CHPR-MS - Community Health and Prevention Research (MS)

The Stanford Prevention Research Center within the Department of Medicine offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Community Health and Prevention Research (CHPR). The M.S. in CHPR is available to external applicants, to current undergraduates via the coterminal master's program, and to graduate students at Stanford. 

In the M.S. in CHPR, students:

• study patterns of chronic diseases in diverse communities and settings and examine how prevention can optimize health and promote health equity at the individual, family, community, and population level

• critically interpret and evaluate research on community health and prevention

• become involved in research teams that encourage health equity promotion and social responsibility

• gain and hone methodological skills including research study design, study implementation, and data analysis related to community health and prevention research

• utilize course work and implementation science in a community-based research internship with the expectation that they design, implement, and assess health and wellness solutions addressing preventable community health challenges

• complete a master’s thesis.

Admission for External Applicants

See the CHPR External Applicants webpage for details on how to apply, including application due dates, and the CHPR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for additional information.

• Knight-Hennessy Scholars Applicants

  • The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program awards up to 100 high-achieving students every year with full funding to pursue a graduate education at Stanford, including the M.S. in CHPR. To be considered, you must apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars by that program's deadline and separately apply to the CHPR program by the date for Knight- Hennessy departmental program applications.

All applicants (not including coterminal applicants) must submit the following required application materials as part of their application. Instructions on how to submit these application materials can be found on Stanford's Graduate Admissions website.

• 3 letters of recommendation

  • At least one letter of recommendation should be from a faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student (unless you have been out of school for more than five years).

• Current GRE test scores (optional)

• TOEFL scores (if necessary)

• Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)

• Statement of purpose

  • The statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program at Stanford, your preparation for this field of study, research interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.

• Official transcript(s) from all postsecondary institutions you have attended as a full-time student for one year (i.e., three quarters or two semesters) or longer.

  • You must upload one scanned version of your official transcript(s) in the online application 

  • If you are offered admission to Stanford and accept the offer, you will be

    required to direct your institution(s) to send one official copy (email is preferred)

    to the Stanford Graduate Admissions Office.

• $125 application fee

  • This application fee is assessed regardless of admission decision.

Admission for Coterminal Applicants

See the CHPR Coterminal Applicants webpage for details on how to apply, including application due dates, and the CHPR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for additional information.

Stanford undergraduates may apply to the M.S. program once the following conditions have been met:

• Applicants must have earned 120 units toward graduation (UTG) as shown on the undergraduate unofficial transcript. This includes allowable Advanced Placement (AP) and transfer credit.

• Applicants must have a major(s) declared.

• Applicants must have completed six non-Summer quarters at Stanford (or two non-Summer quarters at Stanford for transfer students).

• Note that the GRE is not required for coterminal applicants.

As part of their program application, applicants must submit the following required application materials. Instructions on how to submit these application materials can be found on the Current Stanford Students page of the Graduate Admissions web site.

• Application for admission to coterminal master's program

• Statement of purpose

  • The statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program at Stanford, your preparation for this field of study, research interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.

• Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)

• Preliminary program proposal

• Two letters of recommendation from Stanford professors

• 1 copy of your Stanford transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)

• $125 application fee (assessed by the Registrar's Office only if accepted and matriculated into the program).

University Coterminal Requirements

Coterminal master’s degree candidates are expected to complete all master’s degree requirements as described in this bulletin. University requirements for the coterminal master’s degree are described in the Coterminal Master's Degrees section. University requirements for the master’s degree are described in the Graduate Degrees section of this bulletin.

After accepting admission to this coterminal master’s degree program, students may request transfer of courses from the undergraduate to the graduate career to satisfy requirements for the master’s degree. Transfer of courses to the graduate career requires review and approval of both the undergraduate and graduate programs on a case by case basis.

In this master’s program, courses taken three quarters prior to the first graduate quarter, or later, are eligible for consideration for transfer to the graduate career. No courses taken prior to the first quarter of the sophomore year may be used to meet master’s degree requirements.

Course transfers are not possible after the bachelor’s degree has been conferred.

The University requires that the graduate advisor be assigned in the student’s first graduate quarter even though the undergraduate career may still be open. The University also requires that the Master’s Degree Program Proposal be completed by the student and approved by the department by the end of the student’s first graduate quarter.

Admission for Current Students in Other Stanford Graduate Programs and Professional Schools

• Current Stanford graduate students include master’s, doctoral, and medical students who are currently enrolled in a graduate degree program at Stanford. Current Stanford postdoctoral scholars must apply as external applicants.

• Applications are due May 1 for the upcoming Autumn quarter start.

Required Application Materials: Instructions on how to submit these application materials can be found on the CHPR website.

• Completed Current Graduate Student Online Application Form

• Resume/CV

• Transcript (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)

• Optional: GRE, MCAT, or GMAT scores (i.e., the test scores students submitted to their original graduate program at Stanford)

• Statement of Purpose

  • The Statement of Purpose should describe succinctly the reasons for applying to the proposed program at Stanford, preparation for this field of study, research interests, future career plans, and other aspects of the applicant's background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating aptitude and motivation for graduate study.

• 2 letters of recommendation from Stanford professors

• $125 application fee (assessed by the Registrar's Office only if accepted and matriculated into the program).

CHPR does not accept transfer, test, or residency credits from other institutions.

• engage students from a range of backgrounds in didactic and experiential learning opportunities with the goal of gaining an in-depth understanding of community health and prevention research applications in diverse practice settings;

• prepare future public health professionals to responsibly and effectively address health challenges faced by diverse communities across the life course.