Residential applicants must submit an application to the MPH through www.sophas.org first.  After the SOPHAS application has been submitted, applicants will receive an email from the UNC Graduate School with instructions on how to submit the UNC Graduate School application.  Applications will not be reviewed until all applications and application materials have been submitted and verified.

*For Fall 2024 Graduate School Fellowship consideration, SOPHAS must be submitted by December 1, 2023.

**For Fall 2024 MPH applicants, SOPHAS must be submitted by February 1, 2024.

***For Fall 2024 MPH-Asheville applicants, SOPHAS must be submitted by April 1, 2024.

****The School of Public Health also offers an online MPH degree program, MPH@UNC.  Please visit https://onlinemph.unc.edu/ for more information and to apply. Applications will not be reviewed until all applications and application materials have been submitted and verified.

Statement of Purpose: Please respond to each of the following four prompts within one narrative response, not to exceed 1500 words. You may draw on the widest range of materials/experiences for your reflection.​

1. Why are you interested in pursuing a Master of Public Health degree and how will this prepare you for your career?​
2. How have your previous work, volunteer, and lived experiences led you to apply to the MPH?​
3. Economic, political and social factors contribute to differences in health outcomes within and between countries. How will you apply your public health training to address these factors in order to reduce variability in health outcomes?
4. Please explain why you are interested in applying to your first concentration and second concentration (if applicable).​

Optional: (Please do not exceed 500 words): Please provide any additional context or information that might be helpful to the admissions committee’s review of your application.

Concentrations: The MPH Program allows applicants to apply to up to two concentrations in their application. Given that each residential concentration is limited in size and has unique preferences in the review process, applying to two concentrations maximizes an applicant’s consideration for admission. Public health is an interdisciplinary field and applicants often have interests and career goals that align with more than one concentration. Applicants for whom this is true are encouraged to designate a first and second concentration in their application, addressing both in their statement of purpose. An applicant will only be reviewed by their second concentration if they are denied by their first concentration.

Concentration specific admissions preferences:

Applied Epidemiology*****

• Complete calculus, statistics or an advanced math course in college, grade of B or more.
• Applicants should also meet one of the following criteria:
  • Holds a doctoral degree in a health profession or academic area related to public health
  • Holds a professional master’s degree in a health-related field and one year of health-related work experience
  • Holds a bachelor’s degree with at least two years of experience in a relevant health related field. Experiences can include work, internships, or volunteering

Environment, Climate and Health

Global Health

• Preference is given to applicants with the equivalent of 1-2 years of full-time work or sustained volunteer experience in public health/health behavior

Health Behavior

• Preference is given to applicants with the equivalent of 1-2 years of full-time work or sustained volunteer experience in public health/health behavior.

Health Equity, Social Justice and Human Rights

• Preference for one or two years of work experience and some coursework and/or exposure to equity issues in public health

Health Policy

• Our most successful students typically have 1-2 years of relevant work or volunteer experience and excellent writing skills

Leadership in Practice*****

• Preference is given to applicants with the equivalent of 3 or more years of full-time work or sustained volunteer experience, ideally in public health or human services settings

Maternal, Child and Family Health

• Preference is given to applicants with the equivalent of 1-2 years full-time work or sustained volunteer experience related to the Maternal and Child Health population

Nutrition*****

MPH Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration

(The residential format of the MPH Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration program admits for the fall term; the distance format of the MPH Nutrition and Dietetics Concentration program admits for the January term only)

• Prerequisite Coursework
  • Chemistry through Organic
  • Biochemistry
  • Microbiology with Lab
  • Anthropology or Sociology
  • Psychology
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • Human Nutrition

Place-based Health******

• Our most successful students typically have 1-2 years of relevant work experience

Population Health for Clinicians

Public Health Data Science

• Applicants should have prior course experience covering multivariable calculus, linear algebra, statistics, and computer programming
• Applicants should have at least 1 year of relevant prior work experience (e.g., data analytics for CRO or non-profit research entity that focuses on human health

*****Concentration also offered in the MPH@UNC online format

******Concentration offered only via the UNC Gillings MPH Program in Asheville.