Welcome to the DrPH Program at the College of Public Health!

The mission of the DrPH degree is to deliver an exceptional Doctor of Public Health program that equips working professionals with the skills, knowledge, and resilience needed to excel in leadership roles and enhance community well-being through informed public health practices locally, regionally, and nationally. Our vision is to set a standard for public health excellence in education and practice. This mission relates directly to the University of South Florida mission, which includes creating a community of learners with significant and sustainable university‐community partnerships and collaborations, as well as designing, building, and strengthening healthy communities and improving quality of life. The DrPH program focuses on the core values of lifelong learning, integrity, evidence-based practice, and innovation. Students will be expected to graduate with not only excellent methodological skills, but also a wider and deeper understanding of public health and their individual area of focus.

All DrPH students are required to successfully complete a minimum of 43 post masters credit hours, (students admitted after 2022 are required to successfully complete a minimum of 46 post masters credit hours).

Admission information can be found on our Graduate Admissions page.

DrPH Guidelines

These DrPH Guidelines present the USF Office of Graduate Studies policies. The College of Public Health may impose stricter guidelines, policies and procedures as determined by each concentration. It is the responsibility of the student to review and follow the specific guidelines with their concentration chairs, major professor and committee members.

Additional USF policies, not found in these guidelines, may be found at https://www.usf.edu/graduate-studies/policies-procedures/ or at https://usf.edu/gradcatalog.

Steps to Success

Know about USF Student Integrity and related content
Know the progression policy for the PHD and DRPH
Getting Started
Learn about registration and where to find course information
Know deadlines and where to find Program of Study, Forms, and FAQs
Keep your degree on track and in good standing:
- Keep your degree status active (see continuous enrollment in Enrollment Requirements)
- Know your degree time limitations
- Maintain a 3.0 or better Grade Point Average (GPA) or you will be put on probation ( a 3.3 GPA is required to be in doctoral progression at COPH)
Advisors and Committees
Applied Practice Experiences
Attend the DrPH Institute
Qualifying Exam
Doctoral Project
Learn about Student Organizations
Meet with the Doctoral Training Office the term before you graduate and review your status
Early during the semester you plan to graduate you should register for graduation
Participate in the COPH graduation celebration, the USF Health graduation ceremony, and join our USF and COPH alumni communities

Degree and Concentration Information

DrPH Concentrations

Graduate Topics

DrPH Topics

DRPH Competencies

Mode of Delivery

The USF College of Public Health DrPH degree is completed through distance‐learning (fall, spring, and summer semesters) in addition to on‐campus learning via three mandatory on-campus DrPH Institutes. This combination of program delivery formats allows working professionals to connect with other professionals, and broaden their grasp of public health management, practice, and research without interrupting their careers.

If a DrPH student lives near the USF campus, they are welcome to take courses on-campus as well as online.

Printing

Users may print any single page of the document using the "..." menu in the upper right corner and exporting the page to a PDF copy.

Please send feedback on the DrPH Guidebook