University of Nebraska Kearney

How to Apply

Applicants are required to complete Schools of Public Health SOPHAS Express Application.

To be considered for admission, all materials must be received by the deadline. 

• Fall: June 1

Admission Requirements 

Students must apply to the MPH graduate program, following the normal graduate admission process, and indicate on the application their desire to enter the combined U2MPH program. If a student is admitted to MPH program, then they become eligible to enroll in its combined U2MPH program. 

Application Timeline 

Students will be eligible to apply for admission to the U2MPH program once they have completed at least 81 undergraduate credits. Students will take courses in the MPH program in their senior year. Graduate level courses (21 credit hours) taken at the College of Public Health will count for undergraduate credit at UNK.   

Prerequisites 

Official transcripts with a 3.3 or higher grade point average at the time of application and a 3.0 or higher grade point average at the time of entry into graduation standing.  

Applicants must have completed at least 75-81 undergraduate credit hours and have a plan to complete at least 99 undergraduate credits before the fall MPH program starts. Applicants must also have prerequisite training that will enable them to pursue the MPH program selected. 

MPH Concentrations with Prerequisites

Epidemiology Concentration Prerequisites:

• The student must have received the equivalent of a grade of B or higher in one college level precalculus or similar math course.

• The student must have successfully completed the following courses: one semester of biology, one semester of chemistry, and one semester of college-level math.

• The student must have received the equivalent of a grade of B or better in college level statistics and algebra. One calculus course is recommended.

Plan of Study 

Students will be assigned an advisor from UNK and from UNMC COPH. In consultation with their advisors, students will be required to prepare a plan of study. The plan will cover the entire undergraduate and professional program and will be reviewed each semester with the student’s advisors. A maximum of 21 MPH credits (of the required 42 graduate credits for the MPH degree) will be counted toward the UNK undergraduate degree. 

Tuition 

Students will pay UNK tuition rates for courses taken at UNK. Students will pay UNMC COPH tuition rates for all professional courses taken at UNMC, including those taken prior to graduating with their undergraduate degree. Students may need to take courses online, which has a different tuition rate from on-campus classes. Students enrolled in the U2MPH program are eligible to receive scholarships from UNK to apply towards undergraduate tuition at UNK and UNMC scholarship or assistantship to apply towards graduate tuition at UNMC. 

 Learn More

Transcripts 

Official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities are required.  

Domestic or US Transcripts 

Official transcripts must be sent from the institution’s Registrar’s Office directly to the UNMC College of Public Health at the below address or electronically: 

UNMC, College of Public Health 
Office of Educational Services 
984359 Nebraska Medical Center 
Omaha, NE 68198-4359 

• Send electronic transcripts by email 

International Transcripts 

All non-US transcripts must be evaluated by the World Education Service using their International Credential Advantage Package course-by course evaluation service. The evaluation should be submitted directly to: 

UNMC, College of Public Health 
Office of Educational Services 
984359 Nebraska Medical Center 
Omaha, NE 68198-4359 

Letters of Recommendation 

Three letters of recommendation from academic of professional references.  

• At least one letter must be an academic reference.  

Statement of Intent

A one-page personal statement describing the applicant’s:

• The personal statement should reflect interest in the Environmental and Occupational Health Concentration, including relevant work-related or educational training background information.
• Career objectives.
• Self-assessment of personal skills and general preparation for succeeding in a public health graduate program.

Resume or CV 

A resume or curriculum vitae.  

English Proficiency Requirement 

Test of English as a Foreign Language, IELTS, or Duolingo scores are required of all applicants who have not received a previous degree from a US institution or a country where the only official language is English, such as U.K., Australia, or Canada (excluding Quebec).  

Minimum Requirements: 

• TOEFL: 550-Paper, 213-computer, 80-internet 
• IELTS: 6.5 
• Duolingo: 120 

Scores must have been earned within two years prior to the desired term of entry. 

Submitting your official scores: 

Test of English as a Foreign Language 

Educational Testing Services send official scores to the SOPHAS TOEFL code: 5688. 

IELTS 

• An institution code is not required 
• IELTS Taken in a Test Center: Inform your IELTS test center that you wish to send your results to SOPHAS. You can do this during the test booking process by selecting SOPHAS or asking your test center to select SOPHAS after you receive your results. IELTS results are sent to SOPHAS electronically. 
• IELTS Online: Send your results to SOPHAS using the IELTS test taker portal. You can send your IELTS results to as many organizations as you wish with no additional fee. IELTS Online results are provided in an electronic format. 

Duolingo

You will receive the certified test results a few days after taking the exam. When you receive them, log on to your account, click the “send results” button next to your test results, and select the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Public Health. This will send your results to us. For additional information, please review Duolingo’s frequently asked questions. 

Information on Preparing for the Exam 

Take the Exam or Practice Exam 

UNMC, College of Public Health
Office of Educational Services
984359 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-4359