Degree Programs
Master of Public Health - Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Indiana University MPH program is a unique program that can be completed on a part-time basis in three years, or on a full-time basis in two years. It can be completed in a traditional classroom format or fully online format. Most of the required MPH courses are offered in the evening to allow working professionals the opportunity to continue their education.
Through classroom and community learning experiences, case studies, group and individual projects, and internships, students will explore public health problems and issues, learn how to think critically, and work in teams. At the completion of the curriculum, students will have a number of products created that demonstrate to employers their skills in advancing social and community systems change to improve health outcomes. Courses are taught by scholars and practitioners drawn from many disciplines and perspectives.
The MPH program at IU School of Public Health is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Master of Public Health (MPH) provides a balance of academic theory and real-world experience, ensuring students are well prepared for a career in public health or to pursue further education. The Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) concentration is a great choice for those who want to have an impact on population health. Students learn how to: implement community health education programs, develop and advocate for policies that advance social justice to improve public health, implement community health promotion, and address societal determinants of health.
Social and Behavioral Sciences concentration competencies
- Produce at least one advocacy strategy to address public health priorities.
- Write a health policy brief in health promotion and disease prevention
- Design communication tools to optimize individual and/or community health across different audiences.
- Develop and produce a community solutions podcast episode in health promotion and disease prevention
- Design, implement, and analyze research studies, in collaboration with a community agency, to address an agency-identified public health issue
- Develop and implement and analyze a qualitative study in qualitative research methods.
- Construct in partnership with a community agency a program implementation and evaluation plan to address an agency-identified public health issue.
- Develop a community health program in ILE1: Advanced Program Planning, and an associated evaluation plan in ILE2: Research Methods and Program Evaluation
- Develop a grant proposal and fundraising case statement to advance a community agency’s programming and mission.
- Develop a grant proposal and fundraising case statement for a community health plan in ILE2: Research Methods and Program Evaluation and ILE1: Advanced Program Planning, respectively.
Social and Behavioral Sciences curriculum
To complete this degree, you will take a combination of public health core courses, SBS concentration courses, public health elective courses, and public health practical experience courses that together total 45 credits. The specific distribution of courses is as follows:
Public Health core courses
Take all four courses for a total of 12 credits
- PBHL P510 Introduction to Public Health (3 credits)
- PBHL P511 Comprehensive Methods and Applications in Biostatistics and Epidemiology (3 credits)
- PBHL P513 Planning, Evaluation & Management (3 credits)
- PBHL P512 Communication & Leadership (3 credits)
Social and Behavioral Science concentration courses
Take all seven courses for a total of 21 credits
- S615 Qualitative Methods (3 credits)
- S617 Health Promotion & Disease Prevention (3 credits)
- S620 A Biopsychosocial Approach to Stress (3 credits)
- S619 Health Disparities and Health Equity (3 credits)
- S605 Public Health Biology (1 credit)
- S662 Integrated Learning Experience 1: Advanced Program Planning (4 credits)
- S664 Integrated Learning Experience 2: Research Methods and Program Evaluation
- *200 of the 240 hours for the required internship (S 602) must be completed prior to gaining course authorization for this course
All students will choose a focus area of either "Global Maternal and Child Health" or "Public Health Communications" and take two courses for six credits in their chosen focus area
Global Maternal and Child Health
- S630 Global Maternal and Child Health (3 credits)
- S635 A Biosocial Approach to Global Health (3 credits)
Public Health Communication
- S625 Applied Public Health Campaigns (3 credits)
- S622 Coaching for Health and Wellness (3 credits)
Social and Behavioral Sciences elective courses
Select one course for a total of three credits. If a course below is not in your selected focus area of either "Global Maternal and Child Health" or "Public Health Communications," it can be taken as an elective.
- A641 Introduction to Global Health and Sustainable Development (3 credits)
- S622 Coaching for Health Behavior Change (3 credits)
- S625 Applied Public Health Campaigns (3 credits)
- S631 Maternal and Family Child Health (3 credits)
- S640 Culture and Health (3 credits)
- S635 A Biosocial Approach to Global Health (3 credits)
- S630 Global Maternal Health (3 credits)
Public Health practical experience
Take the course below for a total of three credits
- S602 Public Health Internship (3 credits) – 240 total hours required; 200 of these hours must be completed prior to gaining course authorization for the Capstone Course.
Admission criteria and requirements
Criteria
- Baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college.
- Minimum of one year of undergraduate mathematics (e.g. algebra, statistics, or finite math).
- Competent written and oral communication skills.
- Students meeting these requirements are not guaranteed admission. Other admission factors include references, work experience, the personal statement, and personal interview (if applicable).
MPH applications and supplemental materials must be submitted to SOPHAS (Schools of Public Health Application Service). SOPHAS is meant to facilitate the collection of common application materials and general information. For more information and frequently asked questions please visit sophas.org.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)GRE scores are not required for admission. To strengthen the application, GRE scores are strongly recommended if the cumulative GPA from all undergraduate institutions attended is below 3.0. Official GRE test scores taken within the past five years are acceptable.
Personal statement
The personal statement should contain only responses to the following five questions. Students must upload their responses to the Personal Statement section of SOPHAS.
Please answer each of the following five questions in a concise and well-written short answer format. Responses to each question should not exceed 100 words (500 words total for all five questions).
- Where did your interest in public health originate?
- Why are you interested in the Fairbanks School of Public Health?
