Frequently Asked Questions
Public Health Program Questions
What are the Public Health Sciences?
What type of background do MPH students at UF have?
Are there jobs in Public Health?
What 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 the overview of your Public Health curriculum?
Do you have a distance-learning program?
How many credits is the program?
How many credits can I transfer into the program from another
institution?
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 is your interest, 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, and 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 substances in our surroundings and to protect the population from their ill effects. With an MPH, you will have the tools to rise to leadership roles in your chosen area.
What type of background 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
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. Public health will lose about 45% of its workforce over the next several years. Jobs are available now and the opportunities will continue to grow.
What 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 an accelerated program in any of the above concentrations. For UF graduate and professional students, we have joint programs of study with the College of Law and the College of Pharmacy, and other formal joint programs will begin in 2007. PhD/MPH programs are also available with Clinical and Health Psychology and Rehabilitation Sciences in our college, and concurrent 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 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, these graduate credits can be transferred.
Do you offer any undergraduate programs in Public Health? Top of page
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
Are you interested in pursuing doctoral studies and a career in research? The Department of Health Services Research, Management, and Policy offers a PhD in Health Services Research. The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics is developing two PhD programs, one in Epidemiology and the other in Biostatistics. A PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences is also under development by the Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health. We expect our new doctoral programs to be available for students entering in fall, 2007.
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 the overview of your 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: 16 credits in core public health courses required of all students, 21-27 hours of specialty core courses and electives in the student's chosen area of interest, up to 6 credits of general electives (depending on the concentration area chosen), and 5-8 credits of a final special project.
- 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, or 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 is the program? Top of page
MPH students are required to successfully complete 48 credit hours for graduation. Am accelerated program for individuals with terminal degrees is also available.
How many credits can I transfer into the 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.
How does the University of Florida compare to other universities? Top of page
With an enrollment of 46,000 students, the University of Florida is the largest university in the South, and it is one of the 5th largest universities in the Nation. The University ranks among the Nation's 51 leading research universities as categorized by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education. Likewise, the University holds membership in the exclusive and prestigious Association of American Universities, thus being ranked among the Nation's top 60 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 Nation's 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. The Health Science Center Libraries make up one of the most extensive systems in the Southeast. In terms of research, the university is one of only 60 institutions nationwide holding membership in the exclusive and prestigious Association of American Universities. We are also ranked among the leading research universities in the nation.
What are the criteria for admission into the MPH program? Top of page
- At least a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.*
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent
- Composite score of at least 1,000 on the combined verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination.*
- 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.**
- A professional statement that matches the philosophy and focus of the program
What are the application procedures? Top of page
There are two steps to the application process.
A complete application consists of:
- 1-Sent to the UF Office of Admissions:
- Your official transcript(s) from each academic institution beyond high school
- Official GRE scores, and TOEFL scores (if applicable)
- Application to the University of Florida:
- Graduate application – this form must be submitted for Masters or Doctoral programs (may be submitted via the web)
- Post-Baccalaureate application – this form must be submitted for the Certificate in Public Health program – it can only be submitted in paper form, print this form and submit to the address on the form
- $30 nonrefundable application fee by credit card (via the online application) or mail to the Office of Admission.
- 2-Sent to Public Health Program Admissions:
- Departmental copy of the Graduate Application
- Transcripts from each academic institution beyond high school
- Graduate Record Examination scores
- Three reference letters
- Statement of Intent
What is the application deadline? Top of page
Applications are received on a "rolling" basis. View the current deadlines for each semester
Are GRE’s required? Top of page
Standardized test scores are required of all Masters and Doctoral applicants. Acceptable standardized test scores are the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, or LSAT. 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
