Graduation

Important Catalog Reminder

Due to the planned consolidation during the summer of 2020, of the University of South Florida, the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, and the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, into a single university with a fully aligned and integrated curriculum and a single set of academic policies and procedures, any undergraduate or graduate student who matriculates at one of the three USF institutions on or after May 18, 2020, will adhere to the curricula, policies, and procedures described in the 2020-21 USF undergraduate or graduate catalog, respectively.

To graduate, a student must submit the Application for Degree in the term of expected graduation by the deadline noted in the academic calendar. If a student applies for graduation and is not approved, a new Application for Degree must be submitted by the deadline in a new term.

VIEW THE GRADUATION FLYER: COPH GRADUATION INFORMATION. It will walk you through the COPH graduation application process and answer common questions.

COPH Application for Degree Process

Follow the process for Graduation Application available in Canvas:
1. Apply for Graduation through Student Self-Service (accessed through MyUSF).
2. Register to participate in the USF commencement ceremony.
3. Complete the USF Graduation Exit Survey:
  1. You will receive an email invitation after the graduation application deadline for the current term. You will have one week to complete this survey.
  2. You may be subject to a hold that may delay diploma release if the survey is not completed.
PhD and DrPH Students only: Turn in a completed Program of Study (POS) for your degree program.
1. Work with the doctoral training office to obtain the POS. The POS must also have the signature of your major professor.
2. Email a PDF of the POS to cophgraduation@usf.edu. Do Not submit a POS from Archivum or Degreeworks.
3. Master's students DO NOT need to submit a POS. However, please review DegreeWorks to ensure your student record is up-to-date and you are on track to graduate. Pay special attention to your elective courses and make sure they have been applied to your student record correctly.
An invitation to complete the COPH Graduation Exit Survey will be emailed to you. Complete the COPH Exit Survey before graduation. This is a separate survey from the USF Graduation Exit Survey.

For the Graduate Certificate completion process, please refer to the Graduate Certificate Policies & Procedures page.

Reminders:

PhD and MSPH students must comply with requirements and deadlines from the Graduate Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Resource Center (ETD) in regards to submitting their dissertation or thesis.
For DrPH and PhD students only: POS differs for each catalog year. Please turn in your POS based on the catalog year you started your program or based on change of catalog year.
If you have courses you took as non-degree or at another institution that you want counted towards your degree, please make sure you complete the paperwork to transfer them into your degree program.
Check USF email for any updates on your graduation status.
Students who are certified to graduate will receive their diploma two months after the commencement ceremony.
Failure to complete the full application process may result in the denial of your graduation application. The denial would require you to re-apply the following term.
All incomplete & missing grades must be cleared by the last day of the term that you are graduating. See the instructor to request a change of grade.

All issues must be resolved before the last day of classes.

If you have any additional questions or concerns please feel free to email: cophgraduation@usf.edu

Additional Information

Please refer to the Academic Policies and University Degree Requirements of the catalog to learn more about degree requirements by your catalog year.

See the USF Graduate Catalog Graduation and Postdoctoral Affairs section.

If you are relocating you will need to meet with your advisor as soon as possible to discuss a plan to complete any unfinished course work. Contact the COPH Academic and Student Affairs Office prior to your departure to coordinate all of your final paperwork 813-974-6505.

After all of the requirements for the degree have been fulfilled, graduate students may participate in commencement exercises. If you are participating in the commencement ceremony on main campus, you will need to order your cap and gown from the USF Bookstore on main campus. For more information about the USF Commencement Ceremony see their web site: . See also the USF Graduate Catalog Graduation and Postdoctoral Affairs section.

The College of Public Health holds a Graduation Celebration for our Graduates. The Dean's Office will email an RSVP to join to all students who are anticipating graduation at that time.

See the USF Graduate Catalog Graduation and Postdoctoral Affairs section.

College of Public Health can provide an expected letter of completion the semester the student applies for graduation (upon request) after verification of grades has been completed. Please keep in mind some institutions, employers, and programs may not accept our expected letter of completion, if the the establishment requires the Registrar's signature please contact the Registrar's Office: . See also the USF Graduate Catalog Graduation and Postdoctoral Affairs section.

See the USF Graduate Catalog Graduation and Postdoctoral Affairs section.

Students who have completed a Graduate Certificate Program should contact the Graduate Certificate Office, 813-974-9943, for the procedure to receive their Graduate Certificate (see Graduate Certificate Completion Process on their web site).