Frequently Asked Questions
Public Health Program Questions
What are the Public Health sciences?
What backgrounds do MPH students at UF have?
Are there jobs in Public Health?
What Public Health programs does the University of Florida
offer?
Do you offer any undergraduate programs in Public Health?
What PhD programs do you offer?
Who are the faculty?
What is included in the Master of Public Health curriculum?
Do you have a distance-learning program?
How many credits are required for an MPH?
How many credits can I transfer into the program from another
institution?
What is special about UF’s public health programs?
What is unique about our college?
How does the University of Florida compare to other universities?
What other resources are available?
Application Questions
What are the criteria for admission into the MPH program?
What are the application procedures?
What is the application deadline?
Are GRE’s required?
International Student Questions
I am an international applicant, where can I go to find VISA
and other pertinent information?
Do you provide financial assistance to international students?
What are the Public Health sciences? Top
of page
Public health is an extraordinarily diverse and exciting profession. Epidemiology
and biostatistics make up the scientific foundations of public health. Epidemiologists
study the frequency, distribution, and determinants of diseases, while biostatisticians
provide the analytic tools to continually advance our research capabilities.
Concentrating on either of these areas will prepare you for an ever-changing
career in public health research. If community action and behavior change
interest you, social and behavioral sciences offer the models and the tools
to work with community groups to improve health. Our complex system of governmental
agencies devoted to protecting and promoting the health of the public is
the focus of health management and policy. If you see yourself pursuing
a career in administration, human resource management, or financial management
in public health agencies, or in policy development and analysis, this concentration
is for you. Environmental health is another exciting concentration. Here,
you will learn how to assess a myriad of toxic chemicals and biological
threats in our surroundings and to protect the population from their ill
effects.
What backgrounds do MPH students at UF have?
Top of page
One of the greatest strengths of public health is that it is based on many
sciences and its students and practitioners come from a variety of backgrounds.
In our classes, you will study with doctors, nurses, social workers, historians,
psychologists, anthropologists, journalists, lawyers, and many others. Our
students come to UF not only from Florida, but also from across the United
States, and around the world. When you join us, an exciting mix of students
will enrich every one of your public health courses.
Are there jobs in Public Health? Top
of page
Yes! The needs in public health are screaming from your newspapers and televisions
everyday: Avian flu, toxic spills, the epidemic of obesity, and many more
health problems. What you don’t hear quite as much about is the growing
need for public health professionals. As the baby-boomers are aging, they
are also retiring. The Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) estimates
that, by 2020, 250,000 more public health workers will be needed to protect
and promote the health of the US population. Many positions in every area
of public health are available now, waiting for well-trained, competent
individuals to fill them.
What Public Health programs does the University
of Florida Offer? Top of page
Our public health programs in the College of Public Health and Health Professions
at the University of Florida have been developing rapidly during the past
few years. You can study for a graduate Masters
of Public Health (MPH) degree in one of six concentrations
– biostatistics,
environmental
health, epidemiology,
public
health management and policy,
public health practice, or social
and behavioral sciences. If you have a doctoral-level professional
degree already, you may qualify for a 42-credit accelerated
program in any of the above concentrations.
For UF professional students, we have joint programs of study with the Colleges of Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine. PhD/MPH programs are also available with Clinical and Health Psychology, Health Services Research, and Rehabilitation Science PhD programs in our college, and collaborative degree programs can be developed on an individual basis with other PhD and Master’s programs throughout the university.
If you are already in the public health workforce, or you would like to move in that direction, but a masters degree is more than you need, consider our Certificate in Public Health. This 15-credit option includes the foundation course in each of the five public health science concentrations, thus providing a broad overview of the skills and knowledge of the public health disciplines. The certificate is available on campus to graduate students and working professionals, and it is now available online to individuals outside the university with video captures of classroom lectures and a virtual internet-based classroom for discussions, assignments, and tests. Should you decide to enter the MPH program; graduate credits earned for the certificate can be applied to the degree.
