A.    Application Procedures

1. All applications must be submitted online through the Schools of Public Health Application Service website. Click here for instructions.  

2. Applicants will be requested via email to submit a supplemental application directly to the Admissions Committee that consists of a Statement of Research Interests.

3. Applicants whose credentials are reviewed favorably by the Doctoral Program Committee will be asked to participate in a face-to-face or telephone interview.  One or more representatives from the Committee and at least one potential faculty mentor will take part in the interview.

4. The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health Office of Student Affairs makes final admission decisions based upon the recommendation of the Admissions committee. Applicants will be notified of the decision in writing by the Graduate School of Public Health Office of Student Affairs.

1. Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree with a GPA of at least 3.3 desirable.  A masters degree is not required.  Official transcripts of all college level study must be submitted on SOPHAS and to GSPH upon admission to the program. 

2. College level coursework in calculus with a grade of 3.0 or better is a pre-requisite.  Applicants will be required to indicate on SOPHAS which course on their transcript meets this requirement, or else successfully complete a course during the summer prior to matriculation.

3. Applicants must demonstrate in their personal statement that they have a clear understanding of how the program of study will benefit them in achieving their career goals.  The Doctoral Program Committee places a great deal of weight on the quality of the written personal statement.

4. Three letters of recommendation are required from individuals who are in a position to judge the applicant’s professional and or academic abilities. At least one recommendation should be from an individual who can comment on the applicant’s academic qualifications (e.g., former instructor or advisor).

5. Applicants must submit scores on the verbal, quantitative and critical thinking and analytical writing portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).  GRE scores are used in conjunction with other parts of the application to reach a decision. There is no absolute cut-off. Quantitative score of 720 or higher, Verbal score of 560 or higher, and Analytical Writing of 5.0 or higher are desirable.  Scores in the 75th percentile are expected and can be no lower than the 50th percentile.

6. Official GRE test scores must be submitted directly to the University of Pittsburgh, code 2927, with no department code.  Scores should not be sent to SOPHAS.  TOEFL scores should also be sent directly to the University of Pittsburgh, code 2927, no department code.  

7. Applicants who hold an international degree will have their qualifications reviewed on an individual basis.  They must hold a degree equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree, as determined by the University of Pittsburgh Office of International Services.

8. Applicants for whom English is not their first language must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. Students must score a minimum of 213 on the computerized TOEFL (or 550 on the paper-based version). The minimum score for the IELTS is 65.

9. After an initial screening of applicants, the admissions committee will solicit a “Statement of Research Interest” from prospective applicants. The Statement of Research Interest will be sent directly to the Doctoral Program Admissions Committee. 

1. Transfer credits are accepted pursuant to University of Pittsburgh and Graduate School of Public Health policy.

2. Students who have completed the Masters of Health Administration or the Masters of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management can transfer up to 24 credits. 

3. Where the same course is required for the doctoral program and the MPH or MHA programs, the credits will be accepted.

4. Transfer students who have completed the GSPH core (or equivalent at another institution) do not need to take PUBHLT 2011, “Essentials of Public Health”.

5. Courses that are taught concurrently at the doctoral and masters level (e.g., the Health Economics and Health Policy Analysis and Methods will have two different course numbers) include additional material that transfer students will need to complete.  At the discretion of their academic advisor and the course instructors, the student can register for an independent study to complete the doctoral level component of each course. 

6. Courses that are not required courses can be counted toward the ‘area of focus’ only if they meet the requirements of defining an area where the student is seeking advanced training.  In most cases, it is not likely that masters level coursework will meet this requirement.

7. Students that are enrolled in either the Masters of Health Administration or the Masters of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management may apply to the Ph.D. program and transfer credits for courses already completed.  In most cases, these students will need to follow the recommended sequence of courses beginning with year 1, but will be able to start early on their ‘area of focus’ if they have already completed courses that are required for both masters and doctoral programs (e.g., Health Policy, Health Insurance, Health Economics, and Health Policy Analysis & Methods).