Health Services Policy and Management, M.P.H.
Admissions
Applicants should submit an application packet through the School of Public Health Application Service unless advised otherwise by the department.
All international applicants should contact the MPH Program Director before applying.
Admission Requirements
- A four-year baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution
- Baccalaureate degree grade point average of 3.00/4.00 or higher
- For international applicants, a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - minimum score of 80 internet-based, 230 computer-based, or 570 paper-based - or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Course Type 2 exam - minimum overall band score of 6.5. This requirement may be waived for applicants that have earned a prior degree from a US institution.
Application Requirements
- Resume or CV
- Personal Statement: The personal statement is a great opportunity to express your unique qualifications, experiences, and reasons for applying to the MPH program. Prepare your letter carefully by using details and specific examples to describe your distinctive qualities. Describe your academic interests, relevant work experiences, as well as academic/professional goals and objectives in the context of the questions listed below:
- Why are you applying to this program?
- How will this program contribute to your projected career?
- What is your experience working in teams and what can you contribute to a team?
- Is there any additional information that will help us evaluate your application?
- At least three letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources
- Official transcripts from all schools or colleges previously attended
- Non-US institution transcripts must be verified by World Education Services (WES) or equivalent evaluation service. Please submit a comprehensive course-by-course evaluation (WES ICAP)
- TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for those whose native language is not English
- TOEFL: Scores should be submitted electronically using the USC Institutional code: 5818
- IELTS: Scores should be mailed directly to the USC Graduate School:
The Graduate School
University of South Carolina
1705 College Street, Suite 552
Columbia, SC 29208
Graduate Assistantship
All full-time M.P.H. students are encouraged to work as graduate assistants in health service organizations in the community to acquire work experience and enrich the learning process through on-the-job application of concepts and techniques learned in the classroom. To qualify for an assistantship, a student must be fully admitted to a degree program, be enrolled as a full-time student, and maintain a 3.00 GPA.
Dual Degrees
The Department of Health Services Policy and Management and the College of Social Work, and Department of Political Science offer coordinated programs that lead to a dual degree. The requirements for the M.P.H. portion of each dual degree program are the same as shown above. The M.P.A. and M.S.W. portions of the dual degree programs are determined by the respective schools and college. Some courses do fulfill requirements for both portions of the dual degree. A dual degree program thus typically requires fewer semester hours in total than if the two programs were taken separately.
Profiles of Admitted Master’s Students
M.P.H.
For Fall 2023, there were 44 applicants. Thirty-nine were accepted. Thirteen enrolled. Their mean undergraduate GPA was 3.47 (on a 4.00 point scale).
Program Requirements (45 Hours)
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Public Health Core (biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, administration, and health promotion, education, and behavior) | 16 |
| Public Health Management | 18 |
| Public Health and Healthcare Policy | 6 |
| Practice Experience and Capstone Course | 5 |
Public Health Core Requirements (16 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PUBH 724 | Quantitative Methods for Public Health Practice I | 3 |
| PUBH 725 | Quantitative Methods for Public Health Practice II | 3 |
| PUBH 726 | Qualitative Methods for Public Health Practice | 3 |
| PUBH 730 | Public Health Systems, Policy, and Leadership | 3 |
| PUBH 735 | Practical Applications of Public Health Planning | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 16 | |
Public Health Management Requirements (18 Hours)
Required Management Courses (12 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HSPM 712 | Health Economics | 3 |
| HSPM 726 | Applied Public Health Law for Administrators | 3 |
| HSPM 730 | Financing of Health Care | 3 |
| HSPM 768 | Health Services Administration II | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Management Electives (6 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select two courses in consultation with advisor; possible courses include the following: | 6 | |
| Health and Economic Development: Interrelationships among health, poverty and economic progress | ||
| Perspectives in Rural Health | ||
| Information Systems in Health Administration | ||
| Perspectives in Community Health Organizations | ||
| Quantitative Methods for Health Administration | ||
| Long-Term Care Administration | ||
| Organizational Behavior | ||
| Quality Management in Healthcare | ||
| Physician Practice Management | ||
| International Health | ||
| Healthcare Policy and Principles of Health Insurance | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Public Health and Healthcare Policy Requirements (6 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HSPM 727 | Advancing Public Health Policy | 3 |
| Select one Policy Elective from the following: | 3 | |
| Health Politics | ||
| Public Health Advocacy and Policy | ||
| The Public Policy Process | ||
| Theories of Comparative Politics | ||
| Race and Public Policy| | ||
Another course selected in consultation with advisor | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Practice Experience and Capstone Requirements (5 Hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HSPM 788 | Applied Practice Experience | 3 |
| HSPM 796 | Integrative Learning Experience | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours | 5 | |
Final Examination
The final grant proposal and grant proposal presentation included in the HSPM MPH Capstone Course (HSPM 799) which is required for all HSPM MPH students will serve as the comprehensive final exam assessment for the HSPM MPH degree. The final grant proposal will be reviewed by at least two HSPM faculty members. The grant proposal presentations in face-to-face classes will be attended and reviewed by least two HSPM faculty members. Distance students’ presentations will be recorded and reviewed by at least two HSPM faculty members. Faculty reviewers will be provided with a comprehensive assessment rubric which will identify the essential required elements for both the grant proposal and presentation.
Graduate Assistantship
All full-time M.P.H. students are encouraged to work as graduate assistants in health service organizations in the community to acquire work experience and enrich the learning process through on-the-job application of concepts and techniques learned in the classroom. To qualify for an assistantship, a student must be fully admitted to a degree program, be enrolled as a full-time student, and maintain a 3.00 GPA.
Dual Degrees
The Department of Health Services Policy and Management and the College of Social Work, and Department of Political Science offer coordinated programs that lead to a dual degree. The requirements for the M.P.H. portion of each dual degree program are the same as shown above. The M.P.A. and M.S.W. portions of the dual degree programs are determined by the respective schools and college. Some courses do fulfill requirements for both portions of the dual degree. A dual degree program thus typically requires fewer semester hours in total than if the two programs were taken separately.