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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA 2008-2009 graduate bulletin
graduate bulletin index

updated 8/15/2008

G. Thomas Chandler, Interim Dean
Cheryl L. Addy,
Executive Associate Dean
Gregory A. Hand, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Saundra Glover, Associate Dean for Health Disparities and Social Justice

C. Marjorie Aelion
, Associate Dean for Research
Elaine M. Frank, Chair, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Dwayne Porter, Interim Chair, Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Robert McKeown, Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
J. Larry Durstine Chair, Department of Exercise Science
Janice C. Probst, Interim Chair, Department of Health Services Policy and Management
Edward A. Frongillo, Chair, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior


Overview

The Arnold School of Public Health was established by legislative action in 1974 and was fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in 1979, 1984, 1990, 1996, and 2001. The school has as its major mission the improvement of public health status by preventing health hazards and by promoting improved health services through its education, research, and service programs. The school is mandated to improve environmental quality, to strengthen health promotion and disease control efforts, and to improve health service delivery.

An integral part of the training of students at the school is participation in research activities. Since the state is experiencing rapid demographic and industrial changes, health problems range from those of a traditional rural setting (infectious diseases, infant mortality, access to health care) to those of a modern industrial setting (impact of new industries on air and water quality and the safety of the workplace). The school has been committed to "action research" since its inception. The importance of dealing with operating programs and defined problems has led to close working relationships with human service programs, health care facilities, and governmental agencies throughout the state and region.

The Arnold School of Public Health is divided into the Departments of Health Services Policy and Management; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Environmental Health Sciences; Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior; Communication Sciences and Disorders; and Exercise Science. The school also contains the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Center for Research on Nutrition and Health Disparities, Rural Health Resource Center, and Speech and Hearing Center.

Degrees Offered

The Arnold School of Public Health offers programs of study leading to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.), Master of Public Health in General Public Health (M.P.H. in G.P.H.), Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Master of Public Health in Physical Activity and Public Health (M.P.H. in P.A./P.H.), and Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.). The Department of Exercise Science also offers the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.); the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers study that leads to the Master of Speech Pathology (M.S.P.) and Master of Communication Disorders (M.C.D.); and the Department of Health Services Policy and Management also offers a Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.).

A Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Public Health dual degree (M.S.N./M.P.H.) is offered in cooperation with the College of Nursing. A Master of Social Work/M.P.H. dual degree is offered in cooperation with the College of Social Work. A Doctor of Medicine/M.P.H. dual degree is offered in cooperation with the School of Medicine. A dual Juris Doctor/M.H.A. is offered in cooperation with the School of Law. The Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior also offers the Master of Arts in Teaching, in cooperation with the School of Education. The Certificate of Graduate Studies in School Health Education is administered by the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior. The Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health is administered by the Office of Academic Affairs. The Arnold School of Public Health participates in the certificate of graduate studies programs in gerontology and drug and addictions studies.

For information on admission policies, curricula, and degrees offered, please consult the listings below for individual departments or find us on the Web at www.sph.sc.edu.

Readmission policy for all departments is as follows: Arnold School of Public Health students who fail to enroll in a course for 24 consecutive months must apply for readmission to The Graduate School. If a student is accepted after applying for readmission, the academic rules and standards in effect at the time of readmission will supersede those in effect at the time of initial admission.

Admission Requirements

General. Requirements for admission conform to the general regulations of The Graduate School of the University of South Carolina including satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination. In addition, applicants must submit an official transcript of their entire academic record, evidence of academic performance at a B or better level, and a brief statement of professional goals and objectives.

Master's Degrees. The foregoing general admission requirements apply to all master's programs in the Arnold School of Public Health and constitute a minimum baseline status. Applicants to the Master of Public Health in General Public Health may submit MCAT or DAT scores in place of scores on the Graduate Record Exam. Applicants to the Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health dual degree program must also be accepted by both programs. Applicants for the Master of Science degree in exercise science must have an earned baccalaureate degree in exercise science or a related discipline from an accredited institution. For detailed degree and program requirements, refer to the specific program and department of interest.

Doctoral Degrees. The general admission requirements apply to all doctoral programs in the Arnold School of Public Health. Additional requirements are listed below. For detailed degree and program requirements, refer to the specific doctoral program and department of interest.

Ph.D. Degree. Applicants to the Ph.D. Program in Environmental Health Science; Epidemiology; Biostatistics; Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior; and Health Services Policy and Management should have a master's degree and a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 in the major field. Applicants requesting admission to the foregoing programs who hold a degree in a field other than public health are expected to have taken the core courses required for the M.S.P.H. degree or their equivalent. A student without a master's degree may be admitted to these programs with the approval of the department; however, additional course work may be required. Applicants requesting admission to the Ph.D. degree in exercise science must have a bachelor's degree in exercise science or a related discipline from an accredited institution. A master's degree is preferred but not required. Also, a personal interview with the departmental admissions committee is recommended. Applicants for the Ph.D. program in communication sciences and disorders must have a master's degree in either speech pathology or a related area.

