Frequently Asked Questions

How large is the PHAP class each year?

25-35 students start each Fall

What is the average age of PHAP students?

29

How large is the SPH?

1,300 enrolled students

What general percentage of students received their undergraduate degrees outside of the Minnesota, outside of the U.S.?

Undergrad at UMN - 26%
Undergrad in Minnesota, not at UMN - 28%
Undergrad in US, not in Minnesota - 31%
Undergrad outside US - 15%

Are PHAP students attending primarily full-time or part-time?

Students can do either; Two-thirds are full-time

Would I be able to continue for the second-third year full-time?

Yes. Many part-time students take 3-6 credits per semester, including summer terms, and finish the degree over 3-4 years. However, as the program does not mandate sequence or order in which most courses are taken, this allows for students who wish to vary the number of credits taken each term. You could feasibly take one year part time and then switch to full-time.

Also, is it feasible to do the MPH program part-time if I do not currently hold a position in the public health field?

 It is feasible, depending on your employer's flexibility with your work schedule.

Is it possible to combine specialty areas (i.e. policy and management, analysis and global, etc.)? Or, to design my own specialty?

It is possible to complete more than one specialty area; one popular combination is policy and management. Some students will do a specialty area and a concentration. There are no a la carte specialty areas.

I am very interested in a specific track. Do I need to apply to this track after admittance into the PHAP program?

No. The application process only determines admission into the School of Public Health and the PHAP major. Once admitted, students are permitted to choose from our two curricula (Standard and International) and four specialty areas (Policy, Analysis, Management, and Global Health Interdisciplinary Concentration) per their interests.

Is it feasible or recommended to do short-term practicums over the winter break?

Yes, depending on the site's needs and expectations. The minimum number of hours for the field experience is 120. Some students work full-time for three weeks to finish this. There is approximately one month between the end of fall semester and the beginning of spring semester.

What portion of PHAP students receive funding i.e. grants, scholarships, TA's, assistantships, etc.?

Only a very small percentage of PHAP students receive scholarships or fellowships, and even those are rarely full coverage. We encourage students to be thoughtful in choosing the order of their courses to maximize job opportunities. All PHAP students who seek out RA positions their first year find one during the first year. We currently have two students working as TAs.

Does the school help students locate funding?

We have a Financial Aid officer for Health Professions students can contact regarding financial aid. The PHAP program goes even further by collecting resumes of all incoming and current students to distribute to division faculty and community partners in an effort to locate potential RA jobs. We also collect information about RA positions and job announcements and share with students electronically.

Are professors willing to work closely with master's students (versus PHD candidates)?

Yes. All PHAP students are assigned an academic (faculty) advisor upon matriculation, and they choose master's project advisor along with at least one other faculty reader.

Is it encouraged to work with professors outside of the PHAP department if they are working on studies that interest me (such as Epi, Biostats, Maternal Health, etc.)

Yes. If you mean RA work, absolutely. If you mean master's project, yes in that faculty from outside the division may be a project reader, but many are strong advisors to PHAP students.

Are mentors arranged to match student interests?

Mentors are available, but the student must indicate to the School that they wish to participate in the mentor program (not automatically matched).

Is there a strong network with international organization such as WHO, USAID, etc.?

Yes. We maintain a database of field preceptors who have previously hosted MPH students for a field experience, many of whom work at the state, federal, and international levels. All enrolled MPH students have full access to the database to help in their field experience search.

Is there a strong alumni network that is readily available for students?

Yes, as well as a strong faculty network. Through on-line social networking, PHAP students are reaching alums faster than ever. This is a new and growing tool.

How is the school addressing the current economic issues in field of public health (student education and career development/outlook)?

We have developed a variety of workshops and seminars on topics including resume and cover letter writing, interview skills, networking, and job-search planning. Additionally, we provide mock interviews, resume assistance, and job fairs to help our students develop necessary skills to find employment after graduating.

Approximately how much does it cost to complete an MPH in PHAP?

2009-2010 in-state rate is $607 x 44 credits = 26,708 + 4,413 fees + 4,656 health insurance (may opt out) = $35,777 approximate total for a two-year MPH degree. Text books and cost of living are separate factors. The university also provides a cost calculator at http://onestop.umn.edu/finances/costs_and_tuition/index.html

Typically how many credits do students take per semester?

11; 9-15 is the typical variance range

If MPH students take over 9 credits per semester, is a flat fee charged instead of per credit fee?

MPH tuition is billed per-credit, regardless of how many you take.

Do the credits for the 2009 Public Health Institute count toward a degree as elective credits or do they fulfill required credits?

The 7200 courses with significant Global Health content count toward the Global Health Specialty area. 6711 Public Health Law, though not part of the Public Health Institute, is a May term course that counts toward the Management and Policy specialty areas.