Academics

Early Admission Masters Program

Early Admission Masters Program

The Early Admission Master's Program aims to attract academically gifted University of Pittsburgh undergraduates to a career in public health. The objective of the program is twofold: (1) to provide an incentive for gifted students to enter public health careers; and (2) to fill the workforce shortages of public health professionals. A curriculum consisting of five core public health areas will ensure that each student receives a broad education that will contribute to professional success. The diversity of prerequisites and the range of public health career specialties allow for virtually any undergraduate major.

The Early Admission Master's program recruits outstanding University of Pittsburgh undergraduates before their senior baccalaureate year. Students will be admitted before completing the bachelor's degree. They will have completed all of the requirements for their undergraduate major prior to admission to GSPH, except for 24 elective credits, which will be fulfilled by GSPH courses taken during the first year of full-time study at the GSPH. The bachelor's degree will be awarded at the end of the first year at GSPH. 

Applicants must obtain written approval of participation in the Early Admission program from their undergraduate program, as well as confirmation that the undergraduate program will accept the GSPH courses taken as fulfillment of the remaining undergraduate requirements. 
 

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Early Admission Master's Program must meet the school wide and program admission prerequisites. These applicants will be outstanding and motivated students whose performance will not be affected by the loss of one baccalaureate year.

 

Department

Program

Admission Requirements

 
Behavioral and Community Health Sciences

MPH

  1. Minimum scores of 600 on each GRE general section: verbal, quantitative, analytical (or analytical writing).
  2. Minimum 3.5 grade point average.
  3. Health-related experience (work or volunteer).
  4. Undergraduate health-related research experience.
  5. All majors acceptable if above criteria are met.

Biostatistics

MPH or MS

  1. Two semesters of calculus.
  2. Minimum combined score of 1100 for verbal and quantitative GRE.
  3. Minimum 3.0 grade point average.
  4. Suggested major in mathematics, although all other majors acceptable if above criteria met.

Environmental and Occupational Health

MPH or MS

  1. Grade of B or better in the following courses (# of courses required in parentheses):  biology (2); organic chemistry (1); general chemistry (1); physics (1); calculus (1).
  2. Minimum score of 500 on each GRE general section: verbal, quantitative; analytical (or analytical writing).
  3. Minimum 3.0 grade point average.
  4. Acceptable undergraduate majors: biology, chemistry, mathematics.

Health Policy & Management

MHA

  1. Minimum undergraduate QPA of 3.5.
  2. Minimum GRE (Verbal and Quantitative) combined score of 1200 and minimum of 60th percentile on each test.
  3. Minimum Score of 5.0 on GRE Analytical (Writing Sample).

Please note that applicants to the MHA Program are strongly encouraged to have completed one economics course in partial fulfillment of the GSPH requirements for six credits in the social and behavioral sciences.

Human Genetics
(not Genetic Counseling)

MPH or MS

  1. Scores in 70th percentile or higher in each GRE general section: verbal, quantitative, and analytical (or analytical writing).
  2. Minimum 3.5 grade point average.
  3. Coursework in chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology.
  4. All majors acceptable if above criteria are met.

Infectious Diseases   and Microbiology

MPH or MS

  1. Minimum 3.5 overall grade point average. 
  2. Combined general GRE scores in the 75th percentile or higher.
  3. Strong letters of recommendation from persons directly familiar with the applicant's academic performance.
  4. Appropriate undergraduate major.