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Admission Requirements and Application Instructions For All MPH and MS Applicants

These application instructions are applicable to applicants for the following SPH programs:

  • Master of Public Health, all concentrations
  • Master of Science
  • MPH – MA Latin American Studies

MPH-MSW dual degree applicants must meet the admission requirements below.  Applicants for the MPH/MSW program must submit the SOPHAS application in addition to following the standard MSW application procedure.  Applications for the concurrent program are reviewed by both the SDSU School of Public Health and the SDSU School of Social Work.

In the statement of purpose submitted with the SOPHAS application, MPH/MSW applicants must address their interest in both fields (Public Health and Social Work) as well as their interest in Health Management and Policy.

Admission Requirements

*Applicants for MPH in Health Promotion and Behavioral Science ONLINE – See the additional admission requirements.*

*Applicants for MPH in Epidemiology ONLINE – See the additional admission requirements.*

Previous Degree and Major

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or advanced degree. A specific major is not required for admission; in fact, our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Prerequisite Courses

Applicants to all the MPH and MS programs are expected to have satisfactorily completed an introductory statistics course.

Ideally, applicants to the MPH Environmental Health concentration and MS Environmental Health concentration are expected to have completed one undergraduate course in chemistry (i.e., General Chemistry or equivalent course) and one undergraduate course in biology (i.e., one course in college-level introductory, human, or general biology). Students who do not have the prerequisites at the time of application can be admitted and can take the courses concurrently with the required courses.

Grade Point Average

An undergraduate GPA of at least 2.85 (overall, or on the last 60 semester or 90 quarter units) is required for admission to SDSU (international students must have a GPA of at least 3.0). The average GPA for students enrolling in the SPH is 3.3.

Test Scores

Applicants to the following programs are required to submit GRE scores:

  • MPH – Epidemiology
  • MPH/MA Latin American Studies – Epidemiology

International applicants must submit one of the following as proof of English proficiency:

  1. TOEFL minimum score of 80 iBT/ 550 PBT: Score can be sent electronically from Educational Testing Service (ETS) using the SDSU institution code: 4682. Test score must be from within the past two years.
  2. IELTS overall score of 6.5 or higher: Score report must be submitted directly to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Test score must be from within the past two years.
  3. Duolingo English Test score of 105 or higher: Score can be sent electronically from Duolingo, to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Test score must be from within the past two years.
  4. PTE minimum score of 58 or higher: Score report must be submitted directly to the SDSU Graduate Admissions Office. Test score must be from within the past two years.
  5. Transcripts have been received indicating English as the principal language of instruction.

In addition to the above requirements, all prospective students must meet the requirements for admission with classified graduate standing by the University.

Application Instructions for All MPH and MS Applicants

We are accepting applications for fall admission only.

Applicants for the MPH programs must submit two applications in order to be considered for admission:

  1. SOPHAS Application:
    On-campus programs:     Application and supporting materials due February 1 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time)
    Online MPH: Application and supporting materials due March 1 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time)
  2. SDSU Application (Cal State Apply):
    On-campus programs:     Application due February 1, supporting materials due February 15.
    Online MPH: Application and supporting materials due March 1.

Only complete applications will be reviewed. Apply early to allow sufficient time for all required supporting materials (letters of recommendation, official transcripts, etc.) to be received.

Applicants can anticipate being notified of the decisions on their applications no later than early April for the on-campus programs, and by mid-May for the online MPH.

The application instructions provided below must be followed carefully. It is important to send the required materials to the separate addresses exactly as specified. Applicants should not send materials for the SOPHAS application to SDSU Graduate Admissions, or the other way around; sending materials to the wrong address will jeopardize meeting the file completion deadlines and may result in non-consideration of the application. Materials cannot be shared between the SOPHAS and SDSU Graduate Applications; therefore, applicants must be sure to send official transcripts (and, for international applicants, English proficiency test results)separately for each application.

Submit both of the following applications:

1) SOPHAS Application

DEADLINE: February 1 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time) for on-campus programs, March 1 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, 8:59 p.m. Pacific Time) for online programs

San Diego State University School of Public Health is participating in the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS).

