MPH FAQs

The public health workforce is defined as those individuals employed by local, state, and federal government health agencies.

According to whatispublichealth.org, public health careers offer something for everyone. Epidemiology and biostatistics involve mathematics and modeling. Environmental health includes a wide range of science skills. Health administration incorporates business and management skills. Health education involves skills required to develop community-based prevention programs. Health policy includes an understanding of law-making processes.

For more information about careers in public health visit: https://publichealth.stonybrookmedicine.edu/careers

MPH graduates can earn salaries ranging from $50,000 to more than $100,000 depending on prior experience, degrees, and the specific organization.  The American Public Health Association published an article regarding salaries for careers in public health.  To read that article click here.

A Master in Public Health degree and application of the degree is multi-disciplinary. Students from a variety of majors and academic backgrounds apply to the program. However once admitted, the Program requires that each entering student take a mathematics placement examination prior to enrollment to determine readiness for the MPH Biostatistics sequence.

The MPH program offers three concentrations: Community Health, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, and Health Policy and Management. Click on each concentration to learn more.

The application process begins in September and will close on June 1. However, the program only admits 35-40 students per year, and once full, will not accept more students.

The admission process begins in mid-January with the first MPH Admissions Committee meeting, and the committee will continue meeting once a month until the program is full or until June, whichever comes first. If your application is submitted and all your paperwork has been received by the first of the month, your application will be reviewed as quickly as possible and a response will be generated within approximately two months.

Notification of the program's decision will be posted on SOLAR shortly after the Admissions Committee reviews the materials. In addition, you will receive a PDF version of the decision via e-mail from the Office of Students Services.

If you receive your offer of admission before March 1, you will have 21 days to respond. If you receive your offer of admission after March 1, you will have 7 days to respond. All offers of admission are revoked after the response period elapses.

For information about tuition, click here to be directed to our Tuition & Financial Aid page.

If you have any questions about financial aid, please contact the Office of Student Services at (631)-444-2111 and ask to speak to a member of the financial aid staff.

Both programs are rigorous and will most likely require 5 years to complete. However, it is possible to complete the program in 4 years but this is a rare occasion. Whether you plan on completing the program in 4 or 5 years, students are expected to take MPH courses along with medical or dental school courses.

Currently, four medical students and two dental students are awarded tuition waiver scholarships for the MPH degree each year. However, this scholarship only includes the period of time in medical or dental school. During this period, students pay no additional tuition for their MPH course work.

Please review individual program pages for more information about requirements for admission,

https://publichealth.stonybrookmedicine.edu/academics/degreeoptions.

Can I transfer credits into the MPH Program?

All core courses must be taken at Stony Brook University, unless an equivalent was taken in an accredited public health program with a grade of B or better within the last five years. All concentration courses are to be taken at Stony Brook University, unless an equivalent course, with a grade of B or better, was taken at an approved graduate program in the past five years and transfer of credits is approved by the MPH Academic Coordinator.  The student must request a credit transfer and complete the necessary forms.  In all respects, the Program in Public Health follows Stony Brook’s Transfer of Credit policy as stated in the HSC Bulletin:

“Graduate candidates may petition the school to accept credits from another institution toward his or her degree. The school has the responsibility of deciding on the applicability of credits to the specific program. Normally, transfer credits will be limited to no more than 6 credits.”

It is advised to have an unofficial copy of your transcript with which to refer when completing the application.

See SOPHAS Applicant Help Center. Click here

You will need to submit additional financial documents and proof of current citizenship or visa status. Please visit our Visa and Immigration Services office page for detailed information regarding international students.

Please contact us at publichealth@stonybrookmedicine.edu