As a student at the USF College of Public Health, you will be engaged in a series of core courses designed to address complex 21st century public health problems. Our MPH core curriculum is guided by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health’s Framing the Future report and the Council of Education in Public Health’s competencies for public health degrees. This curriculum consists of a series of four courses, designed to provide integrated and applied training. These courses utilize experiential learning to present critical public health content through foundational courses with cross cutting, interdisciplinary competencies.
Your first classes begin this Fall! Please speak with your graduate advisor about your individual course schedule. However, all students should plan to enroll in the following foundational core courses in their first year.
Welcome to the USF College of Public Health and the common course for all students in MPH (and certain other) degree programs, “History and Systems of Public Health.” One of the things we will discuss is how interested the public is in its health, even if the public doesn’t always translate that interest into support for public health efforts. One way we measure this interest is in the large number of books written on health topics and their popularity among the public. Before we officially begin class in August, we want you to have read at least one of these books and to prepare a written response.
To help you prepare for your coursework and the rigorous program you are about to begin, we want you to start to think about the many ways that public health affects our lives. We also want you to begin to read and critically think about public health issues past, present and future. There is so much to learn and, even more importantly, to do. We want to hit the ground running! Be prepared to complete the Dean’s Summer Reading Assignment which is due August 26 at midnight. These books will captivate you and get you thinking about public health! Plus, they are on the list of the Dean’s favorites!
Assignment details were emailed to you when you confirmed your admission.If you did not receive this information, please contact Dr. Corvin at jcorvin1@usf.edu or discuss with your graduate advisor.
Please upload your response on the PHC6588 course CANVAS site, by Monday August 26, 2019 at 11:59pm EST (just before midnight).
We look forward to seeing you at the College of Public Health’s orientation on Thursday, August 22, 2019. Please plan to join us for the day to meet your future colleagues, learn about your program and prepare for the next phase of your educational journey. Additional information will be forthcoming.
Please note, USF also holds an orientation for all USF students. This session is not college specific and provides valuable insight into the larger USF community.
Orientation will be held at the College of Public Health building in the auditorium. If you have not purchased a USF parking tag, please purchase a pass for the day at one of the vending machine located on the location map. The cost is $5 for the day.
The Office of Academic and Student Affairs is located in a great space
for all of USF Health students, including Public Health, Medicine,
Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, and Nursing students. The space includes a
lounge area for students and computer access. You will be able to find
our entire Academic and Student Affairs office here.
Here is a map of
our location:
As you enter your graduate studies, be sure you are prepared for the journey. Simply, graduate school will be vastly different than your undergraduate program. The philosophy on education between graduate and undergraduate is different. At USF, 12 credits are considered a full load because the requirements for each class is more intense. You will not be sitting anonymously in a lecture hall. Rather, you will be expected to actively participate in discussions, to have completed ALL required readings—there will be a lot—and to work outside of class.
This will be intense. The general rule of thumb is for every hour in class, you should plan on no less than three hours outside of class in homework, reading and preparatory work. For online, that’s four hours of work for every credit.
As a USF COPH student, you will be expected to be active, engaged, and prepared at all times. Professionalism is critical. You must be self-motivated to seek out new information on your own, and the program requires exceptional time-management and prioritization skills. A whole new set of study skills is also necessary since the goal of your program is not to be ‘taught at’ but rather to be the driver of your education. You will be exposed to information. As a graduate student, you will be expected to critically analyze this information, develop original opinions and thoughts about it and then apply it! You will become a master at gathering information, creating hypotheses, designing research projects, collaborating with groups, and communicating your knowledge through written work and public presentation.