Master of Public Health Programs

The information in this section pertains to students in the Master of Public Health (MPH) Programs only.

Committee on Admissions and Degrees
The Committee on Admissions and Degrees is responsible for monitoring the academic progress of all students at the School. The committee reviews petitions and forms submitted during the course of study.

Liaisons to the Committee on Admissions and Degrees:
Registrar’s Office, 617-432-1032
Master of Public Health (Academic Year; 45-credit)                          Steve Bearden
Master of Public Health (Summer-Focused; 45-credit)                   Katie Schiepers
Master of Public Health (65-credit)                                                           Crystel Feliciano
Master of Public Health (Epidemiology)                                                  Donna McLean
Master of Public Health (Generalist)                                                         Crystel Feliciano
Committee Chair                                                                                                Paul Catalano

Master of Public Health Information
The Master of Public Health is a 45-credit or 65-credit program that students may complete on a full- or part-time basis. All students must complete School-wide core requirements and required courses in their selected field of study. Additionally, all students must complete an MPH practicum and culminating experience, in accordance with the guidelines of the various fields of study.

MPH students must meet the following requirements:

• Complete the School-wide biostatistics and epidemiology core requirements
• Complete departmental course requirements
• Maintain a GPA of 2.70 or better
• Complete at least half of total earned credits at the Harvard Chan School
• Complete the full number of credits required for each degree program:
  • A minimum of 32.5 ordinal credits for the 45-credit program
  • A minimum of 47.5 ordinal credits for the 65-credit program

In addition, the MPH program will audit for the following:

• MPH-45 students are limited to a maximum of 12.5 credits total as Pass/Fail.
• MPH-65 students are limited to a maximum of  17.5 credits total as Pass/Fail.
• MPH-45 academic-year (residential) students are limited to a maximum of 3.75 online credits per term of enrollment and 10 online credits out of the total required 45 credits.
• Summer-focused students are limited to a maximum of 5 online credits per term of enrollment and 10 online credits out of the total required 45 credits.
• MPH-65 students are limited to a maximum of 3.75 online credits per term of enrollment and 10 online credits overall out of the required 65 credits.

Time Status Definitions:

• Full-time MPH candidates must register for a minimum of 15 credits and a maximum of 27.5 credits in the fall and spring semesters.
  • MPH-45 academic year (residential) full-time students are expected to meet all academic and financial degree requirements within one academic year (2 semesters).
  • MPH-45 summer-focused students are expected to meet all academic and financial degree requirements within three academic years (3 summers plus optional fall & spring enrollment).
  • MPH-65 full-time students are expected to meet all academic and financial degree requirements within 3 consecutive terms of enrollment (excluding summer).
  • These timelines may change if circumstances require a leave of absence or a transition to part-time academic status. Please contact the Registrar’s Office for more information, and also review the tuition requirements for Master’s students on the Student Billing website.
• Part-time MPH candidates must register for a minimum of 1 course and a maximum of 14.75 credits in the fall and spring semesters.
  • MPH-45 academic year (residential) part-time students are expected to meet all academic and financial degree requirements within 2 academic years (4 semesters).
  • MPH-65 part-time students are expected to meet all academic and financial degree requirements within 6 consecutive terms of enrollment (excluding summer).
  • These timelines may change if circumstances require a leave of absence or a transition to full-time academic status. Please contact the Registrar’s Office for more information, and also review the tuition requirements for Master’s students on the Student Billing website.
• For time status definitions specific to the summer term, please see Summer Credit Limits For Degree-Seeking Students.

More information is available in the MPH Curriculum Guides.

Students in the MPH program are enrolled in one of the following options:

• MPH academic-year degree
• MPH joint degree (MD/MPH, JD/MPH, or MPH/MUP)
• MPH summer-focused degree
• MPH in Epidemiology degree (blended online/on-campus program)
• MPH Generalist degree (entirely online)

Continuation Fee
Students are expected to complete all program requirements within the stated time-to degree. Time-to-degree begins with the semester a student is enrolled/matriculated. If a student enrolls in required credits beyond the time-to-degree policy, they will ordinarily be assessed a continuation fee at the beginning of each addition semester of enrollment. Exceptions to assessing the continuation fee will be considered for extenuating circumstances by submitting the General Petition Form.

• Academic year students that enroll beyond their approved time-to-degree will ordinarily incur a $3,267 continuation fee at the beginning of each additional semester of enrollment.
• Summer-focused students that enroll beyond their approved time-to-degree will ordinarily incur a $2,178 continuation fee at the beginning of each additional semester of enrollment.
• MPH-EPI students that enroll beyond their approved time-to-degree will ordinarily incur a $1,170 continuation fee at the beginning of each additional semester of enrollment.

MPH Summer-Focused Degree
The Summer-Focused Degree Program section contains information on summer-focused degree programs .

MPH Joint Degrees (MD/MPH, JD/MPH, or MPH/MUP)
The School offers a MD/DO/MPH combined degree program to medical students with a baccalaureate degree currently enrolled in LCME-accredited MD or DO programs in the U.S. or Canada, who have a career interest in public health and/or preventive medicine, the opportunity to complete a master of public health degree. Medical students undertake the residential MPH 45-credit program while on leave of absence post-primary clinical year. They receive the MPH degree upon successful completion of the academic requirements for the MPH degree. The MPH program serves as a required academic year for residency training in general preventive medicine, aerospace medicine, or occupational and environmental medicine.

The School offers a DMD/DDS/MPH combined degree program to dental students with a baccalaureate degree currently enrolled in LCME-accredited DMD or DDS programs in the U.S. or Canada, who have a career interest in public health and/or preventive dentistry, the opportunity to complete a master of public health degree. Dental students undertake the residential MPH 45-credit program while on leave of absence post-primary clinical year. They receive the MPH degree upon successful completion of the academic requirements for the MPH degree.

Students accepted to Harvard Law School (HLS) may simultaneously pursue an MPH under Harvard’s JD/MPH joint degree program. Prospective students should apply to the joint degree program during their first semester at Harvard Law School. Students may enroll in either the health policy or global health fields of study of the MPH program. Harvard Chan School coursework begins full-time in the fall following the first year at HLS and continues over the following two years. The MPH will be awarded in conjunction with the law degree.

A joint MPH/Master of Urban Planning (MUP) degree is offered in conjunction with the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD). Having been accepted to both degree programs, students enroll in the 45-credit MPH in various fields of study.  During their first year, students complete the first half of the MUP program at GSD and are granted a one-year deferral to the MPH 45-credit program. During their second year, Students complete the MPH 45-credit program at the Harvard Chan School, full-time. During their third year, Students complete the second half of the MUP program at GSD. Students receive the MUP and MPH degrees upon successful completion of the academic requirements for each degree.

The Admissions Office and student billing policy websites provide more information regarding the joint/combined MPH degree programs.