Dr.P.H. Degree. Applicants to the Dr.P.H. program should have a master's degree and a minimum of three years of experience in a health-related field and/or a related professional degree, e.g., M.D., D.D.S., M.N., M.P.H., or equivalent.

D.P.T. Degree. Applicants to the D.P.T. must have an earned baccalaureate degree in a related discipline from an accredited institution; all applications are formally reviewed by a faculty committee and candidates approved by the graduate director of the Department of Exercise Science.


Office of Academic Affairs

Gregory A. Hand, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Overview

Administration of the Master of Public Health in Public Health-General (M.P.H. in P.H.-G.), Master of Public Health in Physical Activity and Public Health (M.P.H. in P.A./P.H.), and the Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health (M.D./M.P.H.) degree programs and the Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health (C.G.S.P.H.) are housed in the Office of Academic Affairs. Committees for the above programs make decisions regarding policy, procedures, admission criteria, and other matters concerning program implementation. Additional information regarding the M.P.H. in P.H.-G. and M.D./M.P.H. organization and management is available in the program handbooks. Copies are available through the Office of Academic Affairs.

Program Admission Requirements

General: applicants should submit an application packet through the School of Public Health Application Service (www.sophas.org) unless advised otherwise by the Office of Academic Affairs.

Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health (C.G.S.P.H.). Applicants to the Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health must have, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree. While students currently enrolled in master of public health degree programs are not eligible for the C.G.S.P.H. program, students working on other graduate degree programs are eligible.

Requirements include:

  • baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale; baccalaureate degree transcripts required;
  • completed University of South Carolina application form and fee;
  • letter of intent describing your interest in the certificate and specific career goals;
  • curriculum vitae/resume;mtwo letters of recommendation.

Master of Public Health in General Public Health (M.P.H. in G.P.H.). Applicants for the Master of Public Health in General Public Health must meet the general requirements of the University of South Carolina Graduate School. MCAT, DAT, GRE, or other equivalent test scores are required for all applicants. In addition to providing master's-level students with a broad understanding of public health disciplines, this program is appropriate for individuals with professional doctoral degrees who seek a grounding in public health.

International applicants to the Master of Public Health in General Public Health program are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in order to meet admission requirements. Applicants whose native language is not English are also required to submit a satisfactory score on the TOEFL or the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam. The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL is 230 (computer-based) or 570 (paper-based), but many programs have set higher requirements. The minimum acceptable overall band score on the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam is 6.5.

Applicants must include an official transcript from each school or college previously attended (all prior post-secondary school study must be represented). Transcripts from any non-U.S. institution will need to be verified by World Education Services (WES, www.wes.org or telephone: 212-219-7330). In addition, there must be at least three letters of recommendation and a detailed written statement indicating the applicant's area of interest and career goals, along with a current and complete resume.

Admissions applications are reviewed by a faculty committee representing the Departments of Environmental Health Sciences; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior; and Health Services Policy and Management.

Master of Public Health in Physical Activity and Public Health (M.P.H. in P.A./P.H.). Applicants to the M.P.H. in P.A./P.H. must meet the general requirements of the University of South Carolina Graduate School. Applicants must also have completed an undergraduate program with appropriate preparation in the field in which graduate work is to be undertaken. A demonstration of a broad educational background reinforced with public health interests and experiences in physical activity must be included.

International applicants to the Master of Public Health in Physical Activity program are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in order to meet admission requirements. Applicants whose native language is not English are also required to submit a satisfactory score on the TOEFL or the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam. The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL is 230 (computer-based) or 570 (paper-based). The minimum acceptable overall band score on teh IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam is 6.5

Applicants must include an official transcript from each school or college previously attended (all prior post-secondary school study must be represented). In addition, there must be at least three letters of recommendation and a detailed written statement indicating the applicant's area of interest and career goals, along with a current and complete resume.

Other requirements include:

  • graduated with a rank in the upper half of the class (GPA>3.00);
  • acceptable GRE score of at least 900, combined verbal and quantitative sections (the 2004-05 incoming class averaged 460 on the verbal section and 562 on the quantitative section);
  • an official transcript from each school or college previously attended (all prior postsecondary school study must be represented);
  • a minimum of three letters of recommendation;
  • a detailed written statement describing the area of interest and specific career goals.

Admission applications are reviewed by a faculty committee with representatives from exercise science; epidemiology; health promotion, education, and behavior; the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention; and the Office of Academic Affairs.

Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health (M.D./M.P.H.). To be admitted to the Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health dual degree program, potential students must make application to and be accepted by both degree programs prior to matriculation. Therefore, applicants for the Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health must meet all entrance requirements for the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) in the USC School of Medicine and the Master of Public Health in Public Health-General in the School of Public Health.

