Navigating New York City's MPH Landscape: A Prospective Student's Guide

New York has a rich public health environment, with 18 universities offering CEPH-accredited MPH programs¹. Whether it's a graduate school in Manhattan or Albany, these programs provide exceptional public health education and training.

New York’s diverse population begets its vast and varied infrastructure to address population health. For example, the New York public transit system presents its own distinctive challenges in safety and environmental health. The NYC Health + Hospitals system, serving over one million New Yorkers, is another example; with over 45,000 healthcare professionals and more than 70 locations in the five boroughs of New York City, it is the largest municipal healthcare delivery system in the country. As a graduate student, you will be able to discover vibrant and expansive public health systems in New York. 

Furthermore, public health graduate programs in New York present outstanding opportunities to observe collaboration and innovation within its various public health systems. Studying at prestigious institutions, such as Columbia University, New York Medical College, and New York University, provides you access to leading public health experts. Additionally, these institutions often have pipelines, formal or informal, with distinguished public health organizations. For example, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene offers hands-on experience through the HRTP Internship and Epi Scholars Program. Many of the students in their reputable internship programs attend graduate school in the state of New York. As an MPH student in New York, you will be at the forefront of cutting-edge public health research and practice. 

All in all, the state of New York serves as an ideal location to pursue a Master of Public Health. You’ll be immersed in an exciting hub of distinguished academic institutions and respected public health organizations. For internships during your graduate studies and career opportunities after graduation, New York is an unparalleled and remarkable location to earn your MPH. Not to mention, there is ample food and culture to be explored in your free time outside of the academic setting.

Choosing the right MPH program for yourself can feel like an intimidating process. As you can imagine, there are many factors to consider when selecting graduate programs that fit your interests and learning needs. Some components to consider include accreditation status, specialization areas, community involvement, and internship opportunities.

We highly recommend that prospective students search for accredited MPH programs, particularly those accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Currently, the US Department of Education recognizes the CEPH as the only organization to accredit public health schools and programs⁸. This accreditation ensures that a program is held accountable by rigorous standards of academic excellence and program quality. Additionally, CEPH accreditation is granted for five- or seven-year periods with intermittent review processes⁸. Thus, even for well-known programs, it is ideal to check that a program has current CEPH accreditation standing. On the CEPH website, you can search for accredited MPH programs on the ‘Search for a Degree Program’ page. The search allows you to filter by state, concentration, and virtual programs. Additionally, in the search results, you can identify which programs have traditional, online, or both formats⁹.

Beyond accreditation, there are internal features of an MPH program to consider, such as specialized research topics in a department or the expertise of specific faculty members. It can be helpful to look for specific classes that excite you or for what certificates (or tracks) a school offers. MPH program can offer more specific learning through tracks, certifications, concentrations, or even by departments. For example, the MPH program at Syracuse University only offers a Global Health concentration. Conversely, SUNY Downstate School of Public Health offers four MPH tracks: Community Health Sciences, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Health Policy & Management. Don’t be discouraged if you are drawn to a specific graduate school but find that they have limited options for specialization. Almost every MPH curriculum includes room for elective courses, so before ruling out a school, double-check if your specialty of interest can be sufficiently explored through electives.
As set by the CEPH accreditation standards, every Master of Public Health program must require that students demonstrate public health competencies through applied practice experiences, sometimes called the practicum. As a result, the partnerships a university has for the MPH practicum can help determine which school is the right fit for you. For example, Syracuse University is closely connected with the New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network. This might be an exciting prospect for individuals interested in wastewater epidemiology. Regardless of the diversity in practicum placements, the practicum experiences will be community-centered with hands-on work for all MPH programs. Additionally, the requirements for the applied learning experience vary between schools and can also factor into which programs you decide to apply to. For instance, the MPH program at Columbia University requires 280 practicum hours, while NYU’s program only requires 180 hours.

Another key component of choosing an MPH program is the learning environment. There are many options in New York to explore. Some universities offer traditional, in-person degrees, while others allow students to create their own hybrid models. In general, traditional programs provide more exposure for networking with peers and learning about public health in New York communities. Additionally, a traditional MPH program might also offer students better access to experiential learning opportunities within New York due to local partnerships. In comparison, hybrid and online programs offer logistical flexibility for a student’s schedule and learning style.

