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
• An earned graduate degree from an accredited institution with a CGPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Submission of official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended within 10 weeks after the official start date.
• Provisional Admissions: A cumulative GPA of 2.5 -2.69. Students must receive a final course grade of B or better in all public health courses for the first two terms/quarters to be fully admitted into the MPH program.
  • Provisionally admitted students are permitted one attempt per course for the first two terms/quarters. Students who do not receive a final course grade of B or better in all public health courses will have the provisional admission rescinded. There is no appeal for rescinding provisional status.

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.

Career Outlook

Course Requirements

Outcomes

Offered at South University, Atlanta Off-Campus Instructional Site; 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.