Program Description

Application Requirements

Program-Specific Instructions

Applications for this program must be submitted through SOPHAS.

Special Note: The priority application deadline for Fall is March 1. Applications are accepted on an ongoing, space-available basis after the priority deadline until all spots are filled.

Prerequisite: An introductory undergraduate nutrition course, e.g., NUTR 295-Introduction to Nutrition, or Department of Nutrition and Food Studies approved substitute/equivalent.

Program Description: The MPH in Food Security and Nutrition at George Mason University provides public health students the knowledge and skills necessary to implement food security and nutrition programs and policies within a global public health context. Students will explore and apply the definitions, means of measurement, and policy implications of food security and nutrition through a multidisciplinary approach. This concentration emphasizes the role of food security and nutrition in public health at the local, regional, and global levels.

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution
• Minimum 3.0 GPA is recommended
• An introductory undergraduate nutrition course

Application Requirements:

• Official U.S./Canadian transcripts from ALL schools attended (if applicable)
• Resume/CV
• Statement of Purpose and Objectives
• Two letters of recommendation
• Supplemental application
  • As part of the admissions process, George Mason University requires a supplemental application for graduate programs in the Department of Global and Community Health. Applicants will receive a link via email to the supplemental application AFTER their completed SOPHAS application is VERIFIED. There is no additional fee for the supplemental application.

In addition to the general application, international students must submit:

• World Education Services (WES) ICAP course-by-course evaluation of academic records from institutions outside of the U.S. and English-speaking Canada. SOPHAS will only accept WES evaluations.
• English proficiency test scores for applicants who attended post-secondary institutions outside of the U.S, Canada (excluding the province of Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand.
  • TOEFL and IELTS: send scores to SOPHAS using code 5688
  • Pearson and Duolingo: send scores to George Mason University Graduate Admissions

Goals Statement:

The statement of purpose and objectives is your opportunity to speak directly to the faculty reviewers of the MPH program at George Mason University. Please clearly and directly address the following: 

• Why are you applying to Mason’s MPH program, and the concentration you chose?
• How will earning an MPH help you achieve your professional goals?
• What have you learned from successes and/or challenges in your past educational, professional, and/or personal experiences? Please use specific examples, as applicable.
  • Statements should be no more than 2 pages. Statements should be original. 

Academically strong Mason undergraduates with a commitment to research or graduate or professional studies can apply for an accelerated Master’s program and earn a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in as little as five years.

Accelerated Master’s Application Requirements

Accelerated Master’s Program-Specific Instructions

BAM applicants should use the George Mason application, not SOPHAS.

Eligibility:

• Applicants who have earned 60 credits
• Applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher

Prerequisite courses:

• Introduction to Public Health (GCH 300)
• Advanced Composition (ENGH 302)
• Introductory Statistics I (STAT 250)

Goals Statement Prompt:

A career goal statement, between 500 and 750 words in length, that addresses the following:

• Why are you applying to Mason’s MPH program, and the concentration you chose?
• How will earning an MPH help you achieve your professional goals?
• What have you learned from successes and/or challenges in your past educational, professional, and/or personal experiences? Please use specific examples, as applicable.

Accelerated Master’s Fall Deadlines

English Proficiency Requirements

All Mason students must have a full command of academic English to be successful in their studies. For this reason, Mason requires applicants to demonstrate English proficiency for admission consideration, regardless of citizenship. Click here to view the requirements.

International Transcript Requirements

All transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be translated into English, if applicable, and submitted for evaluation to the Mason Office of Admissions. Mason will provide evaluation service free of charge for all international transcripts, however, some programs may request an outside evaluation be completed. Because of volume, more time may be needed to process applications requiring a Mason evaluation. You should submit your application 6 weeks prior to the deadline if you plan to utilize Mason’s free evaluation service. For expedited service, students may submit their documents to any NACES member organization at their own expense. If you decide to use an external evaluation service or if your program requires an outside evaluation, GPA and Degree equivalences must be included with your course-by-course evaluation. Mason evaluations are used for internal purposes and are not released to applicants. For information on international transcript requirements, go here.