  • Statement of Purpose and Objectives:  Please see instructions in SOPHAS for information to be included in your statement of purpose and objectives.  The word limit is approximately 1500 words.  Please note, the statement of purpose and objectives is submitted with your SOPHAS application only (it is not submitted with the Cal State Apply application).
  • GRE Scores:  Applicants to the MPH–Epidemiology and MPH/MA Latin American Studies–Epidemiology are required to submit GRE scores (general test only).  Please have your GRE scores sent to institution code 4902 (SDSU School of Public Health SOPHAS).  All other programs do not require GRE scores.
  • Proof of English Proficiency: If medium of instruction was in a language other than English, applicants must demonstrate English proficiency by submitting one of the following: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo English Test.  TOEFL score must be submitted to Code 5688 SOPHAS, Massachusetts. Minimum acceptable scores for the TOEFL are 80 iBT, 550 PBT.  The minimum acceptable scores on the other tests are 6.5 for IELTS; 58 for PTE; and 105 for Duolingo.  Applicants submitting test results from IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo should upload a copy of the score report in the “Applicant Uploaded Documents” section of the SOPHAS application.  Test score must be from within the past two years.
  • One copy of official transcripts (sent directly by the institutions) from all colleges and universities you have attended must be sent to SOPHAS.  SOPHAS only accepts electronic transcripts from Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse. If your school does not offer any of these services, your transcript must be sent by mail, to the following address:

    SOPHAS Transcript Processing Center
    PO Box 9111
    Watertown, MA 02471

    More detailed information on submitting official transcripts to SOPHAS can be found in the SOPHAS Applicant Help Center.
    • Applicants who have attended SDSU, please note that you must submit to SOPHAS transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended, including SDSU.
    • Students with international coursework must submit to SOPHAS an evaluation report from the following organization instead of official transcripts (note: SOPHAS will not accept official transcripts for international coursework; only the evaluation report will be accepted):
  • Three letters of recommendation are required. Two should be academic references, from professors who have taught you in class. The third letter can be another academic reference or a professional reference (employer, volunteer work, etc.). Letters of recommendation must be submitted to SOPHAS directly. Please see the SOPHAS application instructions for details.
    Note: Letters of recommendation are to be submitted with your SOPHAS application only. 
  • Your resume or CV must be uploaded as part of the SOPHAS application.

After submitting the SOPHAS application, check the status of your application via the status menu. Check back frequently to make sure all of the required materials have been received. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all supporting materials are submitted by the deadline.

Once your SOPHAS application is complete, it will be forwarded to the School(s) of Public Health to which you have selected to apply.

2) SDSU Application (Cal State Apply)

DEADLINE: February 1 for on-campus programs, March 1 for online programs

  • Go to Cal State Apply application – Apply for admission to graduate study at San Diego State University via Cal State Apply with the application fee payable by credit card.
  • Official Transcripts: Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended are required. Electronic transcripts are acceptable. Please ensure that you indicate this preference when making your request. If you are required to provide an email address to send the secure online document to SDSU, please use transcriptsforsdsu@sdsu.edu.  If you are submitting paper copies of official transcripts, please mail them to:
  • Graduate Admissions
    San Diego State University
    5500 Campanile Drive
    San Diego, CA 92182-8225 
    Note: Please do not send transcripts before submitting the Cal State Apply application, as this may result in processing delays. Students who attended SDSU need only submit transcripts for work completed since last attendance.
     
    Applicants with international coursework are required to submit an international evaluation report from one of the following:
    • IERF—course by course detail report with course level identification
    • WES—course by course (WES ICAP)
    The evaluation report must be sent electronically, directly by IERF or WES to Graduate Admissions and must include copies of the international documents used to complete the evaluation. If admitted, additional documents will not be required unless a degree is in progress.

    Documents uploaded to the Cal State Apply application are separate from those required by Graduate Admissions and are not updated in your my.SDSU account.
       

Note that letters of recommendation are not submitted as part of the Cal State Apply application. Letters of recommendation are submitted to SOPHAS only.

Allow at least three weeks for processing after documents have been submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office. The status of documents and test scores will be updated in your my.SDSU account after they have been evaluated. Please do not submit your documents multiple times, as this will cause delays in processing.

Questions?

Contact Brenda Fass-Holmes, SPH Admissions Coordinator (bholmes@sdsu.edu,  619-594-4492) if you have any questions about the application process.