The Johns Hopkins University
Bloomberg School of Public Health
Baltimore, Maryland
Overview
Recognized as the first true university in America, Johns Hopkins University was incorporated in 1867 by Johns Hopkins, a Quaker merchant of Baltimore. The medical campus in East Baltimore is composed of the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing, the Welch Medical Library, and the Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Bloomberg School of Public Health is the oldest school of public health in the world. It was established in 1916 by persons of vision who planned a school of the biological, physical, social, and behavioral sciences. Its goal, now as then, is to preserve and improve the health of the public through the advancement of knowledge and the preparation of students for a variety of careers in public health. A 457-member full-time faculty represents major biomedical and social disciplines; nine academic departments offer graduate training. The campus includes a residence hall and the Denton A. Cooley Center, which has an indoor jogging track; a sauna; racquetball, squash, and tennis courts; and an outdoor swimming pool. Excellent athletics and cultural facilities also are available at the nearby Homewood campus.
The Bloomberg School of Public Health has 1,735 graduate students from approximately seventy-nine nations. Approximately 40 percent of the students are in master's programs and 40 percent in doctoral programs; the remaining 20 percent are nondegree and postdoctoral students. More than half of the students are women; 28 percent of Americans are members of minority groups.
Graduates are readily absorbed into the job market and find employment at all levels of the U.S. or international governments, academic institutions, hospitals, and other health-care facilities; profit, nonprofit, and nongovernmental organizations; managed-care organizations; and consulting firms. Selected job titles include primary health-care project evaluator, public health specialist, health educator, epidemiologist, technical support manager, community education facilitator, public health officer, director of maternal and child health program, and public health associate.
The Location and Community
Baltimore is among the largest of U.S. industrial and seaport cities, offering a mix of tradition and progress, with an easy, pleasant, and affordable style. The city is conveniently situated on the mid-Atlantic corridor, 45 minutes away from Washington, D.C., and 4 hours' driving time from New York. Because Baltimore is close to both the Chesapeake Bay and mountainous areas, year-round recreational opportunities abound. The School is on the subway route, providing students with access to the Inner Harbor area where the National Aquarium, as well as the Ravens and Orioles stadiums, are located.
Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health offers programs leading to the graduate degrees of Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Master of Health Science (M.H.S.), Master of Science (Sc.M.), Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.), Doctor of Science (Sc.D.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. Depending on the department and specific area of study, the M.H.S. and Sc.M. provide students with opportunities for advanced study and research or prepare students to begin or advance their careers as public health professionals in their chosen area of study. The Ph.D. is primarily a degree for those individuals with research or teaching or both as their goal. The Sc.D. provides training emphasizing the mastery of principles and methodology in fields covered by the interests of the departments of the school. The Dr.P.H. furthers M.P.H. training to provide graduates with a career in high-level administration, teaching, or practice. Joint degrees include M.D./M.P.H., M.S.N./M.P.H., M.S.W./M.P.H., J.D/M.P.H., M.D./Ph.D., M.A./M.H.S., and B.A./M.H.S. Postdoctoral training and residency programs in general preventive medicine or occupational medicine are available. Some programs offer a part-time option, including the M.P.H. program, which is also offered through the Internet-based distance education option.
Facilities & Resources
Well-equipped research laboratories are available for use by graduate students in the various departments of the School. There also are opportunities for field training in many local, state, national, and international health- and medical-care organizations. Students have access to all the University library facilities, which provide more than 2.5 million volumes selected to support the studies of all departments and divisions of the University. The William H. Welch Medical Library coordinates access to biomedical literature and online databases for the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. The Abraham M. Lilienfeld Library is the primary information resource within the School of Public Health. Wireless access to networked resources is available in labs, classrooms, and common areas throughout the School.
Expenses and Aid
Tuition is $32,616 for the nine-month, academic year; tuition for the eleven-month M.P.H. program is $39,020. All new full-time students are assessed a one-time matriculation fee of $500. Books and instructional supplies average $1600 per year.
