Diverse Public Health Degree Paths at UW-Seattle
The University of Washington-Seattle appears in our ranking of the 10 Best MPH Degrees in the West.
At Warren G. Magnuson Center, the School of Public Health grants a 180-credit B.S. in Public Health led by Dr. Sara Mackenzie for University of Washington-Seattle Huskies to blend courses like Disease Prevention with field practica, such as Noel House or the WHO, and a Greenwich semester. Chaired by Dr. Richard Fenske, the B.S. in Environmental Health builds a 180-credit, EHAC-accredited curriculum where undergrads can contribute to the Sustainable Communities Project, find 400-hour internships from the EPA to Fremont Analytical, and join the Rotaract Club. The Master of Public Health has a 63-credit, two-year plan redesigned for 2020 by Dr. Hilary Godwin with specializations for Environmental & Occupational Health, Global Health, Epidemiology, Maternal & Child Health, Health Systems & Policy, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Public Health Genetics, One Health, or Nutritional Sciences.
Since 1970, the MS in Biostatistics has started a 73-credit, research-based sequence advised by Dr. Patrick Heagerty each Fall with intensive 500-level Seattle classes like Linear Models plus Genetic Analysis Center projects and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center internships. Directed by Dr. Stephen Hawes, the 60-credit MS in Epidemiology encourages post-grads to collaborate with Harborview Injury Prevention, conduct Cardiometabolic Disease Lab research, travel from Nepal to Nairobi, and attend the Epi Seminar Series. The Ph.D. in Public Health builds a 90-credit, CEPH-accredited program overseen by Dr. Janet Baseman with 10 concentrations, such as Pathobiology and Environmental Toxicology, for original dissertation research. Other degrees include the BS in Health Informatics, BA in Food Systems & Nutrition, MS in Occupational Hygiene, MS in Clinical Research, MS in Health Services, and Executive MPH.
About the University of Washington-Seattle
The University of Washington-Seattle originated in 1854 when Territorial Governor Isaac Stevens met with Arthur A. Denny and Methodist minister Daniel Bagley to plan a college. On November 4, 1861, the Territorial University of Washington was officially opened with tuition of only $30. In 1876, Clara Antoinette McCarty Wilt became the university’s first bachelor’s grad. In 1889, Washington became the 42nd state, so “Territorial” was dropped from the name. In 1909, UW-Seattle was notably the location of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. In 1946, UW added a prestigious School of Medicine. On May 5, 1959, the University of Washington-Seattle acquired its own Medical Center on Portage Bay. In 1960, Dr. Belding Hibbard Scribner famously started the world’s earliest kidney dialysis there. By 2009, UW-Seattle was one of the top 10 recipients of National Institutes of Health funding.
Endowed for $3.2 billion, the University of Washington-Seattle now employs 5,803 faculty teaching 43,859 Huskies from 79 countries online or on its 703-acre Cascadia campus around Red Square with 1,000+ clubs like the Health Equity Circle. In 2018, UW-Seattle won the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence. In 2010, UW-Seattle accepted the Warren Featherstone Reid Award for Community Health Outreach. The U.S. News & World Report placed the University of Washington-Seattle seventh for public health and 12th for medicine. Reuters ranked UW-Seattle the fifth most innovative institution globally. On Niche, UW boasts America’s 16th top public education, 28th best location, and 35th best environmental programs. The Wall Street Journal crowned UW-Seattle the 18th top university worldwide. Money magazine declared the University of Washington-Seattle the 19th best value.
