PFRH Admissions Guidelines

Applicants applying to the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health should have a background that includes at least: a bachelor's level degree from an accredited university; a general level biology or biological science course; an upper level mathematics course (calculus and statistics recommended); and a social science course. In addition, a minimum GPA of 3.0 in undergraduate and/or graduate is required. Work experience is strongly recommended but not required for the Department's MHS or doctoral degree programs.

Applicants applying to the DrPH program must have an MPH degree (or equivalent) and a minimum of three years of full time work experience in a public health setting.

Application Deadlines
All applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.  The application deadline for the Department's PhD and DrPH programs is January 2.  The application deadline for the Department's MHS programs is May 1.  Applicants are encouraged to apply early.  The MHS program has limited funding opportunities; funding decisions for the MHS programs are made in early April.  Applications that are not received by this time will not be considered for funding.

Application Requirements
Applicants will need to submit all of the following required materials by the application due date designated for each degree program:

• Completed online application (including personal statement, resume, and application fee)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from all universities attended
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores (an official copy of scores is required for all applicants)
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores (if applicable)

Standardized Test Information
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for all applicants to the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health. Although the Department does not have official cutoff scores, applicants should aim to achieve a score of 500+ in the Verbal section; 600+ in the Quantitative section; and a 4.5+ in the Analytical section. In some instances, the Department will accept MCAT sores in lieu of the GRE. Information regarding the GRE may be found at: http://www.ets.org

Proficiency in the English language is a requirement for admission to the School. Applicants whose native language is not English may be required to submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Although the Department does not have official cutoff scores for the TOEFL, applicants should aim to achieve a score of 90+ on the Internet-based TOEFL; 250+ on the Computer-based TOEFL; and 600+ on the Paper-Based TOEFL. Information regarding the TOEFL may be found at: http://www.ets.org