The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Program

It is the applicant’s responsibility to carefully read the instructions about applying to the fellowship program and the DrPH program. The fellowship program application instructions are clearly provided on the Initiative website, which will lead applicants to Submittable, the fellowship application submission platform. Please note that applicants must apply to both the fellowship program and the DrPH program. Admissions requirements and application instructions for the DrPH program are found on the DrPH program website and questions may be submitted via email BSPH-DRPH [at] jhu.edu (BSPH-DRPH[at]jhu[dot]edu). DrPH applications are submitted through SOPHAS, the JHSPH application processing system. Questions related to SOPHAS can be directed to the JHSPH Admissions Office via email bsph.admissions [at] jhu.edu (bsph[dot]admissions[at]jhu[dot]edu) or by phone 410-955-3543.

The Bloomberg American Health Initiative is a major effort to make progress on five major challenges facing health in the United States: addiction and overdose, environmental challenges, food systems for health, risks to adolescent health, and violence. The Bloomberg Fellows Program is designed for individuals who are currently working with organizations on the front lines of one of these five focus areas. The organization’s work in the chosen focus area must be based in the United States, and the applicant’s work with this organization must be based in the United States. 

To be considered for a Bloomberg Fellowship, applicants must apply and be accepted into the DrPH program. More information about the admission requirements for the DrPH program can be found here.

Fellowship applicants do not have to be U.S. citizens; however, they must meet the fellowship eligibility criteria stated above.

The scholarship covers all tuition and fees incurred by the student, for up to a total of 64 credits.

SOPHAS is the application processing system that the JHSPH utilizes for all of its program applications. For questions related to SOPHAS, please contact bsph.admissions [at] jhu.edu (bsph[dot]admissions[at]jhu[dot]edu).

Yes, all fellowship applicants must be admitted to the DrPH program in order to be considered for the Bloomberg Fellows program; these are separate processes. Questions related to DrPH applications should be directed to the DrPH program at BSPH-DRPH [at] jhu.edu (BSPH-DRPH[at]jhu[dot]edu).

No. Due to the fellowship application review and selection timeline, only those applicants who are initially admitted to the DrPH program are reviewed and considered for the fellowship program.

The fellowship program must adhere to a strict timeline and multilevel review process and therefore cannot consider applicants who are on the DrPH waitlist.

When applying to the fellowship, applicants must select either the MPH or DrPH program for which to apply. The Bloomberg Fellows program can only review and consider applications for either the MPH or the DrPH program, not both in a given application cycle.

Yes, fellowship applicants must apply to both the DrPH program and the fellowship together. However, these are separate application processes. Fellowship applications are submitted via the Initiative’s website and Submittable and the DrPH applications are submitted via SOPHAS. It is the applicant’s responsibility to carefully read both the fellowship website and the DrPH program website to understand and follow the application steps and processes for both the fellowship and the DrPH programs. Applicants must be admitted to the DrPH program in order to be considered for the fellowship.

The DrPH program no longer requires the GRE as part of its admissions requirements. Please contact the DrPH program with any admissions related questions via email at BSPH-DRPH [at] jhu.edu (BSPH-DRPH[at]jhu[dot]edu).

Please contact the DrPH program for guidance about GRE scores and other admissions questions via email at BSPH-DRPH [at] jhu.edu (BSPH-DRPH[at]jhu[dot]edu).

Fellows in the DrPH program must begin in August.

Most of the concentrations in the DrPH program correspond to cross-cutting skill sets (e.g. Implementation Science, Health Equity and Social Justice) that may be relevant to any of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative focus areas. Applicants may consider applying to any of the concentrations, but in their application they should make a clear connection between the competencies addressed in the concentration and their interest in one of the focus areas. Students may also apply for a customized program, which gives them greater flexibility to tailor their studies to match their own specific interests.

No, late fellowship applications will not be accepted. All fellowship applications must be submitted online through the fellowship website no later than the final deadline, Dec. 1, 2024. This includes submitting all required admissions materials for the DrPH program through SOPHAS.

No, email submissions of applications are not acceptable. All fellowship application forms must be submitted through the fellowship website.