Do you offer any undergraduate programs
in Public Health? Top of page
Yes! If you are an undergraduate student at UF with a public health career
in your future, you do not have to wait until graduation to begin your MPH
program. The combined
bachelor’s to master’s degree program will allow
you to take the five foundation courses in your senior year and then complete
your MPH in the following 18 months, a semester less than the standard graduate
program. A 15-credit
minor in public health is also available to qualified seniors.
What PhD programs do you offer? Top
of page
If you are interested in a career in public health academics and/or research,
we have three PhD programs. The Department
of Health Services Research, Management, and Policy offers
a PhD
in Health Services Research. The
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics offers two new
PhD programs, one in Epidemiology
and the other in Biostatistics,
which will enter their first students in fall 2008.
Who are the Faculty? Top
of page
Our faculty
members bring rich educational backgrounds and field experiences
to their teaching and mentoring roles. All of them have been trained at
excellent institutions, and each of them is actively involved in cutting-edge
research on critical public health problems.
What is included in the Master of Public
Health curriculum? Top of page
The standard MPH program requires a minimum of 48 semester credits of study
at the master's level beyond the bachelor's degree. The curriculum includes:
• One course in each of the five core areas of public health (15 credits)
• Seminar in Contemporary Public Health Issues (1 credit)
• Core courses in an area of concentration (15-21 credits)
• Elective courses relevant to the chosen concentration and individual career goals (up to 12 credits)
• Public Health Internship (5-8 credits)
• Major paper and presentation (credit assigned through the Seminar in Contemporary Public Health Issues)
Students are admitted into one of six concentration areas, from which the number and type of specialty course credits are determined. These areas include Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Public Health Management and Policy, Public Health Practice, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Do you have a distance-learning program? Top of page
• We are working on developing an online MPH degree program.
• We offer an online certificate in public health.
How many credits are required for an MPH?
Top of page
MPH students are required to successfully complete 48 credit hours for graduation.
The accelerated program for individuals with terminal (usually doctoral)
degrees requires 42 credits.
How many credits can I transfer into the
MPH program from another institution? Top of page
A maximum of 9 semester hours of graduate level (5000 - 7999) course work
with a grade of A, B+, or B, may be transferred from an institution approved
by the Graduate School and the MPH program.
What is special about UF’s Public
Health programs? Top of page
There are many Public Health options for you to consider. But graduate studies
are not limited to a series of courses and requirements. In the College
of Public Health and Health Professions, we believe that our students should
have opportunities to explore public health from every angle. We have a
seminar series in contemporary public health issues, which features state-of-the-art
presentations by experts in important and emerging topics. Our students
are involved in the Gainesville community and surrounding counties in a
variety of volunteer efforts, such as immunization registries and shelters
for the homeless. All MPH students complete an internship in which they
have opportunities to work in the field to integrate the knowledge and skills
gained through classroom-based courses. Many students also earn practicum
credits throughout their studies for projects conducted in the state and
local health departments, the Suwannee River Area Health Education Center,
and other public health agencies.
What is unique about our college? Top
of page
The College of Public Health and Health Professions is unique. In addition
to covering the full range of public health issues and methods, we are built
on a long-standing commitment to individuals with chronic diseases and disabilities.
Applying public health principles to preventing the initial occurrence of
these conditions and the health problems that arise from them is a major
challenge and part of our unique vision. This aspect of our vision fits
well with the special public health issues of Florida. We are committed
to understanding and addressing the unique issues associated with our multi-ethnic
and aging populations, and the geographic and environmental vulnerabilities
of our beautiful state. A hallmark of our approach is collaboration among
the public health disciplines and the disciplines of other health professions
within and outside our college in teaching, research, and service.
