Application GuidelinesSJSU MPH Distance Education Program
The following guidelines are provided so that you can easily apply to the SJSU MPH Distance Education Program. Please contact the Distance Education Program Director, Dr. Dan Perales, if you have questions.
First of all: Choose a Program -- Distance Education Program versus the
regular Campus Program: The MPH Distance Education Program is academically located within the SJSU Health Science Department and courses are taught by the Full-time tenured and tenured-track faculty and highly qualified faculty associates. Students interested in an SJSU MPH degree must choose one of the two programs. Applicants admitted into the Distance Education Program cannot ‘transfer’ to the campus-based program after starting in the Distance Education Program, nor can students in the campus program transfer to the Distance Education Program. In addition, students can only take courses within their respective program. For more information see the campus-based program website.
Admissions: New students are admitted to the MPH program only once a year during the Fall semester. Approximately 25 students are admitted each year as a two-year cohort.
Distance Program
Application Period: Applications for Fall 2008 will be accepted starting October
1, 2007 and deadline is Thursday May 15, 2008.
(Please note: the application period
for the campus-based program ends March 15th,
2008).
Overview of the Admissions Process
Applying to the MPH program requires three steps. In
Step 1, applicants first apply to SJSU Graduate Studies via the online CSU
Mentor system. Subsequently, you must applt to the MPH Program, by
following Steps 2 and 3 below. Additional information is available for
international applicants at this link .
Step 1. University Application:
Applicants begin the process by applying to SJSU via the online
CSU Mentor system. This system is linked directly to the San José State University Graduate Studies and Research (GS&R) office. The GS&R office handles all of SJSU's graduate admissions. Applicants must be admitted to the University’s Graduate Division in order to be admitted to the MPH Distance Education Program.
- Starting October 1, 2007, applicants can access and complete a graduate admission online application at the following CSU website: http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/grad_apply.asp
- Once you enter CSU Mentor, you will need to click on
the appropriate application period and create an account. Afterwards, you can
access the application.
- Please be sure to indicate that you are applying to the MPH Distance Education Program when you start the application process.
- When you complete the application process, please be
sure to print out two copies of the application, one for your records and one
to send to the Health Science Department as part of your MPH Distance
Education Program Application Packet.
- Soon after submitting you online application, you will receive a UserID
and password by email. When you receive this information, you will be able to
check the status of your application to GS&R online using the
MYSJSU website.
- Please see the CSU Mentor website for information on submitting official transcripts, CSU application fees, and entrance exams such as TOEFL for foreign students (if applicable).
Your
application will not be considered complete or evaluated until SJSU Graduate
Studies receives ALL of your official transcripts and documents. After GS&R
has processed/verified your application, you will be able to see what specific
documents Graduate Studies requires (except for documents required by the MPH
Distance Program in Step3) on your To Do
list in the MySJSU website. In Step 1, you should send
documents required by GS&R to the following address:
Graduate Admissions & Program Evaluations
San Jose State
University
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192-0025
Please see the SJSU Graduate Studies and Research (GS&R) office
website for more information on submitting official transcripts, CSU application
fees, and entrance exams such as TOEFL for foreign students (if applicable) to
SJSU: http://www.sjsu.edu/gradstudies/Prospective/How_To_Apply.html
.
Note:
All matters relating to graduate admissions must be
handled directly with SJSU's Graduate Studies and Research Office. The Health
Science Department staff is not involved in the Graduate Studies application process. As
indicated above, you should be able to check on your application status via the
MySJSU website (after you get your UserID and password). If necessary, you can
reach the Graduate Studies and Research office by calling (408)-283-7500, option
#5. Do not select option #1 (Admissions and Records is
for undergraduate admissions only).
Step 2. Online MPH Program Application Data
Form:
All students must also submit an online MPH Distance Education Program
Application Data Form. The form is available at the Zoomerang website in the
following link:
http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2272SGDVVDZ
The information gathered in the online data form is similar
to the information submitted in the CSU mentor site, but allows the MPH Program
to create its own data base for processing applications. Please note, this
step should not be completed without first completing Step 1 above.