Those fellowship applicants who were admitted to the DrPH program will receive a decision via email during the month of March from the Bloomberg Fellows program.

Fellowship applications are reviewed and selected based on both the applicant and the collaborating organization. If a selected fellow changes their collaborating organization: 

• after being offered the fellowship, 
• after accepting the fellowship offer, 
• during the onboarding process, 
• prior to starting the program, or 
• within 6 months of starting the program, 

the fellowship offer will be rescinded. The candidate may reapply to the fellowship program the following year with their new collaborating organization.

No, the fellowship program expects selected fellows and collaborating organizations to submit the Letter of Commitment and the Grant Agreement within the deadline. Delays may result in withdrawal of the fellowship offer.

Yes, there is a fellowship orientation for newly selected fellows, which is held in early to mid-June. The orientation is required of all incoming fellows and is typically held virtually via Zoom.

No, once fellowship applications have been submitted, revisions and/or changes to applications are not accepted.

No, we do not anticipate that applicants to the program will already know their dissertation topic. During the first two years of the program, students will pursue coursework that will enhance their analytical skills and understanding of the problems that they are interested in addressing. However, applicants to the program should demonstrate a clear interest in one of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative focus areas and be committed to pursuing a doctoral dissertation in that broad area.

The student will remain an employee of the collaborating organization throughout the program, and the collaborating organization will continue to pay the student.

Fellowship applications are reviewed and selected based on both the applicant and the collaborating organization. If a selected fellow changes their collaborating organization:

•    after being offered the fellowship, 
•    after accepting the fellowship offer, 
•    during the onboarding process, 
•    prior to starting the program, or 
•    within 6 months of starting the program, 

the fellowship offer will be rescinded. The candidate may reapply to the fellowship program the following year with their new collaborating organization. The new application will be reviewed according to the program’s standard review process and eligibility criteria; and admission into the program is not guaranteed. 
 

In general, the key requirements include (1) pursuing the MPH or DrPH degree in good faith; (2) participating in good faith in the chosen focus area during the program; (3) engaging with the collaborating organization during the period of study; and (4) working for at least one year with the collaborating organization in the chosen focus area (work must begin within 12 months following graduation). These requirements are outlined in the Grant Agreement that all Bloomberg Fellows sign upon acceptance to the program.

In this circumstance, the applicant may choose to accept admission and matriculate as a student, but will be responsible for tuition and expenses just like other students. The applicant will be considered for other scholarships as part of the typical application process and review. Because many activities of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative activities are open to all students, the student can still be involved in the Initiative.

Yes, there are special enrichment opportunities for Fellows while at the School, including seminars, speakers, and other activities.

The Bloomberg Fellows Program does not permit deferment of fellowship offers. Fellowship offers must either be accepted or declined within the stated deadline.

Fellows in the MPH program begin in June and fellows in the DrPH program begin in August.

Bloomberg Fellows must take all courses for a letter grade unless a letter grade is not an option. Auditing courses are not permitted for courses taken to fulfill degree requirements.

The fellowship targets those individuals who are newly applying to either the MPH or DrPH programs. Matriculated students in the MPH or DrPH programs are not eligible for the fellowship.

Public or private organizations that wish to qualify as collaborating organizations must work on issues related to one of the five focus areas: (i) addiction and overdose; (ii) environmental challenges; (iii) obesity and the food system; (iv) risks to adolescent health; and (v) violence. These may be but are not required to be traditional public health organizations, such as health departments. For example, an organization that works on neighborhood development may have interest in training a staff member in the area of food systems. Similarly, organizations that seek to reduce levels of community violence may have interest in training a staff member in the area of violence prevention. The organization’s work in the chosen focus area must be based in the United States, and the applicant’s work with this organization must be based in the United States.

The prospective collaborating organization completes the collaborating organization application form and pledges to employ the applicant following graduation for at least one year. The organizations are also invited to participate in various activities with the School during the course of the Fellow’s studies. After graduation, the organization remains part of the Bloomberg Fellows network and can participate in a range of activities.

The Bloomberg Fellows program establishes a connection between the School, the Fellow, and the collaborating organization. The collaborating organization will be invited to participate in seminars, conferences, and other activities. We ask the collaborating organization to complete the application to ensure the organization is committed and supportive of this opportunity.

