Public Health Program

Public Health
School of Health Sciences
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-658-6500
health@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/health-sciences

FACULTY

Professor:

Michael J. Lawler, M.S.W., Ph.D., University of California Davis

Assistant Professor:

Ramu Sudhagoni, Ph.D., South Dakota State University

Instructors:

Scott Killian, M.P.H., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Chelsea Wesner, M.P.H., M.S.W., University of Oklahoma

Secondary Faculty

Professors Emeritus:

Ronald Lindahl, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine
Bruce Vogt, M.D., Professor Emeritus, Family Medicine
Barbara Yutrzenka, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Clinical Psychology

Professors:

Barbara Brockevelt, Ph.D., Chair, Occupational Therapy
Archana Chatterjee, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine
Barbara Goodman, Ph.D., Professor, Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine
Moses Ikiugu, Ph.D., Occupational Therapy
June Larson, Ed.D., M.S.N., RN, CNE, ANEF, Associate Dean and Professor, School of Health Sciences
Robin Miskimins, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Research and Professor, Sanford School of Medicine
Mary Nettleman, M.D., M.S., Dean, Sanford School of Medicine
Lana Svien, Ph.D., Chair, Physical Therapy

Associate Professors:

Susan Anderson, M.D., FAAFP, Associate Professor and Department Chair, Family Medicine, Sanford School of Medicine
Jay Memmott, Ph.D., M.S.W., Chair, Social Work
Judith Peterson, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor, Sanford School of Medicine
Haifa Samra, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Research, Chair of Nursing
William Schweinle, Ph.D., Physician Assistant Studies

Assistant Professors:

Victor Huber, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine
Susan Puumala, Ph.D., Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine
Soonhee Roh, Ph.D., Social Work
Jennifer Tinguely, M.D., M.P.H., Family Medicine
Siobhan Wescott, M.D., M.P.H., Sanford Health/ Sanford School of Medicine

Clinical Instructor:

Heidi Moline, M.P.H., Clinical Instructor, Public Health

DEGREE

Master of Public Health

Program Description

The Master of Public Health program at the University of South Dakota develops public health practitioners and leaders to address public health needs of rural communities. Offered online and in partnership with South Dakota State University, the program adopts an interprofessional approach in addressing the five core areas of public health: Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Health Services Administration, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Environmental Health. The Master of Public Health degree is the most widely recognized professional credential for practice and leadership in public health.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Completed Graduate Application form found at: https://apps.usd.edu/academic/gradapp/login.cfm and a non-refundable application fee of $35.
Official transcript(s) verifying receipt of an undergraduate degree and previous graduate credit (in English or with translation) must accompany an application. Official transcript of all academic work at the undergraduate and graduate levels are required for international students. The USD Graduate School and/or academic units retain the right to require credential evaluations from organizations, such as Educational Credential Evaluators/World Education Services (ECE/WES), for a student if such an evaluation is deemed necessary.
Successful completion of a baccalaureate degree or an equivalent degree from an institution with full regional accreditation for that degree. Though no specific major is required, adequate undergraduate preparation in social, health, or biological sciences is recommended. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on conferred degree and/or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale, on all graduate coursework. Each institution may admit students on conditional or provisional status per university policy.
Applicants with degrees from countries other than the United States who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited American college or university are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score. For all other applicants, a minimum score of 79 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (iBT) or 550 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT), a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, or a minimum PTE score of 53 is required for graduate admission. Applicants from or who have obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree from English-speaking countries are not required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score if their academic records after review indicate that English was the classroom language for their schoolwork.
Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose or goal statement. Statement of purpose for studying Public Health (include career plans relative to the Master of Public Health).

Additional Program Admission Requirements:

Two (2) letters of recommendation are required.
Successful completion of a criminal background check upon acceptance.

Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Application Deadlines

Summer semester: March 15
Fall semester: June 15
Spring semester: October 15

Programs

Public Health (M.P.H.)