Frequently Asked Questions

The full-time program is designed to take two years. Part-time can take up to five years, depending on the number of credits taken each semester.

While at least one semester of college level chemistry and biology are required for the EH, GEH, and EH-EPI programs to ensure success in our foundation classes, applications may be submitted even if biology and/or chemistry are not on official transcripts and may also be considered for merit scholarships. If accepted, the applicant must take the course(s) prior to matriculating into the program. Most people will take the missing class(es) in spring semester or summer prior to starting Rollins.

Courses may be taken in a university undergraduate program, community college, or even online. The official transcript reflecting the course(s) and grade(s) must be submitted prior to matriculation. The Associate Director of Academic Programs can help answer questions about this requirement, provide information on online courses, and help review class syllabi if you intend to enroll in a class.

Yes, there are many opportunities to plan a visit. First, stop by the RSPH Admission page for recruitment events and tour information. Destination Public Health is an open house held every October and provides insight into the field of public health and an overview of Rollins School of Public Health and individual departments and disciplines. This event is open to the general public, but register online to secure your space.

Visit Emory is an annual spring event for newly accepted applicants in March. It is designed to provide in-depth information about our academic programs, student services, and public health community. Scheduled activities will give you the opportunity to interact with our talented student body, engage in dialogue with distinguished faculty members, and tour the many outstanding facilities which are a part of Emory University and the Rollins School of Public Health. Accepted applicants receive details about the event from the admissions office.

Attend a monthly Admissions Information Session, ask questions for the panel, and participate in a tour. Depending on how much time you have, you can meet with a department academic advisor (ADAP), a student ambassador, and/or an EH faculty member. You can view faculty profiles online or email program coordinator Colton Nettleton (colton.nettleton@emory.edu) with your interests for a few recommendations. Colton may also help arrange a visit to an EH class or a meeting with current students. Other offices you may want to arrange visits with include Office of Career Development or Emory Financial Aid.

You are encouraged to schedule appointments prior to your arrival, particularly if coming from out-of-town. The beginning and end of each semester are the busiest times for faculty and staff, so please try to plan your visit accordingly. Directions, hotel, and travel information can be found here. You can also view maps of Emory University's sustainable initivaties.

The submission of GRE scores are optional for all candidates applying to our MPH programs.

Details about Rollins and Emory financial information can be found in the admission section of our website. 

All applications received by the January deadline are considered for Merit Awards. A separate application is not required. Only applicants that are offered an award will be notified. Award finalists will be notified around the first week of March, and final decisions will be announced in late March/early April.

YES! The Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health accpets MPH applications throughout the application cycle that generally closes in July prior to the fall matriculation period. 

This does not apply to the PhD program which has a strict December deadline stated on the EHS PhD webpage.

No. Rollins' individual departments do not offer departmental-specific scholarships.  Many environmental agencies offer scholarships and fellowships. These opportunities are available on agency websites and will be forwarded to students throughout the year.  Contact a department ADAP for a list of additional resources.

The Emory University Office of Financial Aid coordinates the need-based financial packages for all incoming and currently enrolled students. They can also be reached at (404) 727-6039. Their website is very user-friendly and walks you step-by-step through the process.

Most Rollins students work at least part-time during their enrollment in the program, either within the Emory system or at neighboring agencies such as CDC, American Cancer Society, the Georgia Division of Public Health, other local nonprofit public health organizations or in the private sector. Many opportunities are available for incoming students to learn about jobs. Positions are typically announced closer to the start of each semester and throughout the year.

 Opportunities include:

  • If attending Visit Emory, be sure to attend the Faculty Research Fair. Some faculty will be present to discuss their projects and possible work positions. Bring copies of your resume.
  • When you matriculate into the system, your Emory email account will be activated. You will begin receiving job-related emails for positions both within and outside Rollins and will have access to job boards via Career Services.
  • During RSPH Orientation, you will meet department faculty, hear about their research and any positions they might have as well as hear from the Office of Career Development.
  • Visit Rollins' Office of Career Development website and office; attend their events and job fairs throughout the year. They also have an online job database that you will gain access to upon matriculation.
  • Networking events such as Emory’s Green Networking Night and the Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health’s Networking Night with partners and alumni.
  • Networking with faculty, adjunct faculty, course instructors, community partners, and organizations is also a good way to find positions. You can view faculty profiles here. You can email them if you are interested in their work and/or to learn about possible positions in the fall. However, most faculty will not know of fall opportunities until closer to the start of fall semester.

Research/graduate assistantships at Rollins are only available through the Merit Scholarship program. Other positions are either funded through the Rollins Earn and Learn (REAL) program or through employers and faculty members’ direct hiring. See "How do I find a job?" above.

Various housing options are available for RSPH students. Many students live in off-campus apartments in surrounding neighborhoods such as Decatur, Virginia-Highlands, Morningside, Grant Park, Inman Park, Lake Clair, Poncey-Highlands, Little Five Points, and Buckhead. Admitted students will have access to the new student portal and housing blog to connect with other students seeking and offering housing. The Emory off-campus housing page also provides resources.

Registration for new students entering in the fall will begin in June. Enrollment Services will keep you updated via the new student correspondence and website. Be sure to keep an eye on all of the materials and emails that come your way from admissions, including important orientation information. Ensure your contact information is always updated in OPUS.

Electives can be any RSPH class over the 500 level as well as most other 500 level classes across Emory. In addition to meeting degree requirements, electives can also count towards requirements for certificate programs. However, required classes for your degree cannot count toward a certificate.

GDEH conducts student advising in small groups.  Your advising group assignment will be provided at or near new student orientation.  First-year students are also connected to a second-year student mentor.

Official calendars are maintained by the Office of the Registrar. Check the Academic Calendar for an easy-to-read grid of semester start and end dates, finals dates, and more (be sure to look at the column for "Public Health"). Also, check out the Rollins-specific calendar.

Graduates from the EH department work in government, universities, nonprofits, and proprietary organizations. Read the EH Employment Survey results from the past few years for more information.