Step 3. Distance MPH Program Application:
The materials that you sent to GS&R in Step 1
are not copied and forwarded to the MPH Program. Therefore, students must also submit an additional set of application materials to the MPH Distance Education Program in the Health Science Department. Specifically, the MPH application packet must include the following:
- A copy of your SJSU Graduate Admission Application (see Step 1 above)
- Your 2-4 page Statement of Purpose
- A resume
- Academic Transcripts from any institution where you
earned your bachelor’s, master’s, or an academic/professional doctorate (copies are okay, but originals MUST be sent to SJSU Graduate Studies)
- Official GRE scores (if applicable*). If not available, a statement on
when they will be received by the MPH program.
- A cover letter detailing what is included in the
application packet and explaining when any items (i.e., transcripts, letters
of recommendation, GRE scores) will be received if they're not included in
your packet.
- A stamped self-addressed post card that will be sent back to you to verify that we received your application.
*Applicants who have earned a
master or doctoral degree (PhD, MD, DDS, etc.), can have the GRE requirement
waived. Applicants who do not possess a master or doctoral degree can be
accepted without GRE scores. However, those applicants must submit their scores
by July 1, 2008, after being accepted.
Please note, we do not use a standardized letter of
recommendation form. If you are relying on volunteer experience as an important
part of your application, it is strongly recommended that your supervisor/mentor
write a letter of recommendation. Letters should be sent directly from the
reference person to the MPH Program in the Health Science Department (See
address below).
The MPH Program cannot make a decision on your application until all required documents are received by both the MPH Program and SJSU's
office of Graduate Studies & Research (GS&R) and completion of Step 2
(with the exception of the GRE, if applicable). The most common
delay is applicants not sending official transcripts to GS&R.
We will establish an MPH Application Folder for you as
soon as we receive your packet of materials. Once the folder is established, all
other materials will be filed as they are received throughout the application
period. Please note that materials will not be added
after the closing date, May 15th, 2008, with the exception of GRE scores. GRE scores, if required, must be reported to the Department Office by July 1, 2008.
Please send your application materials to:
MPH Distance Education Program
Admissions Committee
Department of Health Science
San José State University
San José,
CA 95192-0052
Please direct any application questions to Dr. Dan Perales at the following
email address: Daniel.Perales@sjsu.edu
Note: All application materials become
the property of SJSU – no materials will be returned to the applicant.
Re-applicants must submit all new material.
Admission Decisions MPH admissions decisions are based on several factors, including academic preparation, work experience, commitment to public health, potential for contribution to the field, and the overall quality of the application. We appreciate the effort and sincerity that go into preparing graduate school applications. Please be assured that all of the materials in your admission folder will be thoughtfully reviewed by our MPH Admissions Committee.
Our goal is to admit a cohort of 25 highly dedicated individuals, ready for graduate work, and committed to the principles and approaches of social justice, community health, advocacy, and health promotion. We particularly value diversity, practical community or health education experience, strong academic skills, and upper division course work in the health, social, and behavioral sciences. However, we also know that there are numerous paths to the same place. We welcome your application and will review your own unique path with careful attention to your preparation and potential contribution to public health and community health education.
Commitment to Distance Learning: Beyond the above
criteria, we are also looking for applicant’s who recognize the personal
commitment and discipline that a distance education approach to learning will
require for successful completion of the MPH degree. This learning method is
appropriate for those who have good time management skills and can properly
blend their personal and professional lives with the fast-paced
demands of distance learning.
Early Admissions: Admissions decisions will be made in late April, with acceptance letters sent out in May or early June. Completed applications received prior to March 15th may be eligible for Early Admission Decisions (notifications will be made by mid-April). Please do not call or email the Health Science Office or the MPH Distance Education Program Director for decision information.
Waiting List: A waiting list of no more than 10 students will be kept up until August 11, 2008. Students will be accepted from the waiting list in order of ranking by faculty.
Registration: If you are offered admission to the University
and the MPH Program you will receive an official letter of admission from SJSU
and one from the MPH Distance Education Program director. You will be able to
use the same My SJSU website to see when you will receive your registration
appointment date for course registration. Course registration and paying of
student account bills are all done online
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