In addition, prior to admission, the collaborating organization will be asked to sign a letter of commitment to acknowledge the Fellow and pledge to employ the Fellow for at least one year following graduation.

Yes, fellowship applicants must be employed by their collaborating organization as well as during the full course of their studies and their Service Obligation, following graduation. Applicants should be employed by their collaborating organization for greater than one year.

Bloomberg fellows enrolled full-time in the MPH program take a leave of absence from their employer/collaborating organization to complete the program in 11 months. This arrangement is the responsibility of the Fellow to arrange directly with their collaborating organization. Fellows enrolled part-time are expected to continue working full-time with their collaborating organization during their studies. All Bloomberg Fellows in the MPH and DrPH programs are required to fulfill their Service Obligation following graduation.

Yes, fellows enrolled as part time students are expected to continue working full time with their collaborating organization throughout the fellowship program and the Service Obligation.

The Service Obligation is a commitment all Bloomberg Fellows must uphold, as stated in the fellowship grant agreement. It mandates that Bloomberg Fellows continue working with their Collaborating Organization for at least one year, following graduation. In doing so, the skills and knowledge gained through the program are applied to their collaborating organization and make meaningful impacts in public health.

The collaborating organization will sign a letter of commitment with the School and pledge in good faith to employ the fellow for at least one year following graduation. Failure to offer this position as promised may affect the ability of the organization to have future staff participate in the Bloomberg Fellows program. If, however, circumstances change and the position is not available, the School will work with the Fellow to find an alternative placement in the focus area that would satisfy the requirement.

Fellowship applications are reviewed and selected based on both the applicant and the collaborating organization. Hence, if a selected fellow changes their collaborating organization after accepting the fellowship or during the onboarding process, the fellowship offer will be rescinded. The fellow may apply to the fellowship next year with their new collaborating organization. The candidate’s new application will be reviewed in accordance with the program’s standard review process; the candidate will not be guaranteed admission into the program.

For accepted Bloomberg Fellows:

•    The Fellow must accept, sign, and fulfill the Grant Agreement.
•    The collaborating organization must sign the letter of commitment and pledge in good faith to employ the fellow for at least one year following graduation.

The Grant Agreement requires Fellows to:

•    Successfully complete the Doctor of Public Health degree program, and
•    Fulfill the Service Obligation, which is to continue working as a full-time employee with the collaborating organization in the chosen focus area of study for a period of one year following the completion of the Doctor of Public Health program. Employment must commence within one year of completing the degree requirements.

Failure to satisfy either of the above terms will require the Fellow to repay the full amount of the grant award within one hundred eighty (180) days of such failure. The Fellow may choose to enter into a loan arrangement (for a term not to exceed fifteen [15] years with an annual interest rate of 1%) with JHU to repay the grant or repay the grant in full from other sources.
 

The scholarship is structured as a grant that converts to a loan, with a standard repayment term (15 years) and a modest interest rate of 1%, if the terms of the Fellowship are not met.

Upon acceptance into the Bloomberg Fellows Program, Bloomberg Fellows will sign a Grant Agreement that explains the repayment terms and conditions that become effective if the grant converts to a loan.

The Bloomberg American Health Initiative is a new initiative, and we expect to make modifications to the program over time. The Initiative will provide important updates through this website and, to the extent possible, directly to prospective Bloomberg Fellows and collaborating organizations.

Yes, all Bloomberg Fellows are required to take at least 5 in-person credits in Baltimore as part of their fellowship requirements. We believe it is important for Fellows to meet one another, the Initiative team, and faculty in person and experience the Bloomberg School as part of an enriching fellowship experience.

The fellowship program does not consider applicants in dual or joint degree programs. The fellowship is specifically designed for those individuals interested in pursuing either an MPH or a DrPH degree at the Bloomberg School. 

For questions or inquiries related to the MPH program, email BloombergFellowsMPH [at] jhu.edu (BloombergFellowsMPH[at]jhu[dot]edu).

For questions or inquiries related to the DrPH program, email BloombergFellowsDrPH [at] jhu.edu (BloombergFellowsDrPH[at]jhu[dot]edu).