General School and Program Information

What are the various master and doctoral degree programs that you offer?
The School of Community and Global Health (SCGH) offers the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with three areas of concentration: (1) Health Promotion, Education and Evaluation; (2) Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology; and (3) Leadership and Management. Students may also pursue dual degrees in Business Administration and Public Health (MBA/MPH) as well as Applied Psychology and Public Health (MA/MPH). Students from the Claremont Colleges may work simultaneously toward their undergraduate degrees and a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with completion of both degrees in five years. More information about the dual degrees can be found at www.cgu.edu/scgh. The School also offers a PhD program in Health Promotion Sciences.

What is the difference between the MPH and PhD programs?
The MPH is a professional degree with a greater orientation towards practice in a public health setting. Graduates obtain careers as practitioners in traditional health departments, managed care organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, consulting firms, international agencies, state and federal agencies, among others. The PhD in Health Promotion Sciences is an academic degree that is more research oriented and quantitatively based than the MPH program. As such, the PhD program prepares students for careers in academics and research.

How many credit hours are the MPH and PhD programs? How long does it take to complete the degrees?
MPH students are required to complete 48 semester hours of coursework and an internship. Full-time students take five semesters to complete the MPH. Students may enroll part-time as well. The doctoral program is 72 semester hours of coursework, including a capstone project, qualifying exam and dissertation. Full-time students may complete the program in approximately five years.

If I already have a doctoral or master’s degree will I need to complete the same number of course credits to obtain an MPH or PhD degree?
Students who have completed graduate level work prior to enrollment in a doctoral program at CGU may transfer in up to 24 units of coursework. The work must have been completed with at least a grade of “B” at a graduate institution accredited by a regionally accrediting body and must be shown relevant to the degree program. Units from a college or university outside the US are only transferrable if those units were not applied toward the bachelor’s degree equivalency. Decisions about the acceptability of proposed transfer credit are made by the respective program director. No more than 15 semester units may be transferred into masters programs requiring 60 units, no more than 10 into those requiring 48 units, and no more than 6 into those requiring fewer than 48 units. MPH students may transfer in up 10 units of previous graduate coursework.

What if I am pursuing a degree at CGU and want to switch to a degree program within SCGH?
Students may switch into a degree program at SCGH by completing the Certificate/Degree Program Change form available on the CGU registrar’s page.

Does SCGH offer any courses online?
No. SCGH does not offer online courses at this time.

Who do I contact for student assistance?

Can I schedule a visit to SCGH?
Yes! We would love for you to pay us a visit. In order to arrange an individual visit or receive more information about our programs, please contact Annekah Hall at annekah.hall@cgu.edu or by phone at (909) 621-8084.

Is the MPH program accredited?
Claremont Graduate University maintains accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). In 2012, the MPH Program received supplemental accreditation in public health through from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Accreditation is for a period of five years. More information concerning public health accreditation can be found at http://www.cgu.edu/pages/9197.asp.

When is the application deadline?
Applications are processed on a rolling admission basis. Each application is evaluated as it is received. The SCGH maintains priority application deadlines, but will accept applications after these dates. Priority application deadlines for fall and spring semesters are February 1st and November 1st respectively. Students who submit their applications by these deadlines will receive priority consideration for financial aid. Upcoming deadlines for both the MPH and PhD programs are:

Early application deadline: Febuary 5, 2013 (PhD recommended; MPH suggested priority)
Final application deadline: May 1, 2013- PhD Applicants; August 1, 2013- MPH Applicants

How do I apply? How much is the application fee?
You may apply either online or by paper-based application. Specific instructions and a checklist can be found at: http://www.cgu.edu/pages/102.asp. Mail all supporting documents in one envelope to:

CGU Admissions
160 E. Tenth Street
Claremont, CA 91711

There is a $70 application fee. Applicants may submit a check or money order payment to Claremont Graduate University (CGU) with the application packet or pay by credit card at 909-621-8069. Credit card payments can also be made upon electronic submission of the application. Application fee waivers are granted only to CGU alumni and Claremont Consortium undergraduates, as well as for McNair Scholars, and Project 1000.

What are the application requirements?
Applicants are required to provide CGU with the following items:
- Complete Application to CGU
- Transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Three Letters of Recommendation, at least one from an academic source
- Standardized Test Scores, either GRE, GMAT or MCAT
- Personal Statement (included w/application)
- Research/Work/Volunteer/Honors Experience as evidenced by a resume or CV

Can I submit incomplete transcripts since I will graduate after your deadline?
Individuals who are near completion of a baccalaureate (or higher) degree may apply during their final year and submit incomplete transcripts. However, an acceptance is provisional until the applicant’s final transcript, which clearly documents the completion of the degree, is received before registration.

Are there any special requirements for international students?
International students are also required to submit official TOEFL with their application. TOEFL are English proficiency exams administered in the U.S. Additionally, all international transcripts must be evaluated and verified by CGU admissions. Upon being admitted into a program international students will also be required to provide addition documents such as a financial verification form and a visa information form.

What are the institutional codes for CGU?
The Institution Code for Claremont Graduate University is 4053.

