What is the Public Health
Practice (PHP) Program?
The Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice from the
University of South Florida College of Public Health (USF COPH)
is a college-wide interdisciplinary program designed to prepare
experienced health professionals to assume leadership roles as
members of multidisciplinary teams so that they are able to
effectively develop, implement, and evaluate programs that have
an impact on the health of the public.
Established in July 1984 with an initial enrollment of 100 students,
the College of Public Health (COPH) is accredited by the Council
on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and has graduated
1,975 students. Current enrollment includes 495 Master and 91
Doctoral full and part-time students. More than 91 faculty provide
education, research and service impacting local, state, national
and global public health.
History of Public Health Practice
At the USF College of Public Health
The Master of Public Health in Public Health Practice
is an interdisciplinary application of skills and
services designed to protect the public’s health. It
includes programs for the surveillance, evaluation,
education, and clinical care of national, state, and
local populations. Academic public health practice is
a new field of scholarship that seeks to bring together
the pragmatic needs of the practitioner and the
production of scholarly inquiry to contribute to the
welfare of populations.
Our program at the University of South Florida,
College of Public Health meets the particular needs
of working public health professionals with an
emphasis on the promotion of scholarship in public
health practice.
History of Public Health Practice Continued...
Through the creative intellectual energies and skillful politics of the State’s
public health advocates, the Florida Legislature established the University of
South Florida, College of Public Health in 1984. Instructors began traveling to
sites around the state offering quality public health education to working
professionals. as a college outreach program evolved. A major impetus for
increased collaboration between the college and the community was a growing
concern during the 1980s (culminating in a 1988 report from the Institute of
Medicine) that the lines of communication between practicing agencies and
academic institutions were insufficient to adequately serve the public.
The College met this challenge
through a graduate Distance
Learning Program in Public Health
Practice with courses delivered by
satellite to designated host sites
throughout the State of Florida,
the US, and Belize.
Online MPH Program
The University of South Florida College of Public Health
was a leader in the development of distance based MPH
programs. Originally delivered via satellite, the online
program was among the first accredited distance learning
MPH programs in the country. New technologies have
been added to satellite delivery as they became
available, and in 2003 the all Online MPH Program was
fully implemented. The Practice Program seeks to
achieve synergy in the integration of technology,
knowledge, and practice in ways that generate new
insights and understanding to promote sustainable
community health and wellbeing. In preparing students to
integrate theory and personal experience in public health,
the College will assure the continuation of new ideas and
methods of practice in the public health arena for
generations to come.
Executive MPH Program
The Executive MPH in Public Health
Practice offers a format to accommodate
your demanding schedule. Our unique
program design allows participants to meet
their educational goals and make lifelong
friends while simultaneously fulfilling their
ongoing job and family responsibilities.
Accelerated for completion in two years,
Executive course requirements will be met
through attendance at once-a-month
weekend sessions and an interactive webbased environment.
Enrollment in the Executive Program is limited to 25 students. You may
check our Web page to find information on the next program as it
becomes available. http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/php/executiveformat.html
Supervised Field Experience
One of the highlights of our program is a group field experience. Students have the option of going
on the trip we organize or organizing their own field experience. This year students chose to learn
about the socio-cultural, political and historical aspects affecting public health in Panama. The group
visited numerous sites that affect the public health of the community, including the Panama Canal.
In San Miguelito, for example, the students observed the
daily operations of an urban clinic in a densely populated
working class district. In addition to collaborating with
USF in community-based health research, this clinic also
provides a wide range of medical and social services to
HIV/AIDS orphans. Students witnessed first hand how a
Panamanian clinic participates in the environmental
health monitoring in the community. On a visit to the
Emberá Indigenous community in the village of Palma
Real, the students had the chance to see health care
practices that sharply contrast traditional Western
Medicine--learning how the local shaman uses natural
remedies to heal those afflicted with disease.
Participants immersed themselves in Panamanian culture
during their visit--eating the local diet of yucca, plátanos,
and fish and participating in dancing and ceremonies.
Field Experience-Panama, 2007
What our students are saying about
us...
“The PHP Program at USF offers a wide range of courses online with an emphasis on practice. The program has
excellent support staff that really minimize the administrative burden of registration and other administrative tasks that
could be very time consuming for a distance-learning student. The best component of my learning experience here
was the on campus capstone course. It reinforced the core areas of the MPH through instruction and a project.”
