Below you will find a checklist and guidelines for the required master of public health application documents. Please be aware of application and registration deadlines.
Admission to Des Moines University is competitive. Completion of required application materials does not guarantee admission to the master of public health program. Program faculty will review all applications completed by the deadline, and notify applicants of the admission decision within approximately 3 weeks of the deadline. Approximately 60 new students enroll in the public health program annually.
| Term | Application deadline | Registration Deadline | Term Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2013 | July 1, 2013 | August, 2013 | September 9, 2013 |
| Spring 2014 | October 1, 2013 | December, 2013 | January, 2014 |
Application process
- Online application
Submit the online application and a $60 non-refundable application fee. - A current resume
Submit a resume with a detailed work history. - Personal statement
Submit an original personal statement, not to exceed 2 pages, single spaced. Topics for the personal statement should address each of the following:- Career goals and how the DMU M.P.H. program will help you achieve your goals
- Past contributions to the field of public health (eg: service, leadership, research, volunteerism)
- Professional and personal strengths that will help you succeed in our program
- How you will deal with the expected challenges of graduate school
- What makes you a strong candidate for the M.P.H. program
- One letter of recommendation
Please plan to have one individual submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. Letters should be written by a current or recent employer and submitted to DMU on official letterhead. Topics for letters of recommendation should include:- Length and details regarding your employment
- Qualities you possess that make you a strong candidate for the M.P.H. program
- Future career goals
- Additional relevant information
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Applicants must supply official results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) which are no more than five years old. Students who have earned a master’s degree or higher are not required to submit GRE scores. Results from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), or Law School Admission Test (LSAT) may be substituted for the GRE. There is no minimum score required for application. The Des Moines University GRE code is: 2256. - Official transcripts
You must plan to request official transcripts from all colleges and universities where you have enrolled in undergraduate or graduate coursework. This includes all community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, graduate schools, etc. Credits that appear on another institution’s transcript as transfer credit are not considered complete – you must have official transcripts submitted from the original institution where coursework was completed.
Please request that your transcripts and letter of recommendation be sent directly to DMU at this address below:
DMU – MPH Admission
3200 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50312
Email: mphadmit@dmu.edu
Phone: 515-271-1538
Fax: 515-271-7083
Admission review
It is solely the applicant’s responsibility to ensure delivery and receipt of all required application documents prior to the application deadline. We will confirm with applicants once their admission file is complete. Applicants are encouraged to contact us directly to verify receipt of materials. All completed application files will be reviewed for a decision following the posted deadlines. You are welcome to submit your application anytime; however, the admission committee does not review files or make decisions off-cycle.
Admission decisions
Following the deadlines, all completed files will be reviewed. Applicants will be notified of a decision within 3 weeks of the deadline. Students who are accepted will be required to submit a non-refundable $250.00 tuition seat deposit securing their place in the class. Deposits are used to establish student tuition accounts and are credited toward the cost of tuition for the first term. All students admitted to DMU are also subject to completion of a criminal background check through a preferred vendor. Details regarding these requirements will be delivered at the time of acceptance. Newly accepted students will also receive additional information regarding course registration, faculty advisors and financial aid.
Non-degree seeking students
Individuals may be eligible to enroll in select courses as a non-degree seeking student. Credit completed as a non-degree status student may be considered for degree requirements.
International students
All courses in the master of public health degree are offered online, therefore, international students applying for admission to this program are eligible for online study only. International applicants should become familiar with the guidelines for international students.
Additional required documents for international graduates:
- Foreign transcript evaluation
Coursework taken at foreign institutions must be evaluated for U.S. equivalence by one of the following evaluation services, and an official copy must be sent from the service directly to Des Moines University. Your application will not be complete and cannot be verified without an official course-by-course evaluation. Evaluations are accepted from the following services only:
World Education Services
Josef Silny and Associates, Inc.
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
International Education Research Foundation, Inc.
American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) - TOEFL score
Applicants with degrees completed in languages other than English must submit TOEFL scores to be considered for admission. Required minimum score of: Paper exam = 600, computer exam = 250, internet exam = 100. Applicants may be exempt from the TOEFL requirement if they can submit documentation from their institution’s registrar verifying the primary language of course delivery was English. Results from the IELTS are not accepted in lieu of TOEFL. - GRE
Foreign graduates are required to submit results of the GRE per the requirements listed above. Results from the ECFMG or other certification exams are not acceptable for GRE substitution.
Accommodations in Education Policy
The University complies with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Iowa Civil Rights Act and other laws relating to the Accommodations of disabilities in its educational programming.
View the Accommodations in Education Policy