It is very important that you carefully review the Admission Requirements before beginning the application process.  If you have questions regarding the Admission Requirements you should contact our Office of Academic and Student Affairs at:

Email: advisor@health.usf.edu
Telephone: (813)974-6505

USF COPH participates in the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS), a centralized application service for COPH accredited schools of public health.  For consideration of admission into a Master’s degree program, all applicants must complete BOTH Step 1 and Step 2 below.

STEP 1: SOPHAS Application (Schools of Public Health Application Service)
When applying to SOPHAS you will need to submit :

• GRE test scores (unless waived –see Admission Requirements page) should be sent directly to USF Graduate Admissions. Other test scores should be sent to SOPHAS.
• TOEFL scores (Applicants whose native language is not English or who have not earned a degree in the United States must also submit  TOEFL scores earned within two (2) years of the desired term of entry).  Once your TOEFL scores are sent to SOPHAS, they do not need to be sent to USF Graduate Admissions. 
• Official transcripts
  • from all institutions of higher learning where a degree was earned
  • from all institutions from which courses were used to apply to a degree at another institution (for example community college coursework). 
  • All foreign transcripts require a course by course evaluation from a foreign transcript evaluation service.   See also Recommended Foreign Transcript Evaluation Services
  • Once transcripts are sent to SOPHAS, you do not need to send a copy to USF Graduate Admissions
• a minimum of two letters of recommendation of a professional or academic nature
• a statement of purpose and objectives
• a resume or curriculum vitae
• SOPHAS application fee (depends on number of schools applied to)*
• See SOPHAS instructions for more details about the above points

To start the  SOPHAS application process, go to http://www.sophas.org. 

STEP 2:   University of South Florida Graduate Application

Domestic Applicants: 
Please complete the USF Graduate School Application
http://www.grad.usf.edu/newsite/admissions/grad_app.asp

International Applicants: 
Please go to  http://www.grad.usf.edu/newsite/admissions/main_int.asp  for important information for international applications and to access the USF Graduate School Application. 

USF Graduate School Application fee: $30 for both domestic and international applicants.  Application can not be processed until application fee is received.                 

Application Processing: 
It will take SOPHAS approximately 2-4 weeks to process your application once they receive all the required documents.  SOPHAS then forwards your application file to the College of Public Health, where it will be combined with your USF Graduate School application.  Your application will then be given to the department you have specified in your application for review,  and a decision will be made in two to four weeks providing all materials per the Application Procedures have been received.  Monitor your e-mail and the Graduate School web site for decisions and other communications.

* SOPHAS Application Fee Waivers
Fee waivers for the SOPHAS application will be granted based on financial need and will apply to the first application only. Applicants will have to produce for SOPHAS tax returns to prove income of less than 200% of the current U.S. poverty level (updated annually).
International applicants who currently reside in their country of citizenship and demonstrate financial need can apply for a SOPHAS fee waiver.  Contact SOPHAS directly for more information. 
Students participating in the McNair Scholars Program are eligible to be waived from the SOPHAS application fee. This waiver is accepted for up to three schools only. If you apply to four or more schools (designations) a fee will be levied based on the number of schools. Applicants are required to provide an official standard letter on McNair Scholars letterhead affirming participation.

Contact Information
SOPHAS                                                                                            
PO Box 9111
Watertown, MA 02471
Tel: (617) 612-2090
Email: sophasinfo@sophas.org
http://sophas.org

USF, College of Public Health
13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 56
Tampa, FL  33612
Tel: (813)974-6505
Email: advisor@health.usf.edu
http://health.usf.edu/publichealth

Non-Degree Option
Applicants who have completed their Bachelor’s degree may register for courses in the College of Public Health prior to applying. This option applies to non-admit­ted students registering for core courses or selected courses with the instructor’s approval.  Non-degree student registration information can be found at:  http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/academicaffairs/registration/nondegreeseeking.html. 
This option refers to:

• Applicants who are in the process of applying but do not have all of their documents in order by the
  application deadline date;
• Prospective students interested in public health coursework
• Graduate Certificate Students.  For more information go to: http://www.outreach.usf.edu/gradcerts/.

Students opting for non-admitted registration may register for a maximum of 12 hours. Only grades of “B” or higher earned as a non-degree student are eligible for trans­fer after acceptance into a program. Please see the COPH Academic and Student Affairs Office to transfer in non-degree credits. Contact information is located on the Academic and Student Affairs site at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/academicaffairs.