Skip to Main Content

Doctoral Training

PhD in Public Health with a Concentration in Community and Family Health

A collage of three decorative images depicting community and family health with the title “PhD in Community and Family Health” and text “Traditional” course format and “55 credit hours".

The educational goal of the PhD in Public Health with a Concentration in Community and Family Health is to prepare public health professionals to meet the challenges of improving the health status of families and the overall community.

The concentration focuses on:

  1. Analysis of the health status and needs of a population
  2. Health promotion and education
  3. Client and community-based intervention strategies
  4. Development and evaluation of community and family health programs

This concentration and its faculty provide students with excellent research opportunities in domestic and international arenas through basic and applied research; conducting innovative community-based demonstration programs; providing consultation and technical assistance to agencies and communities; and providing continuing-education programs.


  • Doctoral students are required to work on research projects with the faculty that they have chosen to work with. Many faculty organize and participate in research involving community partners, and doctoral students have numerous opportunities for involvement in these projects.
  • Graduates of the PhD program in community and family health work in a variety of settings. Many embark on academic careers, usually following the completion of a postdoctoral fellowship. Some work in state or federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, among others.  Some graduates find employment with non-governmental organizations, both domestic and international.
  • To learn more, please contact Anthony Iannelli Jr., Assistant Director of Recruitment and Student Outreach, at cophinfo@usf.edu or leave a voicemail at (813) 974-6505.