Public Health (MPH)

Northeastern University's Master of Public Health program, offering a concentration in Urban Health, is designed to help students master the type of innovative thinking that is needed to confront the unique public health challenges presented by urban environments.

Knowledgeable, professionally educated public health practitioners are in high demand. The program trains graduates to meet that demand by equipping them with the technical expertise necessary to tackle complex urban health problems. Interdisciplinary faculty then pair that technical know-how with the cultural sensitivity required to communicate effectively with, and advocate for, diverse urban populations, both within the United States and abroad. Students examine how urban environments can affect populations' wellbeing through the lens of the social determinants of health.

Coursework, directed studies, and faculty projects provide students with real-world opportunities to apply newfound research and evaluation skills to areas ranging from poverty, violence, and substance use to immigration, migration, and suburbanization. The program seeks to train racially and ethnically diverse individuals driven by a desire to improve public health at the local, regional, national, and global levels. Graduates leave the program prepared to effectively address the inequities and multi-level public health risks that impact diverse urban populations.

For more information, visit the MPH Program’s website.

More Details

The Master of Public Health is designed to meet the growing demand for public health professionals who have the ability to navigate the complex issues inherent to urban communities.

• SOPHAS application
• Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources only
• Transcripts from all institutions attended
• Personal statement that describes your interest in and commitment to urban public health
• Resumé/CV
• TOEFL for applicants who do not hold a degree from a U.S. institution and whose native language is not English
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Official GRE or MCAT scores (waiver requests are available)
• Interview: The Admissions Committee reserves the right to request an in-person or telephone interview with certain candidates

Once your application is submitted, received, and processed, you will be able to access your Application Status Check. If you are required to provide further information regarding your proficiency in English, you will be able to complete the requirement in several ways, depending on your familiarity with English, and the frequency with which you use English each and every day:

• Non-native English-speaking applicants will be required to submit official and valid results from one of the following English Language Tests:
  • C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (Cambridge English)
  • Duolingo English Test (DET)
  • IELTS Academic
  • PTE Academic
  • TOEFL Internt-based Test (CEEB Code: 3667) Northeastern will accept either the in-person version completed in a test center, or the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
• However, based on your academic environment and the primary instructional language in either your high school or university, you may be eligible for a waiver. All waivers must be submitted through your Application Status Check. For additional information and to determine whether or not you are eligible for a waiver, please read the section below on waiving the English proficiency requirement.

Please note: Northeastern’s Admissions Committee reserves the right to request proof of English language proficiency from any applicant, regardless of citizenship or first language, at any time during the evaluation process.

A graduate from the MPH in Public Health program has both the technical expertise to address specific urban health issues as well as the strategic and cultural competency needed to interact effectively with and be an advocate for diverse urban populations. Completing your public health training at Northeastern University affords the opportunity to learn from and work with urban public health professionals striving to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities in the Greater Boston area and beyond. Graduates with an MPH degree are employed in a number of varied professional settings including: federal, state, and local health agencies; universities and colleges; hospitals; ambulatory medical centers; nonprofit organizations; community-based agencies; insurance and pharmaceutical industries; health maintenance organizations; and private foundations.

• 1.Create your application

  Submit your application through The Common Application or the Coalition Application (both are accepted). Once you have created your application, please select Northeastern University to directly submit your application to us. Application fee of $75 or need-based fee waiver* *Northeastern accepts need-based fee waivers from the Common Application, the Coalition Application, as well as organizations such as the College Board and ACT, or in a written request from a school official.

• 2.Submit all required materials

  Double check to make sure that you have submitted all required materials. Even if your application has been submitted, we cannot begin reviewing your file until all of your required materials have been received. For applicants applying for the 2022-2023 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require standardized testing to complete an application for admission.

• 3.Check your application status

  Within seven days of applying, you should receive a confirmation email containing your Northeastern University ID number and instructions for setting up your Application Status Check account. To ensure all of the necessary documents have been submitted, and for updates or information about your application, visit your application status check.