University of Nevada, Reno - School of Public Health

About this program

Public health is a discipline oriented toward problem solving through research and action. Public health of today also increasingly demands international experiences and perspectives. The School of Public Health at the University of Nevada, Reno has over 2,000 declared majors in the undergraduate program with another 200 graduate students in the master's and doctoral programs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is the State of Nevada’s historic land-grant institution and is home to approximately 21,000 students, including nearly 3,000 graduate students. The University is currently classified as a Carnegie “Very Higher Research Activity” institution and offers an array of degree programs at all levels. The university is also designated as “Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution.” Reno hosts an active arts community with the University, the Nevada Museum of Art, and a wide range of independent arts institutions. 

Nestled in the valley of the Truckee River on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, Reno offers an excellent quality of life. Lake Tahoe is less than an hour away with close proximity to the Black Rock Desert, Yosemite and Lassen National Parks, Napa and Sonoma, Sacramento and the Bay Area.

• Year partnership began: 2017
• Fellowships awarded per year (average): Minimum 1, with possible additional positions depending on the applicant qualification and funding availability

Application requirements

1. Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attend; 
2. CV;
3. Statement of purpose;
4. Three letters of recommendation; 
5. University of Nevada, Reno Graduate School online application

Admissions process

To be considered for the Fellows program, complete your application by February 1st. In your statement of purpose, clarify that you are applying for the Coverdell Fellows program. It is also recommended that you contact the Paul Coverdell Fellows Program Coordinator of the School of Public Health and notify your applications status. Accepted Fellows will be notified of their admission and funding decision via email.

Degrees awarded

Master of Public Health

Benefits and opportunities

Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing. See cost savings details for more.

Estimated annual cost of living: $18,790

Cost savings details

The cost savings come from three sources: 

1. Tuition support (80% of out-of-state rate or 40% of in-state rate)
2. Stipend for 10-hour graduate assistantship for two academic years ($850/month, 10-month contract each academic year)
3. Subsidy to health insurance (50% of regular rate).
   

Internship

Internship is one required component of MPH culminating experience in the School of Public Health at University of Nevada, Reno. The field experience requires students to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired in coursework and other learning experiences and to apply theory and principles in a situation that approximates some aspect of professional practice. All MPH students are expected to find an organization to complete the internship requirement. 

Internship Coordinator, advisor, and other faculty can provide support through their various connections in the communities, but it is up to students to arrange an internship that fits best with their area of interest. To support our MPH students in their effort to secure an appropriate internship, SPH has cultivated strong collaborative relationships with government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations at the local, state, and international levels. 

To comply with the internship clause of the Coverdell Fellows program, the Fellows will be required to choose an internship that supports an impoverished and/or socially disadvantaged community in the domestic context. For more information about the graduate internship program at SPH and currently available internship opportunities for our MPH students, visit the graduate internship page: https://www.unr.edu/public-health/students/internships

Other opportunities

The Fellows are offered 10 hours of graduate assistantship. Depending on the availability of funding, the Fellows will be able to apply for an additional 10 hours of graduate assistantship in the School or in other units, whether academic or administrative, on campus. Also, the Fellows will be eligible to apply for scholarships offered in SPH and other sources, both intramural and extramural.  

Once enrolled in our MPH program, the Fellows automatically become members of the University of Nevada, Reno Graduate Student Association (GSA), which provides various services, including but not limited to travel support and professional development opportunities. In addition, interested and qualified Fellows can apply for GSA awards/scholarships and run for leadership positions within the organization. Our MPH students are also members of the Master's Society of Public Health within the School of Public Health that connects them to community services organizations and state public health organizations for community engagement, networking, and career development opportunities. Furthermore, the Fellows can participate and contribute to domestic/international field training held by the Lason Institute in the School of Public Health. They are also eligible for Career Studio resources, campus-wide professional development services for job readiness, resume writing skills, interviewing skills and job placement.

Jobs for alumni

• Epidemiologist, CDC Foundation
  
• Disease Investigation Specialist, Southern Nevada Health District
  
• Project Manager, Nevada Community Health Worker Association
  
• Research and Evaluation Coordinator, Larson Institute for Health Impact and Equity
  
• Statewide Breastfeeding Coordinator, Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health
  
• Health Educator, Northern Nevada Public Health
  
• Director, Rio Grande County Public Health
  
• Cancer Prevention Program Manager, Arizona Department of Health Services
  
• Health Systems Manager, American Cancer Society
  
• Senior Director, Family and Child Health, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
  
• Health Services Consultant, Washington State Department of Health
  
• Epidemiologist, Washington State Department of Health 
  

Nontraditional options

MPH classes are offered in the afternoons and evenings