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 PracticeAt 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 web-based 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 ExperienceOne 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, PEPublic Health Advisor, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease RegistryPHP 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,CHESMicrobiologist, CDC, NCHHSTP, DSTDPPHP 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, CHESPublic Health Analyst (acting), National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases/CCIDCenters 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 MarketingUS Centers for Disease Control and PreventionPHP Graduate, 2006

PHP Curriculum

Core Courses (15 credits)– 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)– PHC 6120 Community Partnerships and Advocacy– PHC 6321 Public Health Law and Ethics– PHC 6930 Public Health Practice Seminar

AND– PHC 6104 Management of Public Health Programs

OR– PHC 6146 Health Services Planning and Evaluation

Supplemental Courses/Electives (12 credits)– Students may choose: a) courses that apply towards a

graduate certificate, orb) 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 56Tampa, FL 33612813-974-6606 or 1-888-USF-COPH

option #5Email: 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