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Master of Science (M.S.) in Community Health and Prevention Research (CHPR)

Designed for students pursuing health-related careers focusing on chronic disease prevention and health and wellness promotion.

CHPR info sessions 25 - 1

We will be holding two information sessions for academic year 2026-2027 admission. CHPR alumni and senior staff will describe the program, and will be happy to answer your questions about the program and how to apply. 

Wednesday,  9/24/25, 5-6 pm PT

Online only | Zoom link: https://tinyurl.com/CHPR-info-9-24-25

Monday, 11/17/25, 5-6 pm PT

Hybrid | Zoom: https://tinyurl.com/CHPR-info-9-24-25 | In-person: Stanford Med School Campus at Li Ka Shing Center, Room 203/204

CHPR is proud to congratulate the cohort for 2024-2025, pictured above at New Graduate Student Orientation (NGSO) on September 20, 2024, as they confer their MS degrees. This year's cohort was comprised of students from 14 different countries, 40+ undergraduate institutions, 15% first gen, and 38% identifying as under-represented minority.

The wide range of life experiences of the CHPR program and student body is highlighted in the Department of Medicine's 2021 Annual Report, Meeting the Moment.

CHPR's home is within the Stanford Prevention Research Center,  a research division in Stanford’s Department of Medicine. SPRC’s mission is to enhance personal and population health through innovative, evidence-based strategies in research, education, and community outreach and to train the next generation of prevention researchers.

The CHPR program recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

The CHPR program welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. The review process is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant's academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, prior research experience, and admissions essays to understand how an applicant's life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field and how they might enrich the learning community at Stanford. CHPR invites applicants to share the lived experiences and demonstrated values that have shaped their lives and world views as scholars and would help them to make a distinctive contribution to CHPR.

Master of Science (M.S.) in Community Health and Prevention Research (CHPR)

Quick Links

External Applicants (Global)

Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year are open and due January 8, 2026, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. See the External Applicants page for more information. Current Stanford Fellows on a MCHRI or T-32 grant please contact chpradmissions@stanford.edu for information on how to apply.

chpradmissions@stanford.edu

Coterminal Applicants (Stanford)

Coterminal Applicants (Stanford) Applications for the 2026-2027 are open and due January 8, 2026, at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. See the Coterminal Applicants page for more information.

Coterminal Applicants page

Current Graduate and Professional Student Applicants (Stanford)

Current Graduate and Professional Student Applicants (Stanford) Students pursuing a PhD at Stanford are eligible to count up to 45 units from the CHPR Master's degree towards the PhD requirements (135 residency units). See the Stanford Bulletin for more information. Current Stanford graduate and professional schools students may apply to the program on a rolling admissions basis.

Stanford Graduate Student Applicants page

About the Program

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Community Health and Prevention Research (CHPR) consists of a minimum of 45 units and is designed for students pursuing health-related careers focusing on chronic disease prevention, health and wellness promotion, and the pursuit of health equity. Most students complete the program in one academic year, from Autumn through Summer quarter.

The growing and increasingly recognized and valued fields of community health and prevention research are concerned with expanding and enhancing disease prevention and control efforts in communities at local, state, national, and international levels. The Stanford Prevention Research Center (SPRC), a world-renowned research center founded in 1972, recognizes that community health and prevention research play an increasingly vital role within the field of medicine, the study of global health, and population-level efforts to prevent and reduce chronic diseases.

The purpose of this program is to:

  • 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.

Why Complete a Master of Science in Community Health and Prevention Research?

Students who complete the Master of Science in Community Health and Prevention Research will:

  • 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 translational research and applied 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.
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