FAQs About Our Undergraduate Public Health Programs at GW

I'm interested in Public Health, what are my options for studying Public Health at GW?

There are four ways you can pursue your interest in Public Health at GW. First, you may simply take Public Health courses that interest you. Second, you can apply to become a public health minor as a secondary focus to whatever major you select. Third, you can apply to become a public health major. Fourth, you can apply to the 5-year dual-degree BS/MPH program.

I'm a high school senior interested in being a Public Health major at GW. What school should I apply to?

We encourage students who are interested in becoming a Public Health major to apply to CCAS with an undeclared major and meet with the SPHHS Admissions office during their first year to assist with advising. This allows for maximum flexibility for the student and provides the most efficient advising within SPHHS. If you choose to apply to the School of Public Health and Health Services, you would come into GW as an Exercise Science major because a student cannot enroll as a Public Health major as an incoming freshman. You do not have to apply to the School of Public Health and Health Services; you may apply to any of GW's schools that interest you. We accept students from all schools within GW and do not give preference to students from any particular school.

I'm a freshman interested in being a Public Health major. Can I pursue this major right away?

No, you must wait until spring of your sophomore year to apply to become a Public Health major. You may, however, take introductory Public Health classes at any point in your GW career.

What is the difference between a Public Health major and a Public Health minor?

Students may apply to become a Public Health major during spring of your sophomore year. You must have a GPA of at least 3.0 to qualify. As a major, you take 33 credits of required Public Health courses and 9 credits of elective Public Health courses, for a total of 42 credits.

Students may choose to have both majors and minors at GW. Students may apply to become a Public Health minor at any time during your GW career. You must have a GPA of at least 2.8 to qualify. As a minor, you take 12 credits of required Public Health courses and 6 credits of elective Public Health courses, for a total of 18 credits.

How do I declare a Public Health major or minor?

All of our programs require an application, which can be found on our website. Our programs are capped, meaning we can only accept a limited number of students. Qualified applicants are accepted as a Public Health minor on a first-come first-served basis. Decisions regarding applications to be a Public Health major are made on a rolling basis between January 15th and May 15th. We suggest that you submit your application as early as possible to have the best chance of admission to the program.

What is the BS/MPH program and how do I apply?

The BS/MPH program is a dual-degree program that allows students to obtain an undergraduate BS in Public Health and a Masters in Public Health in about five years. You must have a GPA of 3.5 to apply and applications are due on May 15. Students choose a specific graduate department to apply to and often must interview with that department, so it's important to apply early. Students must be accepted by both the graduate department and the undergraduate program. The BS/MPH application is available on our website.

What if I apply to the BS/MPH program and do not get in? Can I still be a Public Health major?

Yes, students may simultaneously apply to become a Public Health major and enroll in the BS/MPH. It is highly likely that a student who qualifies for the BS/MPH program will be accepted as a Public Health major.

Registering for and Selecting Public Health Classes at GW

Are all GW undergraduates allowed to register for classes at the GW School of Public Health and Health Services?

Yes, all GW undergraduate students from any school within GW may take courses through the School of Public Health and Health Services. However, students in the major and minor are given priority to register for Public Health classes; approximately four weeks after early registration ends open seats in Public Health classes become available to all students on GWeb.

Banner indicates that all Public Health courses need Departmental Approval. What does that mean and how do I get approval?

To ensure that all of our Public Health majors and minors are able to fulfill their course requirements, we close registration to the general student population during the first part of registration. At that time, only majors and minors will receive departmental approval. After approximately four weeks, we remove the departmental approval requirement and open all courses to the general student population. You will be able to register on-line at that time.

Can I take Public Health 101 even if I am not a Public Health major or minor?

Yes, there are no pre-requisites to Public Health 101, so any student may take this course. However, as stated above, majors and minors have priority and class enrollment is limited so you should inquire regarding the date that the Office of Advising lifts departmental approval.

Can I take Service Learning in Public Health (PubH 193) even though I am not a Public Health major or minor?

Yes, Service Learning in Public Health is open to any student that has completed Public Health 101. This course combines an off-site volunteer experience in Public Health with in-class learning. Students must secure a position at an approved site before the beginning of Spring semester, when the course is offered. Please review the Service Learning information sheet available on our website for more details about approved sites and enrolling in this course. Enrollment is limited.

I expect to apply to the BS/MPH program, does that change which courses I might take as an undergraduate?

Yes, there are several courses that BS/MPH students will take on the graduate level instead of the undergraduate level as part of this program. Please refer to the BS/MPH curriculum guide to make sure that you do not sign up for undergraduate courses that you would not have to take as part of the dual-degree program.

I might apply for a Master of Public Health (MPH) program after I graduate. What courses should I be taking now? Should I declare the public health minor?

Students come to the MPH program from majors in all fields. You may choose a major or minor in Public Health, or you may choose another major that interests you. At the very least, we recommend that you take some public health related courses to both solidify your interest in Public Health and demonstrate your commitment to Public Health to graduate schools. You may also wish to discuss your undergraduate course selection with MPH directors at schools that interest you.

If I take courses at the School of Public Health and Health Services as an undergraduate, can they be used toward a Master's degree later?

It depends. If you count a course toward the credit requirements needed for your undergraduate degree, you may not also count them toward a graduate degree program. If you take a graduate class (PubH Level 200 or higher) and do not need to count the credits toward the undergraduate degree, it is possible that the course may count toward a graduate degree program. The University you attend for graduate school will determine transferability so save your syllabi. Whether the course may be applied will depend on both the course and the Master's degree program.