Non-traditional Doctoral/Master’s Degree Programs
Rehabilitation Science PhD/Master of Public Health (PhD/MPH) Program
back to Collaborative Degree Programs
Printable Version (pdf)
The College of Public Health and Health Professions has a long-standing
commitment to treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with chronic diseases
and disabilities. Adding a public health, population-based set of skills
to the research training in this PhD program produces a uniquely-qualified
researcher. Individuals who complete this program are in exceptional positions
to conduct research that will contribute to cutting-edge paradigm shifts
and to inform health policy decisions that affect chronic diseases and disabilities.
The PhD/MPH program involves collaboration among four departments and the
MPH program in the College of Public Health and Health Professions.
Hallmarks of the program
• Up to 30 credits of MPH coursework may be shared with the PhD program, with approval of the PhD committee
• Nine credits of PhD courses may be applied to the MPH
• Students have the flexibility to select an in-depth concentration in the MPH program or to choose the Public Health Practice concentration, which allows selection of courses from two or more concentration areas.
• Up to 15 credits of MPH core courses may be taken online.
• Nine credits of PhD courses may be applied to the MPH
Program description
Rehabilitation Science PhD/MPH plans of study are developed for each student
individually, taking into account the public health competencies to be achieved
and the manner in which MPH courses will be integrated into the four years
of course and laboratory work normally required for the PhD. Students in
the PhD program may take MPH courses concurrent with their PhD courses.
Nine credits of appropriate PhD coursework may be applied to requirements
in the 48-credit MPH program. The 9 credits selected from the PhD curriculum
must be approved by the MPH program upon the recommendation of the student's
supervisory committee.
Conversely, the PhD program may accept up to 30 credits of approved masters-level
coursework towards the requirements of the PhD.
Students must meet graduation requirements for both programs. These requirements may be found at: http://rehabsci.phhp.ufl.edu/ and http://www.mph.ufl.edu/programs/masterspublichealth.htm.
Application
Applicants must meet admission requirements for, and be accepted by, both
programs in order to be admitted into the PhD/MPH program. Students may
apply to both programs simultaneously, or they may enter one degree program
and apply to the other after beginning the first program. However, the sequencing
of applications and acceptances is important. Since the PhD program is much
smaller than the MPH, students usually begin their PhD studies and confer
with Rehabilitation Science faculty mentors and MPH faculty before applying
to the MPH program. After acceptance into the MPH, Nontraditional Doctoral/Master’s
Degree Program forms are completed and submitted to the Graduate School
for classification as a collaborative program student. Appropriate forms
(1 and 2) for nontraditional doctoral/master’s degree programs may
be found at http://gradschool.rgp.ufl.edu/pdf-files/nontraditional-degree-form.pdf.
The nontraditional degree program is not open to students who have already earned one of the two degrees.
MPH concentrations
Students must choose from one of the six MPH concentrations: Biostatistics,
Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Public Health Management and Policy,
Public Health Practice, or Social and Behavioral Sciences. Please visit
http://www.mph.ufl.edu/concentrations/
for a description of each concentration.
Supervisory committee
To facilitate student progress in the non-traditional program, the graduate
supervisory committee is comprised of the Rehabilitation Science faculty
mentor, other faculty members as required by the PhD program, and one MPH
faculty member. The MPH faculty member chairs the committee for MPH-related
requirements, such as the internship and culminating experience.
MPH internship requirement
The concepts presented via MPH coursework are integrated and assimilated
through an internship, which provides an opportunity for each student to
apply his or her knowledge in a practice setting. A wide range of settings
and opportunities may be suitable for an internship. Each internship is
individually tailored to assure competence in general MPH and concentration-specific
skills and to meet student goals, concentration criteria, and the needs
of the agencies involved. The internship is usually completed near the end
of the program, and always includes a special project that serves as the
basis for a final oral and written report. The internship and the special
project must be approved by the student's supervisory committee chair.
MPH culminating experience
Students attain depth in public health knowledge and skills by selecting
one core area for their concentrations. They obtain a broad knowledge base
of public health issues and perspectives through the MPH core courses and
electives. The concepts presented in these courses are integrated and assimilated
through the internship, which provides an opportunity for each student to
apply his or her knowledge in the real world of public health. Students
may engage in many activities during an internship. However, each student
must have one special project which serves as the basis for a major paper
and a presentation. These final activities of the MPH program are intended
to encourage students to understand their projects in the larger context
of public health as a cross-disciplinary field and in relation to the competencies
expected of all MPH graduates. Student presentations are scheduled on one
or two Public Health Days near the end of fall, spring and summer semesters.
The written paper and oral presentation constitute a culminating experience
for the MPH.
Contact us!
Mischka Garel, MPH
Associate Director, MPH Program
College of Public Health & Health Professions
University of Florida
Box 100182
Gainesville, FL 32610
Phone: 352-273-6443 Fax: 352-273-6448
Email: mgarel@phhp.ufl.edu
William C. Mann, PhD
Professor
Director Rehabilitation Science PhD Program
Chair, Department of Occupational Therapy
College of Public Health and Health Professions
University of Florida
Box 100164
Gainesville, Florida 32610-0164
Phone: 352-273-6883
Fax: 352-273-6042
Email: wmann@phhp.ufl.edu
Margaret Odom
HPNP Building, Room 2101
101 S. Newell Drive
Gainesville, Florida 32611
Phone: 352-273-6098
Fax: 352-273-6042
Email: modom@phhp.ufl.edu
Mary Peoples-Sheps, Dr.PH
Associate Dean for Public Health Development and Practice
College of Public Health & Health Professions
University of Florida
Box 100182
Gainesville, FL 32610
Phone: 352-273-6084 Fax: 352-273-6199
Email: mpeoplessheps@phhp.ufl.edu
