Public Health (MPH): Online Program
Simmons’ online Master of Public Health (MPH) program seeks applicants who are passionate about improving health equity and are highly motivated to develop the skill set for change-oriented leadership. We welcome candidates from all academic disciplines, and consider health-related or social science background or experience as an added qualification. We value prior applied community experiences, whether through work, volunteering, or community organizing, as these inform and enhance students' collaborative learning experiences. The MPH admission committee reviews applications holistically, striving to evaluate a candidate’s ability, aptitude, and promise for academic success in the program and professional success upon graduation.
Please visit the program page to learn about the curriculum, faculty, careers, and more! To request additional information about this degree, please fill out our form. Questions? Contact us via email or at 617-521-2605.
How to Apply
The MPH program at Simmons offers three starts per year: Fall (September), Spring (January), and Summer (May). A comprehensive list of application deadlines can be found below.
Please allow at least three business days for received documents to be reflected on your application status page.
Admission Criteria
To be considered for admission to the Master of Public Health, you must have completed:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4-point scale)
- At least one college-level math course (statistics preferred) with a course grade of B or higher (course GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4-point scale)
Factors such as work experience, demonstrations of leadership, volunteer endeavors, and undergraduate coursework in health or social sciences, while not required for acceptance into the program, can add value to your application.
Application Requirements
All applicants are expected to submit a completed application, which consists of the following:
- Completed online application form
- Current résumé
- An essay describing your interest and experience in public health, an inequity you have observed, and your short- and long-term career goals
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended, regardless of whether a degree was earned
- Three letters of recommendation from professional or academic references
- English proficiency exam score (if applicable): Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Duolingo, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores are acceptable
- Nonrefundable application fee of $50
Application fee waivers are available for applicants affiliated with non-profit organizations such as: City Year, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and Teach for America, and military personnel, veterans, and their spouses.
In the event that the admission committee needs more information to review your application, you may be required to submit an additional statement, documentation, or be asked to participate in an interview with a member of the committee.
Your résumé should include the following:
- Educational background, including all institutions attended, degree(s) awarded or in progress, and dates or anticipated dates of degree(s) awarded
- Relevant employment history, including job titles, job descriptions, relevant duties performed, and dates of employment for each position
- Community service or volunteer experience
- Relevant international travel experience
- Awards, publications, presentations, and memberships
- Evidence of leadership and career progression
The essay is an essential component of the admission process and is your opportunity to share more about your background, your interest in health equity, and your goals related to the MPH program.
The essay should be approximately 1,000 words or about two pages. In one cohesive statement, please address each of the following prompts, writing one to two paragraphs per item:
- Describe an inequity that you have observed, studied, or experienced. Discuss some of the factors contributing to that inequity.
- Reflecting on your educational, professional, and/or community-based experiences, what has shaped your interest in public health and health equity?
- What are your short- and long-term career goals, and how will this MPH help you meet those goals?
Sealed, official academic transcripts must be received from all postsecondary institutions you have attended, regardless of whether or not a degree was earned. This includes community colleges, institutions you may have attended as a non-degree student, or schools where you enrolled but withdrew from classes. Failure to submit transcripts from all postsecondary institutions can result in dismissal from the program.
We accept both electronic and mailed transcripts. These documents need to be submitted to our office directly from your institution. If your institution is able to securely email their transcripts, they can be emailed to [email protected] or submitted through a service such as Parchment, eSCRIP-SAFE, or National Student Clearinghouse. Please specify that the service should send the transcripts to “Simmons University, Graduate Admission”, otherwise they may be delivered to another office on campus.
If the documents must be mailed, please be sure to specify the MPH Admission Office address:
Graduate Admission Office
Suite C401
Simmons University
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115-5898
USA
Please note: To be considered an official transcript, the transcript must be sent directly from your institution(s) or through an electronic transcript vendor retained by that institution. Official transcripts can also be sent via mail as long as they are in the original signed and sealed envelope. Transcripts submitted by enrolled or prospective students are considered unofficial documents. Photocopies or copies "issued to student" are not acceptable.
All coursework from institutions outside of the United States must be reviewed by an evaluation service.
Evaluations for study abroad coursework are not required if all course titles and grades are reflected on a U.S. transcript. Allow for additional time in the application process to have all transcripts evaluated by these organizations. Note that course-by-course evaluations are required for all coursework completed outside of the United States.
