As a student, you can select from the following accelerated program options:
18-Month
Accelerated Option
40-60 hours of weekly course work
Can work up to 20 hours/week during program
On average above a 3.5 undergrad GPA
Earn Your Online MPH in One Year With GW
No GRE Required
Fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
Top 15-ranked school of public health1
MPH@GW is the online Master of Public Health (MPH) program offered through the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University. MPH@GW offers you a one-year online MPH program option in which you can complete coursework on a part-time or full-time basis. You will also have the opportunity to tailor your curriculum track according to your personal and professional preferences.
Find out which accelerated program option is right for you.
One-Year Program Details
MPH@GW offers an intensive online, 12-month accelerated option that requires students to take an average of 11.5 credits per quarter. Given the demanding course load, students approved for this program option are not permitted to work while enrolled.
18-Month Program Details
MPH@GW also offers an intensive online, 18-month accelerated option that requires students to take an average of 7.5 credits per quarter. Given the demanding course load, students approved for this program are not permitted to work more than part-time while enrolled.
Accelerated MPH details
Curriculum
Both online accelerated MPH options — the one-year and 18-month options — mirror the on-campus degree in their requirements. These include:
- 17 core public health course credits
- 10 program-specific course credits
- 16 elective course credits
- 2 culminating experience credits
Elective options
One of the top benefits of earning your MPH online with GW is the ability to generalize the degree and then customize your curriculum with our elective options — which is why we’ve incorporated them into every program completion option. Our electives cover a wide variety of focus areas and allow you to tailor your learnings to your specific interests and career aspirations.
Health Informatics concentration
You can also customize your degree by adding an optional Health Informatics concentration. Developed by some of the nation’s foremost experts in health informatics, data and technology, this concentration gives you a holistic understanding of the evolving roles of IT and data in public health, health care delivery and a range of other disciplines. Sample courses include:
- Health IT, Informatics and Decision Making
- Population Health Analytics
- Research Analytics
- Health Law and Health IT
- Predictive Analytics
- U.S. Health System and Health IT
Global Health
concentration
The optional Global Health concentration outlines critical global health challenges facing our world today. Explore the multifaceted challenges that span infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, health care access disparities and more. Sample courses include:
- Global Health Frameworks
- Global Health Programs and Approaches to the
Control of Infectious Diseases - Global Child Health
- Global Environmental and Occupational Health
- Public Health in Complex Emergencies
Climate Health concentration
The optional Climate Health concentration teaches students how to address the health impacts of climate change — a global issue with far-reaching consequences. Learn about the intersection of public health and environmental science, and gain practical skills for tackling climate-related health challenges. Sample courses include:
- Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
- Global Environmental and Occupational Health
- Researching Climate Change and Health
- Global Climate Change and Air Pollution
- Sustainable Energy and the Environment
Women, Youth and Child Health concentration
The optional Women, Youth and Child Health concentration focuses on the unique health needs and challenges faced by women, youth and children globally. Explore topics such as reproductive health, maternal and child health, gender-based violence and adolescent health. Sample courses include:
- Maternal and Child Health I: Foundations
- Women’s Health
- Global Child Health
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Monitoring
Sample Course Schedule
Below are sample course schedules for our one-year and 18-month options. These schedules can help you decide which courses to take during which quarter.
