Program Overview

Master of Public Health Program

The University of California, Riverside School of Medicine's Master of Public Health (MPH) program trains the next generation of public health leaders. The two-year program, administered through the Department of Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health (SMPPH), began in the Fall of 2024.

Program Overview

Following the mission of the School of Medicine to improve the health of the people of Inland Southern California, our 68-unit interdisciplinary program provides rigorous instruction with a concentration on community health equity. Coursework will include core and elective courses in the public health disciplines of:

• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology
• Environmental health
• Health policy and management
• Social and behavioral health as well as practical experience in public health.

Application Deadlines

• Priority: February 8, 2026
• Final: May 10, 2026

Admissions Requirements

The program seeks to train the next generation of public health leaders to improve health in the Inland Empire. Candidates should want to understand health inequities at the community level and partner with communities to develop and implement effective public health initiatives.

Program Director's Welcome

Mario Sims, PhD, FAHA, Graduate Faculty Director, Master of Public Health Program, welcomes applicants to the new Master of Public Health (MPH) Program at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine. The program launched in Fall 2024 with an inaugural cohort of 15 MPH students and will expand each year.

Program Details

Few MPH programs exist in the Inland Southern California region, and yet there is a real need to focus on health equity, social mobility, and community engagement among the varied ethnic and racial groups in this region. The unique two-year MPH program integrates public health expertise from across UCR's campus, resulting in an in-depth focus on local to global public health problems and solutions. MPH students will develop into scholars and practitioners who are sensitive to the role of community in formulating strategies for eliminating health disparities and achieving health equity.