College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Academics > Public Health > Graduate Programs > Public Health (MPH) > Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

The DePaul MPH Program admits students once per year in the fall quarter using SOPHAS.  SOPHAS is the online, centralized application service for public health graduate programs nationwide.  We are currently reviewing applications to start the MPH program in fall 2024. The priority application deadline is March 1, 2024.  Visit the SOPHAS Applicant Help Center for detailed application instructions.  There is no supplemental application through DePaul's website- you can only apply via SOPHAS.*

The following are required for students applying to the program:

  • A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required for admission.
  • A completed online application. For the MPH, we will only accept applications via SOPHAS.
  • Official transcripts from all previous college coursework. A GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) is recommended, but not required, for admission.
  • If your cumulative undergraduate GPA is below a 3.0, please provide a brief, 250-word statement describing any circumstances which may have led to your GPA and how you plan to be successful in an academically rigorous graduate-level program.  You will find this in the questions section in the SOPHAS application.
  • Responses to the following questions:
    • What previous experiences have led to your interest in public health? (250 words)
    • Your reasons for seeking an MPH degree from DePaul University. (150 words)
    • Your reasons for seeking an MPH degree in community health practice or social epidemiology. (250 words)
    • Describe how this degree will help your career/professional goals. (250 words) 
    • Public health professionals work with a wide variety of people from all different backgrounds. Share what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you and why they are important. (250 words)
  • Two letters of recommendation: one from a person who can speak to the applicant’s academic performance and one who can speak to the applicant’s ability to work with diverse communities and hold a commitment to social justice.  Note: SOPHAS requires you to request a minimum of 3 references but we only require two to review an application.
  • Current résumé or curriculum vitae.
  • Applicants may be asked to provide additional supplemental materials or to interview should the admissions committee require it.

International applicants

International student applicants must submit proof of English language proficiency in order to be reviewed for admission. The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences accepts scores from the TOEFL, the IELTS and the Duolingo English Test (DET) as proof of English proficiency. Students who have previously earned an undergraduate or graduate degree in a country where the official native language is recognized as English may be exempt from the English language proficiency requirement- please contact the Office of Graduate Admission with questions about this exemption (lasgrad@depaul.edu).

To be considered English language proficient, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences requires a score of at least 80 on the iBT TOEFL with a minimum score of 17 on each section, or at least 6.5 on the IELTS or at least 110 on the DET.  

While applicants who meet the college minimum will be reviewed, the MPH admission committee prefers the following preferred scores: TOEFL (96), IELTS (7.5), and DET (125).


How to Apply

For the MPH: Social Epidemiology and MPH: Community Health Practice, online applications must be submitted via SOPHAS.

*Combined degree applicants (current DePaul undergraduate students) can apply here. Applicants for the dual MBA/MPH must also apply through SOPHAS.

Application Deadline

The MPH program admits for the fall quarter only.  The preferred application deadline is March 1 annually. It is recommended that applicants submit via SOPHAS 3-4 weeks ahead of the preferred deadline to allow time for verification. Only applications verified in SOPHAS will be reviewed. After March 1, applications will be reviewed until the cohort is filled.  The final deadline for international applicants is May 1 annually.

For More Information

Admission events include Graduate School Open Houses and MPH Program Information Sessions. At these events, prospective students can learn about admissions requirements and program content. Faculty, staff, and students are also available to answer questions at these session. You can view the schedule of upcoming events here; we look forward to seeing you there!

Learn more about Graduate Admission.


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If you need assistance to complete your application and/or have questions, contact the LAS Graduate Admission office at (773) 325-7315 or lasgrad@depaul.edu.