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 724Quantitative Methods for Public Health Practice I3
PUBH 725Quantitative Methods for Public Health Practice II3
PUBH 726Qualitative Methods for Public Health Practice3
PUBH 730Public Health Systems, Policy, and Leadership3
PUBH 735Practical Applications of Public Health Planning4
Total Credit Hours16

Public Health Management Requirements (18 Hours)

Required Management Courses (12 Hours)

Course Title Credits
HSPM 712Health Economics3
HSPM 726Applied Public Health Law for Administrators3
HSPM 730Financing of Health Care3
HSPM 768Health Services Administration II3
Total Credit Hours12

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 Hours6

Public Health and Healthcare Policy Requirements (6 Hours)

Course Title Credits
HSPM 727Advancing Public Health Policy3
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 Hours6

Practice Experience and Capstone Requirements (5 Hours)

Course Title Credits
HSPM 788Public Health Practice Experience3
HSPM 796Health Services Policy and Management MPH Capstone Course2
Total Credit Hours5

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.