Academic Programs Prerequisites for Admission
Requirements for admission to the program:
Applicants must hold a post-baccalaureate degree in a field relevant to the objectives of this doctoral program.
- Applicants must demonstrate in their application statement that they have a clear understanding of how the program of study will benefit them in achieving their career goals. The Doctoral Committee puts a great weight on the quality of the application statement.
- The GSPH application must be submitted with three letters of recommendation from individuals who are in a position to judge the applicant's professional and/or academic abilities.
- Applicants must have a graduate quality of grade point average of at least 3.3. Transcripts of all college level study must be submitted.
- Applicants must submit the scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Scores of 500 or higher on the verbal and quantitative portions and 5.0 on analytical portions of the GRE are highly desirable.
- Experience in a health related field is highly desirable
- Applicants must have completed all other couses listed on the Prerequisite Courses Form for GSPH applicants.
- Applicants who hold a first international professional degree will have their qualifications reviewed on an individual basis. They must hold a degree equivalent to a U.S. post-baccalaureate degree, as determined by the University of Pittsburgh Office of International Services.
- Applicants for whom English is not their first language must submit scores from either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Students must score a minimum of 213 on the computerized TOEFL (or 550 or higher on the paper-based version), or 5.5 or higher on the IELTS to be eligible for admission. The requirement to take an English test may be waived if the applicant has received a degree from an accredited institution in the United States. All students for whom English is not their first language and whose IELTS score is less than 7.0 or TOEFL score is less than 250 (600 on the paper-based test), must take the Test of English Language Proficiency before registering for their first term.
Review Process
Applicants whose credentials were reviewed favorably by the Committee will be asked to participate in a face-to-face or telephone interview. One or more representatives of the Doctoral Committee and at least one potential faculty mentor will take part in the interview.
The Dean’s Office makes the final admission decision based upon the Doctoral Committee’s recommendation. After the interview, applicants will be notified of the final decision in writing by the Graduate School of Public Health, Office of Student Affairs.