Admissions Requirements

We are excited you are considering the Ph.D. Rural Health Sciences program at Mercer University School of Medicine for your graduate education. Below is information regarding our admissions process and criteria.

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Admissions Process

  • To apply for admission, applicants must submit a completed application form, a statement of purpose, a resume/CV, official copies of all transcripts, and at least three (3) letters of recommendation from faculty members or supervisors.
  • Application materials should be submitted by the applicant to musmadmissions@mercer.edu unless noted below. Please include the phrase “PhD in Rural Health Sciences” in the subject line of emails.
  • The Statement of Purpose should be a 1,000-word maximum response to the following prompt: “Please describe your interest in pursuing a career focused on rural health and how the Ph.D. program will help you achieve your professional goals.”
  • Applicants should instruct their letter writers to digitally submit Letters of Recommendation directly to Tracy Lancaster’s attention at musmadmissions@mercer.edu.
  • Final Official Transcripts should be sent directly from all post-secondary institutions you have attended. If institutions you are requesting transcripts from send them electronically, please designate musmadmissions@mercer.edu as the recipient e-mail address. For postal mail (USPS) please address to Mercer University School of Medicine, Admissions Office, Attn: Tracy Lancaster, 1501 Mercer University Dr, Macon, GA 31207.

Admissions Requirements

  • Interested applicants must possess a master’s or terminal degree, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher in prior graduate/professional work, and have a clear dedication to rural health issues.
  • While no specific major is required to gain admission, students who do not have a health-related degree or work experience may be required by the admissions committee to complete an online prerequisite course (RRL 801: Biological Basis of Disease) prior to beginning the program in fall.

For more information about the Ph.D. Rural Health Sciences program at Mercer University School of Medicine, call 1-800-MERCER-U to speak with the Admissions department.

Please note: In compliance with Mercer University’s immunization policy, all School of Medicine students must have a COVID-19 vaccine or an approved exemption upon enrollment. Learn more