Master of Public Health Online (MPH)

In order to earn your MPH in Health Promotion and Behavioral Science from SDSU, you’ll need to complete 51 units of courses, which include:

• Foundational Courses — 36 Units
  • 180-Hour Field Placement — 3 Units
  • Capstone Project — 3 Units
• Elective Courses — 15 Units

Foundational Courses (36 Units)

PH 601: Epidemiology (3 Units)
PH 602: Biostatistics (3 Units)
PH 604: Environmental Determinants of Human Health Elective (3 Units)
PH 605: Health Services Administration (3 Units)
PH 607: Research Methods (3 Units)
PH 650R: Field Practice: Required Community Practice (3 Units) Cr/NC
PH 661: Theoretical Foundations of Health Promotion (3 Units)
PH 662: Motivating Health Behavior (3 Units)
PH 663: Health Communication (3 Units)
PH 666: Health Promotion Program Planning & Assessment (3 Units)
PH 672: Public Health Program Evaluation (3 Units)
PH 798: Alternative Capstone

Elective Courses (15 Units)

Elective offerings will be determined by the department chair, SDSU Global Campus, and faculty availability on a term-by-term basis. Decisions are based on the list of approved elective courses in the SDSU Graduate Bulletin.

Electives
PH 700F Seminar: Health Disparities (3 Units)
PH 667 Seminar: Prevention & Control Chronic Illnesses (3 Units)
PH 700F Seminar: Women, Children, & Adolescent Health (3 Units)
PH 700A Seminar: Migration and Global Health (3 Units)
PH 700F Seminar: Qualitative Methods (3 Units)

Only students admitted to this program may register for courses.

Click here for information about our drop policy.

Out-of-State Applicants
While we welcome out-of-state students, SDSU Global Campus currently cannot accept applications from students residing in some specific states. Please check back often, as this list of approved states does change. View the list of authorized states here.

Admission Requirements

Below is a list of general admission requirements for the online Master of Public Health program.

We understand that every student's academic journey is unique, and we encourage you to contact one of our Student Service Representatives to find out what you'll need to successfully apply to the program.

• Hold a bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited university. A specific major is not required for admission; in fact, our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Have satisfactorily completed an introductory statistics course prior to admission.
• Have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.85 (overall, or in the last 60 semester or 90 quarter units) for admission to SDSU. International students should have a GPA of at least 3.0. The average GPA for students enrolling in the SPH is 3.3.
• Be currently employed full-time, preferably in a public health-related position/organization (e.g. research organizations, public health departments, corporate wellness, health education). You should also have the ability to demonstrate a minimum of 3 years of full-time work experience, preferably in a public health-related position/organization.
• Demonstrate English proficiency if you’re an international applicant.

Application Instructions

To apply for the online Master of Public Health program, you’ll need to complete the following steps:

• Complete a SOPHAS Application, which includes:
  • Personal Statement (approximately 1500 word limit) should address all of the following items:
    • Describe one academic experience that has meant the most to you in your educational career;
    • Outline your professional goals and objectives, immediate and long term;
    • Discuss why you are interested in attending the School of Public Health at San Diego State University, the strengths you bring with you, and those areas in which you would like to increase your expertise and personal growth;
    • Describe your interest in a topical area and any faculty members you would like to work with.
  • Proof of English Proficiency
    • If your medium of instruction was in a language other than English, you’ll need to demonstrate English proficiency by submitting one of the following test scores (taken within the past two years):
      • TOEFL — scores should be submitted to Code 5688 SOPHAS, Massachusetts. The minimum acceptable scores for the TOEFL are 80 iBT, 550 PBT
      • IELTS — scores should be uploaded in the “Applicant Uploaded Documents” section of the SOPHAS application. The minimum acceptable scores for the IELTS is 6.5
      • PTE — scores should be uploaded in the “Applicant Uploaded Documents” section of the SOPHAS application. The minimum acceptable scores for the PTE is 58
      • Duolingo English Test — scores should be uploaded in the “Applicant Uploaded Documents” section of the SOPHAS application. The minimum acceptable scores for the Duolingo test is 105
  • Official Transcripts
    • One copy of official transcripts (sent directly by the institutions) from all colleges and universities you have attended should be sent to SOPHAS. SOPHAS only accepts electronic transcripts from Credentials Solutions, Parchment, and National Student Clearinghouse. If your school does not offer any of these services, your transcript should be sent by mail, to the following address:
      
      SOPHAS Transcript Processing Center
      PO Box 9111
      Watertown, MA 02471
    • If you’ve completed international coursework, you should submit a Course-by-Course evaluation report from the World Education Services (WES) instead of submitting your official transcripts. SOPHAS will not accept official transcripts for international coursework; only the evaluation report will be accepted.
  • Letters of Recommendation
    • Three letters of recommendation are required. Two should be academic references, from professors who have taught you in class. The third letter can be another academic reference or a professional reference (employer, volunteer work, etc.). Letters of recommendation should be submitted to SOPHAS directly. Please see the SOPHAS application instructions for details.
  • Résumé/CV
• Complete an SDSU Application
  • Apply to the University through Cal State Apply
  • Submit Official Documents, which include:
    • Official transcripts sent in sealed envelopes (issued by the school) from all postsecondary schools attended. Do not send transcripts before submitting the Cal State Apply application as this may result in processing delays.
    • If you have international coursework, you should have your school send one record of all academic coursework and proof of degree, both in the original-language. For each original-language document you should also send a certified literal English translation, which can come directly from the school itself or from a professional, certified translator. The translation should contain all information shown on the original-language documents and in the same format.
    • Official documents should be mailed to:
      
      Graduate Admissions
      San Diego State University
      5500 Campanile Drive
      San Diego, CA 92182-8225
       
    • Electronic transcripts are highly encouraged. Please ensure that you indicate this preference when making your request. If you are required to provide an email address to send the secure online document to SDSU, please use transcriptsforsdsu@sdsu.edu.
  • Submit Official Test Scores, which include:
    • English Proficiency
      • All graduate and post-baccalaureate applicants (regardless of citizenship status) applying to SDSU from an international institution where the medium of instruction was not English, should submit passing TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE as proof of English proficiency.

After submitting the online Cal State Apply application, you will receive an email from San Diego State University that includes your SDSUid, which is needed to log into my.SDSU. You can use my.SDSU to check your application status, update your contact information, access your financial aid, and more. Please check back frequently to make sure all of the required materials have been received — you’re responsible for ensuring that all supporting materials are submitted by the deadline.

For a more detailed description of the application process and admission requirements, please visit the Admission Requirements and Instructions page on the SDSU School of Public Health website.

Financial Aid

This program is approved for financial aid. To begin the financial aid process, visit SDSU’s Financial Aid webpage. There, you'll be able to access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If you have any questions regarding the financial aid process, please call the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships on weekdays from 10 am–3 pm at (619) 594-6323.

We encourage you to apply for financial aid as soon as possible.

Program Cost