Dec 11, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

College of Public Health

Programs

About the College

3010 USF Banyan CircleTwo students in a lab
Tampa, FL 33612
(813) 974-4633
https://health.usf.edu/publichealth

Location: The College of Public Health is located on the corner of Bruce B. Downs Avenue and Fletcher Avenue in the North-West corner of USF.

With selfless dedication, we promise to use our transformational research and interdisciplinary approach to passionately solve problems and create conditions that allow every person the universal right to health and well-being. Our Practice is Our Passion. Degree programs are offered in multiple platforms to accommodate student needs. On-campus courses are available throughout the day and evening. The College offers almost 100 courses online, including six (6) complete degree programs. College of Public Health (COPH) students embrace opportunities to see public health in practice in a variety of global settings. Through study abroad courses, international field experiences, and other opportunities, students annually travel to more than 20 countries, including Panama, Belize, Uganda, Malaysia and Ecuador among others.

Mission, Vision, Values

Mission

Advancing the public’s health by developing a talented pool of public health leaders through education, research, and practice.

Vision

To be the exemplar in discovery, innovation, and transformation to advance the public’s health.

COPH Core Values

Excellence, Social and Ethical Responsibility, Social Justice, Collaboration, Global Perspective, Altruism, Boldness.

Accreditation

The College of Public Health is accredited by the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH). CEPH is an independent agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit schools of public health. The College has been reaccredited for seven years, through July 1st, 2026; this is the maximum possible number of years attainable in a reaccreditation cycle.

Housing

College of Public Health Bulls in Health Living Learning Community (LLC)

The COPH Bulls in Health Living Learning Community is open to first year students, transfer students and current students who either currently major or plan to major in Health Sciences or Public Health. In the College of Public Health, our practice is our passion and the COPH Bulls in Health LLC will set you on a path to success. Students in the LLC will co-enroll in critical health sciences prerequisites or public health course work, and participate in special events and activities to introduce you to the College of Public Health and USF Health.

Additionally, the LLC allows you to network with administrators, faculty and high achieving student leaders in the College of Public Health. You will also have an Academic Advisor from your major with office hours in your residence hall to answer your questions and assist you in reaching your individualized goals. While in the LLC, you will develop the skills necessary to reach your personal, professional, and educational goals throughout your time at USF and in your future career. For more information, visit the COPH Living Learning Community website.

College-Level Requirements

Admission Requirements, Initial Major Declaration and Change of Major

Admission to the College of Public Health is open to students who have been accepted to the University of South Florida and who declare a major in a particular field provided that students are able to meet degree progression standards per USF Policy 10-505. Please be advised that the Public Health major is offered on the Tampa campus. The Health Sciences major is offered on both the Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses.

Declaration of Major: Undergraduate students must submit a formal declaration of major for admission into the College. This usually occurs during orientation and advising for new students. Students who wish to change their major after matriculation also need to seek approval. Declaration and Change of major requests should be completed online at: https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/undergrad/declaration.

To ensure students are able to meet degree progression standards per USF Policy 10-505, the Office of Admissions and College of Public Health staff will review student records before processing declaration or change of major requests. Students who cannot complete the requested major within degree progression limits will not be permitted to pursue the major. Students preparing for a career in health professions must plan their courses carefully because of the sequential nature of the curricula.

Declaration of Minor: Undergraduate student may declare a minor at any point during the first term of enrollment and thereafter (as early as possible), but prior to applying for graduation. Students must complete a minimum of six (6) upper level credits exclusive to the minor that will not count toward the student’s major or other minors at USF. Students should obtain prior approval with the specific requirements and forms from the college and department in which the minor is offered. Minor declarations should be completed online at: https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/undergrad/declaration.

College-Level Graduation Requirements

  1. Students must complete all state and university level graduation requirements.

  2. Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in USF coursework.

  3. Physical Education coursework is limited to two (2) semester hours.

  4. ROTC courses that are primarily physical training and field experiences will not be applied to College of Public Health degree programs. All other military Science coursework will apply, in particular, coursework utilized toward completing an established ROTC minor will be applied to the total hours toward degree.

