Master of Public Health in Physical Activity
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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)