Happy MPH students posing for group picture at their capstone symposium

Master of Public Health (MPH) Admission Criteria

Description

The nation's transition to a new healthcare delivery model means that professionals with expertise in prevention and community-based research will be critical to ensuring adequate healthcare for all and for improving the health of the nation. The MPH degrees in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Health Behavior and Health Promotion will prepare the next generation of public health scientists and will help students develop expertise, research presence, and practice opportunities in population health and prevention. Students in the MPH Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Health Behavior and Health Promotion programs will also learn how to evaluate the status of the health of diverse populations and to develop sound plans and strategies to implement health initiatives to improve population health.

For more information on a specific program, visit the link below:

Admission Requirements

Please review the following requirements for admission to the Master of Public Health program.

In addition to the application itself, the applicant must provide supplemental materials specific to the program to which he or she is applying. The MUSC supplemental application is available after creating your account as part of the MUSC online application.

Three letters of recommendation from instructors or supervisors who have had close contact with you during your undergraduate, graduate, clinical, or research training. Letters should be sent by email or mail to the MUSC Office of Enrollment Management at:

Office of Enrollment Management
Medical University of South Carolina
Harper Student Center
45 Courtenay Drive
MSC 203
Charleston, SC 29425-2030
oesadmis@musc.edu

Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from every post-secondary school attended, and all materials must be received by the application deadline. These should be sent to the Office of Enrollment Management. The applicant is expected to have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Learn more about MUSC’s required transcript policy.

As part of the MUSC application, applicants will submit a 1,000-word personal statement. The personal statement should address several of the following topics:

  • Describe your motivation for pursuing an MPH degree and, in particular, your motivation for pursuing your chosen MPH concentration (i.e., Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Behavior and Health Promotion).
  • Describe your background and how your interests and experiences make you ideally suited for participation in the MPH degree program within your chosen concentration.
  • Outline your main achievements or successes in your professional or academic development and highlight any special experience or training in your chosen MPH concentration.
  • Describe your career plans and long-term goals in the field of public health and how obtaining an MPH degree within your chosen concentration will help you meet your long-term plans and goals. Why do you feel that MUSC is a good fit for you personally and academically?

A strong math background is required for all three concentrations, including completion of a college level mathematics or statistics course. For the Biostatistics concentration, successful applicants should have demonstrated competence in single and multivariable calculus. Successful completion of Probability and Statistics is considered favorably for the Biostatistics concentration but not required.

We are no longer requiring the general GRE test for MPH applicants to our programs. Students interested in the Master of Public Health degrees in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Health Behavior & Health Promotion are still strongly encouraged to submit GRE scores. GRE scores taken within the past 5 years will be reviewed by the MPH Admissions Committee. The sum of the verbal percentile and the quantitative percentile GRE scores should exceed 150. The GRE analytical writing score will also be considered as part of the application review process.

In addition to all of the general application requirements, the TOEFL is required for all applicants who have attended institutions where the primary language of instruction is not English. Our minimal TOEFL requirements are 600 for the paper-based test, 250 for the computer-based test, and 100 for the internet-based test. An IELTS score may be substituted for the TOEFL. A score of 7.5 or greater should be achieved on the IELTS.

Accreditation Statement

The Master of Public Health program at the Medical University of South Carolina is regionally accredited by the Commission for Higher Education (CHE) of South Carolina and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has been fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for a five-year term until 2027. For more information on the CEPH Accreditation including the self-study document, please visit the MPH Program's webpage.

Public Health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities they live, learn, work, and play. It tracks disease outbreaks, prevents injuries, ensures safe living environments, encourages the community to maintain health screenings and vaccinations, and more. People working in the field of Public Health strive to advocate for health-related policies and ensure everyone has access to resources that support health.

The MPH is an accelerated program that is completed in four consecutive semesters for full-time students.

Students in this program come from a variety of backgrounds such as psychology, math, biology, and previous public health education and/or training. Those studying for an MPH may have already completed medical school or have plans to pursue additional schooling in the future. 

The Master of Public Health program at the Medical University of South Carolina is regionally accredited by the Commission for Higher Education (CHE) of South Carolina and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has been fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) for a five-year term until 2027. For more information on the CEPH Accreditation including the self-study document, please visit the MPH Program's webpage.

The GRE is not currently required to apply for the MPH program. While it is not required, it may be recommended in some cases and the student may reach out to the admissions committee with any questions regarding the GRE recommendation. 

To determine if you are eligible for the MPH Program at MUSC, please refer to the MUSC MPH Admissions Page.

Information on financial aid may be found on MUSC's Student Financial Aid Services page.

Please visit the Student Engagment page for current scholarship offerings.

Yes, our MPH Program is now available online. Learn more here. 

International Student Applicants

International applicants may apply. For more information on the DPHS admissions process overviewing applications, visas, and fees, please visit the DPHS International Student Admissions PDF as well as MUSC’s International Applicants page.

Application Process

In addition to the application itself, the applicant must provide supplemental materials specific to the program to which he or she is applying. These forms are available in PDF format within the application and are also sent through email once an application is submitted. Applicants are required to submit official transcripts from every post-secondary school attended, and all materials must be received by the application deadline.

Use of Marijuana and/or CBD Products

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug and is illegal to purchase in South Carolina. Apart from a narrow and limited scope of codified/documented medical exceptions, it is illegal for individuals to use marijuana/tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in South Carolina. Although cannabidiol (CBD) products may be purchased and used in South Carolina, please be aware that CBD products may contain higher levels of THC than represented on packaging and use of CBD products can result in a positive drug screen for THC/marijuana. Be aware that current drug testing methods cannot accurately ascertain the origins of THC metabolites (i.e., whether from marijuana or CBD products). Your academic program has the authority to conduct random and/or scheduled drug testing; if your test result is reported as positive for THC metabolites (even if you only used a CBD product), your ability to be accepted into the program, progress in the program, and/or successfully complete the program may be negatively impacted.

Scholarship Eligibility

MUSC offers scholarships for which you may be eligible. Some are awarded based on academic achievement; others are awarded based on community service, for example. However, the majority of scholarships awarded at MUSC are based on financial need. This means those scholarships are only awarded to students who need some financial assistance to cover the cost of tuition and fees. If you would like to be considered for a financial need-based scholarship, you must have an up-to-date Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. Make sure you list Medical University of South Carolina on your FAFSA form, along with MUSC’s code: 003438. We encourage you to submit the FAFSA as early as possible. It is recommended to submit the FAFSA in January if you plan to enroll in the Fall.

Application Deadlines

Master of Public Health in Biostatistics Application Deadlines

Start Term Application Type Available Deadline
Fall 2025
Priority December 1, 2024 May 15, 2025
Fall 2025
Regular
May 16, 2025
June 1, 2025

Master of Public Health in Epidemiology Application Deadlines

Start Term Application Type Available Deadline
Fall 2025
Priority December 1, 2024 May 15, 2025
Fall 2025
Regular
May 16, 2025
June 1, 2025

Master of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Promotion Application Deadlines

Start Term Application Type Available Deadline
Fall 2025
Priority December 1, 2024 May 15, 2025
Fall 2025
Regular
May 16, 2025
June 1, 2025