University of Southern California
Master of Public Health Program
Academic Policies

Enrollment

Continuous Enrollment: Students are required to be enrolled in at least 1 unit for fall and spring semesters each year until all degree requirements have been satisfactorily completed within a 5-year time limit. Students who failing to register in fall and spring semesters are no longer considered to be pursuing a graduate degree and must reapply to the program.

Full-Time Status: Students are considered to be enrolled full time when registered for at least 8 units as a master’s level student.

Leave of Absence: Students who find it necessary to be excused from registration must request a formal leave of absence by the 3rd week of the semester. Absence may be approved for up to one year at a time, with a maximum of four semesters. Those granted a leave of absence need not apply for readmission unless they fail to return within the specified time.

Limited Status

Limited status enrollment allows persons who have not been admitted to the university to take courses at
USC. If a limited status student is admitted to a degree program, no more than 12 graduate units taken
through limited status enrollment can be applied towards a degree objective.

Adding and Withdrawing from Course(s)

All changes to a student program must be processed by Web registration or through the Registration
Department.
Course(s) may be added only during the first 3 weeks of the semester.
Students may withdraw from course(s) without penalty during the first 12 weeks of the semester. If the
course is dropped within the first 3 weeks, it does not appear on the academic transcript; if the course is
dropped within weeks 4 through 12, it will be recorded with a mark of “W.”
No course(s) may be dropped after the 12th
week.
Failure to withdraw officially will result in the mark of “UW,” which is computed in the GPA as zero (0)
grade units.
Students withdrawing from all courses (i.e. as in a leave of absence when you did not request it by the
deadline), must withdraw in person at the Registration Office. Failing to maintain continuous enrollment
will require readmission to the program.

Academic Standards

Incompletes (“IN”): One calendar year is allowed to remove an IN (incomplete). If the IN is not removed
within the designated time, the course is considered “lapsed”. The grade changes to an “IX” (expired
incomplete) and will be calculated into the grade point average as zero (0) points. Courses offered on a
Credit/No Credit basis for which a mark of Incomplete is assigned will be lapsed with a mark of NC and
will not be calculated into the student’s grade point average.
Extension of Time for Removal of an Incomplete: Removing an incomplete within the one year period
should be the student’s highest priority. A student may petition the Committee on Academic Policies and
Procedures (CAPP) for an extension of time to remove the IN.

Missing Grades (“MG”): All missing grades reflected on a student’s record should be resolved prior to
posting of the degree. The correction may take 3-4 weeks. Degrees may be posted for students who have
missing grades on their records provided the student agrees and all other graduation requirements have been
met. Students wishing to graduate with an “MG” must sign the Request to Graduate with a Missing Grade
form in the Degree Progress Department in JHH 010.

Academic Warning and Dismissal of Graduate Students: Students pursuing the MPH degree must
maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 every semester. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a written
warning. Students failing to meet the GPA requirement in two consecutive semesters are subject to
dismissal. A GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation. Students not meeting this minimum upon completion of
all degree requirements will be required to take additional course(s) to raise the GPA to 3.0.Academic Standards

Incompletes (“IN”): One calendar year is allowed to remove an IN (incomplete). If the IN is not removed
within the designated time, the course is considered “lapsed”. The grade changes to an “IX” (expired
incomplete) and will be calculated into the grade point average as zero (0) points. Courses offered on a
Credit/No Credit basis for which a mark of Incomplete is assigned will be lapsed with a mark of NC and
will not be calculated into the student’s grade point average.

Extension of Time for Removal of an Incomplete: Removing an incomplete within the one year period
should be the student’s highest priority. A student may petition the Committee on Academic Policies and
Procedures (CAPP) for an extension of time to remove the IN.

Missing Grades (“MG”): All missing grades reflected on a student’s record should be resolved prior to
posting of the degree. The correction may take 3-4 weeks. Degrees may be posted for students who have
missing grades on their records provided the student agrees and all other graduation requirements have been
met. Students wishing to graduate with an “MG” must sign the Request to Graduate with a Missing Grade
form in the Degree Progress Department in JHH 010.

Waiver and Substitution of Course(s)

Students are expected to complete all degree requirements listed in the USC Catalogue. A maximum of 25%
of the stated degree course requirements may be approved for substitutions by other USC coursework and
transfers from other academic institutions through the Office of Scientific Affairs.

Transfer Coursework

The Degree Progress Department in the Office of Academic Records and Registrar determines whether
course work taken elsewhere is available for transfer credit. Faculty of the student's degree program
determine whether such credit is applicable toward a specific graduate degree, subject to approval by the
dean of the degree-conferring unit.

Credit will only be allowed for courses (1) from an accredited graduate school, (2) of a quality of at least 3.0
on a 4.0 grading scale, (3) constituting a fair and reasonable equivalent to current USC course work at the
graduate level and (4) logically fitting into the program for the degree. Transfer course work is applied as
credit (CR) toward the degree and is not included in the calculation of a minimum grade point average for
graduation.

Transfer work must have been completed within seven years of admission to a USC master's degree
program (or 10 years for a doctoral program) to be applied toward that degree.

