Curriculum

The MPH program is designed to be a 2-year program encompassing two fall and two spring semesters for full-time students; however, some concentrations can be completed in as little as 3 consecutive semesters.

All MPH students are required to complete a set of core courses, including a 260 hour practicum and a capstone course. In addition, students must enroll in a set of concentration-specific core and elective courses, to reach a minimum total of 42 units.

Explore the USC Course Catalogue

Core Courses (16 Units)

The MPH Program at USC requires students in all concentrations to complete 16 units of coursework in addition to Practicum in Public Health and Capstone in Public Health (1 unit each) that educates students in the critical foundational areas of public health, as determined by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Through core coursework, students will gain an understanding of:

History and philosophy of public health, including core values, concepts, functions and leadership roles
Concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection, analysis and interpretation
Evidenced-based reasoning and informatics approaches essential to public health practice
Population health concepts
Cultural context of public health issues and respectful engagement with people of different cultures and socioeconomic strata

PM 502 Foundations of Public Health

(4 units)

Overview of public health concepts and issues, including population health; ethics; health disparities, determinants, and systems of care; global health; policy; health promotion; environmental health.

PM 503 Practice of Public Health

(4 units)

Introduction to the application of strategies and tools for practice in public health, including policy advocacy, leadership and management, program planning and evaluation, health communication. (Prerequisite: PM 502)

PM 510L Principles of Biostatistics

(4 units)

Concepts of biostatistics; appropriate uses and common misuses of health statistics; practice in the application of statistical procedures; introduction to statistical software including EXCEL, SPSS, nQuery.

PM 512 Principles of Epidemiology

(4 units)

Terminology/uses of epidemiology and demography; sources/uses of population data; types of epidemiologic studies; risk assessment; common sources of bias in population studies; principles of screening.

Biostatistics-Epidemiology

Community Health Promotion

Global Health

Health Services and Policy

Practicum

The Practicum is considered part of the core curriculum of the MPH program. The course is an opportunity for students to integrate the knowledge and skills learned in the MPH program through structured, practical training. The practicum consists of 260 hours of field training in a public health agency, such as a county health department, or a community-based organization. Students have the opportunity to complete their practicum through an international experience if desired.

PM 596 Practicum in Public Health (1 unit)

Applied practical experience through fieldwork in federal, state, and/or local public health agencies/organizations, including community-based organizations; research and school-based settings. (Recommended Preparation: PM 502, PM 503 and at least one MPH concentration core course)

Learn more about the practicum

Capstone

MPH Capstone is considered part of the core curriculum of the MPH program. The course is a culminating experience, and students enroll in the course in their final semester of the program.

PM 597 Capstone in Public Health (1 unit)

Provides the culminating, integrative learning experience for students enrolled in the Master of Public Health program. (Recommended Preparation: completion of all MPH course work)