Many traditional programs can offer accommodations for students who wish to work while earning their MPH. For example, Hofstra University on Long Island hosts classes between Monday and Thursday, and each course meets once a week or two hours. A part-time MPH program is a common arrangement. This allows students to benefit from a traditional format while still making room for their busy schedules.

The hybrid graduate program is another program format that might better suit a working professional. A hybrid MPH may also appeal to individuals with a long commute. For students with families, especially with younger children to care for, a hybrid format can provide the benefits of attending classes on campus but with some room for flexibility. CUNY School of Public Health and New York Medical College are amongst several universities in New York that advertise the option of a hybrid structure.
Nonetheless, the fluid nature of a fully online MPH program might be the favorite option for many people. This may be for various reasons, including a full-time job, being a caregiver, or simply preferring asynchronous learning. A university usually will include access to the same career services, Office of Student Life, faculty, and other resources to students in their traditional, hybrid, and remote graduate programs. Some online MPH programs, such as Adelphi University, offer 100% asynchronous content. Other schools like SUNY – Downstate Health Sciences University have both asynchronous and synchronous courses, allowing peer-to-peer and student-faculty interactions during live classes.

Here are five traditional and five non-traditional (online or hybrid) Master of Public Health formats in New York. All MPH programs detailed in our guide are CEPH-accredited⁹ and nationally ranked by US News & World Report. The diverse offerings of these ten programs illustrate the range of specializations, learning formats, environments, and practicum opportunities to be found across New York State academic institutions.

Traditional MPH Programs

Hybrid & Online MPH Programs

Getting a competitive edge in your application process begins with early action and reaching out for guidance. This includes early awareness of common requirements and components when applying to MPH programs.

While there are usually no stringent prerequisites to apply to MPH programs, there are a few common requirements for a Master’s in Public Health. You’ll need to have an undergraduate degree as a prerequisite for all MPH programs. But, don’t worry, any academic background is welcome. Most commonly, universities will ask that students have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0—but this can vary by school. Some public health academic departments will care more strongly about specific coursework, such as a college semester of a life science or statistics class. Additionally, you might find a few MPH programs ask you to acquire a year of public health work experience before applying. Many schools list the GRE  (or an equivalent test score) as optional. Interestingly, there are a handful of academic institutions that review applicants without a GRE score, even if a student provides one.

In addition to the prerequisites, you can start to prepare components that you will submit for your application to an MPH program. However, almost every MPH program will require letters of recommendation, a personal statement, a list of experiences, and an official undergraduate transcript. As expected, these admission components may vary in length and format from one university to another. An applicant can expect to submit between two to four letters of recommendation, usually with at least one academic reference. The personal statement gives individuals an opportunity to share their public health journey and inspirations. A list of experiences, structured as a series of descriptions, a resume, or both, will provide a clearer illustration of how and why you feel motivated to pursue a career in public health. Official documentation, such as a transcript, is a standard request for all applicants. International students will most likely have to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score to demonstrate proficiency in English.

Overall, an admission committee will be looking for authenticity and excitement from applicants. Official documentation and prerequisites are a small portion of what they are looking for in prospective students. They will be eager to paint a picture beyond your resume and read about your unique path. Our biggest advice would be to remain genuine and proofread your application, especially your personal statement. Subsequently, we recommend that you apply to only three to five schools. It’s important to shortlist which schools you find truly interesting so you can focus on tailored, high-quality submissions. Limiting the number to three or five also helps you save costs and time!
If you’re interested in taking a deeper dive into the admission requirements for MPH programs, check out our article ‘Getting in and Graduating: Requirements for the Master’s in Public Health’.

New York’s diverse public health landscape not only provides many internship opportunities for MPH students but also presents an abundance of career options after graduation. To navigate these various paths, MPH students can turn to their school’s career services office. This is an important resource for public health graduate students as they often provide resume guidance, information on professional networking events, access to career fairs, and even interview preparation.

To give you a better understanding of what you can do after graduating with an MPH degree in New York, let’s explore four common categories of public health careers. Many of the examples we showcase are located in New York.

Choosing the right MPH program in New York requires a layered approach. You will evaluate many factors such as specializations, community involvement, internship opportunities, alumni networks, and program formats. New York’s wonderful public health landscape, diverse population, and acclaimed academic institutions render exceptional opportunities for a graduate degree in public health.

Furthermore, you will have to assess how these components fit into your learning and lifestyle preferences. Consider your professional goals and desired graduate experiences while evaluating program options. Take the next step forward by researching New York MPH programs that appeal to you!