School of Public Health

About the school

The University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine was established in 1970. The School dropped ‘Community Medicine’ from its name in 2000 to be known as the School of Public Health. The School aims to produce exceptional public health professionals who can solve the greatest of public health challenges in the world.

The University of Washington School of Public Health ranked fourth in the Global Rankings on Academic Subjects list of 2022. Some of the notable alumni of the School include Alejandro Varela (former cancer researcher at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and currently a writer on public health themes like chronic stress) and Mohammed Ali (Saviour for the Somali Community of people, and recognised as the Champion of Change by the White House).

The School of Public Health is located in Seattle, the largest and most populous city in Washington. With its excellent infrastructure and connectivity, Seattle, located in the Pacific Northwest region, is one of the best cities for students to start their dream careers. One of the major highlights of the city is that it is the global headquarters of top companies like Microsoft and Amazon.

Location of the school

Life at the School of Public Health

The University of Washington offers multiple on-campus and off-campus accommodation options for its graduate students. There are five full-year apartments and five family apartments namely Commodore Duchess, Mercer Court, Nordheim Court, Redford Court, Stevens Court, Blakely Village, and Laurel Village. The university also offers many flexible options for students looking for off-campus accommodation. Students can choose fully furnished or shared apartments based on their requirements. Fraternity housing and sorority housing options are also available for those interested.

Students can choose a residence hall or apartment dining plan that offers a variety of dishes. The menus are continuously changed to include interesting and nutritious meals all three times of the day. Sometimes, the eateries on the Campus also follow special menus to celebrate certain community events like Coffee Specials, Black History, and more. Some of the most popular dining locations are Local Point, Center Table, Pagliacci Pizza West, Denny Cafe, and Cultivate.

Students of the School of Public Health can develop their physical and mental strength by accessing some of the state-of-the-art recreation facilities on the Campus. Recreational activities and amenities include intramural sports, massage clinics, yoga, meditation, recreational clubs, UWild Adventures, fitness classes, waterfront sports, and more. Currently, the university has over 100 student clubs, each dedicated to specific activities like actuary, student resources, medical associations, baseball, skating, golf, and more.

The U-PASS programme of the university provides flexible and low-cost transportation options. Students can ride for free on regional buses, commuter trains, light rail, and even water taxis. The University of Washington is an eco-friendly campus that encourages bicycling.

Additional benefits of studying at the School of Public Health

University of Washington’s School of Public Health emphasises experiential learning, and for this, the School has implemented various learning programmes for students. These include MPH Applied Practice Experience, MPH/MHA/MS Capstone and DEOHS MS Applied Internship, The Student Epidemic Action Leaders Team, etc. These student learning experience opportunities help students gain in-depth knowledge and skills in various realms of public health.

The School of Public Health hosts more than 30 research centres and institutes that are supported by funding from NIH, CDC, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and many more. Students can participate in the cutting-edge research being carried out at these units.

Admissions criteria

International students applying to graduate programmes at the School of Public Health should adhere to the following general admission criteria.

• Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended
• Submit a personal statement
• A detailed resume or CV is required
• Provide 3 letters of recommendation
• Proof of proficiency in English is required:
  • TOEFL: 80 (iBT), 80 (MyBest)
  • Duolingo: a minimum of 105
  • IELTS: 6.5 overall
• Proof of adequate financial support is needed: submit a letter from the bank or bank statement

Please visit the Graduate School’s page for any updates to this information.

Job placements

Over 95% of the graduates from the School of Public Health got employed within one year of graduation. The SPH Career Services assists students in exploring a variety of careers in the public health domain and provides access to several career-related resources.

• Handshake and the UW Job Search portals list all the job and internship opportunities in the public health domain
• Students can browse the UW Career and Internship Centre website that lists job and internship opportunities
  
• Students can participate in public health organisations and networks at the School and make professional connections to find jobs and internships