Our MPH program provides state-of-the-art instruction and unique opportunities for hands-on experience in practice, service, and research addressing critical public health issues. Our faculty and staff are committed to the development of the next generation of public health leaders for culturally diverse Southern California, the nation, and the world. We meet this challenge by providing personalized expertise in our training and mentorship. We encourage you to contact us to learn more about our dynamic training program.
Louise Ann Rohrbach, AB, MPH, PhD Director,
Master of Public Health Program
Associate Professor,
Preventive Medicine
Defining Public Health
Public health is the science & art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health and efficiency through organized community efforts for:
The MPH program assisted me in taking an "out of the box" approach to public health that has helped me tremedously since graduation. Without the opportunities that were provided to me, I would not be in the position I am today.
The USC Master of Public Health Program received full accreditation from the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH) on June 2, 2003 and re-accredition on June 2008. More information...
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Student Health and Beyond: Pressing Health Issues Impacting University Student and the Community
MPH Student on a Quest for Global Understanding in India
Ellie Afshar is a recent master of public health graduate in the
biostatistics/epidemiology track. She received a grant from the
Institute for Global Health, which allowed her to pursue her goal to
travel to India for three months. As a practicum student, she interned
at the Public Health Foundation of India. Her work there consisted
mainly of writing a paper on the use of vaccinations, which she hopes
to get published, as well as working with rural communities on
maternal/child health, and evaluating health insurance schemes. Her
view of India is nothing short of colorful, and she definitely sees
herself going back for further work in health education, and to
continue to work with NGOs and policy research foundations. This blog
takes you through her rich cultural travels across India.
I am thrilled to inform you that an article for peer review that was co-authored by Sarah Pickett, one of our international practicum students. As a bio-epi MPH track student, Sarah went to Barcelona this summer in the large group practicum organized by the Global Health Track. In particularher practica was in the Epidemiology Division of the Barcelona Department of Public Health where she worked with 2 other of our MPH students (Farva and Souraya) on a project on the link between tobacco use and tuberculosis. Please note that Farva and Souraya are also recognized in the acknowledgement section of the scientific article. As part of their work,the Epi Division connected them with a local clinic and one of the public hospitals where they learned about intervention programs for TB patients who want to quit smoking. I am so excited to see our MPH students continue to make a difference in the global arena; and to see outcomes such as thisresulting from our efforts in the international practicum in the MPH program. Thought you'd like to share in the excitement over some of thewonderful work our MPH students are doing abroad.
Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati, PhD, MPH,
Associate Professor in PreventiveMedicine and Sociology,
Director, Global Health Track, MPH Program
The Southern California Public Health Association (SCPHA) will like to invite your school to its 2011 Annual Conference on Monday, December 17, 2011 at the California Endowment located on 1000 North Alameda St, Los Angeles, California 90012. The theme is “Healthy Communities: The So Cal Way”.
There will be having keynote speakers, presentations, interactive sessions, and CEUs.
Additional information can be obtained on the SCPHA website at www.scpha.org.
Our current students have volunteered to serve as peer resources and advisors to students interested in the program and in the field of public health. Please feel free to contact anyone of them at the email addresses provided below.
Indy 500 Driver Charlie Kimball Talks About Racing with Diabetes
IndyCar driver Charlie Kimball talks about how he learned to continue his racing career after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He is interviewed by his doctor, Anne Peters, the Director of the USC Clinical Diabetes Programs. Together they have worked out a way for Charlie to manage his diabetes while racing.
Additionally, Charlie shares his emotions when he was first diagnosed with diabetes, tells how he learned about his condition from other patients and bloggers and offers advice for other doctors about how they could work with their own patient athletes.
Photos, video and direction by Mark Harmel. Editing by John McBride.
The MPH program is a product of the university’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of its surrounding communities, as well as to Southern California and the nation. The Department of Preventive Medicine first offered the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in 1998 for motivated students and professionals interested in the application of health promotion and disease prevention technologies and interventions designed to improve and enhance the quality of life.
The program curriculum is designed to prepare community health/preventive medicine practitioners to access community needs of populations, design, mplement and evaluate health promotion programs to diverse audiences. Students begin with coursework in the core areas of public health designed to provide an overview of related issues and competencies required to address community health problems. The following courses fulfill this requirement:
Environmental and Occupational Health
Health Behavior and Education
Health Policy and Administration
Principles of Biostatistics
Principles of Epidemiology
Public Health Practicum
Students have the opportunity to define their specialty and tailor their course of study by pursuing one of five available tracks: health education and promotion, biostatistics-epidemiology, health communication, child and family health, and global health leadership.
Ellie Afshar is a recent master of public health graduate in the
biostatistics/epidemiology track. She received a grant from the
Institute for Global Health, which allowed her to pursue her goal to
travel to India for three months. As a practicum student, she interned
at the Public Health Foundation of India. Her work there consisted
mainly of writing a paper on the use of vaccinations, which she hopes
to get published, as well as working with rural communities on
maternal/child health, and evaluating health insurance schemes. Her
view of India is nothing short of colorful, and she definitely sees
herself going back for further work in health education, and to
continue to work with NGOs and policy research foundations. This blog
takes you through her rich cultural travels across India.