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Peace Corps Masters International

• Admissions |
• Degree Requirements

The Peace Corps Master's International (PCMI) track of the Global Health MPH offers a unique opportunity to integrate practical work experience with rigorous academic study in the field of international public health. This PCMI provides a comprehensive orientation to global health, emphasizing sociopolitical, economic, and geographic factors that, in addition to biomedical factors, have an impact on health. This unique focus helps PCMI students develop skills that will enable them to strengthen the capacity of health care systems to deliver services and assist communities to improve their health status. The Global Health PCMI stresses cooperation, diplomacy and social justice, while focusing on multi-disciplinary and intersectoral approaches to health care.

The Global Health MPH focuses on community health and primary health care systems of the developing world. This approach provides the basis for the PCMI as well, giving students a solid background in public health as they enter their volunteer assignments with the Peace Corps. Courses cover basic principles of public health, and students learn to identify social, political, and economic determinants of illness. Planning, management, and evaluation of health care systems are also an integral part of the academic curriculum. These practical skills and tools enhance a volunteer's ability to meet the challenges they will face in their field assignment and help ensure that they can provide valuable technical contributions to their host country's organization and to communities of need.

Admissions

Commitment to Diversity
http://sphcm.washington.edu/about/studserv.asp

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION

Successful applications to the MPH Program usually meet the following criteria:

• Show a good match between the training goals of applicant and the track to which they are applying.
• Demonstrate a progression between past and present training and/or experience and attainment of the MPH. Goal statements should clearly address how an MPH degree will advance applicant's professional goals.
• Are supported by good recommendation letters, transcripts, and GRE scores. The minimum grade point average which is acceptable to the Graduate School is 3.0, a "B" average. The MPH Program can petition for a waiver from this requirement for a few applicants with other exceptional qualifications or experience.

While the programs do not have specific expectations about GRE scores, successful applicants usually achieve at least 50% in each of the categories. The GRE is not required for those who have earned a doctoral degree in the United States from an accredited institution of higher learning. The programs will accept "old" GRE scores, so long as they are still available from the Educational Testing Service.

There are no course prerequisites; however, since biostatistics and epidemiology are core courses for the MPH, the faculty are often concerned about the ability of an applicant to perform well in quantitative work. A review course in algebra or statistics may be desirable for applicants who need to bolster their skills in this area.

PCMI applicants must apply and be accepted to both the Peace Corps and Global Health MPH to participate in the program. Applicants must be nominated for Peace Corps service by the time matriculation at UW commences. In addition to all academic requirements, fulfillment of the PCMI-MPH requires completion of the entire 27-month Peace Corps experience.

Applicants to the PCMI should have some work experience beyond their undergraduate education, preferably in a health-related field. Most successful applicants will also have some experience of living conditions in developing countries. Applicants with a demonstrated commitment (through work with voluntary organizations or other experiences) to social justice and achievement of health equity are looked upon favorably.

Combined Online Application to UW Graduate School and Global Health PCMI

Apply online at: https://www.grad.washington.edu/applForAdmiss/

IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION: PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING

Application Deadline: December 15 (or next business day if this is a weekend)

Admission requirements will be described once you begin the application and select a program. You may also find this information at http://www.grad.washington.edu/Programs/gradprogs.aspx

All materials except transcripts and tests will be collected online. You will be able to check online for the status of each component of your application.

Transcript Instructions:

For all colleges or universities attended, have the institution(s) send one set of transcripts to the Department of Global Health Graduate Admissions office in a sealed envelope. Minor transcripts for course-work that has no relevance to the degree can be omitted:

Department of Global Health
Graduate Admissions - MPH
1959 NE Pacific Street, H-660
Box 357660
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-7660

FOREIGN DEGREE: (not study abroad) Major transcripts in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. Send official transcripts & diplomas showing grades/marks (with graduation date) to UW Graduate Admissions & to Global Health. If an institution only issues 1 transcript, have it sent to Global Health.

Test Instructions:

The General GRE test is required of all applicants. Only those with a doctoral level degree from an accredited U.S. school are exempted from this requirement (ex. PhD, JD, DDS, MD). Please have Educational Testing Service (ETS) submit your score to the University of Washington using institution code 4854.

For more information on admissions requirements, see graduate admissions information. (https://www.grad.washington.edu/admissions/adminfo.html)

PCMI Degree Requirements

Global Health Foundation course:

• G H 511 (Formerly HSERV/EPI 531)
  Problems in International Health

Global Health Management course:

• HSERV 590H
  International Program Management and Evaluation

One of the following assessment courses:

• EPI/HSERV 539
  Research Methods in Developing Countries

• EPI 586
  Responsible Conduct in International Research
  

Global Health Seminar (each in-residence quarter):

• GLOBLH 592

Global Health MPH Workshop (first two in-residence quarters):

• GLOBLH 592

• BIOST 511
  Medical Biometry I
• BIOST 517
  Applied Biostatistics

At least one of the following Epidemiology courses:

• EPI 511
  Introduction to Epidemiology
• EPI 512 & 513
  Epidemiologic Methods I & II (2 courses)

At least one of the following Environmental Health courses:

• ENVH 511
  Intro. to Environmental and Occupational Health
• ENVH 570
  Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology
• ENVH 577
  Risk Assessment for Environmental Health Hazards
• ENVH 584
  Occupational Health & Safety: Policy and Politics
• ENVH 517
  Children's Environmental Health

• HSERV 510
  Society and Health

• G H 595
  

• G H 700

and:

• PB AF 599
  PCMI Seminar

And at least 3 additional credits of Global Health courses

Qualitative Methods course:
If a student’s thesis is primarily qualitative, a course in qualitative methods is required; HSERV 526, Qualitative Research Methods for Public Health, or HSERV 521, Qualitative Methods in Health Services Research.  These courses may be substituted by another qualitative methods course with permission from thesis chair.  In the case of a substitution, please contact a student services staff member.

Overall, students must complete:              63 credits total

of which:                                                   At least 30 credits must be from graduate-level in                                                                   classroom courses

which must include:                                  At least 18 credits must be from Global Health                                                                   in- classroom courses

Finally, all Global Health MPH students are encouraged to take elective courses in other departments of the School of Public Health and other health sciences schools, as well as through other schools and colleges throughout the university, including the Jackson School of International Studies and the Evans School of Public Affairs. Independent study under faculty supervision is also encouraged for credit.

Logistics of the Global Health MPH - PCMI Track

The schedule for PCMI students begins with three quarters of academic coursework, followed by 3 months of in-country Peace Corps training, and 2 years of service as a Peace Corps volunteer. During their period of Peace Corps service, students submit quarterly progress reports. Students are classified as “On Leave” during this period and are not charged tuition except for a one-time registration fee of $35 to obtain “On Leave” status. PCMI students receive practicum credit for their Peace Corps experience and will carry out the background research for their required thesis. Faculty advisors from GH-MPH remain accessible and available for technical and other support throughout. After completing their Peace Corps service, PCMI students return to the University of Washington for one or two final quarter(s) to complete a rigorous thesis and their MPH requirements.

Sample Schedule for Global Health MPH - PCMI Track

Students typically begin their service training in June or September and remain in the Peace Corps for approximately 9 quarters, returning in Autumn or Winter for one or two quarters.

Fourth Year

Additional Information

• UW PCMI Student Profiles and Resources
  http://depts.washington.edu/pcmi/
• Peace Corps
  http://www.peacecorps.gov/

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