Getting Started at SPH.

Welcome! Below are a few steps you should take to begin your transition into SPH.

• Make it official.

• MPH, Certificate, and Dual Degree Candidates:
  Get advice.
  

Review MPH degree requirements and check out our key contacts for specific certificate advising information. For general advice on multiple certificates, start with Professor Megan Healey. The Registrar’s Office will be in touch about creating your BU email and course registration.

• MS Candidates:
  

Your program manager will be in touch with you regarding academic planning. Please contact them with any questions:

MS in Applied Biostatistics— Chunyu Liu, Yorghos Tripodis
MS in Population Health Research—Andrew Stokes

• PhD and DrPH Candidates:
  

Get in touch with your program director to talk about course scheduling.

• Sign up for Foundations in Public Health.
  

To equip you with the foundational knowledge of public health concepts, all incoming students must complete Foundations of Public Health—a self-paced online course.

Modules should take a total of up to 45 hours to complete. The course is offered through the Blackboard platform, which requires a BU Kerberos account (your BU email account setup). Please be aware that there may be a short delay between setting up a Kerberos account and being granted access to Blackboard, as well as being enrolled in the course (typically by 1-2 weeks). Blackboard can be accessed here.

For all questions or concerns related to this course, please contact spheducation@bu.edu.

• Money matters.
  

Finalize financial aid and other funding sources. Contact SFS with any questions.

• Find a place to live.

Start your housing search here. Learn about Boston’s neighborhoods and work with BUMC’s Housing Resources office.

• Connect with us on social media.

Stay up-to-date on what’s happening at SPH by following us on Instagram and Facebook.

• Learn more about student life on campus.
  
• MAP  | Reference our campus map to find your way around campus when you arrive!

• Keep an eye out for emails from Graduate Student Life.
• Be sure to check out the Student Dashboard—a secure online portal that allows students to access many of the essential resources we have here at SPH. Use your BU username and password to login.

• Take the Student Wellbeing Assessment

• If you are an international student, register for BU First Class.

• BU First Class is a free online noncredit pre-arrival course that Global Programs created with the assistance of many at BU and designed to prepare incoming international students for their transition to the BU classroom and community
• Click here to learn more

• Mark your calendars with important dates!

New Student Orientation 

The BUSPH Fall 2024 Orientation will be held from Tuesday, 8/27 to Friday, 8/30. Please note all sessions are in-person only.

Visit our student orientation page for more information.

• Medical Requirements.

All incoming BU students must provide medical health history and immunization records before arriving on campus. Failing to submit your health history information by the start of school may jeopardize your enrollment status. Use the patient connect portal to get started.  If you have questions contact, Student Health Services.

A Guide for Medical Campus Students: This is a dedicated page that hosts programs and services offered by SHS for Medical campus students.

• Choose health insurance.
  

Decide on Student Health Insurance Plan or file insurance waiver through the MyBU Student Portal.

• Let us know if you need disability services or academic accommodations.

If you had educational or physical accommodations in your last degree program, please speak with Mary Murphy-Phillips, Assistant Dean of Students, as soon as possible so she can work with you.

• Assess your transportation needs.

Get familiar with Boston public transportation, the BU Shuttle, and/or parking services on campus. Students can also save 11% on public transportation with a discounted semester-long MBTA pass through BU Transportation Services, find more information on the Transportation Services website.

• Check your compliance.
  

Check your compliance status on the MyBU Student Portal. Compliance is critical; without it, students are blocked from University functions.

• Add your phone number to the BU Alert system

This can be done on the MyBU Student Portal.

• Buy books, course readers, and a computer or tablet.

Textbooks can be purchased or rented through the BU Bookstore. Please visit the Registration and Course information page to learn more about course scheduling, registration and course readers and textbooks. Also, be sure to assess your tech needs. If you need an upgrade or a new computer, discounts are available if you buy software or a computer through BU.

SPH students will need a laptop or tablet for classes. BU Information Services and Technology (IS&T) recommends personal technology purchases for both Apple and Lenovo products. Should you plan to be enrolled in a certificate that includes statistical computing classes (MPH Certificates: Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Design and Conduct of Public Health Research, and Monitoring and Evaluation; MS in Applied Biostatistics; MS in Epidemiology; MS in Environmental Health Data Analytics) you are highly encouraged to purchase a device that can run a Windows operating system. For more information, please read the recommendations of the Medical Campus Information Technology professionals.

• Assess your internet & technology needs

The University provides secure, encrypted wireless access in most residences, libraries, campus dining facilities, the athletic facilities, and most other public areas. Be sure to test your connection to internet in your home, or on campus where you intend to take classes when you are not in the classroom. Other technological needs include a computer or tablet, headphones with a working microphone, and a Zoom account for online classes. For detailed information on how to connect your devices to network, visit the IT Help site. The IT Help Center is open extended hours to assist with your technology needs. Call 617-353-4357, write to ithelp@bu.edu.

Before purchasing a new laptop, please consider the following recommendations. These configurations were selected to ensure that students have the computing power to use the applications that will be required of the BU Hub general education curriculum and various graduate program courses. Contact the IT Help Center for any additional questions you may have.

Student Computer Recommendations

• Zoom Meetings/Sign In Using BU Login Credentials 

To maintain secure zoom access, Boston University requires students to set up an account with https://bostonu.zoom.us/. When signing in to Zoom using the desktop or mobile applications, you’ll need to follow a few additional steps to authenticate with your BU Login. By default, the application will prompt you for an email address and password. Follow the steps here to authenticate your zoom account with your BU username and Kerberos password.

• Learn more about the technology you need for online learning

Read more about online learning technology.

• Complete the Required SPH plagiarism tutorial.

With your BU email address and password, please login and review the SPH Plagiarism Tutorial. The quick and informative electronic presentation is mandatory for all SPH students.

• Transfer credits and course waivers.

Submit transfer credit or course waiver requests to the Registrar.

• BU Merchandise

Browse other BU branded merchandise at the BU Barnes and Noble bookstore here.