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Overview

The M.P.H. is designed for individuals with aspirations to be practitioners in health department, community, school or worksite settings. The program requires 45 hours of course work, including public health and health promotion, education, and behavior core courses and a 6-hour practicum. The public health core is designed to develop competencies in using epidemiology and biostatistics to understand distributions and causes of diseases in populations; understanding the relationship between environment and health; and managing and administering health organizations. The health promotion, education, and behavior core is designed to develop competencies in planning implementing, and evaluating programs which promote informed decision making and health behavior change in individuals, and communities. Candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive examination at or near the conclusion of program requirements.

Degree Requirements

• Basic Public Health Core (15 Hours)
• Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior Core (15 Hours)
• Cognate Area (9 Hours)
• Public Health Practicum (6 Hours)

Admission

Admissions requirements for graduate study in HPEB can be found in the Arnold School of Public Health  section of the Academic Bulletin.  The letter of intent is an important part of the application.  It should persuasively convey the degree program to which you are applying, your academic and careert interests, how the department’s programs fit with your interests, and how the training you receive will help you reach your career goals.

Admissions process information and links can be found at the Arnold School of Public Health webpage: http://www.sph.sc.edu/futurestudents/index.htm.

Applications for the MPH program are made through the new Schools of Public Health Application System (SOPHAS). Please go to www.sophas.org for further details.

Only single program applications are accepted, so you may only apply to one program at a time (unless you are applying to the MSW/MPH program or certificate program). Once received, your application and credentials are sent for review by the HPEB faculty. After reviewing your credentials, the department makes a recommendation to The Graduate School which officially grants admission. We will inform you of the department’s recommendation regarding admission, but official notice of admission comes from the USC Graduate School.

You are encouraged to review carefully the information provided on the above websites before beginning the application process. If you have further questions, you may contact:

Ken Watkins
HPEB Graduate Director
phone:  803-777-7603
e-mail:  watkinsk@gwm.sc.edu

Casey Goldston
HPEB Academic Services Coordinator
phone:  803-777-2966
e-mail:  Goldston@sc.edu

Office of Student and Alumni Services
phone:  803-777-5031 
e-mail:  sphstsrv@gwm.sc.edu