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Concentration: Community & Family Health (CFH)
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health
Delivery: Traditional

The educational mission of the Community & Family Health concentration is to prepare public health professionals who can meet the challenge of improving the health status of the family and the overall community. Programs offered focus on: (1) the analysis of the health status and needs of a population including social, behavioral and demographic factors and characteristics; (2) health promotion and education; (3) client and community-based intervention strategies; (4) development and evaluation of community and family health programs. This program and its faculty provide students with excellent research opportunities in domestic or international arenas through basic and applied research; conducting innovative community-based demonstration programs; providing consultation and technical assistance to agencies and communities; and providing continuing education programs.

The curriculum is a cooperative, learning, research, problem-solving endeavor in which students and faculty contribute interdependently to pursuits essential to the health of human society. The educational process requires active participation and self-direction by the student in pursuit of a type of scholarship and intellectual discipline that remains for life. Scholarship implies the application of a body of knowledge, intellectual curiosity, vision, insight, critical thinking, imagination, analysis and synthesis for the advancement of society.

A graduate from the PhD program will be able to:

• Contribute to the improvement of the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities through intra- and interdisciplinary effort;

• Implement change within the community and public health;

• Conduct basic and applied research in identification, prevention and evaluation of public health problems;

• Teach in University settings; and

• Assume leadership roles at the local, state, national and international levels.

PhD Progression Policy

Know the progression policy for the PHD and DRPH.

Program of Study

If you have questions on your program, please contact the Doctoral Training Office at cophdoctoral@usf.edu. 

Current students may access their Degree Works planner from my.usf.edu or OASIS. Students may view their current progress in Archivum at usf.appiancloud.com/. (See Archivum instructions.). If you are not a current student, or want to view program requirements from a different catalog year please use these sources:  

• 2023/24 USF catalog PhD planner or COPH catalog section

• 2022/23 USF catalog PhD planner or COPH catalog section

• 2021/22 USF catalog PhD planner or COPH catalog section 

• 2020/21 USF catalog PhD planner or COPH catalog section

• 2019/20 USF catalog PhD planner or COPH catalog section 

• Any prior year please view the USF Graduate Catalog Archives 

There may be circumstances in which a student may need to change their catalog year. This must be initiated through a discussion with your academic advisor. Details regarding USF policy on changing catalog year can be found in the Student’s Major Degree Requirements section of the USF Graduate Catalog’s Academic Policies.