MPH Eligibility and Application Requirements

The Statement of Purpose is one of the most important pieces of your application. It provides faculty reviewers essential information about your background, research interests, possible career path, and your writing skills. Please address the following:

1. How your combination of personal, academic, and professional influences led you to pursue graduate study in epidemiology.
2. Why the UW Epidemiology program in particular matches your interests in a way that will help you fulfill your career aspirations.
3. Your interest in health equity and/or Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives in the field of epidemiology and/or public health, and how your epidemiology training will prepare you to contribute to health equity/ EDI as a public health professional.

Maximum word limit: 750

The Personal History Statement is meant to give you the opportunity to provide a narrative about your lived experiences, obstacles you may have overcome, and how these have guided you towards public health. This statement should not be the same as your Statement of Purpose.

Your Personal History Statement can include information about who you are as a person; your family or cultural background; socioeconomic conditions; and experiences growing up, including successes, challenges, and moments of learning and growth. This question is not intended to ask you to share personal information you are not comfortable providing.

Maximum word limit: 500

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) are core values of the UW School of Public Health. We are committed to a future that is free of health inequities and promotes the highest level of wellness for the communities we serve. We strive to cultivate a public health workforce that embodies humility, respect, and leadership.

We further seek to create a community that is inclusive of underrepresented populations and in service to underserved communities. The School is committed to becoming anti-racist and adopting anti-racism principles in the classroom and in our work. Completion of this MPH application attests that you, as an applicant, are informed of these commitments and expectations of students who attend the UW School of Public Health.

(You can review additional details provided on the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion web page.)

Describe how you might contribute to these efforts, and/or learn and grow in the areas of EDI and anti-racism, during your time at the UW SPH, and in your public health work post-graduation.

Maximum word limit: 350

Epi MPH-MCH Track applicants must submit answers to the following additional MCH-focused prompts. Maximum 200 words per prompt.

• • 1. Why have you chosen to work in and study maternal and child health? 
  • 2. Describe your experience with programs, policies, or research affecting women, children, youth, or families. 
  • 3. What are your career goals related to maternal and child health and how will an MPH degree help you achieve it?

For the SOPHAS application, applicants will provide information about their high school attendance, college attendance and degrees they’ve earned. Official transcripts from each collegiate level institution must also be submitted directly to SOPHAS. In the “Transcript Entry” section, applicants who attended a university in the United States or Canada are required to enter all coursework as it is listed on their college level transcripts. This process takes a significant amount of time and applicants should plan to enter this information as early as possible. Applicants who attended a university outside the United States or Canada should upload pdf copies of their unofficial transcripts into the SOPHAS application.

Upload your CV or resume to SOPHAS in PDF format. Include detailed descriptions of your health-related positions and responsibilities. Provide all relevant education and experience including: undergraduate and graduate research, health-related volunteer work, publications, manuscripts and posters, scholarly presentations and awards, certifications, and computer skills.

UW MD and DO POSTDOC FELLOWS and RESIDENTS only: Must include the following information on the first page (if applicable): Residency, fellowship, doctoral & postdoctoral research titles, type, director, institution & dates.

Enter the names and contact information for three recommenders into SOPHAS. These individuals will be sent an email prompt with instructions for submitting their recommendation online. Recommenders should be people familiar with your academic or related professional endeavors and your potential for achieving your academic and professional goals. At least one, and preferably two, letters should come from individuals with advanced degrees (i.e. Master’s or higher).

When entering recommender information, it is the applicant’s responsibility to enter a deadline for the recommender. Since recommendations are shared amongst all SOPHAS applications, applicants should base the deadline they set for their recommenders on the earliest deadline of the programs they are applying to. When you contact your recommenders, encourage them to monitor their spam folder for letter submission instructions. 