Financial Aid:
Financial assistance includes scholarships, traineeships, student loans, and the Federal Work-Study Program. Eligibility for financial aid is based on a combination of factors, such as financial need, merit, and the availability of funds. The department chairperson or the M.P.H. Program Office makes all scholarship awards. Prospective students should note that the decision to offer or deny financial aid is totally separate from the decision to offer or deny admission. The Office of Student Financial Services administers all student educational loan programs and the Federal Work-Study Program. In addition to determining a student's eligibility for loan assistance and work-study, the Office of Student Financial Services provides personal and confidential financial counseling to all aid applicants.
Housing/Living Expenses:
Yearly living expenses are estimated at $16,720 to $22,160. The cost of living in Baltimore is comparable to that in most urban centers in the United States, and students may choose from a wide variety of affordable housing. Information on apartments and houses as well as University accommodations may be obtained from the Office of Housing, Reed Hall, 1620 McElderry Street.
How to Apply
A baccalaureate degree is required. Applicants are required to submit scores of the GRE General Test; applicants to the M.P.H. program must submit scores of a standardized test, e.g., GRE, MCAT, GMAT, or LSAT. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores must be submitted by applicants whose native language is not English. Applications are processed on a rolling basis between October 1 and February 1; some departments and programs have specific deadlines. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online. The nonrefundable application fee is $45 for an online application.
Who to Contact
Director of Admissions
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
615 North Wolfe Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21205
410-955-3543
E-mail: admiss@jhsph.edu
Programs and Department Chairs
• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Chair: Roger McMacken, Ph.D. Study of the molecular and genetic bases of cellular processes. The department's research aim is to increase current knowledge of biochemical and molecular mechanisms of normal and abnormal cellular processes. Research is conducted in the areas of cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, molecular genetics, structural biology, developmental biology, enzymology, molecular biophysics, molecular endocrinology, chemical biology, and biochemical nutrition. The findings can be applied to a broad range of health problems such as cancer, aging, neurological diseases, fertility/infertility, and environmentally based diseases. Programs leading to the Ph.D. as well as both the M.H.S. and Sc.M. in reproductive biology are offered. Related careers are in academia, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, government, or research institutes.
• Biostatistics. Chair: Scott L. Zeger, Ph.D. Programs cover the creation and application of methods for quantitative research in the health sciences. Research addresses the spectrum of statistical science from foundations of inference to the discovery of new methodology to health applications. The designs and analytic methods enable health scientists and professionals in academia, government, pharmaceutical companies, medical research organizations, and elsewhere to efficiently acquire knowledge and draw valid conclusions from their ever-expanding sources of information. Programs lead to the Ph.D. and Sc.M. degrees as well as an M.H.S. in biostatistics for students earning a Ph.D. in another department of the School. Related careers are research biostatisticians in academia, government, and industry.
• Environmental Health Sciences. Chair: John D. Groopman, Ph.D. Students in this interdisciplinary field examine how biological, chemical, and physical environmental agents affect human health. Faculty members undertake mechanistic studies of the body's response to the environment as well as risk assessment and epidemiology to develop techniques to control the effects of air and water pollution and quality, occupational health and safety, toxic substances and hazardous wastes, and radiation. The department has four divisions: environmental health engineering, occupational and environmental health, physiology, and toxicological sciences. Programs leading to M.H.S., Sc.D., Sc.M., Dr.P.H., and Ph.D. degrees are offered. Related careers are research and professional practice in chemistry, toxicology, occupational health, environmental epidemiology, and environmental engineering.
• Epidemiology. Chair: Jonathan Samet, M.D. Students study the distribution of diseases and the determinants of health and disease risk in human populations. Epidemiology, one of the quantitative foundations of public health and clinical research, provides a basis for the preventive approaches in medicine and public health. Faculty members investigate the genetics of disease, cancer, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular and renal diseases; vision research; aging; clinical trials; international AIDS research; occupational and environmental research; tuberculosis; and clinical research. Programs lead to the M.H.S., Sc.D., Sc.M., Dr.P.H., and Ph.D. degrees. Related careers are research epidemiologists and practitioners in academic institutions, public health agencies, international organizations, and biotechnological and pharmaceutical firms.
