University of Pittsburgh- School of Public Health

About this program

Pitt Public Health invites Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) to apply for the Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, where your experiences in the field are recognized as an asset in the classroom. You'll also enjoy the advantages of living in a vibrant city with affordable living, cultural events, a growing restaurant scene, and more!

Coverdell Fellows receive a 50 percent tuition scholarship and semester fees for up to four academic terms of study at Pitt Public Health, plus direct work experience in local underserved communities. To apply for a Coverdell Fellowship, simply check the “Peace Corps” box on your SOPHAS application when applying to Pitt Public Health.

Year partnership began: 2017
Fellowships awarded per year (average): Up to 8 new Fellowships per academic year.

Application requirements

Application requirements vary by department. For more information about department-specific requirements visit here.

In general, the School of Public Health requires:

SOPHAS online application
6 college credits in behavioral and social sciences with “C” or better
3 college credits of algebra or statistical reasoning with “C” or better
Official transcripts
Three letters of recommendation
Resume and Statement of Purpose
GRE*

* Please check with your program; in many cases, GRE scores are not required.

See our website, click here, for additional information.

No school application fee is charged. The third-party application website, SOPHAS, charges a fee, which will be refunded to matriculating Coverdell Fellows in their first term. Applicants can also apply for a waiver from SOPHAS, (click here).

To start an application online go to: www.sophas.org

Admissions process

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers apply through SOPHAS (www.sophas.org). To be considered for the Coverdell Fellowship, applicants must indicate RPCV status by checking the “Peace Corps” box under “Additional Experiences.” Departments will review applications for admission to their masters program. Upon admission, RPCVs must provide a copy of the official Peace Corps “Description of Service” before their first term of study.

Degrees awarded

• Master of Public Health (MPH) • Master of Science (MS)

Benefits and opportunities

	In-state	Out-of-state
Tuition and fees	$64,250	$109,380
Value of fellowship	$32,125	$54,690
Net cost	$32,125	$54,690

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: $25,000

Cost savings details

Benefits listed above include the following:

Guaranteed 50% tuition scholarship (up to 4 semesters) for fellows enrolled as full-time students in participating masters programs;
Student fees charged by the University in each of those semesters; and
SOPHAS application fee.

Note: The online application system, SOPHAS, offers limited fee waivers for RPCVs. This fee waiver covers the first designation selected in SOPHAS; additional designations are $60. Pitt Public Health will refund the cost of applying to our MPH or MS program for matriculating students in their first term.

Internship

Coverdell Fellows complete at least 200 practicum hours with local organizations serving disadvantaged communities. The school provides guidance in identifying eligible organizations. While specific requirements vary across departments, practicum experiences can address many public health issues, including harm reduction housing, healthcare access, HIV/AIDS, health literacy, food access, and data analysis.

Other opportunities

Coverdell Fellows are welcome to apply for other forms of financial aid, including university, school, and department aid. Learn more here.

It is possible to complete the MPH degree in 16 Months (3 terms) for specific programs that offer an accelerated option.

Jobs for alumni

The following job titles were selected from Master of Public Health graduates specializing in behavioral and community health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, or infectious diseases:

Public Health Analyst, Department of Health and Human Services
Project Officer, Pennsylvania Department of Health
Management & Program Analyst, U.S. Department of Education
Product Development Manager, National Committee of Quality Assurance
Program Manager, Jewish Healthcare Foundation
PREP Data Manager, Georgia Division of Families and Children
PHI/CDC Global Health Fellow, CDC, Divisions of Global HIV and TB
Policy Manager, The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care
Program and Policy Analyst, Nemours
Epidemiologist, CDC Miami Quarantine Station
International Agricultural Program Specialist, USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service
HIV Educator, Mid-Atlantic AIDS Education Training Center
International Relations Analyst, U.S. Department of Labor
Data Manager, Yale University, School of Medicine