Master of Public Health Requirements
Program Requirements
- MPH students must complete the 45 hours of coursework, unless the 9 hours of internship is waived.
- MPH/MBA students must complete a minimum of 78 hours. MPH/ANTMA students must complete a minimum of 66 hours.
- Pass a comprehensive exam.
- Students must have a 3.0 GPA in all course work to graduate.
Executive Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Administration: An MPH program designed for individuals who have completed an undergraduate degree and have at least three years of full-time work experience in a health care/service setting. The degree can be completed in 22 months using a rigorous, concentrated format that includes three classes each semester that meet on Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Five weekends are required each semester. For information on this degree program, contact Dr. Gordon Whyte in the Department of Community Health Sciences at 266-5435.
Internship
Students must complete a nine-credit hour (400 clock hours) internship at an approved site. Those with at least three years of experience or a terminal degree in a relevant area may apply for a waiver of the internship requirement.
Admission Requirements
Application for admission to the MPH program is made through the Graduate School of the university and through the Department of Community Health Sciences.
Applications are reviewed three times a year and are due July 15 for fall semester and October 15 for spring semester.
A complete application consists of the Graduate Studies Office application, the Department of Community Health Sciences application and essay, GRE or GMAT scores, transcripts and three letters of reference from persons qualified to assess the applicant’s readiness for graduate study. International applicants also must submit TOEFL scores.
Minimum GPA is 2.75 on the last 60 hours of coursework.
Minimum TOEFL score is 550 for international applicants.
Applications are evaluated by the department’s Graduate School Admissions Committee. Enrollment priority is given to Mississippi residents. Other factors in the decision for admission include the GPA, GRE or GMAT scores, writing skills demonstrated in the essay, and the reference letters.
Students applying to the MPH/MBA program must also apply to the MBA program and take the GMAT exam.
Continuous Enrollment Requirement: Students must meet the requirement specified in the front section of this Bulletin.
Plan of Study. Students must submit their signed, official Plan of Study Form to the Graduate School by the end of the first semester they are enrolled. The Plan of Study Forms are available at www.usm.edu/graduateschool/ planofstudy.php - click on the “Plan of Study” link.
Responsible Conduct of Research Training
All faculty holding Regular or Associate graduate faculty status, must complete RCR training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments. All graduate students must complete the RCR training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments the first semester they are enrolled in graduate school. The RCR policy and training information are found on the Graduate School web page – www.usm.edu/graduateschool. Contact the Dean of the Graduate School if you have any questions regarding the policy or training information.
Masters in Public Health (Epidemiology and Biostatistics Emphasis)/Masters in Anthropology Dual Degree Core Courses (66 hours)
The dual program allows students interested in epidemiology and biostatistics and in anthropology to complete requirements for each degree simultaneously.
The combination of disciplines prepares graduates for a variety of career opportunities in the public, voluntary, and private community health sectors. Training in social and behavioral studies, statistics, disease epidemiology, and data analysis from the Department of Community Health Sciences combined with training in anthropological linguistics, ethnology, and archaeology from the Department of Anthropology, afford an opportunity for the graduates to manage programs concerning health and disease as related to diverse populations with specific cultural backgrounds and associated needs.
The ANT courses (30 hrs.) cover all foundation, as well as highly specific, areas of the program. The CHS courses (36 hrs.) include all Master of Public Health degree core and epidemiology/biostatistics emphasis area requirements for the traditional student in the MPH program.
