Master of Public Health - Epidemiology

Internship

Students complete a 180-hour field placement in an appropriate public health setting. Sites include, but are not limited to, hospitals, not-for-profit organizations, governmental agencies, and worksite/for-profit companies. The site is chosen based on student interest and competencies that students need to achieve.

Each site must have a mentor who is credentialed or who has experience in public health. The site must have a major project that addresses the educational needs of the student, and the amount of work available for the student must fill at least 180 contact hours. If affiliation agreements are needed, students must work with the MPH program manager to execute agreements.

Capstone

All students will participate in a culminating experience which is required for graduation from the program. The capstone project is completed in the final semester of the program. It will reflect the student’s assimilation of theories and skills from didactic and experiential learning courses. Under the supervision of a faculty capstone advisor, the student will execute a research plan and produce a final document for the project, as well as participate in the MPH Capstone Symposium by presenting their research in a public poster session.

Prerequisites

All applicants should have completed college-level mathematics and statistics courses.

Frequently Approved Prerequisites

Before applying, it's essential to ensure that any prior coursework meets the admissions requirements. MUSC provides a helpful reference list of frequently approved prerequisite courses to guide you in understanding which classes may satisfy your program's requirements. To explore the list, visit our Frequently Approved Prerequisites page.

Application Process

The following process outlines how and when your materials will be reviewed.

1. Complete the MUSC application.
2. Once the application and all supplemental materials have been received, the application will be reviewed.
3. Selected applicants may be contacted by the admissions committee.

While the GRE is not currently required to apply for the program, submitting your GRE score is strongly encouraged. GRE scores taken within the past five years will be reviewed by the MPH Admissions Committee.

Application Requirements

1. MUSC Application: All applicants must submit an MUSC application.
2. Supplemental Materials: Applicants will need to submit the following supplemental materials.
   • Official transcripts from all institutions attended
   • Letters of recommendation: All applicants must provide three letters of recommendation from instructors or supervisors who have had close contact with them during their undergraduate, graduate, clinical, or research training. Recommendations are requested and submitted through the MUSC online application.
   • Personal statement: All applicants must submit a personal statement, not to exceed 1,000 words, that (1) describes their motivation for pursuing an MPH degree and, in particular, their motivation for pursuing their chosen concentration, (2) describes their background and how their interests and experiences make them ideally suited for participation in the MPH degree program within their chosen concentration, (3) outlines their main achievements or successes in their professional or academic development and highlights any special experiences or training in their chosen MPH concentration, and (4) describes their career plans and long-term goals in the field of public health and how obtaining an MPH degree within their chosen concentration will help them meet their long-term plans and goals and answering the question, “Why do you feel that MUSC is a good fit for you personally and academically?”

All information above must be received by the deadline to be considered for admission to the program. Without all materials, applications will be incomplete. It is the applicant's responsibility to review the progress of their application to ensure that all application materials have been submitted.

International Applicants

International applicants may apply. For more information on the DPHS admissions process overviewing applications, visas, and fees, please view our DPHS International Student Admissions handout.

MUSC welcomes international applicants and offers tailored guidance to support you throughout the admission process. View details at International Applicants.

Cost of Attendance

Disclaimer: The Estimated Total listed above reflects an approximation of educational costs for planning purposes only. Actual expenses may vary based on individual circumstances, program requirements and annual changes in tuition, fees and other costs. The Medical University of South Carolina reserves the right to adjust tuition, fees and other charges at any time without prior notice.

Scholarships

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 that these 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 the Medical University of South Carolina on your FAFSA form, along with MUSC's code: 003438. We encourage you to submit your FAFSA as early as possible. It is recommended to submit your FAFSA in January if you plan to enroll in the fall.

Click here to visit our scholarship application system to view a complete listing of MUSC scholarships.

Competencies

Upon completion of the MPH - Biostatistics program, graduates will be able to:

• Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice
• Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming, and software, as appropriate
• Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy, or practice
• Compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings
• Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities, and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community, and societal levels
• Assess population needs, assets, and capacities that affect communities’ health
• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs
• Design a population-based policy, program, project, or intervention
• Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management
• Select methods to evaluate public health programs
• Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
• Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
• Advocate for political, social, or economic policies and programs that will improve health in various populations
• Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity
• Apply principles of leadership, governance, and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration and guiding decision-making
• Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges
• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
• Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content
• Perform effectively on interprofessional teams
• Apply systems-thinking tools to a public health issue
• Evaluate rigor and appropriateness of common epidemiologic data sources for use in public health practice
• Use appropriate analytic techniques to model quantitative data for use in public health practice
• Draw appropriate inferences and assess causality from exposure, medical, and health data
• Evaluate and design surveillance systems to identify and characterize public health problems
• Design epidemiological studies and appraise the methodologic rigor of studies
• Communicate and explain epidemiologic findings to health care professionals, public health workers, and the lay public

Vision

To cultivate a healthier tomorrow through academic excellence, health innovation, and practice for the advancement of health equity in South Carolina and beyond.

Mission

To educate a diverse public health workforce that is competent to conduct innovative research, provide leadership, and advocate for improved and equitable population and community health across South Carolina and beyond.

Values

At the core of our program, we are guided by a commitment to the following values that drive our mission:

• Collaboration: We cultivate relationships with local and global communities built on trust and respect through engagement in interprofessional education, research, service, and public health practice.
• Innovation: We encourage and support innovation, ingenuity, and resourcefulness to improve education, research, and public health practice.
• Excellence: We achieve the highest standards of performance and outcomes in education, research, service, and public health practice.
• Integrity: We promote the highest standards of accountability, transparency, and respectful practices to foster an environment of trust and integrity.