BSPH FAQs

BSPH Quick Links BSPH Home - Admission and Tuition - Curriculum and Degree Requirements  Bachelor of Science in Public Health - Frequently Asked Questions How and when may an undergraduate apply to the BSPH Program in the Department of Health Policy and Management? Can transfer students apply to the BSPH Program? When are applications due? Are interviews required for admission? What if I plan to study abroad in the Spring semester? May I still apply? How will I be notified of my acceptance and how long does it take? What grade point average must a student have in order be considered for the Bachelor’s program in the Department of Health Policy and Management? Must I also submit transcripts? What prerequisite courses are required before applying? What if I do not have any prior health care experience? Does the program allow me to gain health care experience? Is an internship part of the program? How many semester hours are required for graduation? What kind of career can I pursue with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree? Are there lots of jobs in healthcare? Don't see the answer to your question? How and when may an undergraduate apply to the BSPH Program in the Department of Health Policy and Management? Admission into the Health Policy and Administration program requires the submission of an application and participation in an interview. All interested undergraduate candidates should apply in the fall of sophomore year to begin the program the fall of junior year. Students are eligible to apply if they will have completed 52-60 credit hours of coursework prior to beginning the program. The application deadline for the BSPH Program is January 10th. Applications will be accepted after this date, but students are strongly encouraged to submit applications by the deadline to ensure consideration for admission. The application must include a completed personal data sheet, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, transcripts, and SAT scores. After a careful review of the application and completion of an interview, the applicant will be informed of his/her admission decision. Admission decisions are typically made between early February and the end of April, on a rolling basis, space permitting. Each applicant will have a status of acceptance, waitlist, or rejection. For more information regarding admissions, please contact: Kim Sieler Executive Programs Manager 919-966-7364 krsieler@email.unc.edu Admissions information is available online at http://www.sph.unc.edu/hpaa/bsph_admissions_and_tuition_728_1271.html. back to top  Can transfer students apply to the BSPH Program? Transfer students are eligible to apply to the BSPH Program but are expected to have completed the equivalents of the program prerequisites and the majority of the UNC – CH General College requirements. Transfer students typically also apply to the BSPH Program in the second semester of their sophomore year of study. Transfer students to the University must submit two (2) separate applications to be considered for admission to the School of Public Health: The application for admission to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the $75 application fee per program of interest, no later than March 1st. More information may be found at http://www.unc.edu/admissions/. The application for admission to the School of Public Health, described above, found at http://www.sph.unc.edu/hpaa/bsph_admissions_and_tuition_728_1271.html. back to top When are applications due? Applications are preferred by January 10. Applications received after the 10th will be considered if there are spaces still available in the program. back to top Are interviews required for admission? Yes. Interviews will typically be conducted in January, February, and March. back to top What if I plan to study abroad in the Spring semester?  May I still apply? If you are studying abroad in the Spring semester, you may still apply to the BSPH Program. However, we recommend that you apply by November 1st, to ensure completion of the process prior to your semester abroad. back to top How will I be notified of my acceptance and how long does it take? You will be notified of the admission decision in writing. It generally takes about six weeks to be notified. However, the date of notification will vary contingent upon several factors, such as the date your application is designated "complete" by the appropriate office or offices, the admissions review schedule, and your application status as a transfer or intra-university UNC-Chapel Hill student. back to top What grade point average must a student have in order be considered for the Bachelor’s program in the Department of Health Policy and Management? A student should have 3.0 grade point average on all freshman and sophomore course work.  Applicants with lower GPAs may be considered if their applications demonstrate strengths that offset the GPA concern. back to top Must I also submit transcripts? Yes. Transcripts of all academic work completed (including SAT scores) must be submitted. Three letters of reference and a statement of goals must also be submitted. back to top What prerequisite courses are required before applying? Prospective students are expected to complete the following prerequisite courses: BIOL 101 & 101L - Principles of General Biology and Lab BUSI 100 - Business Accounting Principles ECON 101 - Introduction to Economics In addition, students are expected to complete two of the following six math classes: MATH 152 - Calculus for Business and Social Sciences MATH 130 - Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry MATH 231 - Calculus of Functions of One Variable MATH 232 - Calculus of Functions of One Variable II MATH 233 - Calculus of Functions of Several Variables STOR 155 – Introductory Statistics back to top What if I do not have any prior health care experience? The Department does not require any formal healthcare experience to gain admission but does consider relevant experience, volunteer or paid, when reviewing applications. Gaining such experience prior to beginning the program is to the advantage of the student. back to top Does the program allow me to gain health care experience? The Department requires that all first year students complete a twelve-week healthcare-related field training summer internship. Students receive two academic credit hours for this internship. Past students have gained experience locally, nationally, and internationally. Please the section on Career Services for more information. back to top Is an internship part of the program? Yes. Students take their 12-week internship in the summer between their junior and senior years. back to top How many semester hours are required for graduation? At least 120 hours (not counting required physical education) are required for graduation -- with a junior-senior distribution of approximately 60 semester hours required. Total hours required: 120 minimum; maximum not to exceed 165 hours. Local residence for the last 30 hours of degree credit is required. back to top What kind of career can I pursue with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree? Graduates of the program begin interesting management and policy careers in a variety of different healthcare settings, including health systems (such as hospitals), medical group practices, consulting firms, government agencies, insurance companies, and long-term care facilities. Graduates of the Bachelor's program have also successfully pursued graduate degrees in a broad range of fields, including Health Policy and Management, law, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, accounting, business administration, and social work. back to top Are there lots of jobs in healthcare? The healthcare industry continues to be one of the fastest growing segments in the marketplace. For example, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, seven out of the top ten fastest growth occupations are in healthcare. back to top Don't see the answer to your question? Contact: Kim Sieler Executive Programs Manager 919-966-7364 krsieler@email.unc.edu Mailing Address Department of Health Policy and Management School of Public Health CB# 7411, McGavran-Greenberg Hall University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7411 back to top Content for this page provided by the Department of Health Policy and Management. Please contact the webmaster with any questions or comments.

Last updated August 06, 2008