About Our Department
Among the Nation’s Leaders in Population and Public Health
Since its founding in 1977, the Department has consistently ranked among the top 10 Schools of Public Health in terms of competitively-awarded funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Howard Hu, MD, MPH, ScD, Chair
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
Chair Department
A Message from Howard Hu
The Department of Population and Public Health Sciences aims to improve population and public health, locally and globally, through its pursuit of high-impact, inter-disciplinary research and the training of outstanding undergraduate and graduate students, professionals and future leaders, based from its position within the Keck School of Medicine of USC and in collaboration with partners around the world.
Our Mission
To improve population and public health locally and globally through the pursuit of high-impact, transdisciplinary research; the translation and communication of knowledge; and the training of outstanding students, professionals and future researchers, educators and leaders.
HEALTH EQUITY
Our experts know a one-size-fits-all approach to health simply does not work. Whether via policy, access to care, community programs or other resources, healthy populations can only truly be achieved when all people are provided equitable opportunity for health.
100+ Faculty
Our faculty work across a broad research portfolio while fostering partnerships across the University, local and global organizations, and communities for a truly transdisciplinary and collaborative approach. They pursue evidence-based solutions that utilize ‘big data’ and state-of-the-art analysis methods to identify risk factors and policy approaches to improve human health.
Research Across Disciplines
Home to highly active centers and institutes and a wide variety of research studies, work in the department serves to advocate for and inform community and organizational action. In addition to significant work in USC’s surrounding communities in Los Angeles and the United States, the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences conducts research and provides educational opportunities in more than a dozen countries.
Education Programs
The department offers undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and post-doctoral education and training programs that nurture students to become public health leaders in their communities and around the world.
Growth
The Department of Population and Public Health Sciences is poised to meet new challenges by growing its faculty, research and education programs in the name of health for all.
#2
College to major in public health
#3
Top college in the western U.S.
#22
Best university
Founded: 1977
Originally the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, upon its founding the new department was already home to groundbreaking cancer research and a graduate degree program.
Students: 1009
Department faculty teach over 1000 students in our programs each year:
- 470+ undergraduate majors and minors
- 430+ master’s students
- 100+ doctoral candidates
Degrees Offered: 13
The department is home to 13 degree programs and numerous certificates, fellowships and summer programs.
- Undergraduate majors: 2
- Master’s programs: 8
- Doctoral programs: 3
Local to Global Research
In addition to significant work in USC’s surrounding communities in Los Angeles and the United States, the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences conducts research and provides educational opportunities in more than a dozen countries aroud the world.