CUNY SPH Online

Many of our programs are fully online degree programs, providing the opportunity for students to earn an affordable, quality degree from the City University of New York from anywhere in the world!

Program types

CUNY SPH offers traditional PhD and Master’s programs, and fully online Master’s and Advanced Certificate programs.

Traditional programs consist mostly of in-person or hybrid courses, although students enrolled in these programs may take online courses if available. Traditional programs at CUNY SPH include:

Online programs consist of fully online courses only. The academic standards and requirements in online programs are identical to their in-person versions. Online courses can be synchronous or asynchronous. Online programs at CUNY SPH include:

Course categories and definitions

In-Person: In an In-Person class, all required class meetings occur on campus, during scheduled class meeting times. Contact includes instruction, learning activities, and interactions (both student-student and student-instructor). An In-Person class where material is provided online, via a learning management system or website, does not displace any of the required contact hours that would normally occur in a scheduled In-Person class. Assignment deadlines and exam days/times are maintained and included in the class syllabus.

Hybrid: In a Hybrid class, online contact hours (synchronous* or asynchronous**) displaces some portion of the required contact hours that would normally take place in a scheduled in-person (face-to-face) class. Contact includes instruction, learning activities, and interactions (both student-student and student-instructor). A hybrid class is designed to integrate face-to-face and online activities so that they reinforce, complement, and elaborate one another, instead of treating the online component as an add-on or duplicate of what is taught in the classroom. Assignment deadlines and exams days/times are maintained and included on the class syllabus.

Online: In an Online class (synchronous* or asynchronous**), all required contact hours are online. Contact includes instruction, learning activities, and interactions (both student-student and/or student-instructor). All the class work, examinations, quizzes, writing assignments, lab work, etc. are fully online.

HyFlex: A HyFlex course provides multiple learning paths to give students a choice in how to participate in class from session to session. The number of formats available to students will vary from course to course, though generally includes in-person, synchronous online, and asynchronous online. Students will be advised in the class about the choices they can make. HyFlex can function differently depending on discipline, class size, and course learning goals. The purpose of HyFlex course design is to expand accessibility and be responsive to student needs by maximizing use of learning technologies. Additional information on the HyFlex setup for each course will be provided in the “notes” section on CUNYFirst at the time of registration.

*Synchronous: Synchronous classes meetings resemble traditional on-campus In-Person classes in that students must be (virtually) present at the same time. Though they are conducted virtually, synchronous classes meet in real-time. Students must commit to scheduled class times and sign onto their virtual learning platform on schedule. During these classes, students will engage with the instruction during online lessons and presentations and even have virtual class discussions. Assignment deadlines and exams days/times are maintained and included on the class syllabus.

**Asynchronous: Asynchronous class meetings do not require you to log in to your virtual classroom at a specified time. Students do not have to follow a strict schedule to engage in live classes or discussions, and the only requirement regarding when they turn in their work is the assignment deadline, not an arbitrary timeline. Assignment deadlines and exams days/times are maintained and included on the class syllabus.

Course delivery modes

Online courses are delivered through Blackboard. Access to Blackboard and other educational software is available here.

Technical requirements

Broadband internet connection
Computer with Firefox browser (recommended) and Java installed
CUNYFirst and Blackboard account
Headset (recommended)

Information on CUNY SPH’s compliance with student identity verification in distance education can be found via this link.

Advising

Students in online programs have access to staff and faculty advisors via phone or Zoom. Students can make an appointment with a staff advisor using this link, or email advising@sph.cuny.edu.

Fieldwork

Students in online programs will conduct their fieldwork remotely/virtually. Fieldwork can be completed at any site so long as the project adheres to the CUNY SPH fieldwork guidelines. Students can do their fieldwork anywhere, at a site located near where they live or where they work. Some students might choose to complete their fieldwork with a site that is hosting remote/virtual internships (for example: the student never physically is on the fieldwork site premises, and conducts their fieldwork from home, engages with their fieldwork preceptor online rather than in person).

Financial aid and tuition

Students in online master’s programs have the same eligibility for financial aid as students enrolled in traditional master’s programs. Tuition for fully online programs is charged at a discounted rate for Out-of-State residents. Tuition rates can be found on the Bursar’s page.

Student Services

Students in online programs have access to all student services available at CUNY SPH.

International students

While we cannot issue I-20 forms for a fully online degree program, our online offerings provide a chance for international students to earn an affordable, quality degree from the City University of New York while residing in their home country.