A master's degree is not necessarily a requirement for this program, relevant research experience may be considered in lieu of a master's degree. Students who are completing their Bachelor's degree however, are not yet prepared to apply. Entering students should have a foundation in microeconomics, epidemiology, and statistics. Most applicants, however, do hold a master's degree and have had relevant work experience. Students without prior master's-level coursework in these areas will need to remedy deficiencies in their first year. Experience working in the health sector is viewed favorably by the Admissions Committee as is prior research experience. A criterion for admission is at least a B (3.0) grade-point average or the equivalent in work completed after the first two years of a bachelor's degree program and in all post-baccalaureate course work. Applicants must submit Graduate Records Exam (GRE) general scores not more than five years old. The average entering student has a verbal score above the 90th percentile and a quantitative scores about the 75th percentile. A minimum of three letters of recommendation must be submitted as part of the application process, two sets of original transcripts are also required. Writing samples in the form of published articles and journal abstracts may be submitted. A grade point average of B or better (3.0), If the applicant comes from a country or political entity (e.g., Quebec) where English is not the official language, adequate proficiency in English to do graduate work, as evidenced by a TOEFL score of at least 90 on the iBT test, 570 on the paper-and-pencil test, or an IELTS Band score of at least 7 on a 9-point scale (note that individual programs may set higher levels for any of these)