Top Online MPH Programs with No GRE Requirement

The Master of Public Health through Ashford University is designed with affordability in mind; that’s one of the reasons the school doesn’t require the GRE. Admitted students can dive right into their education with one course at a time, each lasting for six weeks. Major core requirements come first, totaling up to 27 credits. Of those 27, three credits are for the capstone project, and another three are for the practicum, which will be completed during the last semester.

Then students can choose from Generalist Track Courses and Health Care Administration Track Courses; each track requires 15 credits. These credits will move you from the major courses to specialized ones, preparing you to move into the public health area that most interests you. Typical courses include those in applied behavioral science, environmental health, health services administration, and principles of biostatistics.

All courses must be completed with a 3.0 or above in order to graduate with the MPH from Ashford. This goal is aided by 24/7 tech support, round-the-clock library and writing center help, and a student-teacher ratio of 13 to one, helping assure more individual attention during the pursuit of the degree. Nineteen student organizations help ensure that students are engaged outside of class while a career center helps prepare you to move into the workforce upon graduation, including customized career planning and one-on-one coaching.

The Online Executive Master of Public Health through Boston University’s School of Public Health takes one year of full-time study to complete. Beginning with the 2019-2020 admissions cycle, the GRE is no longer required under a three-year pilot program that looks at phasing out the test altogether. Boston University makes the case that the GRE is financially prohibitive, a poor predictor of academic success, and biased against women, minority students, and those from underprivileged backgrounds. In lieu of the GRE requirement, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree and have at least five years of experience in the public health field.

The program is designed for working professionals. The courses that make up 42 credits focus on the biological, social, economic, political, behavioral, cultural, and environmental factors that affect the health of a variety of populations. The seven-week courses are entirely online and include live weekly sessions, cohort-based learning, practice-based teaching, and focus on leadership skills necessary to make a go at working in public health. Advanced fieldwork is required to ensure students can apply what is learned in the classroom to real-world situations. For those who need a little boost, financial aid – including scholarships – is available through the school.

The Online MPH in Global Health is offered through the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University. The program holds a commitment to diversity and equity; thus, GRE test scores are not required with the application. The school actively seeks out students who round out the diversity of the school, especially from underrepresented minority groups. Students in this program will be prepared to apply ethical approaches and human rights principles to public health issues, design public health interventions for diverse populations, and develop strong monitoring and evaluation strategies.

Courses in Public Health Foundations and a three-course sequence on Public Health Methods begin the educational journey. Fifteen credits in core courses are then required before the student branches off into a specialization: Maternal Child Health or LGBT Health. The practical experience requirement includes depth (120-140 hours of field placement) as well as breadth (one experience per month). This can include everything from long-term learning experiences to short-term volunteer work. The program ends with the Integrated Learning Experience (ILE), conducted as a capstone course, which culminates in a written report that proves mastery of public health subjects.

Offered through the College of Health Sciences and Professions, the Online Master of Public Health at Ohio University offers 100% online coursework and the ability to graduate within two years. Given that this program is designed for working professionals in the field, the school does not require GRE scores to apply.

This MPH program is one of the few in the country that provides a strong understanding of rural health disparities, which helps prepare students to work with underprivileged populations on a variety of issues that matters in local communities. The comprehensive program requires 42 credit hours for graduation; courses include topics such as Program Planning and Implementation in Public Health, Biostatistics in Public Health, MPH Seminar, Grant Writing in Public Health Practice, and Chronic Disease Epidemiology.

The twelve three-credit courses are each seven weeks long, taught by faculty with many years of practical experience and a research background. Students can take one course at a time if they choose to do so. Once the coursework is complete, students must complete the capstone project by applying their education to real-world issues in their local communities.

The Online Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice at University of Nevada, Reno offers a comprehensive curriculum with focus on finance and budgeting, health informatics, epidemiology, public health policy, biostatistics, and social and behavioral health. The program provides maximum flexibility with no residency requirement, 100% online courses, multiple start dates per year, graduation in as little as 24 months, and no GRE requirement for applicants.

Admission to the program is competitive. Students must provide proof of at least a 3.0 GPA in undergraduate work, two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, up-to-date resume or C.V., a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a completed course in statistics, and the completed application form. Those who earned a GPA of between 2.75 and 3.0 can choose to submit GRE or other standardized test scores (GMAT or MCAT) for consideration for admission.

Once enrolled, students must complete 45 credit hours for graduation, including 21 hours of core courses, 18 hours in public health practice specialization, three hours in practicum and three hours in the capstone requirement. A sampling of courses includes Health and the Environment, Health Policy, Organizational Behavior and Leadership in Health Services, Public Health Finance, Public Health Law, and Epidemiological Surveillance.

The 46-credit Master of Public Health from University of New England is designed to enhance students’ abilities in a variety of leadership areas, including analysis, communication, ethics, financial management, program health planning, and public policy, among others. Admission requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, a 3.0 GPA maintained during that undergraduate pursuit, and consistent performance in science and math courses. Though the GRE is not required by University of New England for the MPH program, those who don’t show proficiency in math and science courses can submit GRE scores instead.

Once enrolled, students can complete their studies in 18 months of full-time coursework. The 100% online courses include 31 credits of core courses, such as Research Methods, Social and Behavioral Health, Public Health Administration, and Biostatistics. Students must then choose among electives to build up 15 credits in areas of interest, such as Community Assessment, Occupational Health, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, and Global Health. Students will then complete the applied practice experience, which requires them to apply their hard-won education to real-world situations in their own community.

The Master of Public Health through the School of Nursing and Health Professions at University of San Francisco looks at a wide variety of factors for their competitive admissions process. These include employment background, previous coursework, research interest, long term professional goals, and preparedness. Applicants must offer up a bachelor’s degree earned with a 3.0 minimum GPA, two letters of recommendation, a personal statement, resume, and completed application; some students might require more information, depending upon their international status. The GRE is not a requirement for any applicants to the MPH program.

Once enrolled, students can choose from three concentrations: Community and Public Health Practice, Health Policy Leadership, and Behavioral Health; however, only the Community and Public Health Practice concentration is available 100% online. The 14:1 student-teacher ratio allows for close interaction with peers and learned faculty. In addition to high-quality courses in the points that matter most for public health leadership, students will also complete 250 hours of fieldwork placement in a public health organization; this can be completed in the student’s local community if they so choose. The program has been fully CEPH-accredited since 2014.