Public Health (Epidemiology and Biostatistics), M.P.H.

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This emphasis area provides knowledge about the distribution and determinants of disease and other health-related conditions in human populations and develops methodological and analytical skills for study design and biostatistical analysis of data. Graduates are qualified for health service or research positions in local health departments, hospitals, nursing homes, academic institutions, industries, and government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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 Core Requirements (18-24 hours)

CHS 622 - Epidemiology 3 hrs.
CHS 623 - Biostatistics 3 hrs.
CHS 625 - Health Administration 3 hrs.
CHS 655 - Environmental Health 3 hrs.
CHS 656 - Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health 3 hrs.
CHS 611 - Internship in Community Health 3-9 hrs.

Requirements for Emphasis in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (21 hours)

CHS 620 - Chronic Disease Epidemiology 3 hrs.
CHS 680 - Research Techniques 3 hrs.
CHS 722 - Infectious Disease Epidemiology 3 hrs.
CHS 723 - Biostatistics II 3 hrs.
CHS 785 - Data Management and Analysis in Public Health 3 hrs.
CHS 786 - Statistical Analysis in Epidemiology Using SAS 3 hrs.
CHS Electives 3 hrs.

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.

ANT 621 - Seminar in Ethnology 3 hrs.
ANT 631 - Seminar in Archaeology 3 hrs.
ANT 641 - Seminar in Physical Anthropology 3 hrs.
ANT 651 - Seminar in Anthropological Linguistics 3 hrs.
ANT 698 - Thesis 1-6 hrs. for a total of 6 hrs.
CHS 620 - Chronic Disease Epidemiology 3 hrs.
CHS 622 - Epidemiology 3 hrs.
CHS 623 - Biostatistics 3 hrs.
CHS 625 - Health Administration 3 hrs.
CHS 655 - Environmental Health 3 hrs.
CHS 656 - Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health 3 hrs.
CHS 680 - Research Techniques 3 hrs.
CHS 722 - Infectious Disease Epidemiology 3 hrs.
CHS 723 - Biostatistics II 3 hrs.
CHS 785 - Data Management and Analysis in Public Health 3 hrs.
CHS 611 - Internship in Community Health 3-9 hrs. (6 hrs. required)

Choose 4 of the following:

ANT 516 - Ethnographic Field Methods 1-6 hrs.
ANT 522 - Ecological Anthropology 3 hrs.
ANT 524 - Religion and Healing 3 hrs.
ANT 529 - Topics in Cultural Anthropology 3 hrs. (must be approved by chair)
ANT 541 - Human Variation 3 hrs.
ANT 542 - Medical Anthropology 3 hrs.
ANT 545 - Bioarchaeology 3 hrs.
SOC 523 - Sociology of Health 3 hrs.

Masters in Public Health/Masters in Business Administration Dual Degree Foundation Courses

The MPH/MBA dual degree was developed for those students interested in pursuing higher-level careers in health administration and/or consulting. Students must apply the MPH and MBA programs separately and meet the admission criteria of each program.

(Note: MBA graduate courses only offered on the Gulf Coast campus)

Pre-Program Requirements for MBA:

Computer Literacy
MAT 102 Business Calculus / Applied Calculus
BA 301 Statistics (pre-requisite Math 102)

Business Core Pre-requisite Requirements (24 hours)

For students who do not have an undergraduate degree in business:

MGT 300* Management for Organizations
ACC 200* & ACC 300* Introduction to Financial Accounting/Managerial Accounting
ECO 201** & ECO 202** Principles of Macroeconomics/Principles of Microeconomics
MGT 325* Operations Management (pre-requisite MGT 300)
MKT 300* Principles of Marketing
FIN 300 Principles of Finance (pre-requisites MAT 102, ACC 200, ECO 201 and ECO 202)

Note:

* These courses are offered online by the Southern Miss College of Business at least once a year.

** These courses offered online by the Mississippi Virtual Community College (www.msvcc.org).

Masters in Business Administration/Masters in Public Health Dual Degree Core Courses (78 hours total)

(Note: MBA courses only offered on the Gulf Coast campus)

MBA 600 - Organizational Behavior and Leadership 3 hrs.
MBA 605 - Marketing Management 3 hrs.
MBA 610 - Analytical Decision Making 3 hrs.
MBA 611 - Managerial Accounting 3 hrs
MBA 620 - Global Economy 3 hrs.
MBA 640 - Financial Management 3 hrs.
MBA 650 - Global Business Systems 3 hrs.
MBA 660 - Global Business Strategy 3 hrs. *
Advisor Approved Business Electives 9 hrs. **
CHS 611 - Internship in Community Health 3-9 hrs. ***
CHS 622 - Epidemiology 3 hrs.
CHS 623 - Biostatistics 3 hrs.
CHS 626 - Introduction to Health Systems 3 hrs.
CHS 655 - Environmental Health 3 hrs.
CHS 656 - Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health 3 hrs.
CHS 627 - Health Policy 3 hrs.
CHS 657 - Health Care Accounting for Managers 3 hrs.
CHS 670 - Health Law and Justice 3 hrs.
CHS 727 - Health Care Strategic Planning 3 hrs.
CHS 737 - Health Care Org Behavior and Human Resources 3 hrs.
CHS 738 - Ethics for Health Care Managers 3 hrs.
CHS 747 - Health Care Marketing 3 hrs.
CHS 757 - Health Care Financial Management 3 hrs.

Note:

* MBA 660 is a capstone course that is subject to departmental approval, and is to be taken in the final semester of the MBA program.

** MBA approved electives are classes offered by the College of Business.

*** CHS 611 is a culminating experience and is taken in the final semester of the MPH program. Graduate students may take one three-hour course with internship.

Requirements for Master’s Minor in Public Health (18 hours)

Approved electives 3 hrs.
CHS 622 - Epidemiology 3 hrs.
CHS 623 - Biostatistics 3 hrs.
CHS 625 - Health Administration 3 hrs.
CHS 655 - Environmental Health 3 hrs.
CHS 656 - Social and Behavioral Aspects of Health 3 hrs.