Academic and Student Affairs > Graduation

Graduation Application:
The USF Degree Application must be submitted in order to graduate. The application must be submitted the semester you anticipate the completion of your program. If you do not graduate, you must submit a new application by the deadline in the term in which your degree requirements will be met.

The Application for Degree is a packet consisting of three parts:

• Application for Degree (click 'Graduate Degree Graduation Application' link)
• COPH Graduation Information Form
• The Graduate Exit Survey (see below)

Procedure:

• Download the application packet above.
• Complete the Degree Application.
• Complete the remaining forms.
• Complete the Graduate Online Exit Survey and the electronic form at the end of the survey. The form will acknowledge you have completed the exit survey and is required for graduation certification.
• Submit the completed packet to the COPH Academic and Student Affairs Office (Room 1133) , College of Public Health, USF, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612.
• DO NOT send the Application for Degree to the Registrar's Office.

Submit your application on time!  Any application received after the deadline will not be accepted.  See Important Deadlines

Academic Guidelines:

• Students must be registered for at least 2 graduate hours in the semester of graduation.
• All incomplete & missing grades must be cleared by the last day of classes of the semester you are graduating. See the instructor to request a change of grade.
• The following students must complete the CoPH Competencies Online Form:
  • MPH students who entered their CoPH program in the Spring 08 term or later.
  • PHD, DRPH, MSPH, MHA students who entered their CoPH program in the Fall of 2011 or later.
• All issues must be resolved before the last day of classes.
• For PHD and MSPH students: A bound copy of your dissertation/thesis will be required when submitting your Certificate Of Approval to Academic Affairs. For information on Thesis and Dissertation procedures, see the Graduate Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Resource Center at http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis.php

USF Main Campus Commencement:

After all of the requirements for the degree have been fulfilled, graduate students may participate in commencement exercises. If you are participating in the commencement ceremony on main campus, you will need to order your cap & gown from the USF Bookstore on main campus. For more information about the USF Commencement Ceremony see their web site. http://usfweb2.usf.edu/commencement/

COPH Graduation Ceremony:

The College of Public Health is planning a Graduation Ceremony for our Spring Graduates on Friday, May 4, 2012 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. The Dean's Office will be mailing an invitation to all students who are anticipating graduation at that time.

Relocation & Completing your Degree:
If you are relocating you will need to meet with your advisor as soon as possible to discuss a plan to complete any unfinished course work. Contact the COPH Academic and Student Affairs Office prior to your departure to coordinate all of your final paperwork (813) 974-6505.

Diploma:
Unless notified, all students will be certified to graduate and will receive their diploma in the mail from the Registrar's Office approximately 2 months after their graduation. Students with a change of address should contact the Academic and Student Affairs Office prior to the graduation ceremony. Questions regarding diplomas should be directed to the Registrar's Office at (813) 974-2000.

USF Health E-mail Address:
Your USF Health e-mail address will be deactivated approximately six weeks after graduation (unless you are continuing to take COPH classes in the following semester or are a USF Health staff or faculty member). Please make sure you transfer any e-mails or documents that you wish to be able to retrieve after this date to another e-mail provider or other storage modality.

Graduate Certificates:
Students who have completed a Graduate Certificate Program should contact the Graduate Certificate Office, (813) 974-2442, for the procedure to receive their Graduate Certificate (see Graduate Certificate Completion Process on their web site).

Transcripts
Students who would like to order additional copies of their transcripts will need to place an order and pay online.