Health Equity (HLEQ)
Graduate Degree Program
College: Public Health
Abstract
The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with a concentration in Health Equity is a 45-credit interdisciplinary professional degree. It is a school wide program, currently administered by the Department of Health Services Administration.
The MPH program in Health Equity is designed to train students as public health scientists and practitioners that focus practice and/or research activities on the recognition, description and elimination of health disparities. Health disparities exist across several groups such as race/ethnic groups, geographic residence, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability status. Public health and health care practitioners and researchers play a critical role in the identification and amelioration of health disparities and in working towards achieving health equity.
The MPH program in Health Equity is a unique and interdisciplinary program with students taking courses across all departments at UMD-SPH and across the UMD campus. The expertise gained through the MPH in Health Equity prepares students for careers that involve integrating health equity into public health practice at various levels. Various agencies in the state (e.g., county and state health departments) and across the nation (e.g., NIH and CDC), including colleges/universities, health-related agencies, community groups, and even large corporations (hospitals and insurance plans), employ public health professionals with a deep understanding of health disparities in order to design, implement, evaluate, and monitor interventions and policies to improve the health of their constituents by working towards health equity.
To accommodate a variety of career pursuits, students have flexibility in designing their course structure. Once a foundational knowledge is acquired through the MPH program's core requirements, students are encouraged to take electives across a range of disciplines. A large number of elective courses are available within the existing graduate curriculum across all departments in the School of Public Health as well as across other UMD colleges and DC area institutions. Students will be advised to work with SPH faculty for recommendations about how certain elective courses will best support particular career aspirations.
The curriculum is adaptable to both a full and part-time student status.
Please see our website for updated information on the program https://sph.umd.edu/academics/masters-degrees/mph-master-public-health/mph-health-equity
CONTACT
Melvin Seale, DHSc, RHIA, CCS-P, CRC
Assistant Clinical Professor & Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Health Policy and Management
School of Public Health
University of Maryland
Email: mseale@umd.edu
Kellee White, PhD
Associate Professor & Program Director
Department of Health Policy and Management
School of Public Health
University of Maryland
Email: kwhite20@umd.edu
Website: https://sph.umd.edu/academics/masters-degrees/mph-master-public-health/mph-health-equity
Relationships: Health Administration (HLSA) Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation (HPAE) Health Services (PHHS) Principles of Public Health (Z076) Public Health Practice and Policy (PHPP)
Courses: SPHL HLSA
The MPH in Health Equity program has a two-part application process: applicants must submit the SOPHAS application (www.sophas.org), the centralized application service for schools and programs of public health, and the UMD Supplemental application. Both applications must be submitted and verified by the scheduled deadline. Applications will be reviewed when the SOPHAS and the UMD Supplemental applications are completed.
GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- A Bachelor's degree
- Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
- At least one undergraduate math course
- Transcripts from all previous coursework
- English proficiency test score (TOEFL, IELTS or PTE) (international applicants)
- Statement of purpose and objectives including career and educational goals, professional experience, public health areas of interest, and faculty you are interested in working with
- Response to personal experiences question(s)
PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
- SOPHAS application & UMD Supplemental application
- Three letters of recommendation
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Fit between applicant's goals and expectations and program degree competencies
- Official GRE Test Score submission is not required. GRE scores won’t be reviewed.
- A writing sample is optional
Note for applicants with foreign credentials:
- The SOPHAS application requires that applicants submit a WES credential evaluation
- The UMD supplemental application requires the upload of unofficial transcripts issued in the original language along with a literal English translation. Visit the Graduate School website for additional information
- Evidence of English Language proficiency is required if the applicant does not hold a degree from a U.S. institution or from one of the English-speaking countries listed on the Graduate School website
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Language scores must be submitted both to SOPHAS and UMD supplemental application
For detailed instructions on how to apply, please visit the School of Public Health Website: https://sph.umd.edu/graduate-application-process
Application Deadlines
| Type of Applicant | Fall Deadline | Spring Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Applicants | ||
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents | April 4, 2025 | N/A |
| The Fall priority deadline for both SOPHAS and UMD applications is December 20, 2024 | ||
| International Applicants | ||
| F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A, E, G, H, I and L visas and immigrants | March 7, 2025 | N/A |
| The Fall priority deadline for both SOPHAS and UMD applications is December 20, 2024 |
PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Department website: https://sph.umd.edu/academics/departments-units/department-health-policy-and-management
Program Website: https://sph.umd.edu/academics/masters-degrees/mph-master-public-health/mph-health-equity
Application Process: https://sph.umd.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/graduate-application-process
Admissions FAQ: https://sph.umd.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions/graduate-application-faqs
| Last Name | First/Middle Name | Graduate Faculty Status | Academic Credentials | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boudreaux | Michel | Full Member | B.A., Augsburg College, 2003; M.S., University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2009; Ph.D., University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2014 | Associate Professor, Health Administration Assistant Professor, Health Equity Assistant Professor, Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation Assistant Professor, Health Services |
| Chen | Jie | Full Member | B.S., Shanghai University, 2001; M.A., SUNY-Stony Brook, 2006; Ph.D., SUNY-Stony Brook, 2008 | Chair, Health Administration Associate Professor, Health Administration Associate Professor, Health Equity Associate Professor, Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation Associate Professor, Health Services |
| DuGoff | Eva Hisako | Full Member | B.A., Georgetown University, 2002; M.P.P., George Washington University, 2008; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 2014 | Assistant Professor, Health Equity Assistant Professor, Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation Assistant Professor, Health Services |
| Fenelon | Andrew | Full Member | B.A., University of California-Santa Barbara, 2007; M.A., University of Pennsylvania, 2008; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 2012 | Assistant Professor, Health Equity Assistant Professor, Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation Assistant Professor, Health Services |
| Roby | Dylan | Full Member | B.A., University of California-Los Angeles; D.P.H., George Washington University; Ph.D., George Washington University | Associate Chair, Health Equity Associate Chair, Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation Associate Chair, Health Services Director, Health Equity Director, Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation Director, Health Services Associate Professor, Health Equity Associate Professor, Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation Associate Professor, Health Services |
| Sehgal | Neil Jay | Full Member | B.A., University of California-Los Angeles, 2002; M.P.H., University of California-Med Los Angeles, 2005; Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley, 2015 | Assistant Professor, Health Equity Assistant Professor, Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation Assistant Professor, Health Services |
| Simon-Rusinowitz | Lori | Full Member | B.S., University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 1975; M.P.H., University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 1978; M.A., Whitworth University, 1985; Ph.D., University of Illinois-Chicago, 1987 | Associate Professor, Health Administration Associate Professor, Health Equity Associate Professor, Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation Associate Professor, Health Services |
| Thomas | Stephen | Full Member | B.S., Ohio State University, 1980; M.S., Illinois State University, 1981; Ph.D., Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, 1985 | Professor, Health Administration Professor, Health Equity Professor, Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation Professor, Health Services |