Admissions: FAQ
Answers to frequently asked questions regarding application/admission:
What is the difference between the DrPH, JDP, and HSRIS programs?
The primary differences between these three doctoral programs lie in their academic focus (practice vs. research).
- The SDSU Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) is a practice-focused leadership degree designed for professionals seeking leadership roles in public health organizations, such as directors, health officers, or consultants, emphasizing skills, such as executive management and global health management.
- The SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health is a research-intensive academic program with concentrations in Epidemiology, Heatlh Behavior and Global Health. As a joint program, students take coursework at both SDSU and UCSD.
- The UCSD PhD in Public Health with a concentration in Health Services Research and Implementation Science (HSRIS) is a research doctorate focused on implementing health evidence into real-life practice. The program is designed to address the social determinants of health through the exercise of community-engaged research and for those focusing on improving healthcare quality, cost, and delivery.
I see there are applications for SDSU and UCSD. Which application am I supposed to fill out?
Applicants must submit THREE applications: the SOPHAS and SDSU Graduate Application for SDSU, and the UC San Diego application. Applicants can submit the same documents for the SOPHAS and UC San Diego applications. Please refer to the Application Instructions page for more guidance.
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is December 1, 2026. This deadline means that ALL materials (applications and supplemental materials, such as test scores, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) must be RECEIVED by all of the respective applications by December 1, 2026. Please refer to the Application Insturctions page for detailed deadline times.
Do you require the Graduate Record Exam? Where do I send GRE score reports?
The GRE (general test) has been waived and is not required for the Fall 2026 JDP in Public Health admission cycle. If you would still like to submit a score, applicants can send their scores to the institution.
SDSU Institution code: 4902
UCSD Institution code: 4836
Can I get the application fee waived?
1. Here is more information on SOPHAS Fees and Fee Waivers and application for a fee waiver is needed.
2. On CalState Apply, Graduate Students generally do not qualify for fee waivers..
3. The UCSD application fee is automatically waived for students applying to the JDP in Public Health program.
Does your program allow part-time enrollment and/or evening courses?
No. Our program does not allow part-time enrollment and requires full-time attendance and participation. We do not offer weekend/evening courses.
Can I enroll in JDP courses even if I am not admitted to the program?
No. You must be admitted into the JDP program in order to take our courses.
Do you admit students in the Fall and Spring?
We only accept students for Fall admission. We do not have a Spring admission cycle.
Do you offer a masters degree in public health?
The SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program does not come with a terminal Masters degree, but both UCSD and SDSU have MPH programs available.
How is acceptance into the JDP determined?
Acceptance is determined by multiple factors and is based on the entire application package; your GPA, letters of recommendations, statement of purpose, prior research experience, publications, and prior coursework all factor into our decision.
I was not accepted into the JDP; can you tell me why?
We are unable to provide specific reasons for non-acceptance. If your application was generally competitive, perhaps feedback from your own professors would assist you in strengthening a subsequent application. We receive dozens of applications each year and many are exceptionally well-qualified. It is usually very difficult to choose among them and the fact that we can take so few students means that every year at least some very highly qualified students are not offered admission.
I wasn’t accepted into the JDP this year, can I apply again next year?
To apply in a subsequent year, you must submit all applications again (SOPHAS, Cal State Apply, UC San Diego) and pay the required application fees.
I wasn’t accepted into the JDP program last year, can I re-use my application?
As indicated in the previous answer, all three applications must be submitted again. However, some supplemental materials may be carried over:
For SDSU Cal State Apply: For SDSU Graduate Admissions, test scores and transcripts that were submitted will still be on file and do not need to be submitted again, with the exception of transcripts for course work that was in progress when the applicant applied previously.
For SOPHAS: Please review the SOPHAS FAQ page at: https://sophas.org/faqs/
Any applicants who have submitted their application as of the end of the application cycle each August will have the option to carry-over most of their application information into the next application cycle in September. The following will NOT be carried forward and must be resubmitted: statement of purpose and objectives, CVs, letters of reference. Coursework that has been entered but not verified as of the end of the cycle will require a new set of transcripts. Applicants will also be required to pay a new application fee.
For UCSD: No, there is no way to carry over the previous application from the previous year. You may re-use your previous log-in account, but you need to create a new application. Statement of purpose, CVs, letters or reference need to be uploaded into the new application. You may re-use the statement of purpose, but it is not recommended.
