Master of Science in Health & the Public Interest
Don’t Just Learn the System. Change It.
Are you passionate about making a positive impact on public health? Do you aspire to shape policies and programs that improve the well-being of individuals and communities?
The Master of Science in Health and the Public Interest is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and expertise to address society’s most pressing healthcare challenges. Rooted in evidence-based practices and driven by a commitment to social justice, our program empowers future leaders to create meaningful change and build a healthier, more equitable world.
Application Deadline
January 15, 2026
Priority Application Deadline
Priority Consideration for Merit-based Scholarships
Application Fee Waived!
May 1, 2026
Regular Application Deadline
Application Fee $90
Classes begin August 2026
Georgetown’s HAPI program is unique because it brings together students from varied academic backgrounds to coalesce in an interdisciplinary public health education experience that makes for richer cross-pollination, creative thinking, and problem solving.
Tiger Bye ’21, Co-Founder of Better Yoga
An Interdisciplinary Curriculum That Integrates Theory, Science and Advocacy
We examine health policy through a lens that considers societal, psychological and cultural factors and how they intersect with corporate and institutional influences. Our curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, analytical, and research skills, equipping students with the tools they need to enact change in public health. The challenges we face today require creative solutions; therefore, our program embraces an interdisciplinary approach.
Health and the Public Interest students also have access to electives across many programs and schools at Georgetown that enable them to tailor the program to their specific interests.
The curriculum includes core courses on:
- Health, Disease, and Society
- Health Advocacy
- Biology of Health and Disease
- Health Economics
- Theory & Methods of Inquiry
- Health Communication
Learn From Leaders in Public Health
The Health and the Public Interest Seminar Series is a forum in which Georgetown students, faculty, and the general public engage with key leaders in healthcare research, policy, and advocacy. Seminar topics may include cross-cultural views of disease, improving healthcare outcomes in underserved communities, corporate influences on prescribing, the regulation of medical products, symptom formation and healing, and the opioid epidemic.
Join our seminar series mailing list for weekly virtual seminar invitations.
Gary Schwitzer
Health Care Journalist and Founder of HealthNewsReview.org
“A Call for Healthy Skepticism to Improve Critical Thinking about Health Care”
Watch the Seminar
Peter Lurie
President and Executive Director, Center for Science in the Public Interest
“Advocacy Tools for Outsiders”
Watch the Seminar
Kenda Sutton-El
Marriott Chair in Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health, Georgetown University Medical Center
“Birth in Color”
Watch the SeminarAdvancing Your Career in Public Health
The Master of Science in Health and the Public Interest trains students to work in a variety of fields and graduates are highly competitive for health policy or research jobs in government, advocacy, or nonprofit sectors. A defining feature of the master’s program in Health and the Public Interest is the small cohort size. This allows for an engaging and interactive academic experience as well as tailored career service advising – we are here to help you find jobs, internships, and projects that are right for you.
Our graduates pursue a wide range of careers in the non-profit, private sector, and government. Here are some employers of our recent grads:
- Health Resources and Services Administration
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
- National Cancer Institute
- National Center for Health Research
- PharmedOut
- Medicare Rights Center