University of Washington-Seattle Accreditation Details
On January 27, 2014, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) mailed official notification to the University of Washington-Seattle that the Level VI accreditation was satisfactorily reaffirmed for seven years through 2021 under the 33rd president, Dr. Ana Mari Cauce, who earned the Luis Fernando Esteban Public Service Award. Located 12 miles east via Route 520 in Redmond, this splendid seven-state Pacific Northwest Region accreditor is recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to review UW-Seattle’s 140 academic departments. The School of Public Health was accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) through December 31, 2020. The following are other relevant UW-Seattle accreditations:
- National Environmental Health, Science and Protection Accreditation Council
- Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management
- Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
- Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
University of Washington-Seattle Application Requirements
Admission to the University of Washington-Seattle is labeled “very difficult” by Peterson’s since 22,350 of the 45,907 Fall 2017 applicants were okayed for selective 49 percent acceptance. Undergrad Huskies fetching the BS in Public Health must have already completed 30-90 quarter credits after high school. Prerequisite courses, such as Calculus I, Introductory Biology, and Organic Chemistry, must be fulfilled first. Upper-division majors need cumulative GPAs of 2.5 or higher. Though entirely optional, admitted students have an average 1310 SAT and 29 ACT score. International students must reach at least the 7.0 IELTS, 92 TOEFL iBT, or 550 SAT Reading level. The School of Public Health reserves graduate programs for four-year, regionally accredited bachelor’s holders. Minimum GPAs of 3.0 in the last 90 quarter credits are critical. Students present a median 157 GRE Verbal and 154 GRE Quantitative score. The MPH strongly prefers two years of employment or volunteering in health care. MS in Biostatistics entrants need 30 quarter credits in math and stats subjects.
The University of Washington-Seattle accepts BS in Public Health applicants from September 13th to October 11th. Hopeful BS in Environmental Health majors can apply until April 19th for Summer, July 12th for Fall, and October 11th for Winter starts. The School of Public Health generally only considers Fall cohorts until December 1st for the MPH, MS, and Ph.D. programs. Executive MPH candidates must file before April 30th. The Master of Health Administration closes on January 15th each year. Master of Health Informatics candidates are welcome until April 1st. Accordingly, submit the Coalition or SOPHAS Application online for $85. Forward official transcripts to 1410 NE Campus Parkway Box 355852 in Seattle, WA 98195. Use Educational Testing Service code 4854 for GRE and TOEFL results. Attach supplemental documents like the resume or CV, 700-word personal statement, three references, and research paper sample. Contact (206) 685-3057 or sphsas@uw.edu with questions.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, the University of Washington-Seattle charged full-time Evergreen State undergrads $10,127 annually. Non-resident BS in Public Health tuition was $35,508 each year. Bachelor’s majors covered mandatory fees of $1,080 yearly. Living at the King County campus’ dorms like Maple Hall added $12,798 for room and board. UW-Seattle budgeted $900 for books, $2,265 for personal expenses, and $468 for travel. Annual undergrad attendance was $27,638 in-state and $53,018 out-of-state. The Master of Public Health billed Washingtonians $20,757 and non-residents $36,138 each year full-time. MS or PhD cohorts spent $17,760 in-state and $30,756 out-of-state every nine months. Online Executive MPH students paid $886 per credit or $55,818 total.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Student Financial Aid on Schmitz Hall’s 5th Floor links 57 percent of new UW-Seattle Huskies to tuition assistance averaging $14,051 each for $37.15 million combined. Public health funds include the Double Eagle II Scholarship, Rattlinggourd Scholarship, Walter A. Remak Scholarship, Grayston Day Fellowship, Magnuson Scholars Fellowship, Patrick-Beresford Social Epidemiology Fellowship, Dr. James A. McDermott Global Health Fellowship, and SPH Dean Master’s Fellowship. The $10,000 Diversity Scholarship has a January 15th deadline for high-need BS in Public Health majors. Incoming Ph.D. in Public Health students with minimum 3.4 GPAs qualify for the $20,000 Ronald E. McNair Fellowship. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant and Graduate Plus Loan, unlock with FAFSA applications coded 003798. Washington residents also access the State Opportunity Scholarship, State Need Grant, American Indian Endowed Scholarship, Horatio Alger Scholarship, Atsuhiko Tateuchi Memorial Scholarship, and more.
Keep reading about the University of Washington-Seattle at the School of Public Health website.