1. Master of Public Health
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Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective public health students often have questions about the programs and admissions procedures at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. If you need additional information, please contact publichealth@mssm.edu.

Your Questions, Answered

We accept applications to our Master of Public Health (MPH) program using SOPHAS, the centralized application service for public health schools and programs. Applications for our Advanced Certificate are accepted through SOPHAS Express.  
 
We review applications on a rolling basis; once a completed application has been verified in SOPHAS, we typically render a decision within a few weeks. Applicants will be notified via email. 

Standardized test scores are no longer required for admission to our program. However, if you choose to self-report your scores and would like use to consider them as part of your application, please send your official scores from the testing agency directly to SOPHAS for verification purposes. 

No, we do not require any courses or a specific degree/major to apply to our program. Applicants to the MPH program must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Deadlines vary based on the semester. You can apply for enrollment for the fall, spring 1, or spring 2 terms. Application deadlines are: 

  • Fall (September start): June 1 
  • Spring 1 (January start): November 1
  • Spring 2 (April start): February 1 

Applicants for whom English is a second language are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). If you received your first university degree in an English-speaking institution, you may be exempt from taking the TOEFL or IELTS. 

Foreign medical graduates do not have to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores if you have an Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate. Please upload a copy of the ECFMG certificate with your SOPHAS application. 

The MPH degree program at Icahn Mount Sinai is classified as STEM-eligible, allowing students who have F1 status to apply for 24 months of additional employment in the United States after graduation if they meet required eligibility criteria. All specialty tracks of the MPH degree are classified as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Designated Degree Programs by the United States Department of Homeland Security. If you have specific questions, please contact our International Personnel office at 212- 241-8300. 

Students may transfer a maximum number of whole course credits into their specified degree program, listed below.  Credits must meet specific criteria, as outlined in the student handbook. Maximum number of whole course credits that may be transferred:

  • Master of Public Health – 12 credits
  • Master of Science in Epidemiology – 9 credits
  • Advanced Certificate in Public Health – 0 credits

We offer courses Monday through Thursday, from 4 pm to 9 pm. Our MPH degree is designed to be completed in two years with full-time study. Once you are admitted into the program, you may choose to attend part time. 
 
Note: Students in the Epidemiology or Biostatistics track who enroll in spring 1 or spring 2 should allow more than two years to complete their MPH degree. We strongly encourage students in these tracks to begin in the fall term.

Our students come from diverse ethnic, economic, and educational backgrounds. We believe this enriches the educational experience. Our recent graduates have included: 

  • Recent college graduates 
  • Professionals seeking to change careers 
  • Professionals from law, medicine, nursing, social work, and business 
  • Medical students 
  • Resident and fellow physicians

Our graduates pursue careers in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, departments of health, and industry-related fields such as public health practice, management, and research. Some of our recent graduates are employed by: 

  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine 
  • City Harvest 
  • Doctors of the World 
  • Doris Duke Charitable Foundation 
  • The Earth Institute 
  • Epic 
  • Hospital for Special Surgery 
  • Icahn School of Medicine 
  • Maimonides Medical Center 
  • McKinsey & Company 
  • Mount Sinai Health System 
  • New Jersey Department of Health 
  • New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 
  • Pfizer, Inc. 
  • Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
  • Rutgers New Jersey Medical School