Orientation | School of Public Health

We offer our main orientation for new students once a year before the start of the fall term. We offer a truncated spring program for graduate students beginning their first academic year in the spring term.

Welcome to Pitt Public Health! We are excited to welcome you to your first term during our upcoming New Student Orientation.

Summer 2025 Events for New Students

Hikes With Mike

Meet other new students and see Oakland from a whole new perspective! Every Thursday starting July 17, Mike Dolinger, director of student services and engagement, will take new students on a hike through Schenley Park, one of Pittsburgh’s great outdoor spaces! We will meet in front of the School of Public Health at 11:30 a.m., and take an hour-long walk through the park, in the wooded areas, and see some of what makes the city unique. Reserve your spot!

Virtual Trivia Night

Wednesday, August 6, 7-8:30 p.m.
Try on your smarty pants and join us for a night of fun, learning new things, and meeting new friends! Oh, and win prizes! Get ready to answer questions on pop culture, movies, music and who knows what else?
RSVP

Map showing Pitt Public Health in Oakland with large location icon overlaid

Find the Public Health Building

Undergraduate Students

New students to the University of Pittsburgh (both first-year and transfer students) will follow the University's Welcome Week schedule August 18-24, 2025. The required academic session with the School of Public Health will be on Friday, August 22.

Welcome Week information will be sent to your Pitt email in July.

Graduate Students

There will be three orientations for graduate students held between August 18-22: University, school, and department/program level.

University of Pittsburgh Graduate Student Orientation

Tuesday, August 19
More details on University-wide Orientation for graduate students.

Learn about other graduate student orientation events, such as International Student Orientation, New Teaching Assistant Orientation, and a Supporting Trans and Non-Binary Students Resource Fair from the Office of the Provost.

School of Public Health Graduate Student Orientation

Wednesday, August 20
9 a.m. - 5 p.m., University Club/Public Health Building

9 a.m. - check-in at University Club

10 a.m.- noon - School of Public Health Presentations - U Club Ballroom B

Noon-1 p.m. - Lunch provided by the school

12:30-2 p.m. - Resource Fair - U Club Ballroom A

2-4 p.m. - Safer Sex Kit Assembly with ACHD and Epi Gives Back - 1155 Public Health

2-4:30 p.m. - New Student Social - Public Health Commons Lounge (first floor)

Resource Fair Participants: Allegheny County Health Department
America’s Mock World Health Organization
Black Public Health Association
Bridging the Gaps
Campus Recreation
Center for Health Equity
Department of Parking and Transportation
Doctoral Student Organization
Engineer's Without Borders
Evaluation of Public Health Programs
Fostering Opportunities to Recognize, Welcome, and Advance Racially Diverse Students
Global Health
Global Links
Grad Mentoring Program
Graduate and Professional Student Government
Health Equity Certificate
Health Services Library System (Falk Library)
Maternal and Child Health
Office of Academic Career Development
Office of Off-Campus Living
Pitt Benefits Office
Pitt Graduate Student Workers Union
Pitt Public Health Student Government Association
Pitt Serves
Pitt Sustainability
POGOH (Bike Share Pittsburgh)
Public Health Genetics Certificate
Street Medicine
Student Emergency Medical Services
Student Health Services
University Counseling Center
University of Pittsburgh Police Department
UPMC Health Plan
Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center

Department/Program Orientation

Days/times vary by department and will be added here as details are available. Contact your department student services staff for more information.

Behavioral and Community Health Sciences

Thursday, August 21
1-3 p.m.
A719 Public Health

Contact Paul Markgraf with questions.

Biostatistics and Health Data Science

Friday, August 22
11 a.m.-noon
A719 Public Health

Contact Helen Chen with questions.

Environmental and Occupational Health

Friday, August 22
Time/Location TBA

Contact Bryanna Snyder with questions.

Epidemiology

Thursday, August 21
9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
G23 and First Floor Commons, Public Health

Contact Amy Rhodes with questions.

Health Policy and Management

Monday and Tuesday, August 18-19

August 18
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
First Floor Commons and G23 Public Health

Meet in the Public Health Commons on the first floor for pictures and then proceed into the G23 auditorium.

August 19
9 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
MHA students: A216 Public Health
MPH students: A215 Public Health

Contact Jessica Dornin with questions.

Human Genetics

Department-wide informational session and reception: Thursday, August 21, 1-4 p.m.
G23 and First Floor Commons, Public Health

Individual Program Orientations

MPH: Monday, August 18, 1-3 p.m.
3121C Public Health

MS Genetic Counseling: Friday, August 22, 9 a.m.-noon
A521 Public Health

MS/PhD: Friday, August 22, 10 a.m.-noon
A425 Public Health

MS Genome Bioinformatics: Friday, August 22, 10 a.m.-noon
3121C Public Health

Contact Noel Harrie with questions.

Infectious Diseases and Microbiology

Friday, August 22
9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Second Floor, Public Health

Contact Erin Schuetz with questions.

Multidisciplinary Master of Public Health

Monday, August 18
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
1155 Public Health

Contact Renee Valenti with questions.