Welcome to Graduate Studies

A Message from the President, Dr. Steven Currall

Thank you for your interest in graduate education at the University of South Florida. We invite you to explore USF’s globally recognized academic programs and the many opportunities to learn and work alongside some of the world’s most accomplished scholars, scientists and inventors. At USF, our graduate students play active and important roles in our growing national and international research success, and are part of many significant projects that contribute to our rising institutional prestige. We are proud that USF is first in Florida in the percent of bachelor’s and graduate degrees awarded in programs of strategic emphasis, including STEM, health, accounting and education. USF also ranks seventh among American public universities and 12th among universities worldwide in generating new U.S. patents.

The continuing growth of our enterprise is among the reasons that the Board of Governors of Florida’s State University System designated USF as a Preeminent Public Research University. This means we meet rigorous standards and it confirms our standing as one of the state’s top institutions of higher education. Only two other Florida universities have earned this impressive designation – and they are more than 100 years older than we are.

Our strong interdisciplinary academic programs are coupled with a global focus to place USF on the leading edge of a number of disciplines, including health and critically needed science, technology, engineering and math fields. USF’s entrepreneurial spirit encourages our graduate students to have an immediate impact with their education. For example, the Student Innovation Incubator in USF’s Office of Research & Innovation is home to 24 student-led companies, and graduate students are regularly found leading hands-on projects that directly serve our community, such as environmental research, urban design, music and the arts, and public health. For those looking to link their interest in high-demand disciplines with new skills to start a business, USF has created several programs that couple a Master of Business Administration with STEM degrees.

We offer a variety of opportunities for postgraduate study through our numerous Master’s and Graduate Certificate programs, many of which include online learning and are designed to prepare graduates to make immediate and relevant contributions in their professions and fields of study. We work in partnership with our region’s top international corporations, including Nielsen, Raymond James, TechData, Jabil Circuit Corp., and Home Shopping Network to connect our talented students to these global powerhouses where they find exciting and rewarding careers.

USF is situated in the heart of one of the nation’s fastest growing and most diverse metropolitan regions, and our university is deeply connected to all aspects of the community. USF graduate students are creative, energetic and working to build a bright and successful future for themselves and their families. We look forward to being a partner in your educational, professional and personal journey.

Sincerely yours,

A Message from the Provost and Executive Vice President, Dr. Ralph Wilcox

I want to welcome you to the University of South Florida and your new academic home as you prepare to embark on the challenging, yet ultimately rewarding, journey into graduate education. As a top 50 global research, USF attracts many of the world’s best and brightest students, and, today, that includes you.

Graduate school is a serious commitment, and one to which the dedicated faculty and staff at USF attach special importance. It is our sincere promise to engage you in meaningful programs and initiatives that support the educational and socio-economic wellbeing of the local, national, and global communities we serve and prepare you for life-long success in the workforce. We champion interdisciplinary inquiry and collaboration as the keys to success not only within our academic programs, but also in the global landscape of 21st century business, communications, science, and culture.

At USF, we highly encourage students and faculty to forge meaningful relationships that transcend the academic, department-centered experiences found in other graduate schools. We believe that partnerships between students, faculty, and researchers across campus, in the community, and around the world strengthen both the university and the graduate student experience by creating a “collaboration for competition” that leads to new knowledge and exciting, innovative solutions to pervasive and emerging problems.

Continuing to deliver top-quality graduate programs remains a leading priority for USF as we further enhance our position as a premier research university with state, national, and global impact. USF has been designated as a “Preeminent State Research University,” an award which recognizes our high performance and trajectory of national excellence.
The University of South Florida is a place where you can challenge yourself by contributing to your chosen discipline, your community, and the world-at-large in a meaningful and sustainable way. Whether you aspire to remain in academe or to pursue professional positions in the public sector, business or industry, I am confident that your investment of time, talent, and energy as a graduate student at USF will present you with wonderful and exhilarating prospects for the future.

Ralph C. Wilcox, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President
www.acad.usf.edu

A Message from the Dean of the Office of Graduate Studies

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the University of South Florida (USF) Graduate Studies Catalog. As you will see, we are a vibrant University providing opportunities for student success and outstanding achievement (see USF Points of Pride at https://www.usf.edu/about-usf/points-of-pride.aspx). USF has over 170 masters and doctoral majors, several concurrent degree options, and over 110 graduate certificates. We also have many opportunities for non-degree seeking students. At the three institutions across the USF System, we serve more than 50,000 students. Of these, over 10,000 are a geographically, demographically, socially, and disciplinarily diverse body of students pursuing their graduate education. USF has student success, research and innovation, community engagement, global literacy and impact, and integrated, interdisciplinary inquiry as its strategic priorities. Our tuition provides affordability and we also offer a number of financial aid options. We recognize that graduate students have an array of responsibilities and needs, so many of our majors offer flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in addition to online course and degree program offerings.

The mission of the Office of Graduate Studies is to serve as the center of leadership for graduate education at the University of South Florida (see our 2019-2020 Annual Report). As a graduate student at the University of South Florida, you can be proud that USF is one of the nation’s top public research universities and one of only 40 public research universities nationwide that holds both very high research and community engaged designations by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. As well, it has been named as one of three designated Preeminent Universities in the Florida State University System. Graduate students at USF can apply for research, teaching, and graduate assistantships, enhancing their educational experiences by putting knowledge into action. At the same time, a number of our Master’s degree programs, as well as Graduate Certificates, offer varied opportunities for professional development and advancement. As a perusal of the Catalog will show, there’s something for everyone!

We urge you to become the leader you are destined to be, so I invite each of you to learn more about graduate education at the University of South Florida. Welcome to our community of scholars and family of learners!