Master of Public Health

Admission Requirements

Procedure for Admission to the Master of Public Health

The criteria used in determining admissions to the Master of Public Health degree program include"

• Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of at least 2.7 (on a scale of 4.0) OR
• Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, with minimum GRE Scores (GRE scores may not be older than 5 years) in the 45th percentile for Verbal and 32nd percentile for Quantitative, OR
• An earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Completion of a statistics course with a grade of C or better
• Submission of official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended within 10 weeks after the official start date.
• A minimum paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language score of 600 or the electronic-based score of 250 for whom English is a Second Language (ESL) to be considered for the program.

Submission of the following:

• An essay (goal statement) of 1-2 pages (typed, double-spaced) explaining your career goals and why you want to pursue an advanced degree in public health.
• A resume 'describing relevant work, professional, and volunteer experiences.

Once all required admissions documents and information are submitted, the application will be reviewed and evaluated by the MPH Program Director for final admission decision.

Required Program Foundation Courses

The following undergraduate course must be completed with a grade of C or better at an accredited college or university and prior to enrollment into the Master of Public Health.  Students accepted into the program without having completed this course must do so within two sessions of their acceptance data.

• Statistics (1 course)

Foundation undergraduate course credits do not count towards the total number of credits for graduation nor do they count in the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA); however, they do count in determining the Maximum Time Frame (MTF) and the Incremental Completion Rate (ICR).  Students enrolled in foundation undergraduate courses must successfully complete the course within their first three attempts or the student will be academically dismissed from the University.

Career Outlook

As a graduate of the MPH degree program, you’ll be ready to pursue a variety of public health positions, including:

• Medical and Health Services Managers
• Health Educators
• Community Health Workers

Course Requirements

Outcomes

Offered at South University, Online Programs; South University, Savannah; and South University, Virginia Beach.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program at South University is a 56-credit program designed to educate students and working professionals about areas of critical importance to local, national, and international public health challenges. The MPH program is organized around a curriculum which consists of core competencies, principal courses, and a practicum experience. The core courses cover the five main areas of public health competencies.  The principal courses are designed to cover a broad range of topics to help develop each student's knowledge, skills, and abilities in public health practice and to further develop the skillsets of working professionals in the public health field.  Lastly the students take part in a practicum experience that synthesizes information learned throughout the program and as such should be taken as the last course in the program.  

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates should be able to:

1. Utilize core public health concepts in the areas of biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, health services administration, and environmental health.
2. Assess the public health conditions, including assets and deficiencies, of populations.
3. Demonstrate the ability to plan, implement, and evaluate programs and services designed to address public health conditions.
4. Employ an "ecological approach" to public health, with emphasis on the linkages and relationships among the multiple determinants of health to assure conditions that protect and promote the health of populations.
5. Analyze health disparities to design appropriate and culturally competent prevention and intervention strategies.
6. Apply theoretical knowledge in field-based settings that incorporates the eight competency domains for public health professionals:
7. Demonstrate skills in public health research and communication.
8. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of public health policy, practice, and research.