Admissions Overview

The University of Kansas Master of Public Health (KU-MPH) program accepts applications for degree-seeking admission twice (Spring and Fall) a year through the Schools of Public Health Application Services (SOPHAS).

Spring Admission:

Deadline: November 1

Fall Admission:

Deadline: March 1

Admission Requirements

Admission into the KU-MPH Program requires a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution (undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 grade scale) and one or more years of responsible work in the health field (preferred). The program may be completed on the Wichita or Kansas City campus.

Concentration Pre-requisite

Applicants must select a concentration and must document any prerequisites that have been successfully met.

_{*In compliance with new regulations from our accrediting body (CEPH), we have combined the Public Health Management and Social and Behavioral Health concentrations into one concentration: Public Health Practice. This change was made recently, so we were unable to update our SOPHAS application to reflect the new concentration. Applicants applying for the Public Health Practice concentration for Fall 2019 admission should choose either the Public Health Management or Social and Behavioral Health concentration on their SOPHAS application. To review the new curriculum, please visit our Program Curriculum page.}

Required Admission Materials

All admission materials must be submmited to to SOPHAS. Materials submitted to the University of Kansas Medical Center may cause delay in the verification of your SOPHAS application. Additional instructions can be found on the SOPHAS website.

• A personal statement.
  • Personal Statement Guidelines.
  • Do not submit additional writing materials (journal article, writing samples, etc.).
• A CV or resume.
• Three letters of recommendation.
  • Do not send more than the required three letters of recommendation. Additional letters will not be reviewed by the KU-MPH Admissions Committee.
  • Letters must be from an individual who can provide a professional evaluation of your ability to perform and succeed at the graduate level (academic adviser, supervisor with an advanced degree in Public Health, etc.).
  • Letters from family and/or friends, political figures, and the like are discouraged and may be detrimental to your application. 
• One official copy of transcript from all post-secondary institutions attended.
• Evaluation of non-U.S. transcripts from WES including degree equivalency and grade point average (for international applicants or applicants who completed their undergraduate at a non-U.S. institution).
• Official TOEFL® or IELTS™ score for international applicants.
  • Applicants must meet the minimal score as outlined by the KUMC Office of International Programs.
  • Applicants who do not meet the minimal score will not be considered for admission to the KU-MPH program.

Admissions Timeline

• August 1: SOPHAS Portal for KU-MPH applications opens.
• November 1: FINAL application deadline for Spring admission.
• March 1: FINAL application deadline. ALL applications submitted after November 1 must be complete by March 1 to be considered for review. Applicants can expect to receive a decision 4-6 weeks after the final deadline date of March 1.

Technical Standards

The University of Kansas Medical Center is committed to equal opportunity and nondiscrimination in all programs and activities and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or ancestry, age, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or creed, disability, veteran status or genetic testing & screening. Academic accommodation requests should be directed to Academic Accommodation Services at KUMC.

The following abilities and expectations required by all students admitted to the Master of Public Health are available on the Technical Standards and Requirement form.

Background Check Requirements

The University of Kansas Medical Center now requires a criminal background check prior to admitting students to graduate programs. Prior to final acceptance and initial enrollment in classes, applicants will be directed to have a background check completed by Validity Screening Solutions. The applicant must pay a one-time fee for the background check directly to Validity Screening Solutions. The KU-MPH program will review the information obtained through the background check and make a final decision on the applicant's eligibility for the program. The KU-MPH program will then notify the applicant regarding final acceptance or denial of admission.

I am offered a place in the KU-MPH program. What are the next steps?

Congratulations! Your admission to the program is contingent on submission of the KUMC Application and results of a University required background check. Your admission email will provide instructions on how to submit a KUMC application. You will also receive a seperate email from the Program Director with detailed instructions on how to complete a background check.

• Step 1: Complete and submit the KUMC application. There will be a $60 application fee.
• Step 2: Complete the University required background check. As of 2018, there is an application fee of $36.50 plus $2.00 administrative fee for Credit Card users for the background check.

I applied for the KU-MPH program, but was denied admission. Can I get feedback on my application?

We cannot accomodate requests for feedback from denied applicants. We can assure you that each applicant is carefully considered. At least four members of the KU-MPH Admisisons Committee independently review each applicant. Applicants are denied when the committee concludes that their qualifications do not position them ahead of enough other applicants in the pool. However, we can look over your application materials and share with you how to improve and strengthen your application for the next admissions cycle. If you have questions about how to make your application stronger, please contact the KU-MPH Site Director before you submit your application.