Arnold School of Public Health

G. Thomas Chandler, Dean

Alan Decho, Associate Dean for Research
James Hardin, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Curriculum
Ronnie Horner, Associate Dean for Clinical Public Health
Lee Pearson, Associate Dean for Operations and Accreditation
David Simmons, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Sara J. Corwin, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Student Affairs
Kenn Apel, Chair, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Geoff Scott, Chair, Department of Environmental Health Sciences
James R. Hussey, Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
James A. Carson, Chair, Department of Exercise Science
Daniela Friedman, Chair, Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior
M. Mahmud Khan, Chair, Department of Health Services Policy and Management

Overview
Degree Programs
Admission Requirements

Departments
Website

Overview

Public Health is an exciting and growing field of study. The field challenges its professionals to confront complex health issues, such as improving access to health care, controlling infectious disease, and reducing environmental hazards, violence, substance abuse, and injury. Professionals in Public Health come from varying educational backgrounds and can specialize in an array of fields. A host of specialists, including teachers, journalists, researchers, administrators, environmentalists, demographers, social workers, laboratory scientists, physicians, and attorneys, work to protect the health of the public. This is a field geared toward serving local, national, and international communities. Public Health professionals are leaders who meet the many exciting challenges in protecting the public’s health today and in the future. The Arnold School of Public Health was established by legislative action in 1974 and has been fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) since 1979.

The mission of the Arnold School of Public Health is to expand, disseminate and apply the body of knowledge regarding prevention of disease, disability, and environmental degradation; promote health and well being in diverse populations; and provide effective, efficient and equitable health services. An integral part of the training of students at the school is participation in research activities. Since the state is experiencing rapid demographic and industrial changes, health problems range from those of a traditional rural setting (infectious diseases, infant mortality, access to health care) to those of a modern industrial setting (impact of new industries on air and water quality and the safety of the workplace). The school has been committed to “action research” since its inception. The importance of dealing with operating programs and defined problems has led to close working relationships with human service programs, health care facilities, and governmental agencies throughout the state and region.

The school contains the Prevention Research Center, the Center for Research on Nutrition and Health Disparities, the Center for Health Services Policy and Research, the Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities, the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health, the Office for the Study of Aging, the Rural Health Research Center, the Consortium for the Latino Immigration Studies, and the Speech and Hearing Center.

Degree Programs

The Arnold School of Public Health offers both the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree as well as two minors. The B.A. and B.S. in public health are interdisciplinary programs currently administered in the Office of Academic Affairs, while the Department of Exercise Sciences offers the B.S. in Exercise Science.

In addition, the school offers minors in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Health Promotion, Education and Behavior and Physical Education (Athletic Coaching).

Admission Requirements

Incoming freshmen who meet University of South Carolina admissions standards are eligible for admission to the degree programs offered by the Arnold School of Public Health. Transfer admission requires school approval as well as prerequisite conditions detailed with the specific programs.