worked in a professional capacity in public health or related fields.
- A writing sample that highlights your writing and analytical skills is required. The writing sample may be a final paper from a class, a research article, a report, an undergraduate or graduate thesis chapter, or similar document. The purpose of the writing sample is to demonstrate your preparation for graduate-level coursework and research at Berkeley by sharing an example of your prior work that exhibits your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, solve technical problems, construct and evaluate arguments, and/or sustain a focused and coherent discussion. The writing sample should be your own work; if there were multiple authors, please describe your specific contributions to the writing and project.
- Please visit the UC Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism to learn more about the MJ application requirements and instructions.
Master of Public Policy / MPH
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- For our MPH/MPP program, we strongly prefer at least 2 years of full time work experience after the undergraduate degree. Can be paid or volunteer (e.g. PeaceCorp, AmeriCorp, etc). Ideally an applicant will have had relevant experience in related health policy or management areas.
- Contribution to diversity of the program and the public health workforce.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Please visit the UC Berkeley, Goldman School of Public Policy to learn more about the MPP application requirements and instructions.
Master of Social Welfare / MPH
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Contribution to diversity of the program and the public health workforce.
- Academic excellence in undergraduate (and graduate, if applicable) studies.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Course work in one or another of the behavioral, social, or biological sciences.
- Work experience in community, health promotion, or health-related practice or research. Most students admitted to the program have two years or more of paid work experience. We strongly urge you to apply to our program only after you have worked in a professional capacity in public health or related fields.
- A writing sample that highlights your writing and analytical skills is required. The writing sample may be a final paper from a class, a research article, a report, an undergraduate or graduate thesis chapter, or similar document. The purpose of the writing sample is to demonstrate your preparation for graduate-level coursework and research at Berkeley by sharing an example of your prior work that exhibits your ability to articulate and support complex ideas, solve technical problems, construct and evaluate arguments, and/or sustain a focused and coherent discussion. The writing sample should be your own work; if there were multiple authors, please describe your specific contributions to the writing and project.
- For the concurrent MSW/MPH you must apply through the UC Berkeley, School of Social Welfare to learn more about the MSW application requirements and instructions.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Applicants to this program should be post-baccalaureate students who possess public health work and research interests in the field of maternal, child, and adolescent health.
- Common undergraduate majors for admitted applicants: biology, medicine, sociology, anthropology, global studies, political science, and public health.
- Applicants should have or express aspirations to gain knowledge and skills in MCAH focused epidemiology and quantitative data analysis.
- Have a minimum of two years of significant post-baccalaureate work/volunteer experience in the field of maternal, child, and adolescent health.
- Examples of experience in the field of MCAH include: epidemiological and/or quantitative research, data analysis, program planning, implementation and/or evaluation.
- The admissions committee may occasionally consider applicants who do not meet this requirement if other measures of performance, such as research experience, are particularly strong.
- Demonstrate leadership potential.
- Demonstrate academic and professional capability to study at the graduate level in a quantitative and epidemiological focused program.
- Application materials focused on work completed after the bachelor’s degree program and in all post-baccalaureate coursework.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Completed at least one college-level mathematics or statistics course with at least a grade of B or equivalent, reflected on an official transcript.
- For the concurrent MSW/MPH you must apply through the UC Berkeley, School of Social Welfare to learn more about the MSW application requirements and instructions.
4+1 MPH
For information about this degree, which is available to UC Berkeley Public Health Majors and Alumni only, go to the “4+1” Master of Public Health (11-month MPH) program page.
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Declared UC Berkeley Undergraduate Public Health Major
- Required to Apply: completed PBHLTH 142 Intro to Probability and Statistics in Biology and Public Health and PBHLTH 150A Introduction to Epidemiology and Human Disease in junior/third year for a letter grade (can S/US if completed in Spring 2020)
- Completed After Admission: 8 units of graduate level coursework in final undergraduate semester and/or the summer preceding the first graduate semester:
- PB HLTH 241 Statistical Analysis of Categorical Data
- PB HLTH 250B Epidemiologic Methods II (optional, can take other 4 units of graduate coursework in final semester or proceeding summer)
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Application materials focused on work, volunteer and/or research related to maternal, child, and adolescent health.
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Declared UC Berkeley Undergraduate Public Health Major
- Required to Apply: completed PBHLTH 142 Intro to Probability and Statistics in Biology and Public Health and PBHLTH 150A Introduction to Epidemiology and Human Disease in junior/third year for a letter grade (can S/US if completed in Spring 2020)
- Completed After Admission: 8 units of graduate level coursework in final undergraduate semester and/or the summer preceding the first graduate semester, suggested courses:
- PB HLTH 205 Needs Assessment & Program Planning
- PB HLTH 250B Epidemiologic Methods II
- Other graduate-level PBHLTH courses depending on approval
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- GRE scores are optional. We recommend submitting a GRE if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application.
Admission and Application Requirements
- Declared UC Berkeley Undergraduate Public Health Major
- Up to 8 units of additional graduate level coursework in last semester as a UC Berkeley undergraduate
- NST 10 and 1 upper division NST course OR PBHLTH 118