Eligibility & FAQs
Eligibility & Requirements
The EMPH program is open to individuals residing in the United States, Canada and Mexico throughout the duration of the program, regardless of citizenship.
As this two-year, part-time program is designed for working professionals, it is open to applicants with:
- A bachelor’s degree and at least four years of relevant work experience*, or
- A master’s degree and at least two years of relevant work experience*, or
- A doctoral (or international equivalent) degree in a field related to public health (e.g., physicians, dentists, podiatrists, pharmacists, veterinarians, attorneys, and those with a doctorate in the biological, behavioral, or social sciences)
*Work experience need not be in public health
Frequently Asked Questions
Some of your questions may be answered on the general MPH Program FAQ page. The FAQ below focuses on questions specific to the Executive MPH.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I complete the Executive MPH while working full-time?
- When does the summer semester start?
- What is the residential requirement of this degree program?
- Does an online/part-time student earn the same degree as a full-time student?
- Can I take courses at Yale?
- What technology/computer specifications do I need to compete the program?
- What is the weekly time commitment for the online component of the program?
- Can I take more or less time than the standard two years to complete the program?
- What type of support will I receive once I enroll?
- Can I waive out of a required course?
- Can I participate in student-run organizations at the school as an online student?
Yes! This is a two-year, part-time program with a hybrid online/in-person schedule designed for working professionals. Most of the coursework can be completed remotely, with three 4-day in-person intensive sessions over two years. Please see our curriculum to determine if the program structure will work for you.
- The summer semester starts roughly the first week of July. The semester is seven-week and you will take two courses online. Because the summer courses are condensed versions of fall and spring semester courses, expect to spend more than the typical 8-10 hours per week for some of the summer courses.
Students enrolled in the Executive MPH program are required to be on-campus for three, four-day sessions over the course of the two-year program. The first five-day on-campus intensive will take place in October of Year One with a focus on Design Thinking. Students attend a second in-person intensive program on Executive Communication skills for public health and healthcare in mid-June at the start of Year Two of the program. The final in-person session, on everyday leadership, takes place in Spring of Year Two. Each on-campus session is mandatory, and students are required to be on campus for the full four days. The remainder of the coursework, including the Capstone, is completed remotely. Please review the program schedule for more details.
- Yes! The Executive MPH offers the same rigorous educational experience as the full-time in-person programs. This content, however, is tailored specifically to working professionals and offers unique and innovative leadership training. Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a Master of Public Health degree. There is no reference to the online/part-time format of the program indicated on the transcript or diploma.
- If you can meet attendance requirements, you may take on-site courses to meet your elective requirements, noting any prerequisites and/or faculty permission.
- You will need consistent access to a reliable internet connection, as well as a computer or laptop capable of playing audio and video. To participate in live sessions, your device must be equipped with a camera and a microphone. This can be built-in, USB plug-in, or wireless Bluetooth. Computers or laptops should be no more than five years old. For Windows or Mac laptops, we recommend that you get at least an i5 processor, 16 Gb of RAM, a 256 Gb SSD and a 512Gb hard drive.
- You can expect to commit 8–10 hours per week per course, including viewing pre-recorded lectures, attending required one-hour live discussion, and completing readings and assignments. As this program was designed for working professionals, you will have the flexibility to select the time of day to complete the online coursework and review lectures in advance of any course deadlines.
- The Executive MPH is a unique cohort-based experience where the core courses and intensives must be taken in sequential order with the rest of the cohort. Therefore, it is necessary to follow the two-year schedule for the program. Under extenuating circumstances, a leave or reduced schedule may be granted at the discretion of the program director and Dean of Students. If students wish to take additional courses in a given semester, they may do so with permission of the program director and academic advisor, pending availability, with the caveat that EMPH students may take no more than 3.5 credits per semester. Note that tuition and financial aid eligibility may be affected by course load changes.
Executive MPH students have access to the same exceptional support services as on-campus YSPH students. We are devoted to ensuring the success of every student who joins our community.
- Faculty and Teaching Fellows will be available frequently via live office hours and email correspondence.
- 24/7 access to technology support is available, and students in the program also complete a comprehensive introduction to online learning course to ensure they are equipped to successfully learn online, regardless of their previous online learning background.
- Student services staff, program advisors, and faculty will be accessible via our online learning platform Canvas and through Zoom video conferencing.
- As a student you will engage frequently with a dynamic cohort of your peers. The program provides opportunities for live discussions and collaborative work, as well as in-person networking during the on-campus intensives. A limited cohort size will allow you to forge meaningful connections over your two years in the program.
- As a student and subsequently as an alumnus you will have full access to all the services of our excellent Career Management Center.
- All students must complete the required 16 credits of Yale coursework. Certain courses, including the on-campus intensives, may not be waived. For a full list of required courses, please see the Bulletin. In exceptional circumstances, once enrolled, you may request a course exemption directly from the course instructor. You may be considered for an exemption if you can demonstrate mastery of the course content; however, the 16-credit requirement cannot be waived.
- There are over 20 student-run organizations offering a wide array of opportunities to get involved and engaged. Students in the Executive MPH are encouraged to join these activities, recognizing that organization meeting times may not align always with the schedules of students who have professional responsibilities.