Earn Your Online MPH in One Year With GW

No GRE Required

Fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)

No. 12 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.

As a student, you can select from the following accelerated program options:

One-Year
Accelerated Option

60-80 hours of weekly course work
Not permitted to be employed during program
Undergrad GPA above 3.5 required

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

Find out which accelerated program option is right for you.

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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. The curriculum for this online one-year MPH program is the same as for the traditional GW online and on-campus Master of Public Health programs. 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. The curriculum for this online one-and-a-half-year MPH program is the same as for the traditional GW online and on-campus Master of Public Health programs. 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
CourseCredits
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
CourseCredits
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
CourseCredits
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
CourseCredits
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
CourseCredits
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
CourseCredits
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
CourseCredits
Planning & Implementation of Health Promotion Programs (6500)
3
Fundamentals of Program Evaluation (6009)
2
Practical Data Management & Analysis (6052)
2
Quarter 4
CourseCredits
Elective
2
Introduction to Public Health Communications & Marketing (6503) 
3
Managing Organizations & Influencing Systems in Public Health (6022)3
1
Elective
3
Quarter 5
CourseCredits
Comparative Global Health Systems (6442)
2
Elective
2
Elective
3
Culminating Experience I (6060)
1
Quarter 6
CourseCredits
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

Return to footnote reference

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.

1 U.S. News & World Report, Best Public Health Graduate Schools. Retrieved April 2025.arrow_upward