All academic requirements for the University of South Carolina Graduate School, School of Medicine, and the Arnold School of Public Health are applicable to students applying to the dual degree program. For admission requirements for the Doctor of Medicine degree program, please contact the USC School of Medicine. Degree requirements for the Master of Public Health in Public Health-General are described above.

Any student holding the M.D. or M.P.H. in G.P.H. degree or who is currently enrolled in the M.D. or M.P.H. in G.P.H. programs is not eligible for admission to the dual degree program.

Programs Overview

Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health (C.G.S.P.H.)

The Arnold School of Public Health offers the 18-hour Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health (C.G.S.P.H.) for those who are interested in public health but who are not interested in or whose career trajectories do not require an M.P.H. The purposes of the certificate are twofold: 1. The C.G.S.P.H. offers students working in other degree programs academic training in the fundamental concepts of public health. 2. The C.G.S.P.H. provides a life-long learning opportunity on the foundations of core public health concepts for practitioners who do not wish to seek a public health degree.

Earning the certificate involves a focused learning experience in the fundamentals of public health in which cnadidates must complete three fundamental courses of the core public health disciplines and three elective public health courses consistent with the student's background and interests.

Master of Public Health in General Public Health (M.P.H. in G.P.H.)

The M.P.H. in G.P.H. degree provides students the academic experiences to understand and appreciate the broad range of public health issues. Combined with the understanding of the basic principles of public health, the student will develop a knowledge base and skill set across the public health disciplines. Participants will choose five advanced courses from among the five core public health disciplines, with no more than two courses in any one discipline: biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health services policy and management, and health promotion, education, and behavior.

Master of Public Health in Physical Activity and Public Health (M.P.H. in P.A./P.H.)

The Arnold School of Public Health offers the M.P.H. in P.A./P.H. for health professionals who have a career interest in physical activity. The purpose of the program is to provide students with opportunities to study issues germane to physical activity and public health, acquire appropriate background knowledge and experience in an epidemiological approach to public health problems as they relate to physical activity, and develop skills integral to the design, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs that are intended to promote increased physical activity in populations.

The M.P.H. in P.A./P.H. is also designed for professionals working in physical activity programs within community or governmental settings. These settings may be city, county, or state health departments, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health maintenance organizations, medical clinics, etc. The degree offers physicians and Ph.D. research scientists an opportunity to learn about public health applications for physical activity.

Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health (M.D./M.P.H.)

The M.D./M.P.H. degree is designed for future physicians who want to prepare for meeting the challenges of managed care practicing evidence-based medicine, ensuring effective preventive medicine for their patients, and administering medical offices and/or community, state, and federal health organizations. Students in the dual degree program must complete the total program in six academic years.

The M.D./M.P.H. dual degree student completes the M.D. degree at either the USC School of Medicine or the MUSC College of Medicine.

Program Requirements for Degree Programs

Curriculum requirements for degrees housed in the Office of Academic Affairs are listed below.

Public Health Core Courses:

BIOS 700 Introduction to Biostatistcs
EPID 700 Introduction to Epidemiology
ENHS 660 Concepts of Environmental Health Sciences
HPEB 700 Concepts and Methods in Health Promotion
HSPM 700 Approaches and Concepts for Health Administration

Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health (C.G.S.P.H.)

Public Health Core (9 hours)
Electives (9 hours)

Master of Public Health in General Public Health (M.P.H. in G.P.H.) (42 hours)

Public Health Core Courses (15 hours)
Practicum in Public Health Discipline (6 hours)
Special Interest in Public Health (
15 hours with no more than two courses in any one department)
Electives (
6 hours)
Comprehensive exam

Master of Public Health in Physical Activity and Public Health (M.P.H. in P.A./P.H.) (46 hours)

Public Health Core Courses (15 hours)
Physical Activity Core (
13 hours of EXSC courses, 6 hours of PUBH 798 Public Health Practice)
Area of Emphasis (12 hours)
Comprehensive examination

Doctor of Medicine/Master of Public Health (M.D./M.P.H.) (38 hours)

Public Health Core (15 hours)
Practicum in Public Health Discipline (6 hours)
Special Interest in Public Health (9 hours)*
Electives (8 hours)*
Comprehensive exam
Requirements for the M.D. degree
*Hours vary by department


Course Descriptions

Public Health (PUBH)

  • 710 -- Ethics and the Health Sciences. {=DMED 620, =PHIL 710, =NURS 794, =SOWK 753} (1-4) Students are introduced to formal and informal codes of professional conduct of various health science disciplines and understand the implications of these distinctions for interdisciplinary research, clinical practice, and administration.
  • 743 -- Foundations of Health Disparities. (3) Evolution of health disparities from historical, public, social, economic, and political perspectives.
  • 798 -- Public Health Practice. (1-6) (Prereq: BIOS 700 or 701 and EPID 700 or 701) Limited work experience or service project in an approved public health setting.


Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders

Department of Environmental Health Sciences

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Department of Exercise Science

Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior

Department of Health Services Policy and Management

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