Graduate Certificate in Rural Health

The Graduate Certificate in Rural Health is a 15-credit program that is designed for graduate students and health professionals who currently practice, or intend to practice, in rural settings. The certificate's curriculum includes courses that: 1) address the public health issues in rural communities, 2) introduce students to rural health systems, and 3) give students a hands-on opportunity to partner with rural health organizations. It also offers a wide variety of electives to help students tailor their experiences to individual needs and interests. Please see the Rural Health Certificate Handbook for more program information and requirements. 

Admission Requirements

Rural Health Graduate Certificate Application

For Admission into the Rural Health (RH) Certificate Program, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

1. The student must apply to and meet all criteria for admission to the Graduate School.
2. Have a cumulative undergraduate grade point of at least 3.0 in upper-division (3000-4000 level) courses. All applicants must submit official college transcripts to the ISU Graduate School.
3. Submit one letter of recommendation from a non-relative individual familiar with applicant’s academic or professional abilities (no personal references).
4. Submit a typed essay (one to two pages, single-spaced) describing applicant’s interest in pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Rural Health and vision of how it will facilitate the applicant’s career goals.
5. International students who have not graduated from an accredited college or university in the United States, and whose native language is not English, must achieve satisfactory scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Satisfactory TOEFL requirements for classified admission are described in the Idaho State University Graduate Catalog under “Admission of International Students.”

General Requirements

Students pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Rural Health must complete a minimum of 15 credits of coursework with a GPA of 3.0 or better.

Students who complete and are awarded the Graduate Certificate in Rural Health may transfer up to 9 credits from the certificate program in the MPH program. Admission and completion of the certificate do not guarantee admission into the MPH program. Courses completed in the certificate program must have a grade of B- or above to transfer into the MPH program.