Overview

The Division of Academic Affairs administers several interdisciplinary programs in the Arnold School, including the B.A. and B.S in public health.

Programs of Study

The Arnold School of Public Health offers both the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree with a major in public health. These degrees are designed to provide a broad liberal undergraduate education that includes a general understanding of public health, instills a strong sense of values, and provides the capacity to adapt acquired knowledge and abilities to address new challenges. These programs provide the student with two paths to a broad pre-professional education. In addition to general education and public health-related coursework, the B.A. curriculum will prepare undergraduate students through rigorous study of the social and behavioral sciences for entry into social science-based graduate programs and schools of law. Students in the B.S. major will receive the same general and public health core courses and, will take courses in the natural sciences leading potentially to graduate work in the public health laboratory sciences or study in the field of medicine.

Entrance 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.

Transfer Admission

1. Students from other USC campuses who have completed fewer than 30 semester hours must also meet Columbia campus freshman admission requirements.
2. Transfer students from regionally accredited institutions must present a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 on all college work taken. Students who have fewer than 30 semester hours of college work must also meet Columbia campus freshman admission requirements.

Retention and Progression Standards

1. If the semester, yearly, or cumulative grade point average of a student is below 2.00, the student will be notified in writing.
2. A public health major must receive a grade of C or higher in any course in order for it to serve as a prerequisite.
3. A student in public health must earn a grade of C or higher in all required major course work and in required cognates.
4. A public health major may attempt any required major course work, cognates and any prerequisites a maximum of two times to fulfill the requirement. A grade of W will be included as an attempt.
5. A public health major may repeat a maximum of three public health required courses.

Attendance Requirements

Students enrolled in public health are subject to attendance regulations of the University described elsewhere in the bulletin. When a student enrolls in a particular course, the student is obligated for all the work which may be assigned. Punctual and regular attendance is vital to the discharge of this obligation. The student is responsible for all assigned work in a course, and absences, excused or not, do not absolve the student of this responsibility.

Minors

Students majoring in public health may pursue minors as offered by other units. In completing minors, students may apply advisor-approved courses to both the minor and the cognate or elective requirements.

Programs and Courses

Programs

• Public Health, BA
• Public Health, BS