Master of Public Health in Physical
Activity
The Masters of of Public Health in Physical Activity is
the first academic program in the nation designed to prepare
health professionals who have a career interest in physical
activity. The program provides students with unique
opportunities to:
- study issues and concepts germane to physical
activity and public health
- acquire appropriate background knowledge and
experience in an epidemiological approach to public
health problems as related to physical activity
- develop skills integral to the design,
implementation, and evaluation of public health programs
that are intended to promote increased physical activity
in populations.
Program Objectives
Students in this program:
- develop research-based knowledge of the relationships
between
physical activity and health
- integrate physical activity into core functions of public
health
- use accepted public health methods to evaluate the impact
of physical activity on communities
- identify the benefits and risks of physical activity
participation at
community levels
- develop skills for creating physical activity
interventions in diverse
community settings
- understand how social and behavioral theories are used in
programs
designed to promote physical activity in community settings
- work with public health educators and other professionals
to promote
physical activity in diverse community settings
- apply public health surveillance methods to physical
activity settings.
Curriculum/Program of Study
- Public Health Core—15 hours
- Physical Activity Core—18 hours (includes 6 hours of
public health practice)
- Program Emphasis—12 hours
- Total Credit Hours—45
Program Emphases
Programmatic Emphasis: prepares the individual for
employment as a physical
activity specialist in community health promotion and
intervention settings.
Surveillance Emphasis: prepares the individual for
employment as a
physical activity research and measurement specialist in
public health and
private agencies.
General Information
- The MPH in Physical Activity and Public Health is
administered
through the Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of
Public Health.
- Financial aid is available on a competitive basis,
including
graduate research and teaching assistantships and veterans
benefits.
- Students admitted to the program are assigned an advisor
to assist
in developing an emphasis area.
- Final authority for all decisions remains with The
Graduate
School and is based on the Graduate Studies Bulletin and
published University policy.
Application/Admission Requirements
- open to students with baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral
degrees
from an accredited institution
- acceptance into the USC Graduate School
- satisfactory GRE scores
- an official transcript from each school/college previously
attended
- three letters of recommendation
- a detailed statement of career goals and areas of interest
- demonstration of a broad educational background that
indicates
public health interests and experiences in physical activity
- international students: satisfactory scores on the Test of
English
as a Foreign Language (570 paper/230 computer) or IELTS
Academic Course Type 2 Exam (6.5)
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