1 Year, Accelerated
Quarter 1
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Environmental and Biological Foundations of Public Health (6011) | 3 |
Fundamentals of Health Policy: Public Health and Healthcare (6012) | 2 |
Principles and Practice of Epidemiology (6003) | 3 |
Social and Behavioral Approaches to Public Health (6007) | 2 |
Leading Self and Teams in Public Health (6021)2 | 1 |
Quarter 2
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Biostatistical Applications for Public Health (6002) | 3 |
Fundamentals of Program Evaluation (6009) | 2 |
Planning & Implementation of Health Promotion Programs (6500) | 3 |
Elective | 2 |
Managing Organizations & Influencing Systems in Public Health (6022)2 | 1 |
Quarter 3
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Comparative Global Health Systems (6442) | 2 |
Practical Data Management & Analysis (6052) | 2 |
Introduction to Public Health Communications & Marketing (6503) | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Culminating Experience I (6060) | 1 |
Quarter 4
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Culminating Experience II (6061) | 1 |
Total Credits: 45
2 Note: In PUBH 6021 and PUBH 6022, the Applied Practice Experience (Practicum) will be introduced and guidelines and tools for fulfilling this requirement will be provided. Upon completion of the 120 hour required Practicum, students will receive credit for PUBH 6022. PUBH 6021 must be completed in the first term of enrollment.arrow_upward
1.5 Years, Accelerated
Quarter 1
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Environmental and Biological Foundations of Public Health (6011) | 3 |
Principles and Practice of Epidemiology (6003) | 3 |
Leading Self and Teams in Public Health (6021)3 | 1 |
Quarter 2
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Biostatistical Applications for Public Health (6002) | 3 |
Fundamentals of Health Policy: Public Health and Healthcare (6012) | 2 |
Social and Behavioral Approaches to Public Health (6007) | 2 |
Quarter 3
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Planning & Implementation of Health Promotion Programs (6500) | 3 |
Fundamentals of Program Evaluation (6009) | 2 |
Practical Data Management & Analysis (6052) | 2 |
Quarter 4
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Elective | 2 |
Introduction to Public Health Communications & Marketing (6503) | 3 |
Managing Organizations & Influencing Systems in Public Health (6022)3 | 1 |
Elective | 3 |
Quarter 5
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Comparative Global Health Systems (6442) | 2 |
Elective | 2 |
Elective | 3 |
Culminating Experience I (6060) | 1 |
Quarter 6
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
Culminating Experience II (6061) | 1 |
Elective | 2 |
Elective | 2 |
Elective | 2 |
Total Credits: 45
3 Note: In PUBH 6021 and PUBH 6022, the Applied Practice Experience (Practicum) will be introduced and guidelines and tools for fulfilling this requirement will be provided. Upon completion of the 120 hour required Practicum, students will receive credit for PUBH 6022. PUBH 6021 must be completed in the first term of enrollment.arrow_upward
Additional Program Options
In addition to the accelerated online programs, you can choose to earn your MPH online over the course of two, three, four or five years. The curriculum for each of these program options is the same — the only difference being the amount of courses taken per semester. You have to up to five years to complete the degree.
FAQs About the Online MPH in One Year with GW
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The ideal candidate is a highly disciplined and academically strong professional with a GPA above 3.5. This track is designed for those who want to focus entirely on rapid career advancement or a career pivot.
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You need a bachelor’s degree with a high GPA, a resume, a statement of purpose and two letters of recommendation. No GRE is required for this accelerated track, which requires a commitment of 60–80 hours per week.
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Yes, the 1-year track is respected in the same manner as the traditional program and carries the same CEPH accreditation. You will learn from the same faculty and receive a diploma from the Milken Institute School of Public Health.
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Students in the 12-month accelerated track are generally not permitted to work while enrolled. The program is highly intensive and requires a significant weekly time commitment.
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You should expect to dedicate 60–80 hours of coursework per week to this highly accelerated track. Because of this intense workload, you are generally not permitted to work during your studies.
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Students in the 12-month program take an average of 11.5 credits per quarter. This track consists of four 10-week quarters over a single calendar year.
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Yes, you can typically switch to an 18-month or standard track if you need to adjust your pace. This flexibility allows you to reduce your workload to 7.5 credits or fewer per quarter.
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The comprehensive public health curriculum is the same as the traditional program and covers all core competencies. The only difference is the accelerated structure, which requires year-round, full-time study without long breaks.
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You must proactively secure an approved site and align your project with departmental competencies immediately. Students use Handshake to track their hours and should start the practicum as soon as they become eligible.
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Yes, the program includes mandatory weekly live sessions held via Zoom. You will participate in roughly 120 minutes of faculty-led sessions and 90 minutes of student-led sessions each week.
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There are four start dates per year in January, April, July and September. You should speak with an Enrollment Specialist to confirm if your preferred start date aligns with the 1-year graduation timeline.
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Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in organizations like the CDC or NIH, as well as health care systems and private consulting. Common roles include epidemiologist, health policy analyst or public health program manager.
1 U.S. News & World Report, Best Public Health Graduate Schools. Retrieved April 2025.arrow_upward