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The University of South Florida’s Graduate Certificate in Infection Control enhances the knowledge base of post-baccalaureate nurses, medical technologists, microbiologists, or other health professionals employed as infection control practitioners. The director is certified in infection control (CIC) and brings over 25 years of infection control experience to administer this program. The design of the certificate encourages critical thinking skills that build competency for infection control professionals and provides managerial skills for effective infection control practice. The courses in the certificate program provide a comprehensive knowledge base to prepare students for the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) examination. (Note: specific infection control practical experience requirements must be met to sit for the CBIC exam).
Required Courses
Twelve (12) semester hours in the following courses must be successfully completed. No substitution is allowed for the specific courses. Applicants should note that the following four-course sequence will be incorporated in the existing Global Health Communicable Disease Track.
- PHC 6562 Microbiology for Healthcare Workers (3 credits) (Fall semester)
- PHC 6517 Infectious Disease Prevention Strategies (3 credits) (Spring semester)
- PHC 6314 Infection Control Program Design (3 credits) (Summer semester)
- PHC 6251 Disease Surveillance & Monitoring (3) (Fall semester)
Electives are not required.
Course location/delivery: This certificate is offered fully online.
Credit toward graduate degree: Up to 12 hours of certificate course credits may be applied to a graduate degree with departmental approval
Transfer credit: Non-degree seeking students and transfer students may apply one course to a graduate certificate with department approval.
Standardized tests: Standardized tests are not required.
Admission requirements: The applicant must hold an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in nursing, medicine, microbiology or one in a related environmental or occupational health field. Appropriate work experience is required.
Application process: Please visit http://www.gradcerts.usf.edu/admissions.asp to access the application. In addition, to the application forms please submit:
- Official transcripts
- A resume
- A 250-word letter of interest stating your objectives in pursuing this course of study
Registration process: First, consult with the certificate program advisor and obtain an electronic course permit if necessary. Then go to http://usfonline.admin.usf.edu/, the link to OASIS, USF's on-line registration system. Follow directions given on-line.
To access online course materials, students must have the USF NetID (e-mail account). Please visit: https://netid.usf.edu/una/ to obtain the NetID.
New students, including those studying online, may obtain the USFCard. Please visit: http://www.auxsvc.usf.edu/usfcard.html to obtain the USFCard.
Tuition and fees: Standard graduate tuition rates and fees apply for graduate students who also pursue this graduate certificate and for non-degree graduate certificate students taking these courses on campus. Please visit http://www.usf.edu/controller/cashaccounting/tuition for tuition rates.
The following rates apply only to non-degree seeking graduate certificate students who take these graduate certificate courses online:
- Fla. Resident -- $456.79 per credit hour
($331.79 per credit hour tuition+ $125 per credit hour fee) - Non-resident -- $465.40 per credit hour
($818.66 per credit hour tuition - $478.26 per credit hour waiver* + $125 per credit hour fee) - A flat fee of $37 is assessed once per term.
- Additional fees may be assessed by the college.
*Non-resident, non-degree graduate certificate students will be charged an out-of-state matriculation fee of $478.26, but these students will receive a waiver of $478.26 per credit hour for fully on-line graduate certificate credits taken via the web. Students must be admitted to the graduate certificate and registered in the eligible course section prior to the first day of class in order to receive the waiver.
Financial aid: Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for financial aid. Please contact private lenders for information on the types of student loans available.
Time limit: It is possible to complete the certificate in one year if two courses are taken in the fall semester.
Department Contact Information
Dr. Donna Haiduven at (813) 974-6472 or dhaiduve@health.usf.edu
New Student Advisor
Pre-Admission Counseling and Advising (813) 974-6505 or advisor@health.usf.edu