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Northern Illinois University

School of Nursing & Health Studies

Graduate Admissions in Public Health

Admission to the M.P.H. program is based on a combination of past academic performance, letters of recommendation, a clear statement of career goals, and scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Current admission guidelines call for:

  1. An undergraduate grade point average of approximately 3.00 on a 4.00 scale;
  2. A satisfactory GRE score on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing portions of the exam;
  3. Two letters of recommendation from persons competent to judge the applicant's potential as a graduate student and future public health professional; and
  4. A written statement of career goals that indicates both a commitment to public health and an ability to write clearly and effectively.

Professional or volunteer experience in a community or public health agency, performance in previous graduate-level course work, and any courses taken as a student-at large will also be considered in admissions decisions.

Applications for admission must be sent directly to the NIU Graduate School in accordance with established deadlines.  Please do not send applications to the department.  A completed application consists of the following:

  1. The Graduate School application form,
  2. Two letters of recommendation,
  3. Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended,
  4. One valid copy of general test scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and
  5. A statement of career goals.

Additional requirements apply to international students.  Contact the Graduate School directly for application deadlines: (815) 753-0395.