Mailman School of Public Health Programs

The Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health allows highly-qualified General Studies undergraduate and Postbaccalaureate Premedical students to pursue several graduate programs of study in the field of public health. Students interested in the Columbia MPH degree may pursue one of several pathways depending on their interests or eligibility, including the traditional two-year MPH, the Accelerated MPH program, and the Mailman 4+1 program. Applicants interested in the Accelerated MPH program must have at least two years of substantial health-care related work experience at the time of application.

Students interested in Environmental Health Sciences may apply to the Masters of Science degree with a track in Toxicology.

Additionally, GS undergraduate and postbac students may enroll in some of the courses offered at the Mailman School while they are matriculated at General Studies.

There are several advantages of applying to the available programs at the Mailman School of Public Health for GS students.

  • Mailman will waive the GRE requirement for students with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.5. 
  • Mailman will waive the application fee for GS students.
  • Mailman will help place accepted students in clinical and research settings with Mailman faculty prior to the start of their graduate program.
  • Mailman will guarantee enrollment in the undergraduate public health courses that are part of the special concentration in public health to students who have received early acceptance to a Mailman program.

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the information sessions conducted by the Mailman School of Public Health during New Student Orientation Week and other times in the fall semester.

Mailman School of Public Health 4+1 Dual Degree Program

Program Overview

The 4+1 Dual Degree program with the School of Public Health provides an opportunity for qualified GS students to receive both a liberal arts and a public health education. Undergraduate students from GS have the opportunity to obtain their undergraduate degree and a Masters of Public Health within five years. As the need for an educated public health workforce grows, as demonstrated by the current COVID-19 crisis, this program will help prepare students to address current global challenges.

Curriculum

Accepted students will enroll in 15-18 credits of graduate-level credits at Mailman during the fall of their 4th year (and final year of undergraduate studies). These approved Mailman courses will be applied toward the MPH degree and will also count as elective credit toward the 124 points required for the undergraduate degree. Tuition is charged at the undergraduate rate during this semester. Students will complete their remaining undergraduate requirements in the spring of 4th year and will have their BA conferred before matriculating at Mailman in the summer/fall. Upon matriculation at Mailman, during their fifth/final year, students will complete their remaining coursework toward the 42-45 points needed to complete their graduate degree. Students are required to complete at least 42 credits, or 3 full-time semesters at Mailman, while fulfilling the requirements toward their MPH degree.

Admissions

Eligibility

Candidates from all undergraduate majors are invited to apply. Competitive candidates will have nearly all of their core requirements and major requirements completed by the end of their third year, have a GPA that exceeds 3.5, and will not have accrued more than 85 points at the time of submitting their application. Applicants are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor and major advisor as soon as they express an interest in the GS-Mailman 4+1 program to review and discuss their candidacy.

Students must have at least 12 credits earned at Columbia at the time they submit their application.

At minimum, applicants need to successfully complete one quantitative class (MATH 1003, Calculus, or Statistics) from the Columbia Math or Statistics department before applying. Two quantitative classes are encouraged.

Interested students are strongly encouraged to meet with GS graduate school advisor/coach to discuss their application. Students should be sure that all classes from completed semesters show final grades.

Application for Admission

Interested applicants must create a long-term academic plan in consultation with their academic advisor in order to confirm their eligibility before they apply and are considered for the program. Final confirmation of eligibility will be determined by the GS Dean of Students office. Students must have a minimum 3.5 GPA at GS. Students in all majors are welcomed to apply. The application deadline is January 15, preceding the fall semester of enrollment. There are no fall deadline dates, as there is no spring matriculation granted for this program. Students must complete the Mailman Masters in Public Health application.

The application deadline is December 1, preceding the fall semester of enrollment.

Application Components

  • Official transcripts (from all post-secondary academic institutions)

  • 500 word Personal statement / Statement of Purpose

  • Letters of Recommendation (3)

  • Resume or CV

  • Optional Addendum

  • Standardized Test are waived

Contact

Please meet with your academic advisor and major advisor in order to develop a long term academic plan. For more information regarding the GS-Mailman 4+1 program, please contact Graduate School Advising at gs-gradschooladvising@columbia.edu. Additional information may also be found on the Mailman website.