• Health Policy and Management. Chair: Donald M. Steinwachs, Ph.D. This multidisciplinary field seeks to improve health and prevent disease and disability through the education of future public health leaders and research on the causes and remedies of significant public health problems facing the United States and other industrialized countries. Faculty and student research seeks to identify policy options and behavioral interventions that promote and protect the health status of populations; design strategies that improve access to health and preventive services, particularly among the most vulnerable; develop methods that enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of health care for medical and mental illness; and create models for improving the financing, organization, and delivery of preventive and curative health services. Programs lead to an M.H.S. in behavioral sciences and health education, health policy, and health finance and management; an Sc.M. in genetic counseling, and an Sc.D. and Ph.D. Related careers are health-care administration, research and teaching, public health agencies, and private industry.
• International Health. Chair: Robert E. Black, M.D., M.P.H. This department draws on all public health disciplines and applies them to international settings. There are four programs: disease prevention and control, health systems, human nutrition, and social and behavioral interventions. Faculty members work to implement cost-effective strategies for health-care delivery; to design health promotion interventions to disadvantaged communities; develop vaccines; conduct clinical trials, prevention trials, and behavioral studies; develop policy for disease control; and develop methods to assess nutritional status and propose effective strategies for nutritional diseases. Programs lead to an M.H.S.; Ph.D., and Sc.D. training for research in defined fields of specialization in international health; and a Dr.P.H. Related careers are international health agencies, national assistance organizations such as the Agency for International Development, private foundations, and voluntary organizations or firms.
• Mental Health. Chair: William W. Eaton, Ph.D. Students study the prevention and control of mental disorders, including alcohol and drug dependence syndromes and neuropsychiatric conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Research aims are to discover the causes of these disorders; identify the factors that promote or attenuate their occurrence, persistence, or severity; devise methods of intervention to prevent the disorders or limit their consequences; and disseminate the insights and accrued knowledge of others through an active program of teaching and community education and service. Programs lead to M.H.S., Sc.D., and Ph.D. degrees. Related careers are in the government and private industry.
• Molecular Microbiology and Immunology. Chair: Diane E. Griffin, M.D., Ph.D. This department integrates many disciplines (vector biology, ecology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, immunology) concerned with the study of the transmission, molecular biology, and pathogenesis of bacterial, parasitic, viral, and immunological diseases. Research is carried out at the population, organismal, cellular, and molecular levels. This broad approach reflects the belief that public health problems can best be addressed by understanding basic biological mechanisms. In the laboratory, clinic, and field, faculty members study diseases such as malaria, sexually transmitted infections, mosquito-borne encephalitis, tuberculosis, measles, AIDS, and autoimmunity. Programs lead to M.H.S., Sc.M., and Ph.D. degrees and careers as faculty members and research scientists in universities, research institutes, and government agencies as well as in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
• Population and Family Health Sciences. Chair: Robert Blum, M.D., Ph.D. This interdisciplinary department uses the sciences of demography, developmental psychology, epidemiology, sociology, health services research, medicine, nursing, nutrition, economics, communication sciences, and policy analysis. To address the changing patterns of population growth and reproduction globally and ensure the health and development of human populations across their life span, the department focuses on vulnerable populations throughout the world-mothers and infants, families, adolescents, children with special health-care needs, women, and the elderly. Research and practice prepare future researchers and administrators for such organizations as the U.S. Census Bureau, managed-care organizations, government ministries, universities, research institutes, and advocacy groups.
• M.P.H. Degree Program. Chair: Ron Brookmeyer, Ph.D. A School-wide program designed to provide health professionals with a population perspective on health. The program prepares students to become leading public health professionals capable of addressing current global public health problems through multidisciplinary approaches that apply the latest scientific knowledge. M.P.H. students obtain a common grounding in public health theory and practice, with opportunities to specialize in one of ten multidisciplinary concentration areas.
• Internet-based Education. Director: Sukon Kanchanaraksa, Ph.D. The School offers two programs to help professionals continue their education on a part-time basis online. The Internet-based M.P.H. is a part-time approach and requires that at least 20 of the 80 required credits be taken in a face-to-face environment. For public health practitioners who already have an advanced degree or would like to pursue specialization within public health, the School also offers the Graduate Certificate in Public Health. Both programs use a variety of media to deliver lectures and interactive laboratory exercises.