Six Superb USC Degrees for Public Health Practice
The University of South Carolina appears in our ranking of the Top 10 MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences Degrees Online.
Since Fall 2008, the Arnold School of Public Health has granted a 124-credit Public Health B.A./B.S. where University of South Carolina Gamecocks learn about disease prevention while finding 14-week internships like Lexington Medical Center, joining Alpha Epsilon Delta, and traveling from Tanzania to Taiwan. Chaired by Dr. Dwayne Porter, the Environmental Health Sciences M.S. builds a 36-credit, two-year thesis track with 600-level courses like Industrial Hygiene and Parasitology plus Center for Environmental Nanoscience & Risk research. Each August, the Master of Health Administration launches its 58-credit, CAHME-accredited hybrid program in a 28-month evening or weekend format with 400+ internship hours at Coastal Carolina Hospital, Providence Health, Humana, and more.
Online on Blackboard or in Columbia, the Master of Public Health lets post-grads tailor 42-credit, CEPH-accredited specializations for Epidemiology, Environmental Health Sciences, Physical Activity & Public Health, Health Services Policy & Management, or Health Promotion Education & Behavior with 25 hours of weekly practicum. Headed by Dr. Thomas Chandler, the M.S. in Public Health offers a 36-credit, research-based path for Biostatistics and Epidemiology concentrations that require hands-on thesis work in institutes like the Clinical Exercise Research Center. The Ph.D. in Public Health delivers a 54-credit, post-master’s Columbia curriculum with dissertation research and consulting practicum for five majors: Biostatistics, Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Health Promotion Education & Behavior, or Health Services Policy & Management. There are also Dual MSW/MPH and MPA/MPH options available.
About the University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina originated on December 19, 1801, when Governor John Drayton signed the General Assembly’s bill to create South Carolina College. In 1805, Rev. Jonathan Maxcy welcomed an inaugural class of nine to the Horseshoe campus. Damaged by fire, earthquakes, and war, South Carolina College ultimately closed in 1861. Five years later, it was revived during the Reconstruction as the University of South Carolina. In 1873, it became the South’s first public school to admit African-Americans. However, this changed in 1880 when conservative leaders reinstituted the all-white policy for 83 years. Regionally accredited in 1917, USC started its earliest doctorate in 1928. By 1975, the School of Public Health was established for $50,000. In 2000, Norman and Gerry Sue Arnold donated $10 million to further fund it. In 2006, the Public Health Research Center was erected.
Endowed for $810 million, the University of South Carolina now employs 2,454 faculty teaching 26,733 undergrad and 8,062 post-grad Gamecocks from 98 countries online, on its 359-acre Columbia campus, or at eight branches with 500+ clubs like the Public Health Society for 88 percent retention. In 2019, USC won an Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence Award. In 2015, South Carolina accepted a Sigma Alpha Lambda Chapter Path to Excellence Award. The University of South Carolina received a 2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Grant too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked USC the 23rd top public health school and 39th best health administration program. On Niche, USC boasts America’s 29th best public health degrees and 36th best student life. Forbes named the University of South Carolina the 284th top value. The Center for World University Rankings placed South Carolina 282nd overall. The Economist picked USC 13th for faculty quality and 19th for alumni networking.
University of South Carolina Accreditation Details
On July 16, 2019, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) issued a letter to the University of South Carolina’s President Harris Pastides that warned of potential Level VI accreditation violations. That said, the 11-state Southeast Region agency still accredits USC’s 83 baccalaureate, 82 master’s, and 63 doctoral degrees through Fall 2021. Further, the Arnold School of Public Health was reaffirmed by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) in October 2017. The Master of Health Administration has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) since October 1991.
University of South Carolina Application Requirements
Admission to the University of South Carolina is classified as “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since 19,438 of the 30,778 Fall 2018 applicants were chosen for only 63 percent acceptance. First-year Gamecocks pursuing the Public Health B.A./B.S. must finish high school with four units each of English and mathematics. Three units of biology, physics, and chemistry are highly recommended. The Class of 2022 had a median unweighted GPA range of 3.78-4.50. The middle 50th percentile had SAT scores of 1200-1350. Mid-range admitted ACT scores were 25-30. The Arnold School of Public Health requires minimum cumulative GPAs of 2.75. Foreign learners in non-English countries need at least 77 TOEFL IBT, 53 PTE, or 6.5 IELTS scores. Graduate School candidates must complete 120+ bachelor’s credits at accredited institutions with GPAs above 3.0. Submitting satisfactory GRE composite scores of 300 or better is mandated. Doctor of Philosophy cohorts currently hold a 3.65 average GPA.
The University of South Carolina set freshman deadlines of October 15th for Early Action and December 1st for Regular Decision. Public Health B.A./B.S. transfers must file before July 1st or November 1st. The Master of Public Health has a December 1st priority and January 15th final deadline. Online Health Promotion, Education & Behavior MPH cohorts must apply by March 15th. The Physical Activity & Public Health MPH is open until February 15th. The Professional MHA closes on June 1st. Environmental Health Sciences M.S. entrants must file before January 15th or July 15th. The Arnold School of Public Health prefers Ph.D. candidates applying by November 1st. Accordingly, complete the SOPHAS Application online for $65 ($50 if graduate). Send official transcripts to 921 Assembly Street in Columbia, SC 29208. Contact (803) 777-6136 or sphstsrv@mailbox.sc.edu about further program-specific steps.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2019-20, the University of South Carolina is billing in-state Public Health B.A./B.S. majors $12,738 annually. Non-resident bachelor’s tuition is $33,677 each year. Undergrads pay average program fees of $1,542 per year. Living at the Columbia campus dorms like DeSaussure Hall adds $8,218 for yearly rent. Standard 21-meal plans for Gibbes Court Bistro are $3,966 extra. USC budgets $1,085 for books and supplies plus $4,386 for miscellaneous. Annual undergrad attendance averages $31,935 in-state and $52,836 out-of-state. The Graduate School charges South Carolinians $6,867 and non-residents $14,880 each semester full-time. The health professions program fee is $800 to $1,100. Studying part-time incurs $572 to $1,240 per credit. Professional MHA cohorts spend $597 per credit. Online MPH tuition is priced $568 per credit anywhere.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Office at 1244 Blossom Street Suite 200 connects 91 percent of new full-time USC Gamecocks to median tuition assistance of $6,642 each for $32.79 million combined. Public health funds include the Cindy Babb Moore Fellowship, Ann Cassady Fellowship, Health Services Research Scholarship, Dr. Suzan Boyd Fellowship, Winona Vernberg Bicentennial Fellowship, Palmetto Health Alliance African-American Scholarship, Norman Arnold Fellowship, Mary Elizabeth Newton Fellowship, Michael Jarrett Scholarship, Butterfoss Community-Based Research Fellowship, Environmental Health Sciences Lab Scholarship, and CERortho Fellowship. The $10,000 1801 Scholars Award has a November 15th deadline for exemplary freshmen with an average 1508 SAT and 34 ACT score. The Gamecock Guarantee Program gifts $4,500 to full-tuition scholarships for low-income, first-generation South Carolina residents. Federal programs, such as the Pell Grant and Health Professions Loan, require FAFSA applications coded 003448. Locals also pursue the South Carolina HOPE Scholarship, Palmetto Fellowship, Malcolm Danztler Scholarship, Life Enhancement Scholarship, Watson-Brown Foundation Scholarship, and others.
Learn more about the University of South Carolina at the Arnold School of Public Health website.