University of Maryland, College Park Public Health Degrees
University of Maryland, College Park appears in our ranking of the Top 10 MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences Degrees Online.
The University of Maryland, College Park offers its public health degrees from the Department of Health Policy and Management and the Department of Behavioral and Community Health. Both departments are housed within the School of Public Health, and students may take classes in both departments even if they enroll in a degree program in one department or the other.
From the Department of Health Policy and Management, students may enroll in a Master of Public Health program with available emphases in Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation, Health Equity, and Public Health Practice and Policy. The MPH in Public Health Practice and Policy is available online. Students may also pursue a doctoral program in health services, or earn a Certificate in the Principles of Public Health.
Degree options from the Department of Behavioral and Community Health include a Bachelor of Science in Community Health, a Master of Public Health in Behavioral and Community Health, and a Ph.D. in Behavioral and Community Health. The department’s MPH in Behavioral and Community Health is available online.
Students may want to explore the differences between public health and community health when choosing their degree focus. Public health is defined by the university as the science of improving the health of populations through education and health promotion. Meanwhile, community health is a foundational component of public health that focuses on smaller populations within society at large.
Within the community health programs at the University of Maryland, College Park, students may take classes that include Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, and Introduction to Research in Community Health. Other classes include Introduction to Health Behaviors and Introduction to Research in Community Health.
Meanwhile, students who enroll in public health degree programs may see classes like Foundations of Public Health, Introduction to Health Services, Demographic Data for Health Policy Analysis, and Public Health Research. Graduate degree programs commonly require a capstone project or thesis, and students may also participate in an internship experience. Doctoral programs feature a dissertation that takes at least 12 credits.
About the University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a public university located in College Park, Maryland. The large institution of higher learning has more than 41,000 students attending and also has status as a sea-grant, space-grant, and land-grant school. The university offers more than 200 degree-granting programs at undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The university’s official colors are red, white, black, and gold.
The school has special partnerships with the federal government and receives funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In 2017, the university received a significant donation of more than $200 million, which was the largest-ever philanthropic gift to a public school in the United States. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference for sporting events, and games are played in the NCAA Division I.
University of Maryland, College Park Accreditation Details
The University of Maryland, College Park was first accredited by the Association of American Universities in 1920. This first accreditation occurred soon after the school was brought into the University of Maryland system. Today, the university is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is one of the nation’s regional accrediting agencies. In addition, many programs offered by the university are programmatically accredited by national organizations.
Accreditations include those from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Psychological Association, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Also accrediting programs at the university are the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation, the Council on Education for Public Health, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the National Association of Schools of Dance.
University of Maryland, College Park Application Requirements
Application requirements for first-year students interested in attending the University of Maryland, College Park include several courses in high school in areas like science, math, and English. Students must also submit several application documents that include the online application, the non-refundable application fee of $75, and two letters of recommendation. The application process also includes copies of high school transcripts, official standardized test scores, and college transcripts for students who have already enrolled in college-level classes.
For graduate students, the application process is similar and begins with the official application. Some programs may require additional documents or information during the admissions process. Applicants must send letters of recommendation, official transcripts from college, and standardized test scores. Students who aren’t from the United States and whose first language isn’t English must take tests that prove English language proficiency.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition for Maryland residents at the University of Maryland, College Park is $8,824 for the year, and tuition for non-residents is $36,891. Students in business, computer science, and engineering programs will pay an additional $2,856, regardless of their residency status. Mandatory fees add another $1,955, and room and board are charged at $7,755 and $4,760, respectively. For part-time enrollment, the per-credit cost for residents is $367, and the per-credit cost for non-residents is $1,456.
Students who enroll in graduate classes will pay $731 per credit if they’re Maryland residents and $1,625 per credit if they’re from another location. Fees add another $451 to $817.50. The total expected cost for residents who enroll in 12 credits is $9,589.50, and the total expected cost for residents is $20,317.50. Students may also need to pay some fees like a student union fee of $171.50, a recreation services fee of $199, and a shuttle bus fee of $111.50.
Students who want assistance applying for financial aid may contact the Office of Financial Aid at the University of Maryland, College Park. Students should submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid early in their application process to increase the likelihood of receiving the best aid package possible. Students may receive loans, scholarships, or grants, as well as some combination of the three.
The university offers several institutional grants for Maryland residents, as well as other institutional aid for non-residents and international students. To receive grants from the University of Maryland, College Park, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress, enroll in at least 12 credits each semester, and submit a FAFSA form by the deadline of January 1.