- Which MPH concentrations are you pursuing and why?
- What do you think you might be doing professionally five years from now? Please list two possibilities.
- What do you think are the most pressing public health issues at this time?
Résumé
For each position on the résumé or CV, provide the job title, employing agency, dates employed, and responsibilities held. Indicate any additional strengths or skills such as fluency in foreign languages, research experience, teaching experience, community service, and demonstration of leadership skills. Include professional certifications, honors, and awards.
Your résumé or CV can be uploaded electronically into SOPHAS and should not be mailed.
Transcript
U.S. or Canadian transcripts
Official post-secondary transcripts from all U.S. institutions attended (must be sent directly from the institutions to SOPHAS). This includes previous study at Indiana University campuses. U.S. applicants who studied at foreign institutions as part of a study abroad experience at their U.S. college or university do not need to provide a WES evaluation of their study abroad coursework.
Applicants are required to enter all U.S. coursework. Entering U.S. coursework allows SOPHAS to calculate GPAs that institutions use in reviewing applications, provides a way for institutions to review applications using electronic review forms and also allows for a mechanism to gather aggregate information about prior coursework. SOPHAS uses official transcripts to verify the self-reported coursework. This process significantly expedites the institution review process.
For regular mail, please send your transcript to:
SOPHAS
P.O. Box 9111
Watertown, MA 02471-9111
For overnight delivery only:
SOPHAS
c/o Liaison International
311 Arsenal Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-612-2090
Applicants who have not earned a degree at the time of application submission will be required to submit an official transcript upon acceptance to the IU Fairbanks School of Public Health. This official transcript should indicate your degree earned and date of conferral. If you did not earn your degree at the time you applied to SOPHAS, please send an updated official transcript with degree earned and date of conferral to:
IU Fairbanks School of Public Health
Office of Student Services and Admissions
Attn: Cher Pearcy
1050 Wishard Blvd., 5th Floor
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Foreign transcripts
All applicants with foreign academic credentials must provide a World Education Services (WES) ICAP course-by-course evaluation of those credentials. Because this process can take some time, applicants should submit their transcripts to WES at least one month in advance of the application deadline.
Through special arrangements with SOPHAS, WES will deliver its credential evaluation report directly to SOPHAS by secure electronic transmission. This expedites the delivery of the evaluation report as well as images of the applicant’s verified transcripts to SOPHAS and allows SOPHAS to process the report most efficiently.
Letters of recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required from academic/professional sources that can provide an unbiased critical assessment of your abilities, skills, strengths, and weaknesses. Examples of academic/professional sources are professors, academic advisors, internship preceptors, or immediate supervisors. Examples of sources that are not acceptable include coworkers, colleagues, teaching assistants, classmates, ministers, and relatives.
Recommendation letters must be submitted electronically to SOPHAS.
Interview
Interviewees are invited at the discretion of the admission committee.
The MPH admissions committee conducts interviews using Skype video conferencing for applicants who are unable to travel to Indianapolis for the interview. Skype is a free software application that allows users to connect through the internet to communicate. Note that applicants will need access to a webcam and microphone for the interview.
International applicants
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
The Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health requires applicants whose native language is not English or whose academic study was done exclusively at non-English speaking institutions to prove English proficiency by providing either official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. Scores must be under two years old.
The preferred minimum English language test scores for admission to the Fairbanks School of Public Health are:
- Internet-based TOEFL: minimum score of 92
- Computer-based TOEFL: minimum score of 263
- Paper-based TOEFL: minimum score of 620
- IELTS (total band score): minimum score of 7
Applicants must submit:
- TOEFL scores to SOPHAS using the following designation DI Code 5688.
- IELTS scores must be uploaded electronically to SOPHAS.
English Placement Test
- International applicants who reside in the U.S. at the time of application must submit TOEFL, ILETS or IUPUI EAP (English for Academic Purposes) exam scores.
- International applicants who do not reside in the U.S. at the time of application must submit their TOEFL or IELTS scores with their application and, if admitted to the MPH program, also complete an EAP Exam upon arrival to Indianapolis.
- The USMLE and ECFMG do not fulfill the required proof of English proficiency when applying to the MPH program. Applicants who have passed the USMLE or ECFMG must also submit TOEFL, IELTS or EAP scores.
To schedule a test date and time please call the testing center at 317-274-2620.
WES evaluations of transcripts
Foreign transcripts
All applicants with foreign academic credentials must provide a World Education Services (WES) ICAP course-by-course evaluation of those credentials. Because this process can take some time, applicants should submit their transcripts to WES at least one month in advance of the application deadline.
Through special arrangements with SOPHAS, WES will deliver its credential evaluation report directly to SOPHAS by secure electronic transmission. This expedites the delivery of the evaluation report as well as images of the applicant’s verified transcripts to SOPHAS and allows SOPHAS to process the report most efficiently.
DO NOT mail any other documents to SOPHAS, including thesis, dissertations, or pre-secondary or secondary transcripts.
International applicants will be required to submit official transcripts, marksheets and diplomas from all colleges and universities attended to the IUPUI Office of International Affairs (OIA). OIA will evaluate your transcripts to determine if eligibility requirements for graduate study have been met.
Please mail transcripts, marksheets and diploma to:
Office of International Affairs
Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis
902 W. New York Street, ES2126
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Office: (317) 274-7000
Fax: (317) 274-2213
Email: intlaff@iupui.edu
Web: international.iupui.edu
Updated: April 2023