How does the University of Florida compare
to other universities? Top of page
With an enrollment of over 50,000 students, the University of Florida is
the largest university in the South, and it is one of the five largest universities
in the United States. The University ranks among the nation's 51 leading
research universities as categorized by the Carnegie Commission on Higher
Education, and it holds membership in the prestigious Association of American
Universities, thus being ranked among the top 60 US research institutions.
Three institutions -- the University of Minnesota, Ohio State University, and the University of Florida -- offer more academic programs on a single campus than any of the other approximately 3,000 colleges and universities. The University of Florida has 19 colleges and schools and over 60 interdisciplinary research and education centers, bureaus, and institutes. The Graduate School coordinates programs in approximately 90 academic departments leading to over 100 master's degrees and 60 doctoral degrees.
What other resources are available? Top
of page
The college is in a rich health science environment at the University
of Florida. In addition to our college, the
Health Science Center includes colleges of dentistry,
medicine, nursing, pharmacy and veterinary medicine, all of which have faculty
with whom we collaborate actively on research and teaching. We work closely
with researchers in the UF Center
for Environmental and Human Toxicology, the Emerging
Pathogens Institute, and the Whitney
Laboratory for Marine Bioscience.
Another valuable resource is the Health Science Center Libraries, which make up one of the most extensive library systems in the Southeast. In addition, the entire University is located on one campus in Gainesville. Access to excellent academic, research, and service programs in the Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) and many other departments and colleges on the campus provide endless opportunities to learn and collaborate.
What are the criteria for admission into
the MPH program? Top of page
The following criteria must be met to be considered for admission to the
MPH program:
1. Completed graduate application submitted online to the University Graduate Admissions office.
2. At least a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.
3. Bachelor's degree or equivalent
4. Satisfactory GRE scores
5. Scores of 550 or better on the written version, or 213 or better on the computer-based version, of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for international applicants
6. A professional statement that matches the philosophy and focus of the program
The GRE and the undergraduate 3.0 GPA minimums may be waived for applicants with previous graduate or professional degrees at the discretion of the admissions committee. Applicants with an M.D. or a Ph.D. in a health-related discipline from a University in the U.S. do not have to take the GRE. Please consult with the program director if you are uncertain whether you need to take the GRE.
International students whose native language is English or who have attended a college or university in the United States for at least one year are not required to submit TOEFL scores, but must have acceptable scores on the General Test section of the GRE. For a list of countries whose citizens are exempt from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) requirement that most non-US applicants must meet, go to http://gradschool.rgp.ufl.edu/personnel/english-testing-exemptions.html
What are the application procedures? Top
of page
View detailed application procedures (http://www.mph.ufl.edu/admissions/admissioncriteria.htm).
What is the application deadline? Top
of page
Applications for the standard 48-credit MPH Program and the accelerated
42-credit MPH Program are reviewed on a "rolling" basis. Applicants
are strongly urged to apply early, that is, 3-4 months before the deadline
for the semester in which you would like to begin the program. Note that
applications from residents of countries other than the United States require
more time to process. Admission decisions are normally made within 4 weeks
of receiving all application materials.
Are GRE’s required? Top
of page
The MPH program requires the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Other test
scores may be acceptable, pending approval by the Graduate School. The GRE
requirement may also be waived for applicants with previous graduate or
professional degrees at the discretion of the admissions committee. Applicants
with an M.D. or a Ph.D. in a health-related discipline from a university
in the U.S. do not have to take the GRE. Please consult with the program
director if you are uncertain whether you need to take the GRE.
A GRE is not required for the Certificate in Public Health program.
Where can international applicants go
to find VISA and other pertinent information? Top of page
After official notice of admission to the university, contact the
UF International Center to begin your I-20 process.
Do not leave your country before obtaining a student visa and do not come
to the United States with a B (tourist) visa.
Do you provide financial assistance to
international students? Top of page
International students should contact the University of
Florida Financial Aid office for
any available financial aid. Students may also contact the University student
employment office for information about campus employment. At this time
scholarships are not available for international students through the College
of Public Health and Health Professions
