General MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is designed to prepare the next generation of public health scientists. It aims to help students develop expertise, research presence, and practice opportunities in population health and prevention. The program emphasizes the critical role of professionals with expertise in prevention and community-based research in the context of the nation's evolving healthcare delivery model, aiming to ensure adequate healthcare for all and improve national health.

The MUSC MPH Program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for a five-year term until 2027. Interested individuals can review MUSC’s self-study document and CEPH's Final Responses . For additional information regarding accreditation, contact Dr. JacKetta Cobbs at [email protected] .

Delivery Modes & Concentrations

The MPH program offers several concentrations with distinct delivery modes:

• Generalist (Online): Focuses on competency in evaluating the health status of diverse populations and developing rigorous implementation plans and strategies.

• Biostatistics (On-campus/Residential): Concerned with applications of statistical methods in biomedical and health-related fields, training students in data management, study design, analytic techniques, and interpretation.

• Epidemiology (On-campus/Residential): Deals with the systematic study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and applying knowledge for prevention and control measures.

• Health Behavior & Health Promotion (On-campus/Residential): Focuses on taking interventions into communities and developing effective communication and education strategies to empower individuals in their healthcare.

Curriculum Overview

Each MPH degree requires the completion of 45 credit hours. This includes coursework in the student's chosen core field. The degree can typically be completed in four semesters.

A key component is an internship, requiring 180 hours of field placement in a comprehensive public health setting related to the chosen concentration. This is followed by a capstone project, which is a professional paper or report culminating from the internship experience.

For more details, students can refer to the MPH Student Handbook (PDF) .

Admissions Requirements

Detailed information about admissions criteria, application procedures, and deadlines for the MPH Program at MUSC can be found on the MPH Admissions page .

Career & Practical Experience

The program prepares graduates for careers as professionals with expertise in prevention and community-based research. Practical experience is a core component, with internship sites including hospitals, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and pharmaceutical companies. The internship and capstone project provide students with hands-on experience in their chosen concentration.