Pre-Enrollment Policies

MPH Human Biology

Students are required to demonstrate that their academic background includes a college-level human biology course with a grade of “B” or better. 

MPH students must complete the human biology prerequisite by the end of their first spring semester in the following manner:

• Enroll in and complete a campus-based orapproved online human biology course prior to the end of the first spring semester. The Brown School Office of Admissions & Recruitment keeps a listing of approved courses (available upon request). Students must earn a grade of “B” or better in the course and have the official transcript sent to the Brown School Office of the Registrar to remove the deficiency.

Until this requirement is met, an academic hold will be placed on the student’s account by the Brown School Registrar.  Please contact The Office of Admissions and Recruitment with questions about this prerequisite.  

All Foundation course materials are considered a necessary basis for further study and practice. Students with relevant experience or study are invited to take proficiency exams for the following Foundation courses: 

• Biostatistics
• Research Methods for MPH Students
• Research Methods for MSW Students
• Human Behavior

Proficiency Exams are given prior to New Student Orientation. 

For study and test preparation, course overviews describing the content of the courses are available on the Brown School external website. 

A student may take a proficiency exam only once, prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student would enroll for the course. Students who pass a proficiency exam are exempt from taking the course associated with that proficiency exam but receive no course credit. Passing a proficiency exam makes additional elective credits available in the student’s degree program. 

Exam results will be sent to each student’s Brown School email address within approximately 3 days of testing. Per Brown School proficiency exam policy, proficiency exams may not be viewed by the student after they have been scored. After the semester begins, processed exams will be shredded or, if taken electronically, deleted  to ensure student privacy. Only proficiency exams passed are entered into student records. No record of exams a student attempted but did not pass will appear in their student record. 

The following are passing scores for the proficiency exams:

• Biostatistics = 80%
• Research Methods (MPH) = 80%
• Research Methods (MSW) = 70%
• Human Behavior = 70%

Master of Public Health program applicants who have completed graduate-level coursework in an accredited public health school or program may request from the Office of Admissions & Recruitment to have courses evaluated to meet requirement for a maximum of nine (9) credit hours of MPH program Foundations requirements

Courses are evaluated independently, and must meet the following criteria to be considered for meeting requirements:

• Course must have been taken at the graduate-level in a CEPH accredited public health school or program; courses taken at international institutions are not eligible for transfer credit, unless the program was CEPH accredited.
• Course must have been taken within six years prior to matriculation at the Brown School.
• Course must not have been used towards completion of another graduate degree.
• Course must have substantial public health content and competencies equivalent to those of the MPH program.
• Student must have received a minimum course grade of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale; official transcript required).
• Student must be able to provide a copy of the course description and course syllabus.
• Courses taken online are not eligible for transfer credit.
• Students who transfer in the full nine (9) credit hours are not eligible to pursue elective credits outside of the Brown School during their enrollment in the MPH program.

Meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee credit(s) will transfer. It is the responsibility of the student to request course credit evaluation, which requires submission of the MPH Transfer Credit Request and required documentation to the Brown School Registrar no later than the end of the first week of the term in which the student matriculates. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. 

Courses are evaluated in conjunction with the MPH Program Office and the Assistant and Associate Deans for Public Health. The student will be notified via email from the Brown School Registrar of the outcome of the transfer credit evaluation. Transfer credits will be reflected on the student’s Brown School academic transcript. 

Credit for course requirements met may not exceed the maximum of nine (9) credit hours.

The Brown School does not give academic credit for life or work experience in lieu of course or practica requirements.

Master of Social Policy students will transfer 12 credits of pre-approved coursework from their additional graduate program.  Official transcripts are required to successfully transfer credit.​

Master of Social Work program applicants who have completed graduate-level coursework may request from the Office of Admissions & Recruitment to have courses evaluated to transfer a maximum of nine (9) credit hours towards MSW program requirements.  

Courses completed in a CSWE accredited MSW program may be considered for credit towards either foundation or elective course requirements. Courses completed in a related discipline will be considered for credit towards elective course requirements only.

Courses are evaluated independently, and must meet the following criteria to be considered for transfer credit:

• Course must have been taken at the graduate-level in an accredited school or program. 
• Course must have been taken within six years prior to matriculation at the Brown School.
• Course must not have been used towards completion of another graduate degree.
• Student must have received a minimum course grade of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale; official transcript required).
• Student must be able to provide a copy of the course description and course syllabus.
• Courses taken online are not eligible for transfer credit.
• Courses taken at an international institution are not eligible for transfer credit.

Meeting eligibility criteria does not guarantee transfer credit. It is the responsibility of the student to request transfer credit evaluation, which requires submission of the MSW Transfer Credit Request and required documentation to the Brown School Registrar no later than the end of the first week of the term in which the student matriculates. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. 

Courses are evaluated in conjunction with the MSW Program Office and the Associate Dean for Social Work. The student will be notified via email from the Brown School Registrar of the outcome of the transfer credit evaluation. Transfer credits will be reflected on the student’s Brown School academic transcript. 

Students who transfer in the full nine credit hours are not eligible to pursue elective credits outside of the Brown School during their enrollment. 

Students receiving nine (9) hours of transfer credit for foundation courses are required to take S15-5999: Evidence Based Practice Skills for BSW Graduates (regardless of undergraduate degree) to supplement pre-existing social work knowledge and skills with specific content related to evidence-based practice.

The Brown School does not give academic credit for life or work experience in lieu of course or practica requirements.