The maximum number of transfer credits which may be applied toward a master's degree, subject to
departmental approval, is 12 units.


	University of Southern California Master of Public Health Program Academic Policies Enrollment Continuous Enrollment: Students are required to be enrolled in at least 1 unit for fall and spring semesters each year until all degree requirements have been satisfactorily completed within a 5-year time limit. Students who failing to register in fall and spring semesters are no longer considered to be pursuing a graduate degree and must reapply to the program. Full-Time Status: Students are considered to be enrolled full time when registered for at least 8 units as a master’s level student. Leave of Absence: Students who find it necessary to be excused from registration must request a formal leave of absence by the 3rd week of the semester. Absence may be approved for up to one year at a time, with a maximum of four semesters. Those granted a leave of absence need not apply for readmission unless they fail to return within the specified time. Limited Status Limited status enrollment allows persons who have not been admitted to the university to take courses at USC. If a limited status student is admitted to a degree program, no more than 12 graduate units taken through limited status enrollment can be applied towards a degree objective. Adding and Withdrawing from Course(s) All changes to a student program must be processed by Web registration or through the Registration Department. Course(s) may be added only during the first 3 weeks of the semester. Students may withdraw from course(s) without penalty during the first 12 weeks of the semester. If the course is dropped within the first 3 weeks, it does not appear on the academic transcript; if the course is dropped within weeks 4 through 12, it will be recorded with a mark of “W.” No course(s) may be dropped after the 12th week. Failure to withdraw officially will result in the mark of “UW,” which is computed in the GPA as zero (0) grade units. Students withdrawing from all courses (i.e. as in a leave of absence when you did not request it by the deadline), must withdraw in person at the Registration Office. Failing to maintain continuous enrollment will require readmission to the program. Academic Standards Incompletes (“IN”): One calendar year is allowed to remove an IN (incomplete). If the IN is not removed within the designated time, the course is considered “lapsed”. The grade changes to an “IX” (expired incomplete) and will be calculated into the grade point average as zero (0) points. Courses offered on a Credit/No Credit basis for which a mark of Incomplete is assigned will be lapsed with a mark of NC and will not be calculated into the student’s grade point average. Extension of Time for Removal of an Incomplete: Removing an incomplete within the one year period should be the student’s highest priority. A student may petition the Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures (CAPP) for an extension of time to remove the IN. Missing Grades (“MG”): All missing grades reflected on a student’s record should be resolved prior to posting of the degree. The correction may take 3-4 weeks. Degrees may be posted for students who have missing grades on their records provided the student agrees and all other graduation requirements have been met. Students wishing to graduate with an “MG” must sign the Request to Graduate with a Missing Grade form in the Degree Progress Department in JHH 010. Academic Warning and Dismissal of Graduate Students: Students pursuing the MPH degree must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 every semester. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a written warning. Students failing to meet the GPA requirement in two consecutive semesters are subject to dismissal. A GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation. Students not meeting this minimum upon completion of all degree requirements will be required to take additional course(s) to raise the GPA to 3.0.Academic Standards Incompletes (“IN”): One calendar year is allowed to remove an IN (incomplete). If the IN is not removed within the designated time, the course is considered “lapsed”. The grade changes to an “IX” (expired incomplete) and will be calculated into the grade point average as zero (0) points. Courses offered on a Credit/No Credit basis for which a mark of Incomplete is assigned will be lapsed with a mark of NC and will not be calculated into the student’s grade point average. Extension of Time for Removal of an Incomplete: Removing an incomplete within the one year period should be the student’s highest priority. A student may petition the Committee on Academic Policies and Procedures (CAPP) for an extension of time to remove the IN. Missing Grades (“MG”): All missing grades reflected on a student’s record should be resolved prior to posting of the degree. The correction may take 3-4 weeks. Degrees may be posted for students who have missing grades on their records provided the student agrees and all other graduation requirements have been met. Students wishing to graduate with an “MG” must sign the Request to Graduate with a Missing Grade form in the Degree Progress Department in JHH 010. Waiver and Substitution of Course(s) Students are expected to complete all degree requirements listed in the USC Catalogue. A maximum of 25% of the stated degree course requirements may be approved for substitutions by other USC coursework and transfers from other academic institutions through the Office of Scientific Affairs. Transfer Coursework The Degree Progress Department in the Office of Academic Records and Registrar determines whether course work taken elsewhere is available for transfer credit. Faculty of the student's degree program determine whether such credit is applicable toward a specific graduate degree, subject to approval by the dean of the degree-conferring unit. Credit will only be allowed for courses (1) from an accredited graduate school, (2) of a quality of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale, (3) constituting a fair and reasonable equivalent to current USC course work at the graduate level and (4) logically fitting into the program for the degree. Transfer course work is applied as credit (CR) toward the degree and is not included in the calculation of a minimum grade point average for graduation. Transfer work must have been completed within seven years of admission to a USC master's degree program (or 10 years for a doctoral program) to be applied toward that degree. The maximum number of transfer credits which may be applied toward a master's degree, subject to departmental approval, is 12 units.