Master's Programs Prerequisites by Department

Graduate Admissions at a Glance

REVISEd STANDARDIZED TEST INFORMATION

Standardized test scores are NOT REQUIRED for applicants applying
to any master’s- or doctoral-level program for the academic year starting fall 2021. If you have taken a standardized test such as the GRE or MCAT and want to submit your scores, please note that they will not be used as an official metric during applica-
tion review. Scores may be used by some programs after the admissions decision is made to inform future use of standardized test scores in the admissions process.

Reach out to admissions staff at sph.inquiries@umich.edu if you have questions.

BIOSTATISTICS

Biostatistics develops and applies statistical designs and analysis methods for biomedical research to turn data into knowledge. With the emergence of big data, biostatistics expertise is in even greater demand than before.

  • Advanced calculus or real analysis
  • Computing: e.g. R, Python, C++
  • 3 semesters of calculus
  • 1 semester of linear algebra
  • 1 semester of intro statistics
RECOMMENDED COURSES REQUIRED COURSES

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES

Environmental Health Sciences pursue prevention and protection in a world where more than 10,000 people die from environmental and occupational exposures each day. Our faculty and students do cutting-edge research to understand how the environment impacts human health and how to educate the public about best practices and policy improvements at local and global levels.

HELPFUL EXPERIENCES RECOMMENDED COURSES REQUIRED COURSES
  • Background in science, policy, health, or engineering
  • Professional experience in environmental healthor related field
  • Lab or research experience for applicants pursuing MS or PhD
  • Biology
  • General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Calculus
  • General Physics
  • EHS MPH: Minimum one course in chemistry and biology
  • EHS MS and Toxicology MS: Biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus, physics
  • EHS MPH (Industrial Hygiene): ABET Accredited -Biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus, physics
  • Environmental Health Promotion and Policy MPH: Minimum one biology course

We offer academic Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees and professional Master of Public Health in Environmental
Health Sciences (EHS) or Environmental Health Promotion and Policy (EHPP) degrees.

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Epidemiology pursues the reduction of disease in human populations through research, education, and service. Epidemiology is a broad scientific discipline that examines the distribution of diseases across populations, ascertains the determinants of those diseases, and develops disease prevention strategies.

HELPFUL EXPERIENCES RECOMMENDED COURSES
  • Research methods and quantitative skills
  • Strong communication skills
  • Relevant volunteer and internship experience
  • International experience (GHE track)
  • Lab experience (HME track)
  • Biology or other life sciences
  • Algebra
  • Statistics

HEALTH BEHAVIOR AND HEALTH EDUCATION

The Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health is committed to developing agents of transformative change. Through our competency-based curriculum, comprehensive research experiences, innovative partnerships, and hands-on field experiences, our students explore the factors that influence behavior and health.

In local and global communities, students work to turn theory and research into practice, applying their knowledge to develop evidence-based interventions, communicate and motivate people about health, and reshape policies that improve community health, prevent disease, achieve health equity, and empower populations.

EXPERIENCES RECOMMENDED COURSES
Communication/writing skills, volunteer, internship, or professional work College Algebra or Calculus

HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND POLICY

Health Management and Policy pursues more cost-effective systems and better public policy to increase health access and equity. As populations expand and health systems become more complex, our top-ranked program will take you beyond business and analytical models to understand the human side of health care so you can create working environments and policy that serve the entire community.

EXPERIENCES RECOMMENDED COURSES
Leadership skills and Volunteer, internship, or professional work Statistics, Economics, and Accounting

NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES

Nutritional Sciences pursues new knowledge about diet and human nutrition to improve public health and advance our understanding of contemporary nutrition issues. There is growing national and global interest in nutritional sciences, with intensifying research and scholarship related to topics like obesity, chronic disease risks, food safety and security, global hunger and undernutrition, and the environmental and health impacts of agriculture.

EXPERIENCES REQUIRED COURSES
  • Relevant volunteer and/or professional experience in the field of nutrition preferred
  • Research experience for applicants pursuing MS or PhD
  • Prerequisites for all NS degrees: one semester (no lab) of inorganic or general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and human physiology or anatomy and physiology (calculus is required for MS/PhD, but is not required for MPH)
  • Additional prerequisites for dietetics concentration: One semester of each: microbiology, english and psychology or sociology or anthropology

POPULATION AND HEALTH SCIENCES (FULLY ONLINE MPH AND MS)

Population and Health Sciences pursues solutions to complex public health issues through a community lens. Our scope is broad, including topics such as chronic and infectious diseases, obesity and food insecurity, health care quality and costs, climate change and environmental determinants of health, and socioeconomic inequalities and their impact on health.

EXPERIENCES RECOMMENDED COURSES
Relevant volunteer, internship, or professional work. Biology, Chemistry, Algebra, Statistics