DrPH Doctoral Project

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After passing the Qualifying Exam, students must complete a field-based doctoral project that impacts public health programs, policies, or systems. This project must include at least three evidence-based deliverables, at least one of which is written, and demonstrate competency across all DrPH domains.

Doctoral Project-Final Defense Guidelines and Samples can be found on the DrPH Program Resources Canvas site.

To present their doctoral project defense, students must:

1. Apply to graduate

2. Enroll in/Complete a minimum of six credits of PHC 7919 Public Health Doctoral Project

3. Attain an overall degree program GPA of 3.30 at USF 

4. Not have any "I" or "M" grades (this includes "IF" and "MF" grades

5. Be enrolled in a minimum of (2) credit hours during the semester of the defense 

6. Complete the Doctoral Project (Chapters 1-5)

7. Obtain approval from their doctoral committee

8. Obtain approval from the DrPH Director (leadership) or the Lab Concentration Director (lab). The completed document must be submitted at least 4 weeks before the defense date.

9. Work with the doctoral committee to schedule a date and time for the defense by the reported deadlines

10. Complete the DrPH Final Defense Form in Archivum 4 weeks before the defense date

11. Submit the Doctoral Project Defense Announcement Form to cophdoctoral@usf.edu for distribution to the public 4 weeks before the defense date

General Information

• The Office of Doctoral Training schedules the defense on Microsoft Teams once all approvals on the Final Defense Form are complete.

• Your defense is open to the public and must follow the Florida Sunshine Laws. The announcement will be posted to the College of Public Health

• Committee deliberations are private.

• Total time: up to 3 hours

• The Defense Chair (Major Professor) leads and manages all proceedings.

• The Chair may ask visitors to leave at any point.

Defense Structure

• Opening the Session. The Defense Chair introduces:

Presentation

• The Defense Chair opens the proceedings by introducing the candidate and the doctoral committee.

• The candidate (you) lead a presentation summarizing the doctoral project.

• Aim for a clear, concise overview of your purpose, methods, findings, and implications.

Questioning Phase

• The examination will consist of questions about the research from the doctoral committee. Recommended time: 15 minutes per member, with additional rounds if needed.

• Faculty-at-large and the public may ask questions after the committee. Suggested limit: up to 5 minutes per person.

Deliberations & Voting

• After all the questions, the Defense Chair dismisses:

• Only the doctoral committee remains for deliberation and voting.

• Voting options: Pass or Fail

• The decision must be unanimous.

• If unanimity cannot be reached, the Faculty Chair notifies the DrPH Program Director. The Program Director works to resolve the issue promptly.

Final Steps. The Defense Chair:

• Withholds their signature on the Final Defense Form until all revisions are complete

• Enter the final result in the Archivum Final Defense Form

• Notifies you of the committee’s decision

The DrPH student must complete a doctoral project that influences programs, policies, or systems relevant to public health practice. For example, the student can propose to implement and evaluate a project in the field, adapt an evidence-based program for local use, conduct a behavioral, economic, or policy analysis, or evaluate a public health intervention.

Students must produce at least three high-quality, evidence-based deliverables, with at least one written product. Examples include:

• Journal article (publishable quality)

• Program manual or training program

• Software development

• Presentation to stakeholders

• Strategic plan with stakeholder input

• Needs assessment or policy document

• Evaluation plan and instrument development

All final deliverables must be electronically submitted to committee members and the Doctoral Training Office at cophdoctoral@usf.edu. before graduation.

IRB Step by Step

All research investigators at USF are responsible for submitting human subject research for review by the USF IRB (and additional IRBs if required) prior to starting a research study. If it is not clear which type of human subjects review (exempt, expedited, full board) is required, approval is required; students should consult the USF Office of Research Integrity & Compliance in collaboration with their advisor. Only the IRB can determine if the research being conducted falls under the exempt category. Research investigators must prepare a protocol giving a complete description of the proposed research, a detailed application and, when appropriate, a sample of the proposed informed consent form. All protocols and related forms must be submitted electronically to the IRB via eIRB, accessible at https://www.usf.edu/research-innovation/research-support/research-integrity-compliance/human-research-protections-irb/index.aspx.

As a part of the application process, the investigator’s IRB application will be electronically routed to his/her Department Chair or designee, or the Department Chair of their Advisor, who certifies that adequate scientific review of the research study has been performed. All students who serve as a Principal Investigator are required to have a faculty advisor listed on their IRB application.  The major professor must review the initial application and any subsequent modifications.  All doctoral students must complete the IRB credentialing process and HIPAA training during their first semester following admission. IRB training courses are available online at https://www.usf.edu/research-innovation/research-support/research-integrity-compliance/human-research-protections-irb/education.aspx. The letter from the IRB indicating approval or designation of non-research should be submitted as an appendix in their final document for the Doctoral Project and uploaded into the box.

***IRB approval from another institution does NOT fulfill this requirement.  As a USF student, you must have a designation regarding human subjects research from the USF IRB.

All students registering for PHC 7919 Public Health Doctoral project are required to have a current Human Research Protections certificate on file with the USF Division of Research Integrity and Compliance. The Human Research Protections courses are online and take about 2 hours to complete. Students who take these courses over multiple semesters will be required to complete a continuing education course when their certificate is out of date. For more information on these requirements, please go here: USF Human Subject Protection Education CITI course requirements. Certificates of completion are available for printing through this link. 

Students may only use the credential of “DrPH” after degree conferral is granted. It is inappropriate to use a credential until it is officially granted.