Academics Overview

The Master of Public Health (MPH) Online program at USC offers a rigorous curriculum that attracts dedicated and ambitious professionals with a passion to serve in the public health arena. The program’s core coursework aims to develop your key public health competencies and skills through the use of cases and examples from industry — ranging from local to global.

Core Courses

Track Total: 20 Units

PM 501 Foundations in Health Education and Promotion 4 units
PM 508 Health Service and Delivery in the U.S. 4 units
PM 510 Principles of Biostatistics 4 units
PM 512 Principles of Epidemiology 4 units
PM 564 Public Health Leadership and Management 4 units

Concentrations

As an MPH online student, you can tailor your studies by choosing a concentration:

Biostatistics and Epidemiology

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Community Health Promotion

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Global Health

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Health Services and Policy

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Generalist

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Practicum

The MPH online program practicum combines field training with a leadership seminar and capstone course.

With the help of your practicum advisor, you’ll select a public health agency within your desired geographic location (domestic or international) — such as a health department, community-based organization or research center — and you’ll practice leveraging what you’ve learned in a guided, hands-on experience. Then, in the capstone course, you’ll write a research paper, often related to what you do for your field training, on the competencies you’ve built throughout the program.

For students already working in public health settings, you may have the opportunity to complete your practicum at your place of work. If you are interested in hosting a student for a practicum experience, please contact us at admissions@mphdegree.usc.edu

Practicum Components

Practicum / Capstone Total: 2 units
*Practicum units are intended to be taken concurrently.

PM 596 Practicum in Public Health 1 unit
PM 597 Capstone in Public Health 1 unit

Faculty-Led Trips

Students in the USC Master of Public Health Online program are encouraged to participate in our unique faculty-led international trips (usually two weeks). These opportunities offer hands-on public health experience in clinics, government organizations, non-governmental organizations, research institutes and in communities around the world. Students can earn course credit for the two-week faculty-led trip and, if desired, set up a practicum and extend their time in the country.