Prospective applicants with questions about the application and admissions requirements may contact:
Julie Davenport
Director of Admissions
Office of Enrollment Management
jkd6@cumc.columbia.edu

Students with general questions regarding the program, and those who have already enrolled, should contact:
Meredith Ryer
Assistant Director of Student Support
Office of Student Affairs
mr4075@cumc.columbia.edu

Mailman School of Public Health Accelerated MPH Program

Program Overview

The Accelerated MPH program is available only to students who have at least two years of substantial healthcare experience. Qualified GS students may study for and receive a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree during the year following graduation from GS by pursuing the Mailman Accelerated MPH through the General Public Health Program. The General Public Health Program offers students broader participation in the field of public health as well as formal training in the methods and substantive areas of public health; moreover, it provides a superb foundation for medical education. The General Public Health Program also includes a practicum experience, which provides students with opportunities to apply their academic training within a work setting.

Curriculum

The structure of the one-year degree program includes five components, carefully timed and integrated, so that learning in one part of the program informs activities and assignments in another. 

Students begin the program by immersing themselves in the Mailman Core Curriculum, which offers grounding in the history and methods of public health, as well as foundational studies of biological and environmental determinants of health; social, behavioral, and structural determinants of health; methods for public health research and programming; and health systems. 

Rather than focus on a single discipline within public health, students in the General Public Health track draw their coursework from departments throughout the Mailman School.

In addition, each student is expected to develop and demonstrate improved skills in a technical area, such as research design, program evaluation, health education, health program planning, or administration, as well as select from the School’s curriculum, in consultation with their academic advisor, those courses that help meet this objective.

Admissions

Eligibility

Students are eligible to apply for this program if they:

  • have completed the Core curriculum, declared a major, and maintained an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
  • have received a grade of B+ or better in University Writing (undergraduate students)
  • have received a grade of B+ in mathematics and statistics courses (postbac students)
  • have taken a mathematics or statistics course at Columbia
  • have a minimum of two years of work experience in a health-related field

Application Requirements

The following materials must be submitted as part of the required application:

  • Required Application | Apply Here
  • GRE scores if the applicant’s undergraduate GPA is less than 3.5
  • 500 word personal statement describing interest in the program
  • Three letters of recommendation from faculty or supervisors
  • IELTS or TOEFL scores for international students only
  • CV or resume
  • Academic transcripts from all previous undergraduate institutions, including GS

Admissions Deadlines

  • Priority Deadline: December 1
  • General Deadline: January 15 

Please see here for more information regarding admissions eligibility, application requirements, admissions timelines, and tuition and fees.

Contact

For more information on the Accelerated MPH Program, students should contact Juli Parker at the Mailman School of Public Health and the GS graduate school advisor.

Mailman School of Public Health MS in Environmental Sciences: Toxicology

Program Overview

The Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the Mailman School of Public Health offers students the opportunity to obtain the MS degree with a track in Toxicology. The program will train students to understand and communicate the effects of exposure to toxic substances from the environment on human health, assess risk and vulnerabilities, devise strategies to minimize exposure, and develop remedies in response to exposure to environmental hazards.  In addition to a robust curriculum that prepares students to address the most current topics and methods such as Computational Toxicology, students will have opportunities to gain hands-on experience during their practicum and thesis project. Students will learn laboratory methods in a semester-long lab-based course, gain quantitative skills and receive a Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification as part of their Industrial Hygiene course. Upon graduation from the program, students will have the knowledge and expertise to pursue careers within governmental and nongovernmental agencies, industries, and academic or research institutions.

This 12-month MS degree program in Toxicology from the Mailman School of Public Health is ideal for postbac students seeking to add valuable skills and credentials to their portfolio during their gap year. Students can enroll in an EHS course during their second year of the postbac program. (The course can count towards the MS required credits.)

Curriculum

Students in the MS Toxicology program will complete a minimum of 40 credits of course work. The requisite three-month practicum will provide students with professional experience in a real work setting, and the mandatory master’s research thesis will afford students research training. Please refer to the complete list of required courses for additional information.

Admissions

Eligibility

Competitive applicants to the MS in Toxicology program should have a strong academic foundation in chemistry and biology. Applicants typically have a strong GPA. 

Application Requirements

The following materials must be submitted as part of the required application:

  • Required Application | Apply Here | SOPHAS Application Service
  • GRE scores if the applicant’s undergraduate GPA is less than 3.5
  • 500 word personal statement describing interest in the program
  • Three letters of recommendation from faculty or supervisors
  • IELTS or TOEFL scores for international students only
  • CV or resume
  • Academic transcripts from all previous undergraduate institutions, including GS

Admissions Deadlines

The deadline for admission to the MS Program in Toxicology is June 1 for enrollment in the subsequent fall semester.

Please see here for more information regarding admissions eligibility, application requirements, admissions timelines, and tuition and fees.

Contact

Nina Kulacki at the Mailman School of Public Health can provide program specific information. Students should also contact the GS graduate school advisor.