Accelerated MPH for Simmons University Undergraduate Students

MPH@SIMMONS

Jump-start Your MPH Career with an Accelerated MPH

The Simmons Accelerated Master of Public Health (MPH) program allows Simmons students who are pursuing a BA or BS in Public Health to simultaneously complete coursework toward an MPH. The combined degree program decreases the total number of credits needed to earn two degrees, providing an opportunity to jump-start your career as a public health professional while saving you both time and money. 

Simmons undergraduates enrolling in the accelerated MPH program will receive the Simmons Future Leaders in Health Equity Scholarship. The scholarship is disbursed in the terms following your undergraduate graduation when you become a matriculated graduate student.

About MPH@Simmons

MPH@Simmons, the online Master of Public Health from Simmons University, prepares students to address health inequity and positively impact public health at local, national, and global levels. Delivered through a blend of online courses, self-paced content, and in-person immersion experiences, our program’s practice-based curriculum will give students the real-world skills needed to ensure that they graduate ready to serve as effective public health practitioners.

Applying to the Accelerated MPH Program

  • As a first step, Simmons undergraduate Public Health majors should reach out to Professor Val Leiter if considering applying to the Accelerated MPH program. Applicants must complete a required advising checklist (PDF, 100KB) before beginning their application.
  • Applicants must submit an application to the MPH@Simmons program no later than March 1 of their sophomore or junior year, depending on their preferred plan of study. (Students may take 1 MPH course in their junior fall and 1 MPH course in their senior fall, or may instead elect to take 2 MPH courses in their senior year fall.)
  • Applicants must be public health majors in good academic standing, having earned a 3.0 GPA or higher overall.

Requirements

As part of the admission process, candidates must submit the following materials:

  • Completed application form
  • One essay
  • Three letters of recommendation (including one from your public health advisor stating your accelerated course plan and preferably one from a professional or volunteer supervisor)
  • Transcripts of all undergraduate study, including your official Simmons transcript
  • Current résumé
  • Advising Checklist (PDF, 100KB)

In addition to the requirements above, you may also be required to participate in an interview with a member of the admission committee.

Matriculating Into the MPH Program

Students must earn a “B” or better in the MPH coursework completed as an undergraduate in order to continue with the combined degree program. Once the undergraduate degree is conferred and the admission office receives a final transcript, a new acceptance letter to the MPH program will be sent.

Students accepted to the Accelerated MPH program will enroll in either one course during their junior year and one course during the fall of their senior year, or two courses during the fall of their senior year.

  • Health Equity & Social Justice (MHEO 410) will count as an undergraduate elective.
  • Epidemiology (MHEO 415) will take the place of Introduction to Epidemiology (PH 201) to fulfill the undergraduate epidemiology requirement. If PH 201 has already been completed, MHEO 415 will count as an undergraduate elective.

View our advising checklist (PDF, 100KB) for students interested in the Accelerated MPH program.