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Graduate Resources

Graduate FAQ

Application

Admission

Prerequisites

  • Students with undergraduate majors in the health science field tend to be most successful. However, students with a variety of backgrounds, including in the social sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and business are also appropriate for particular concentrations. Find details of your area of interest on our All Programs page.

  • Some concentrations many require prerequisite coursework.  Applicants are encouraged to review the requirements for their specific degree and concentration found in the USF Graduate Catalog COPH pages.  It is also suggested that students who do not have a health science background may wish to take some introductory courses to familiarize themselves with Public Health.

Tuition, Costs, and Fees

Program

  • International field experience is a practicum that is open to all College of Public Health students, and is mandatory for students in the Global Health Practice and Epidemiology & Global Health concentrations. It is considered an important part of the academic curriculum, serving as a structured and significant educational experience. The International Field Experience takes place in an agency, institution, or community in a developing country, and under the supervision of the Host Country Supervisor and the guidance of the student’s Academic Advisor.

    For more information regarding this program, you may contact:

    Patricia Roque
    Academic Services Administrator for Experiential Learning
    Coverdell Fellows Coordinator 
    College of Public Health, Academic and Student Affairs
    University of South Florida
    proque@usf.edu
    (813) 974-9671

  • The College of Public Health offers a variety of Master’s concentrations and certificate programs in an online format to suit the needs of the off-campus student. The following concentrations are available in an online format:

    Online MPH – Master of Public Health

    DrPH — Doctor of Public Health

    • Fall and spring courses are offered fully online, but students are required to come to campus for one week during each summer term.

    Online Graduate Certificates

  • The University of South Florida is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; Telephone number 404-679-4500, or at http://www.sacscoc.org/) to award degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s, specialist and doctoral levels, including the Doctor of Medicine. 

    The College of Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH), http://ceph.org. CEPH (800 Eye Street, NW, Suite 202, Washington, D.C. 20001-3710) is an independent agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit schools of public health. The College received notice dated June 27, 2019 that it has been reaccredited for seven years, through July 1, 2026; this is the maximum possible number of years attainable in a reaccreditation cycle. 

    The MHA (Master of Health Administration) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), https://www.cahme.org

    The MSPH in Genetic Counseling is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling. http://www.gceducation.org

     The USF Dietetic Internship is accredited by The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics(ACEND)

  • Graduate Certificate Programs allow a student to take a concentration in a specific topical area without being admitted to a degree program. Certificates range from 9 to 16 credits to complete, depending on the one selected. By comparison, the MPH requires a minimum of 42 credits.

    Open to students who have completed a Bachelor's degree, Graduate Certificate Programs are designed to meet your continuing professional education needs. Credits taken can apply, if appropriate, to a Master's or PhD degree in Public Health or related disciplines should the student later be admitted to seek a degree. Graduate Certificate program acceptance requires admittance by the Graduate School.

  • Scholarships and assistantships are offered to PhD students and not available for newly admitted Master's students at USF’s College of Public Health. However, there are assistantship opportunities for enrolled students to apply after their first term of enrollment in the College of Public Health and across the University and are posted on the USF website. Students are eligible to be teaching assistants after completion of 18 graduate credits. Calls for applications are posted each semester.