Admissions

The most up to date and detailed admissions requirements and application instructions are available on the Berkeley School of Public Health website.  The information provided below includes further detail about competitive applications to the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Program.

In addition to meeting all admissions requirements for the School of Public Health, successful applicants to Berkeley’s Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health MPH Degree Programs typically:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree (2 year MPH program) or a master’s degree (11 month MPH program) or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution.
  • Demonstrate academic and professional capability to study at the graduate level.
  • Have a minimum of two years of post-baccalaureate work experience. (Work experience in the MCAH field or public health sectors is preferred, but not required).  The admissions committee may occasionally consider applicants who do not meet this requirement if other measures of performance, such as research experience, are particularly strong.
  • Possess work and research interests and aspirations in MCAH and MCAH epidemiology. 
  • Demonstrate leadership potential.

ACADEMIC PREPARATION

  • Grades: Minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or equivalent in coursework completed after the first two years of undergraduate study and in all graduate coursework. The admissions committee may occasionally consider applicants who do not meet this requirement if other measures of performance are particularly strong.
  • Math or statistics course completion: At least one college-level mathematics or statistics course completed with at least a grade of B or equivalent, reflected on an official transcript is recommended.
  • No specific undergraduate major is required, though candidates with undergraduate majors in the biological or social sciences are encouraged to apply.

TEST SCORES

Valid GRE scores are optional for 2023 admission.

There is no minimum cut-off for GRE scores because applicants are reviewed holistically.  However, successful applicants to the MCAH program tend to have a GRE quantitative score in the 50th percentile or higher.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

  • Statement of purpose and personal history statement including information about why you’ve chosen to study & work in MCAH and how this degree and program will help you achieve your goals.
  • Letters of recommendation (3)  At least one recommendation letter from a former professor (or someone who can speak to your academic potential) and one from a current or former employer (or someone who is familiar with your professional potential) is recommended.

International Students and Concurrent Degree Students: International applicants and applicants planning to pursue a concurrent MPH/MSW degree should review additional requirements on the SPH website.  

HOW TO APPLY

Admissions to the UC Berkeley School of Public Health are done in conjunction with the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS), the online centralized application service for schools of public health.

Applications are only accepted for students starting in the fall semester (July for 1 year program students). Letters of recommendation, a personal history statement and a statement of purpose highlighting your interests, prior experience, and career plans related to MCAH are also required.

Applications for admission to any of the MCAH degree programs will be open in August; completed applications are due each year by December 1. Find out more about requirements here.