Do I have to take the TOEFL even though all my course work in my country was conducted in English?
If the primary native language of your country of citizenship is not English you will be required to submit a TOEFL score report. However, if you have earned a degree from an institution within the United States this requirement can be waived.

Can students from unrelated fields of study apply to your programs?
SCGH welcomes applications from students from a variety of fields. However, applicants must be able to articulate a strong interest in the area of public health or health promotion. It is recommended that students pursuing concentrations in public health informatics and applied biostatistics/epidemiology have some previous coursework in computer science and biology/mathematics respectively.

Who should write my letters of recommendation?
SCGH prefers references from an undergraduate/graduate advisor, faculty in the major field of study and/or a recent employer. Professional colleagues are acceptable as a third reference, although those listed above are preferred.

Does SCGH require the GRE? What other test scores are acceptable?
SCGH does require that applicants complete and submit scores from an acceptable standardized test. Most students complete the general Graduate Records Exam (GRE). However, for MPH degree applicants, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) are also acceptable.

What are the minimum GRE, GPA and TOEFL scores required for acceptance into the program?
Other than a minimum required TOEFL score for international students (550 (paper); 213 (CBT); 80 (iBT) SCGH has a standardized minimum requirements for acceptance into our programs. A minimum GPA of 3.0 and a combined GRE score (verbal and quantitative) of 297 or 1000 (prior to August 2011) is preferred; however, it is important to note that the GRE and GPA are evaluated in the context of the overall application. A variety of factors play into the success of a given application.

Can my application be reviewed with a fax or photo copy of my standardized test scores?
CGU will forward your application to SCGH for review upon receipt of an unofficial copy or fax of your test score report. However, all admissions decisions will remain provisional until official scores are received directly from the administering institution.

If I have previously completed a graduate level degree do I still need to take the GRE?
Students who have received doctoral degrees from a US institution are exempt from the submission of standardized test scores. All students holding masters level degrees will be required to submit test scores. Scores more than five years old will not be accepted.

How do I apply to a dual-degree program?
In addition to applying to SCGH, MPH students interested in pursuing a dual degree must make a separate application to the respective school housing the other degree of choice. Acceptance into one degree program does not ensure acceptance into the other. Both schools will require a separate application. If you are admitted into SCGH and are not admitted to the other school, you may still enroll in our school.

Can I apply for the spring semester?
Yes, both the MPH and PhD programs accept spring applicants.

If I am accepted how can I defer my acceptance to the following year? How long may I defer my application?
Applicants have the option to defer their application to be considered for a semester later than the one to which they originally applied. Applicants can contact the Office of Admission and Records or SCGH to pursue this option. Admission is not guaranteed with a deferred application, even if the applicant was previously admitted.

How can I check on the status of my application?
When Admissions receives your application, they will send you correspondence detailing the status of the documents in your file. If they are missing any items or if have received unofficial copies of an item, they will advise you in writing so you can follow up by submitting official copies. Please allow one week from the receipt of all your application materials in the admissions office to assemble and submit it to SCGH for review. Due to a high volume of mail at the peak of the admission cycle (January – February timeframe), this process may be extended.

Is it possible to take a course at SCGH without enrolling and being accepted into the MPH program?
Yes. Individuals who wish to take courses as a non-degree student may be admitted as a special standing student. Special standing applicants must submit an application, an application fee, and official bachelor’s degree transcripts. Special standing students who later decide to apply for a degree must supply additional application components to be evaluated for admission. Admission to special standing is limited to one academic year/12 units of study. International students in F-1 and J-1 Visa categories are not eligible for a Special Standing admission.
During the summer semester only, interested individuals may take courses at SCGH without the need to obtain admission to the university. To do so, complete a Visiting Student Registration form, available from the Office of Admissions.

Finances and Housing

Does SCGH offer any scholarships, paid internships, or research assistantships? What other forms of financial assistance are available?
SCGH offers departmental aid as well as research assistantships on a competitive basis to incoming and returning students. Need based financial assistance is coordinated through the CGU office of Student Financing. Need-based awards include loans and federal work study. For full information regarding financing your degree please go to: http://www.cgu.edu/pages/1161.asp

How much does it cost to attend SCGH?
The cost of attendance at SCGH varies based upon the number of units in which a student is enrolled. Below is a cost breakdown for 2012-2013 (summer, fall, spring semesters):
1-11 units:   $1,636 per unit
12 units:      $18,820 per semester
16 units:      $25,364 per semester

How much should I expect to pay for books, living expenses and other fees?
The budget Items reflect an average of student expenses per semester. The unit load taken in a semester determines which budget will be used.

Is there on-campus housing available for CGU students?
On-campus graduate housing is available at CGU. Go to http://www.cgu.edu/pages/1156.asp for more information regarding housing options.

Enrollment and Course Information

How many hours are required to be a full-time student? Are all students required to be full-time?
In order to be considered full-time, a student must be registered for at least 8-hours. Domestic students are allowed to attend part time. International students are required to attend full time due to visa stipulations.

If admitted, may I take courses in other schools at CGU?
Yes, you may take courses at other schools within the university with permission from the instructor. You should also check with your department advisor to verify whether or not the course will apply toward your degree requirements.

Where can I find a schedule of classes offered by SCGH?
Course schedules are available on the CGU and SCGH websites.