Graduate School Pathways

The School of Health Sciences and the Department of Public Health Sciences and Administration are committed to supporting students beyond their undergraduate education by developing graduate school pathways that recognize academic excellence and reduce financial and logistical barriers. Through strategic partnerships with leading institutions, these pathways are designed to help high-achieving students in the Carolinas seamlessly transition into advanced degrees in public health, health administration, and related fields—with greater flexibility, support, and opportunity.

Pathways and Support

Current Graduate Pathways

  • Accelerated Pathway (3+2) Program -  B.S. in Public Health to Master of Public Health (MPH) in partnership with MUSC: 
    • Designed for students interested in epidemiology, global health, policy, or health promotion
    • Enables completion of both degrees in just five years
  • Accelerated Pathway (3+2) Program -  B.S. in Health Services Administration and Management (HSAM) to Master of Health Administration (MHA) in partnership with MUSC: 
    • Ideal for students pursuing careers in healthcare leadership and organizational management
    • Emphasizes strategy, efficiency, and quality improvement in healthcare systems
  • Guaranteed Admission into Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) at MUSC: 
    • Qualified Public Health students can earn 1 of 6 guaranteed seats in the residential DPT program or 1 of 6 guaranteed seats in the hybrid DPT program at MUSC
    • These seats can be earned either after graduation or after completion of all CofC general education and prerequisite courses have been completed (accelerated pathway)
  • Guaranteed Admission into Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) at MUSC: 
    • Qualified Public Health students can earn 1 of 6 guaranteed seats in the residential OTD program or 1 of 6 guaranteed seats in the hybrid OTD program at MUSC
    • These seats can be earned either after graduation or after completion of all CofC general education and prerequisite courses have been completed (accelerated pathway)

These pathways are designed to support high-achieving students by streamlining the application process, reducing time to degree completion, and lowering overall education costs.

Future Graduate Pathways
We are actively working to expand our graduate school partnerships to include additional priority admission and tuition-reduction opportunities. These future pathways will continue to align with student career goals while increasing access and affordability across public health, healthcare administration, and related fields.

Get Guidance on Your Next Steps
To learn more about these pathways and receive personalized support through the application process, schedule an appointment with our Accelerated Pathways Program Advisor, Dr. Kelly Simpson, at simpsonkl@cofc.edu, who can help you plan your academic pathway and maximize these opportunities.