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Arnold School of Public Health

First-year & Transfer Applicants

The Arnold School of Public Health is one of the nation's first schools of public health to offer Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree programs in public health. These programs, established in 2008, complement our nationally recognized B.S. degree program in exercise science.

Admission to Programs

Our undergraduate programs admits new and transfer students who meet all of our entrance requirements. To apply for either the B.S. or B.A. degree programs, please complete an Undergraduate Admissions application.

Entrance Requirements

New freshmen who meet university admissions standards are eligible for admission to the undergraduate degree programs offered by the Arnold School of Public Health.

A student who wishes to enter the Arnold School from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher. A student who wishes to enter the Arnold School from another USC campus must fulfill one of the following requirements:

  • Students enrolled in other colleges on the Columbia campus must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and must have at least 12 USC credit hours.
  • Students from other USC campuses must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 and must have taken at least 12 USC credit hours. Additionally, students from other USC campuses who have fewer than 30 semester hours must also meet Columbia campus freshman admission requirements.
  • Transfer students from regionally accredited institutions must present a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on all college work taken. Students who have fewer than 30 semester hours of college work must also meet Columbia campus freshman admission requirements.

Progression Requirements

To remain in the undergraduate degree programs offered by the Arnold School, a student must make satisfactory academic progress toward the degree. A student who fails to make satisfactory progress may be placed on academic probation or removed from the Arnold School. If the semester, yearly, or cumulative grade point average of a student is below 2.00, the student will be notified in writing.

A student in a public health program must have an overall C average and must complete all public health-related core courses and program selectives with a minimum grade of C. A student may attempt a public health-related core course a maximum of two times to fulfill the requirement. A grade of W (withdrawal) will be recognized as an attempt. A student may repeat a maximum of four public health-related core courses.

In addition, all students in the Arnold School are subject to the regulations regarding probation, suspension and readmission in the section of the USC Undergraduate Bulletin titled Policies and Regulations.


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