Your application must include at least three professional or academic letters of recommendation that have been written within one year of the application submission date. Your recommenders must be able to speak to your verbal and written communication skills, intellectual ability, capacity for critical analysis, and ability to work independently and as a member of a team. We also ask your recommenders to comment on your motivation and leadership potential as a public health professional. When you add recommenders via the online application, they will receive an email notification and can complete the recommendation online.
Letters must be from professional (i.e., supervisor or manager) or academic (i.e., faculty, advisor, or department head) sources. Recent college graduates are strongly encouraged to provide one letter of recommendation from an academic source that speaks to their performance in college-level coursework. Recommendations will not be accepted from friends, family members, personal counselors or therapists, co-workers, or clergy.
GRE Scores
GRE scores are not required to apply to the MPH program. At Simmons, we take a holistic approach to reviewing candidates for admission and evaluate your application based on the whole picture, including your essays, work experience, motivation, and ability to lead.
TOEFL or IELTS
If English is not your first language, you are required to submit an official TOEFL or IELTS score report, demonstrating satisfactory English language proficiency. A minimum score of 105 on the Internet-based test is required. Simmons must receive scores directly from ETS (Educational Testing Service).
Please note that the TOEFL or IELTS is not required if you have earned either a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. postsecondary institution or from a postsecondary institution recognized by the Ministry of Education in an English-speaking country.
Application Deadlines
MPH applications are accepted up until the final application deadline. We encourage you to apply early for maximum merit scholarship consideration.
The following chart details the application deadlines for the online Master of Public Health program:
| Semester | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall (September) | Priority Deadline: May 1 Final Deadline: August 1 |
| Spring (January) | Priority Deadline: October 15 Final Deadline: December 1 |
| Summer (May) | Priority Deadline: February 15 Final Deadline: March 15 |
If you are interested in applying after the final deadline, please contact [email protected] to discuss options.
Priority Deadline applicants benefit from an earlier admission decision. Additionally, Priority Deadline applicants are eligible to receive an application fee waiver. The application fee should be waived automatically. If, for any reason, it is not waived, please reach out to [email protected] to obtain the application fee waiver code.
Admission Decisions
Admission decisions are typically made within three to four weeks from when all required application items are received. Applicants can expect to receive their decision via the Simmons application portal. Please inform the Office of Admission of any changes to your mailing address, phone number, or email address.
Enrollment Deposit
All accepted students who choose to enroll are required to submit a non-refundable $200 enrollment deposit by the date stated in the letter of admission. This deposit is applied to the first term bill.
Deferred Entrance
An accepted student may request in writing to the Director of Admission a deferral of the entrance date for a maximum of one year. The student must indicate what he/she will do in the interim. Deferrals are not granted if the student plans/chooses to attend another institution. If the deferral is approved, a non-refundable enrollment deposit is required to hold a place in the future class. This fee is applied to the first term bill.
Reapplication Procedure
An applicant who wishes to re-apply should call the Office of Admission at 617-521-2605 to learn about this process. A new electronic application must be submitted; official academic transcripts for courses completed since the initial application must also be submitted. A reapplication fee is required and should be submitted with the new application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, and we encourage it! Once you submit your application, you will be able to log in to the self-service center to check the status of your application and to see if your materials have been received. Prior to submitting your application, you will not be able to check your status online.
First, suggest your recommender check her/his spam folder. Since the notifications come from an automated system, the messages often end up in spam. Not there? Contact us and we can resend the notification. You can also resend invitations from your self-service center. And, finally, recommenders are always welcome to email a recommendation letter to us. We'll be glad to manually add it to your application.
Once you submit your application, we will look for any previously received materials to attach to your application. It usually takes 1-5 business days for our office to process and attach materials. To ensure receipt of your materials in our office, please ensure that items sent by mail are issued to the following exact address:
Simmons University
Graduate Studies Admission
300 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
No. Students interested in applying for federal financial aid, which is awarded in the form of loans, may do so at any point by submitting the FAFSA and the Simmons University Student Information Form to the Simmons University Office of Student Financial Services. Contact their office via email or at 617-521-2001.
Upon acceptance, eligible applicants receive automatic consideration for merit-based scholarships. Most merit-based scholarships are awarded based on the overall strength of an application for admission, and no separate application is required.
Resources
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees at Simmons are updated annually each spring. They are assessed each semester based on the number of credits enrolled, the level of degree, and the particular program of study.
Merit scholarships and funding options
We believe that your exceptional academic preparation and hard work should be rewarded.
Contact Us
Questions? Contact admissions via email or at 617-521-2605.