Frequently Asked Questions

The full program can be viewed at a glance: MHDS Curriculum Map (PDF) and MHDS Residential Schedule of Activities (PDF).

We have developed a schedule that accommodates students who are working. Students are expected to attend regular weeknight classes between 5:15 p.m.- 7:15 p.m. PST for the first year of the program. Classes occur two to three nights per week, between Monday and Thursday, depending upon the term. After the first year, students move from didactic classroom work to a fieldwork course and capstone project. The fieldwork course takes place every other week in trimester 4. Each student completes their capstone individually but will also attend capstone lectures intermittently throughout terms 3-5. Journal clubs, mentorship meetings and other program events may occur during typical work hours and are available via web conferencing. See link for more information.

All courses take place online and are generally held between 5:15-7:15 p.m. PT—up to three days per week between Monday and Thursday, depending on the term. In addition to online classes, we hold in-person “residential” sessions once per term (five total residentials) on Thursday and Friday. For information on what happens during the in-person residentials, please see this link.

Residentials take place at the beginning of the first three terms and at the end of the last two terms. See link for more information.

See the Admissions page for information.

The GRE is not required for applicants with a degree from a U.S. institution. Individuals who do not have a strong academic record in math, science or economics courses may wish to submit GRE or equivalent (MCAT, GMAT) scores to strengthen their application. Applicants with an advanced degree from a non-U.S. institution should inquire regarding their eligibility for a GRE waiver. See the Application Information page for more information.

No. Although many of our students already have an advanced degree when they enroll in the MHDS Program, our students have diverse professional backgrounds and many do not have an advanced degree. A strength of our program is the incredible diversity in backgrounds and experiences among our students. For more on admissions criteria, see this link.

The MHDS Program may well offer incremental knowledge over your existing degree. Please contact the graduate program office at 310-423-8294 or gradprogram@csmc.edu to discuss the potential benefits of a degree from the MHDS Program. We may consider previous biostatistics coursework as a substitute for HDS 200B, but all other MHDS classes are required, even if you have a previous MPH or related degree.

We receive many applications from medical students seeking to obtain the MHDS degree during a research year. Typically, the medical student research year begins July 1 and ends the following June. Medical students enrolling in our program may begin in July by identifying a mentor and research project. They work on this project during the summer, and then begin classes with the MHDS students in September. All classroom didactics are completed by the following June 30, allowing students to return to clinical duties. However, medical students are expected to complete their capstone project on the same schedule as other MHDS students. Because the capstone schedule is flexible and arranged between each student and their mentor, medical students can coordinate their capstone project to fit around their clinical schedule. For further questions about coordinating the MHDS degree with the medical school calendar, please email Brennan Spiegel, MD, at brennan.spiegel@cshs.org.

Employees of Cedars-Sinai Health System® may be eligible for the Cedars-Sinai's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). Contact Victor.Jackson@cshs.org (Student Financial Services Administrator) with any questions regarding the tuition or TAP. 

We also provide a limited number of academic scholarships each year for highly meritorious candidates from both within and outside Cedars-Sinai.

Yes. Students are encouraged to contact Work and Life Matters at 310-423-6447 or workandlifematters@cshs.org to receive support with any personal or professional concerns.

Students have many avenues for academic advising and support throughout the program. Each MHDS student is assigned an academic mentor upon joining the program. The mentor is required to meet with the student each trimester to review academic performance, the student's insight into academic and intellectual development, personal issues and career aspirations. In addition, course faculty hold regular office hours during their course trimester to address student questions and other relevant needs. All students work closely with a preceptor and embedded team through the mentored capstone program. This relationship provides direct contact for progress toward the capstone project, for career development and as a conduit to program leadership, as needed. The preceptors serve as academic advisers and are available on a continual basis for advice and support. Please visit the Faculty & Administration page and explore our website for more detailed information regarding research focus for each faculty member.

Students at Cedars-Sinai have access to a wide range of potential capstone projects throughout the health system. See Capstone Project page for examples of recent student projects.

The areas of research vary for the program faculty. Please visit the Faculty & Administration page and explore our website for more detailed information regarding research focus for each faculty member.