Charles H. Weir, MS EnvE, MPH, PE
Public Health Advisor, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
PHP Graduate 2006
”It was a wonderful opportunity with career and school enhancing each other. Something about the MPH program and
the support from USF translated into a very positive feeling, which extended into career and life in general. I also was
able to use the knowledge to meet the credentialing requirements for Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). I
appreciate the incredible opportunity which USF and CDC made available collaboratively for us.”
Carol Farshy, MPH,CHES
Microbiologist, CDC, NCHHSTP, DSTDP
PHP Graduate, 2005
“I would like to express how the curriculum and interaction with professors and students enriched my work-life and my
work-life enriched my studies. It was truly a wonderful synergistic experience full of very positive people!”
Angelica M. O'Connor, MPH, CHES
Public Health Analyst (acting), National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases/CCID
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
PHP Graduate, 2005
“My position at CDC entails frequent international travel. I was at a point in my career where a Masters in Public
Health became a necessity. USF's distance learning program was the answer - literally the only solution to earning a
degree while working, traveling and raising two incredible children. Thank you USF!”
Melinda G. Frost
Lead, Global Communication and Marketing, National Center for Health Marketing
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
PHP Graduate, 2006
PHP Curriculum
Core Courses (15 credits)
–
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PHC 6000 Epidemiology
PHC 6050 Biostatistics
PHC 6102 Principles of Health Policy and Management
PHC 6357 Environmental and Occupational Health
PHC 6410 Social and Behavioral Sciences Applied to Health
Concentration Courses (12 credits)
–
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PHC 6120 Community Partnerships and Advocacy
PHC 6321 Public Health Law and Ethics
PHC 6930 Public Health Practice Seminar
–
PHC 6104 Management of Public Health Programs
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PHC 6146 Health Services Planning and Evaluation
AND
OR
Supplemental Courses/Electives (12 credits)
–
Students may choose: a) courses that apply towards a
graduate certificate, or
b) courses from elective options
Culminating Experiences (4 credits)
–
–
PHC 6877 Special Project (3)
PHC 6945 Supervised Field Experience (1)
Total Credits for Program = 43
Supplemental Courses
& Graduate Certificate Options
•
Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management
(15 credit hours)
•
Graduate Certificate in Humanitarian Assistance
(12 credit hours)
•
Graduate Certificate in Infection Control
(12 credit hours)
You may also choose to pursue a graduate certificate without
applying to the MPH program. Additional graduate certificates
are will soon be available online. For more information, please
visit http://publichealth.usf.edu/gradcert.html.
Admissions Requirements
In addition to the requirements listed below, prospective students for an
MPH in Public Health Practice must have at least three years of professional
experience in a health-related field.
•
An applicant must have one of the following (A, B, or C):
–
A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and satisfying at least one of
the following criteria:
•
•
–
–
•
•
“B” average (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better in all work attempted while registered as an
undergraduate student working for a degree, OR
“B” average (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better in all work attempted while registered as an upper
division undergraduate student working for a baccalaureate degree.
A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a previous graduate
degree from a regionally accredited institution.
The equivalent bachelors and/or graduate degrees from a foreign institution.
The Public Health Practice Program has waived the GRE Exam, however,
students may submit GRE scores for consideration
Students must have earned a m “B” average in their undergraduate studies.
For more information or to apply, please visit:
http://publichealth.usf.edu/degreereqs.html
Tuition, Fees and Registration
•
Sponsored Institute (SI) students (employees of select federal
agencies and members of the uniformed services) are eligible
for special tuition rates:
– SI Tuition is $333.33 per graduate level credit hour and is
a $30 per credit hour fee assessed to all online courses
for technical support. The total is $1090 for a three credit
course.
– Since it is self supporting, the Executive Program incurs
additional fees to cover the cost of books, additional
readings, lunch, and other professional services.
– Registration is completed through the PHP program
office. To view and complete a SI registration packet,
please visit:
publichealth.usf.edu/academicaffairs/registration/cdcusphs.html
For more information
Public Health Practice Program
13201 Bruce B Downs Blvd., MDC 56
Tampa, FL 33612
813-974-6606 or 1-888-USF-COPH option #5
Email: php@health.usf.edu
Website: http://publichealth.usf.edu/php/
Deanna Wathington, MD, MPH, Director
Somer Burke, MPH, Academic Services
Administrator: sburke@health.usf.edu