South Carolina Public Health Consortium


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ARNOLD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

SC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Arnold School of Public Health
Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health

Certificate Description
The Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health (CGSPH) is an 18-hour certificate designed
for those interested in pursuing studies in public health who are currently not interested in
obtaining a master of public health degree. The CGSPH will consist of courses offered by the
Arnold School of Public Health.

Program Requirements
Earning the certificate involves a focused learning experience in the fundamentals of public
health in which candidates must complete 1) three of the five public health core courses and 2)
three elective public health courses consistent with the student’s background and interests.

Public Health Core Courses (3 courses, 9 hours):
– Biostatistics (BIOS 700)
– Epidemiology (EPID 700)
– Environmental Health Sciences (ENHS 660)
– Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior (HPEB 700)
– Health Services Policy and Management (HSPM 700)

Electives (3 courses, 9 hours):
Each candidate will work with the CPH advisor to plan a program of study to match their
individual interests (e.g., general public health, nutrition, disparities) and/or needs (e.g.,
evaluation, financial management, statistical analysis, program planning). All electives
must be courses offered by the Arnold School of Public Health or approved by the
candidate’s advisor.

Sample Program of Study for CGSPH with a student interested in working with a local
community organization:

Courses	Hours
A. Three of the public health core courses:
1. EPID 700 –Introduction to Epidemiology	3
2. HPEB 700 –Concepts and Methods of Health Education & Promotion	3
3. HSPM 700 –Approaches and Concepts for Health Administration	3
Total Core	9
B. Electives
1. BIOS 700 –Introduction to Biostatistics	3
2. HPEB 702 –Planning Health Promotion Programs	3
3. HSPM 715 –Community Assessment and the Delivery of Health Care Services	3
Total Electives	9
Total for Certificate	18

Sample Program of Study for CGSPH with a student interested in general public health:

Courses	Hours
A. Three of the public health core courses:
1. EPID 700 –Introduction to Epidemiology	3
2. BIOS 700 –Introduction to Biostatistics	3
3. ENHS 660 --Concepts of Environmental Health Science	3
Total Core	9
B. Electives
1. HPEB 700 –Concepts and Methods of Health Education & Promotion	3
2. HSPM 700 –Approaches and Concepts for Health Administration	3
3. EXSC 700 --Exercise and Public Health	3
Total Electives	9
Total for Certificate	18

Admission Criteria

Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum
GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Baccalaureate degree transcripts required
Completed USC Application Form and fee
Brief letter of intent
Curriculum Vitae
Two letters of recommendation

Applications will be submitted through the Graduate School through the degree-seeking
application process and reviewed three times annually. All fees for the Graduate School and the
Arnold School of Public Health apply. Admissions will be assessed based on four criteria: GPA,
letter of intent, letters of support, and experience.

Change of Program: If students admitted to the Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Health
wish to apply to a masters program, they will be required to adhere to the admission criteria for
the degree of interest and will not be given preferential status based on admission into the
Certificate program. If accepted into a degree program, the student and transfer of credit hours
into the new program are subject to the rules and regulations of The Graduate School and the
department of the new program.

Transfer of Hours from other universities: Students wishing to apply credits from other schools
of public health will be eligible to apply for transferring hours in accordance with rules and
regulations of the Graduate School and the course department within the Arnold School of Public
Health.

Limitation
Students will not be able to earn the certificate while concurrently working on a master degree in
public health which requires taking five of the public health core as part of its curriculum.

For more information, contact the SC Public Health Consortium, 803-777-4788,
scphc@gwm.sc.edu.

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