Early Acceptance into Master of Public Health program for Nursing Majors

The Early Acceptance Program into Master of Public Health (MPH) allows undergraduate students in nursing to begin MPH graduate course work during their senior year. After matriculating with a BSN, students can finish their MPH degree within a year, allowing them to earn two degrees in a shorter amount of time. A BSN with an MPH is a unique combination in that it allows nurses to gain competencies in various aspects of public health including population health, health behavior, epidemiology, health policy, and much more. Public health nurses comprise the largest portion of the public health workforce as they are an integral part of promoting health of the population.

Admission requirements for the Early Acceptance Program into Master of Public Health follow the admission requirements for both programs (more specific BSN requirements and more specific MPH requirements). However, the general admission requirements include:

For the BSN program:

Accepted students who meet the following required standards enter directly into the nursing program.

  • ACT score of 22 or above or an SAT score of 1100 or above.
  • Minimum four years English and three years mathematics.
  • Minimum three years science, including grades of C or above in two semesters of chemistry.

For the MPH program:

  • A UE Graduate Program application.
  • Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above (at time of application).
  • Statement of Purpose.
    • Your Statement of Purpose should explain why your background has prepared you for graduate education in public health. It is intended to give you the opportunity to submit a tailored narrative which will describe your education, experience, and professional career objectives. Your Statement of Purpose should describe your: reasons for interest in public health, career goals, why you need a degree in the specific program, why you are pursuing this degree now, and why at University of Evansville.
  • English Proficiency. All international applicants must submit scores from one of the tests listed below:

If a student in the BSN program wishes to continue and pursue the MPH via the Early Acceptance Program, the application deadlines for the MPH program are as follows:

  • Fall Admission: May 15
  • Spring Admission: October 15

MPH applications are accepted during the junior year in the BSN program, and students can apply up to the fall semester of their senior year to participate in this Early Acceptance Program. Once they have been accepted, students may begin taking MPH graduate courses during their last semester of their BSN program.

Accelerated MPH Program Curriculum

Spring (Total Credit Hours: 3) One course taken during the senior year in the BSN program

  • PH-542 Health Systems & Policy (3 credits)

Summer (Total Credit Hours: 6)

  • PH-543 Population-Based Health (3 credits)
  • PH-580 Programs, Problems, & Policies (3 credits)

Fall (Total Credit Hours: 15 or 18) Students will have the option to take 15 or 18 total credit hours this semester. PH-525 is an option.

  • PH-509 Environmental Health (3 credits)
  • PH-515 Health Behavior (3 credits)
  • PH-525 Biostatistics (3 credits)
  • PH-530 Health Economics (3 credits)
  • PH-535 Public Health Law & Ethics (3 credits)
  • PH-547 Survey Research Methods (3 credits)

Spring (Total Credit Hours: 15 or 18) PH-525 is an option if not taken previous fall semester

  • PH-501 Epidemiology (3 credits)
  • PH-525 Biostatistics (3 credits)
  • PH-540 Strategic Mngt in Health Prog (3 credits)
  • PH-590 Integrative Experience (3 credits)

Total PH Credit Hours: 42

Career options for those with both a BSN and a MPH include working as a public health nurse, a managed care administrator, director of a public agency, or a project specialist, among other positions. Students can graduate and follow a career path that may focus on educating communities on health, sanitation, and injury prevention or working with policy makers to enact lasting change for healthy communities. If patient care is a passion, working with non-governmental organizations (both domestic and abroad) addressing medical care can be another avenue that students can pursue.