UW MD and DO Postdoc Fellow and Resident Applicants: Balancing a full-time course/study schedule with your responsibilities as a postdoc fellow or resident can be challenging. Knowing this, we require that you include references from either your fellowship director or research mentor (if known) that includes a statement indicating you will have the necessary release time from those responsibilities to attend all classes on a regular basis, and to study outside class.

Proficiency in English is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of citizenship) must demonstrate proficiency with the English language. (See Graduate School policy)

Non-native English speakers will indicate how they will fulfill the requirement in the SOPHAS application and in the UW Graduate School online application. English language proficiency documentation can be submitted to SOPHAS and must be submitted to the UW Graduate School.

Options for demonstrating proficiency are as follows:

• Submit official test scores to the UW
  • TOEFL scores (ETS report code 4854)
    • Minimum TOEFLiBT (or TOEFL MyBest) is 92
    • Score reporting information – Use ETS report code 4854
  • IELTS score
    • Minimum IELTS is 7.0
    • Score reporting information – Use UW organization code 365
  • Duolingo score (Temporary policy update)
    • Minimum Duolingo score is 120
    • Score reporting information
• U.S. Degree (Bachelor’s or higher)
• Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral Degree from qualifying country (see Policy 3.2.1, bullet point #2 for a list of qualifying countries)
• Medium of Instruction Document for Undergraduate Institution

Applicants should note that using Duolingo to fulfill the English Language Proficiency requirements does not qualify for on campus employment as a teaching assistant (TA). 

Additional English Language Proficiency information:

• If fulfilling the requirement via U.S. Degree or a degree from a qualifying country listed in Policy 3.2.1 (see link above), no additional documentation is required as we’ll use transcripts submitted with the application to verify that the requirement has been fulfilled.
• If using a medium of instruction document, we will accept a notation directly on the transcript or a separate document issued by the institution. If submitting a separate document, upload it into the Medium of Instruction document section.
• For additional questions or assistance with reporting official test scores, please review the UW Graduate School Admissions FAQ.

For the UW Graduate School application, applicants must upload pdf copies of unofficial transcripts from each collegiate level institution. Applicants admitted to the program who accept the offer of admission will be required to submit official transcripts to the UW Graduate School. Specific instructions for that process will be provided in admissions materials.

Proficiency in English is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Therefore, every applicant whose native language is not English (regardless of citizenship) must demonstrate proficiency with the English language. (See above for link to UW English Language Proficiency requirements website)

Non-native English speakers will indicate how they will fulfill the requirement in the SOPHAS application and in the UW Graduate School online application. English language proficiency documentation can be submitted to SOPHAS and must be submitted to the UW Graduate School.

Options for demonstrating proficiency are as follows:

• Submit official test scores to the UW
  • TOEFL scores (ETS report code 4854)
    • Minimum TOEFLiBT (or TOEFL MyBest) is 92
    • Score reporting information – Use ETS report code 4854
  • IELTS score
    • Minimum IELTS is 7.0
    • Score reporting information – Use UW organization code 365
  • Duolingo score (Temporary policy update)
    • Minimum Duolingo score is 120
    • Score reporting information
• U.S. Degree (Bachelor’s or higher)
• Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral Degree from qualifying country (see Policy 3.2.1, bullet point #2 for a list of qualifying countries)
• Medium of Instruction Document for Undergraduate Institution

Applicants should note that using Duolingo to fulfill the English Language Proficiency requirements does not qualify for on campus employment as a teaching assistant (TA). 

Additional English Language Proficiency information:

• If fulfilling the requirement via U.S. Degree or a degree from a qualifying country listed in Policy 3.2.1 (see link above), no additional documentation is required as we’ll use transcripts submitted with the application to verify that the requirement has been fulfilled.
• If using a medium of instruction document, we will accept a notation directly on the transcript or a separate document issued by the institution. If submitting a separate document, upload it into the Medium of Instruction document section.
• For additional questions or assistance with reporting official test scores, please review the UW Graduate School Admissions FAQ.