The Bachelor of Arts/Master of Public Health program offered jointly by the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) and the School of Public Health (SPH) is a blend of the undergraduate experience and graduate professional study leading to increased career opportunities in the field of public health. Students complete all degree requirements for the (128-unit) BA and all requirements for the (48-unit) MPH. Up to 16 units of graduate-level School of Public Health coursework completed in the final two years of undergraduate study may be applied both as elective units toward the BA and as units toward fulfillment of requirements for the MPH. Careful planning and full-time enrollment can result in students鈥 receiving both the BA and MPH after a total of five years of study, rather than the usual minimum of five-and-a-half years. Students may complete the MPH degree on a part-time basis if desired. The BA is awarded at the completion of all BA requirements; the MPH is awarded once students have completed all MPH program requirements.
Public health is a diverse field that draws on expertise from many disciplines, including math, science, law, ethics, psychological and brain sciences, sociology, political science, and communications. Students applying to the BA/MPH program will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to public health as evidenced by their previous coursework, personal statement in the SOPHAS application, and past employment and extracurricular activities. Students in all CAS undergraduate concentrations are eligible to apply for the BA/MPH program, provided that they are not concurrently enrolled in another dual degree program. Students pursuing an undergraduate minor in Public Health must drop that minor if they are accepted and choose to enroll in the BA/MPH program. Students must apply for the program by April 1 of their sophomore year (for fall admission) or by October 15 of their junior year (for spring admission) and may apply prior to taking any courses at the School of Public Health. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.20, and successful applicants will generally have a GPA above 3.50.
Application to the dual degree program will consist of an Application Approval Form signed by the BA/MPH advisor (e.g., the Director of Prehealth Advising) at the Pre-Professional Advising Office, 100 Bay State Road, 4th Floor; a completed SOPHAS application to the School of Public Health; an official Boston University undergraduate transcript; three letters of reference, including two from faculty members at Boston University specifically addressing the student鈥檚 capacity to do graduate-level work.
Checklist for BA/MPH Dual Degree Students
Meet with BA/MPH advisor in the fall of sophomore year to discuss application to the BA/MPH program.
Complete required BA/MPH Application Approval Form at a meeting with the BA/MPH advisor.
Submit completed application through SOPHAS by April 1 of sophomore year or October 15 of junior year.
Request an official BU transcript be sent to the SPH Admissions office at the end of the term in which the application is made.
If accepted, 鈥渦ndeclare鈥 public health minor (if applicable).
If accepted, schedule a meeting with the SPH Director of Undergraduate Education.
January 2025
College of Arts and Sciences
725 Commonwealth Avenue,
BOSTON,
Massachusetts,
02215, United States
Apply as a first-year student if you are currently in your last year of high school, have completed high school, are a GED recipient, or have completed a high school equivalency exam. If you are currently in high school and are part of a dual enrollment program, you should also apply as a first-year student.
English Proficiency Testing Results:
Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test (TOEFL iBT): Students who are most competitive for admission will have a composite score of at least 90-100 and minimum scores of 20 in each section.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): A total/overall score of 7 or higher
Duolingo English Test (DET): Students who are most competitive for admission will have a total score of at least 125-135.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.