PhD Health Services Policy and Management at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

Use research to answer hard questions and improve health care for all. Join a program committed to increasing the quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of health services and health systems. As inequities in access to high-quality care persist and health outcomes remain suboptimal, there has never been a better or more important time to pursue a doctoral degree in health services policy and management.

Faculty: Arnold School of Public Health | Department: Health Services Policy and Management | Duration: 3 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

Study quantitative and qualitative research methodologies in health economics and outcomes research, or health policy. Develop and write compelling grants. Faculty have expertise in rural health, substance abuse policy, telehealth, Medicare and Medicaid policy, infectious diseases, primary care, hospital care and more.

Career pathways

Potential careers include Faculty Member, Researcher.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admissions (University of South Carolina Academic Bulletin): Applicants should submit an application packet through the School of Public Health Application Service unless advised otherwise by the department. Admission Requirements Applicants must have a Master’s degree; preferably in public health, health administration, public policy, or a related field (e.g., economics, political science, sociology). The Health Services Policy and Management PhD degree is a 61-credit hour program (including 12 credit hours of dissertation preparation). A grade point average of 3.00/4.00 or higher is required on previous undergraduate and graduate course work. All international applicants are required to provide English language proficiency exam scores unless they are from--or have earned a degree in--a country where English is an official language. Minimum score requirements are: TOEFL iBT: 95 IELTS International Academic Course Type 2: 7 (overall band score)...

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applications are accepted for Fall, Spring and Summer terms; Fall applications open the prior September, Spring applications open in January and Summer applications open in May.

The graduate application fee is $50 per primary application, reinstated effective August 1, 2026. Deadlines are programme-specific and listed per programme on the Degree Programs and Application Requirements pages.

Apply through the official page: https://www.sc.edu/admissions-at-sc/applications/index.php

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