MPH Context Certificate: Mental Health and Substance Use at Boston University

Programme overview

12-unit MPH context certificate giving foundational training in how mental illness and substance use disorders develop, present and are treated, using a population-based public health approach.

Faculty: School of Public Health | Duration: 12 units | Study mode: full-time | Location: Boston, MA, United States

What you will study

Choose one 4-unit required course (Mental Health and Public Health, or Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use) plus 8 units of electives such as Mental Health Epidemiology, Global Mental Health, Mental Health Law and Trauma-Informed Care.

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Application information

Entry requirements

MPH (School of Public Health, program group): GRE not required or considered. Three letters of recommendation required (two needed to submit via SOPHAS). Statement of purpose required, addressing reasons for the MPH, why BUSPH, and planned use in public health practice. International applicants whose native language is not English: TOEFL iBT 100+ (taken before January 2026) or 5.0+ (taken January 2026 or later), TOEFL PBT 600+, or IELTS Academic 7.0 overall; scores valid two years; Duolingo not accepted; waivers apply in some cases. Deadlines Fall 2027: priority January 15, 2027; international final April 1, 2027; domestic final June 15, 2027. Spring 2027: priority October 15, 2026; international final October 15, 2026; domestic final December 15, 2026.

Requirements published at program group level.

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences master's programmes admit for Fall 2027; Spring 2027 entry is offered for selected programmes (Economics MS programmes, History of Art & Architecture MA, Preservation Studies MA, Online MS in Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence).

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Fall 2027 master's deadlines are mostly priority January 15 and final March 15 (African American & Black Diaspora Studies priority February 15, final March 15; Preservation Studies February 15; Sociology and History of Art & Architecture January 15). Spring 2027 deadlines for selected programmes are priority October 15 and final November 15. Applications are submitted through the online application; the GRE is required only for the Economics MS/MA programmes and the MS in Psychological & Brain Sciences.

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