GRE - All applicants must take the Graduate Record Exam or an equivalent taken within five years preceding application. For information on the recent changes to the GRE verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning score scales, see the overview brochure from ETS.

• Master’s Degree Test Requirements:
• GRE or equivalent scores must be submitted with every application regardless if the GPA is 3.00 or better. The minimum GRE score requirement for each concentration is listed in the GRE Scores Table below.
• In lieu of the GRE, applicants to the Department of Health Policy and Management may submit a minimum GMAT score of 500 for the MPH, MSPH, and MHA.
• An MCAT score (with a mean of 8 or above) may be submitted in lieu of the GRE for all MPH and MSPH programs with the following exceptions:
• MCAT scores are NOT accepted for Epidemiology and Biostatistics degree programs;
• MCAT scores are NOT accepted for the MSPH or MHA programs in the Health Policy and Management Department
• LSAT scored is not accepted in lieu of the GRE

• Doctoral Degree Test Requirements:
• Minimum Verbal GRE score of 480 (152 on the new verbal scale*) and minimum Quantitative GRE score of 620 (149 on the new quantitative scale*), taken within 5 years preceding the application and a grade point average of 3.0 are needed to be considered.
• A score of 600 or higher on the GMAT for applicants to only the Health Policy and Management Department will be considered.  (PhD only)
• MCAT scores are accepted for the doctoral programs only in the Departments of Community and Family Health, Environmental Health, and Global Health. The minimum score required is a mean of 8.

• Waiver of the GRE - Some applicants may be eligible for a waiver of the GRE.
• Applicants who have terminal degrees such as the PhD or EdD, and those with advanced professional degrees (MD, DDS, DO, DVM, JD, PharmD, DPT) from accredited institutions and are individually licensed in the United States in their profession may request to waive the GRE.
• The GRE waiver is not automatic and must be approved by the Admissions Committee and the College of Public Health Academic Dean.
• The Request to Waive the GRE Requirement Form can be found at publichealth.usf.edu/forms.html and must be submitted to USF College of Public Health Academic and Student Affairs Office, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612-3805.

TOEFL

• Applicants whose native language is not English or who have not earned a degree in the United States must also submit TOEFL scores earned within two (2) years of the desired term of entry. A minimum total score of 79 on the internet-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 550 on the paper-based test are required. Applications submitted with TOEFL scores that do not meet the minimum requirements will be denied with no exceptions.

• The TOEFL requirement may be waived if the applicant meets one of the following conditions:
• Has scored 500 or higher on the GRE Verbal Test
• Has earned a college degree at a U.S. institution of higher learning
• Has earned a college degree from an institution whose language of instruction is English (must be noted on the transcript).
• Has scored 6.5 on International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

How are Test Scores Used in the Application Process

Applicants are evaluated by a committee in the department(s) to which they apply.  The committee uses all the information submitted to reach their admissions decision. Both the GPA and test scores are considered when the application is reviewed by the admissions committee. Other factors are considered as well:

• Previous degrees
• Letters of recommendation
• Statement of purpose and objectives
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Writing sample (Ph.D.)

GRE Scores Table

* New scale effective on tests taken on or after August 1, 2011

** GRE exam no longer required for Public Health Practice as of Spring 2008.  Contact the PHP program for more info

Applicants with disabilities should contact the Office of Academic Support and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (813)974-4309 -- TTY: (813)974-5651 or visit http://www.asasd.usf.edu/ for more information. The College provides classroom equipment for the hearing impaired.