Degree Programs

The Harvard School of Public Health offers a number of degrees and degree programs, reflecting a rich educational and research environment for students of many backgrounds and interests. The degree programs have a range of purposes and requirements. Some master's programs are intended to prepare students for professional careers in public health; others focus on research training in preparation for doctoral study. The doctoral programs are designed for students with interests in the scientific basis of public health and preventive medicine who wish to pursue academic or research positions.

Entrance Requirements

Entrance requirements for HSPH programs vary considerably by degree and also by department. Minimum entrance requirements for HSPH degree programs are as follows:

Master of public health (42.5 credit) program
Candidates normally hold a doctoral degree—for example, MD, DO, DDS (or their non-U.S. equivalents), PhD, SD, or other health-related degrees. Also eligible to apply are those with a master's degree in a health-related field (for example, MSN, MSW, MBA) and three years of relevant experience.

One-year (42.5 credit) master of science program
Candidates normally hold a doctoral degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or other public health– related field. In rare cases applicants with significant professional experience may be considered.

Two-year (80-credit) master of science
Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree in a relevant field; some work experience may also be required.

Master of occupational health
Candidates must hold a doctoral degree in medicine. Doctor of science Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; some programs also require the completion of a prior master's or doctoral degree.

Doctor of public health
Candidates must hold a doctoral degree in medicine, dental medicine, or veterinary medicine, or an advanced degree in a basic public health discipline; in addition, applicants must have, or be in progress toward, an MPH degree or its equivalent.

Schoolwide Degree Requirements

All HSPH degree programs require the completion of some course work intended to ensure basic competencies in public health sciences.

For all professional master's degree programs, students must fulfill core requirements in the following:

• biostatistics
• epidemiology
• environmental health sciences
• health services administration
• social and behavioral sciences

In addition, students must complete a culminating experience, demonstrating integration of public health knowledge, and/or a practice experience.

For research-oriented master's degree programs, students must fulfill the core requirements in biostatistics and epidemiology. Students in HSPH doctoral programs must adhere to the doctoral timetable for maintaining satisfactory progress and must fulfill the following schoolwide requirements:

• completion of course work in one major field (20 credits) and two minor fields (10 credits each)
• courses in introductory epidemiology and intermediate biostatistics
• completion of the schoolwide oral qualifying examination, usually by the end of the second year (some departments also require a written qualifying examination)
• completion of a program of independent and original research in one of the basic disciplines of public health
• the presentation and submission of this research in a dissertation and the public defense of the dissertation
• payment of at least two years of full-time tuition and one year of full-time reduced tuition

Prospective students should consult the descriptions in this catalog for more information about particular programs and their specific admission and degree requirements. The Student Handbook, distributed during fall registration, also provides detailed information about requirements, timetables, and procedures. See additional application and enrollment information.