Application to the MHS program, regardless of the emphasis track chosen, consists of several steps. These steps are described as follows:
1. Arrange for an in-person meeting with the MHS Program Director, Dr. Tedd McDonald.
Contact Angela Garcia at 208-426-3929 or agarcia@boisestate.edu.
For those individuals who live outside of southwestern Idaho, a phone interview can be arranged in lieu of an in-person interview. The purpose of this meeting is to acquaint the program director with the potential applicant and to ascertain his/her interests in the program. This will not only help the program director to determine if the applicant is a good fit for the program, but will also help the applicant determine whether the program is a good fit for him or her.
2. Complete a Graduate Admission Application.
Before applicants can apply directly to the MHS program, they must apply first to the Graduate College of Boise State University. Students who are not accepted by the Graduate College are eliminated from consideration for the MHS program. Students can complete a Graduate Admission Application online at https://secureforms.boisestate.edu/gradcoll/graduate-admission-application/, or can complete a hard copy application that is found inside the front cover of the Graduate Catalog. A $55 non-refundable application fee must be submitted along with the Graduate Admission Application. With the Graduate College application, students must also submit the following: official transcripts, sent directly from each post-high school institution they have attended (students do not have to submit transcripts from Boise State, as these can be obtained electronically by the Graduate College). The Graduate College bases admissions criteria on the following:
- Undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA): Successful applicants to the Graduate College must have either a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 (on a 4-point scale) or a GPA of at least 3.00 for the most recent 60 credits completed.
- International students will be required to submit Official TOEFL results. The TOEFL is a test of English language proficiency. In addition,international students must also complete an International Student Graduate Application available through the International Students Office
(http://admissions.boisestate.edu/international/), and provide documentation to demonstrate adequate financial resources to cover one year of living expenses, tuition, and fees.
3. Complete application materials for admission to the MHS program.
If criteria for admission to the Graduate College are met, the applicant’s file will be sent to the MHS program director. Before the MHS program director and other reviewers make a decision on an applicant, the following materials must be submitted directly to the MHS program director at: Program Director, Master of Health Science, Department of Community and Environmental Health, Boise State University, 1910 University Dr., Boise, ID 83725-1835.
- Three letters of recommendation – these should be mailed directly to the Program Director. Ideally, at least one should be from a former professor(although this may not be possible for applicants who are returning to college after many years). Other suitable references include employment supervisors and volunteer coordinators.
- A formal statement of least 250 words explaining the applicant’s educational and career background and future objectives, as well as how these objectives correspond to the MHS program.
- A current copy of the applicant’s resume or curriculum vita.
- Arrange to take a 1 hour long writing exam. Please email mhsinfo@boisestate.edu to obtain current dates and times. Please note: for US residents, GRE scores that are at most 3 years old may be used in lieu of the 1-hour writing exam (TOEFL or IELTS) scores may be used for foreign applicants. Also note that the GRE is not required in order to be considered for admissions. Please forward all scores to Dr. Tedd McDonald at the Department of Community and Environmental Health.
Because the department accepts students both spring and fall terms, review of applications for students applying for the spring semester will begin approximately October 15th and for fall semester, March 15. Application files that are completed by those dates will receive priority review. If remaining positions in the program exist, files completed after that date will be reviewed.
Students meeting all Graduate College and MHS program criteria who are accepted into the MHS program will be notified by the MHS Program Director.
If there are any questions that have not been answered or clarification is needed on any point, please feel free to contact Angela Garcia at agarcia@boisestate.edu or (208) 426-3929.