Public Health

Mercer University’s Accelerated Special Consideration Program (ASCP) for Public Health offered by the College of Health Professions (CHP) offers high-achieving, first-time students* enrolled in the College of Health Professions (CHP) on the Macon campus the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree and the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree within five years, and gives students the security of a guaranteed interview with the MPH program offered by the College of Health Professions.

Coursework Required In Residence

Mercer students who wish to earn Special Consideration upon application to the Mercer’s MPH program must complete ALL of their coursework at Mercer (“in residence”); no transfer hours are allowed. Students who take college courses at institutions other than Mercer after they graduate from high school are no longer eligible for the ASCP. With the approval of the CHP Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions, dual enrollment, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate credit may be used to fulfill the program requirements, but cannot count toward the semester hours required in residence by the program. Physical education and military science courses also cannot be used to satisfy this requirement.

Experiential Requirement

Students must present documentation of a minimum of 30 hours as an active participant in community service by the time of application.

Required Coursework

Students interested in and eligible for this program must complete the coursework required for the BS in PH and admission to the MPH program within three years.

Grade Point Averages

ASCP-PH participants must maintain overall grade point averages (GPA’s) of 3.0 or higher, as well as 3.0 in all pre-PH natural science courses. Grades of “C” or above must be earned in all pre-PH courses; if a course must be repeated, both grades earned will be averaged when calculating the student’s GPA’s.

Graduate Record Exam

ASCP students must earn the minimum combined score of 300 on the GRE (minimum 150 Verbal Reasoning; 3.5 Analytical Writing). A score must be submitted with the SOPHAS application in June 1 of year 3, but if the minimum is not achieved, students may take it again and submit the minimum by Dec. 31 of year 3.

Interview

ASCP students who comply with all guidelines of the program will be guaranteed an interview with representatives of the CHP’s MPH program.

*No transfer credit hours after high school graduation.