Public Health at Michigan State University
Michigan State University appears in our ranking of the Top 10 MPH Programs with No Out-of-State Tuition Fees.
The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and its Division of Public Health offers a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program that students can finish online. This program may not meet the education requirements of all states, which is why the university maintains a detailed list of state requirements on its site. Students can use this information to determine if they can enroll in this program while living in another state.
This program features 36 credits of classes. Students will take 18 credits of electives based on the subjects they want to study and what they want to do with their MPH degrees. They must also take 18 credits of required classes, including Introduction to Public Health, Biostatistics for Public Health, Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health and Public Health Policy and Administration. All these classes are worth three credits each and available online.
While most of the MPH program takes place online, the university expects students to do some offline work too. They must do a practicum, which requires that they work at least 240 hours in the field. Michigan State can help students find and secure placements at facilities across the country, but it also has connections to some international facilities too. Students must also write a final capstone paper that demonstrates everything they learned in the program. Michigan State University asks students to use the research skills they developed in the program to address a public health concern or issue.
About Michigan State University
Michigan State University is one of the largest public schools in Michigan. Established in 1855 as the Agricultural College of Michigan, the university offered programs during its early days that share little in common with its modern degree programs. The college only accepted male students and required that those students do at least three hours of work on the campus every day. It later changed to a vocational school and offered two-year degree programs before becoming a state college and adding four-year degree programs to its curriculum. The college also changed its policy and became a coeducational school. It did not become Michigan State University until the 1960s.
Often called Michigan State or MSU, the university has its flagship campus in East Lansing. It also operates a conference center and hotel that allows hospitality, tourism and management students to gain professional experience. The university previously operated a campus in Dubai that enrolled around 100 students a year, but after enrollment dropped, MSU closed this campus. Though Washington Monthly ranked MSU as the nation’s 34th best university, it also ranks on similar lists issued by ARWU, Forbes and U.S. News and World Report (USNWR). USNWR also ranked the university’s graduate programs in nursing, engineering, law, business and education among the best in the nation. MSU has an enrollment of more than 50,000 students today, which includes more than 11,000 doctoral candidates and graduate students.
Michigan State University Accreditation Details
Graduate students enrolling in the MSU MPH program can transfer credits that they earned from another university or college because the university has regional accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS). This type of accreditation is also important for those who want to use any government aid to bring down the costs they pay out of their own pockets. The United States Department of Education only allows students attending a school with regional accreditation to receive federal aid.
Michigan State University Application Requirements
MSU allows students to start its MPH program in the fall, spring or summer. The deadline for the fall semester is May 31, but students applying for the summer session can submit their applications up until February 28. MSU has a deadline for spring applications of September 30. The university must receive a completed application and any other documents by midnight Eastern Standard Time. There is an application fee due as well.
Though students must have a bachelor’s degree before beginning the MPH program, the university will accept students who made significant progress towards a degree. A student can submit an unofficial transcript as part of the application process, but the student must show an official transcript before enrolling. The college the applicant attended must have regional accreditation too. Any transcripts submitted must have the university’s seal on the front and come in a sealed envelope. This applies to students who earned their undergrad degrees from MSU too.
Students must also submit three letters of recommendation. The university encourages students to submit letters from those familiar with either their studies or their professional work. They also need to write a personal statement that explains the reasons why they want to study public health. This statement should also include a summary of the student’s professional and career goals. MSU also asks for both a resume and an official score from a graduate exam. Those applying to the dual degree program must meet all these requirements get a reference letter from the director of the program.
Tuition and Financial Aid
MSU charges all MPH majors the same tuition rate. Both residents and nonresidents pay $660 per credit hour. They’ll pay $5,940 per semester to take a full course load of nine credits. The total cost of the program, which features more than 40 credits, comes out to $28,380. MSU does charge some fees though. Students face fees for registering or enrolling past the deadline and for making late payments on their accounts. Though MSU allows students to make payments on their accounts, they need to make arrangements with the university to avoid late fees.
The university does not offer any scholarships for students, and it does not have a work-study program for graduate students. Students who need financial assistance must complete the FAFSA. Those under the age of 25 are dependents who use their parents’ tax information. Older students and those who meet other requirements qualify as independents and can use their own tax information. The government offers unsubsidized graduate loans that allow students to borrow thousands of dollars each year. They can borrow the same amount each year until they graduate or hit the maximum amount loaned. Michigan State University also allows students to apply for and use alternative and private loans.
