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

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 Rural Health Research Center, the Consortium for the Latino Immigration Studies, the Office for the Study of Aging and the Speech and Hearing Center.

Degrees Offered

The Arnold School of Public Health offers graduate programs of study leading to the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.), Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Master of Science (M.S.), and Master of Science in Public Health (M.S.P.H.). The Department of Exercise Science also offers the Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.); the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders offers study that leads to the Master of Speech Pathology (M.S.P.) and Master of Communication Disorders (M.C.D.); and the Department of Health Services Policy and Management also offers a Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.).

A Master of Social Work/M.P.H. dual degree is offered in cooperation with the College of Social Work. A Doctor of Medicine/M.P.H. dual degree is offered in cooperation with the USC School of Medicine and the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine. A dual Doctor of Pharmacy/M.P.H. is offered in cooperation with the South Carolina College of Pharmacy. A dual Juris Doctor/M.H.A. is offered in cooperation with the School of Law. Within the Arnold School, a student can earn a dual PhD in Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences. The Certificate of Graduate Study in Health Communication is administered by the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior; the School of Journalism and Mass Communications; and the School of Library and Information Science. The Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health is administered by the Office of Academic Affairs. The Arnold School of Public Health participates in the certificate of graduate studies programs in gerontology and drug and addictions studies. 

Admission Requirements

Requirements for admission conform to the general regulations of The Graduate School of the University of South Carolina including satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination, unless otherwise indicated in the program documentation. In addition, applicants must submit official transcripts of their entire academic record, evidence of academic performance at a B or better level, a curriculum vitae or resume, a brief statement of professional goals and objectives, and at least two letters of recommendation. Programs may have additional admission requirements.

Departments

Click the links below to view programs and courses administered by each department.

Communication Sciences and Disorders  

Environmental Health Sciences  

Epidemiology and Biostatistics  

Exercise Science  

Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior  

Health Services Policy and Management  

Public Health Programs (Division of Academic Affairs)  

Some programs offered by the Arnold School of Public Health are available as Graduate Dual Degree Programs  .