  5. When earning a double major/dual degree, a maximum of two (2) departmental courses or eight (8) credit hours may be used to satisfy requirements between majors. Students should check with the college and respective departments when pursuing more than one major/degree.
    • The College of Public Health defines a “major” as courses listed in the major requirements (including electives and concentration coursework).
  6. Maximum of 20 hours of S/U option. S/U contracts must be negotiated in writing within the first three (3) weeks of the term. None of the 20 credits may be taken in the student’s major unless S/U is the only grading option. Coursework fulfilling the Major, General Education Core Curriculum Requirements and the State Communication Requirement (formerly known as Gordon Rule Writing) and State Computation Requirement (formerly known as Gordon Rule Math) may not be taken S/U.

  7. The Audit option is available only during the first 5 days of classes.

  8. Must successfully complete (C- or higher) a minimum of 120 unduplicated credit hours with a USF and cumulative GPA of a 2.0 or higher. “D” grades are not acceptable in the majors of Public Health and Health Sciences.

  9. Complete all major course requirements.

  10. College of Public Health students are expected to complete a minimum of 50% of their major, concentration and/or minor coursework in residence at USF.  

Graduation Requirements

  • Must successfully complete (C- or higher) a minimum of 120 unduplicated credit hours with a USF and cumulative GPA of a 2.0 or higher.

  • Must meet the Foreign Language Entrance Requirement.

  • Students must satisfy State Communication Requirement and State Computation Requirement. Transfer students who enter the University of South Florida with 60 or more semester hours from an institution accredited by either the Higher Learning Commission, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the New England Commission of Higher Education, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, or the WASC Senior College and University Commission are considered to have met the State Communication Requirement (formerly known as Gordon Rule Writing) and State Computation Requirement (formerly known as Gordon Rule Math).

  • Complete the General Education Core and State Communication and Computation Requirement of 36 hours.

  • Complete all major course requirements.

  • None of the coursework taken for the major may be taken as an S/U grade, unless S/U is the only grading option available.

  • The Audit option is available only during the first five (5) days of classes.

  • Complete a minimum of 42 hours of upper-level courses (numbered 3000 or above).

  • Thirty (30) of the last 60 semester hours must be completed at USF to fulfill the residency requirement. 

Baccalaureate-Level Degree Programs

When earning a double major/concurrent degree, a maximum of two (2) departmental or programmatic courses or eight (8) credit hours may be used to satisfy requirements between majors. Students should check with the college and respective departments when pursuing more than one major/degree.

  • Health Sciences, as an interdisciplinary program, requires prior approval for overlapping coursework between double majors/concurrent degrees.

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/undergrad/bshs

The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences is a highly interdisciplinary degree and offers a valuable combination of hard science, social science, and humanities. This high-quality program offers classroom-based & distance instruction to prepare students for many exciting careers in one of the nation’s fastest-growing industries. Courses in the program are offered from 5 different colleges and more than 20 departments at USF. Students can choose to focus their degree based on the health career they plan to pursue after graduation. Students take core foundational courses in Health Science then choose from 5 concentrations (30 credits from one concentration or a combination of 15 credits from two different concentrations) for their advanced studies based on their career goals. 

Depending on the concentrations chosen students can go on to everything from clinical graduate programs to social services, administrative and technology positions. The flexible and interdisciplinary nature of this exciting degree prepares tomorrow’s healthcare leaders with a strong foundation for success.

Career Options: This program prepares students for clinical graduate programs such physical and occupational therapy, physician assistant programs, and athletic training; as well as healthcare administration graduate programs, social and behavioral programs, public health graduate programs, or employment in a wide range of health related areas including community agencies, hospitals, or pharmaceutical companies.

Students can focus their studies in one concentration (30 credits) or a combination of 2 concentrations (15 credits in each) depending on career goals.

Concentrations include:

  • Aging Health Studies and Health Information Technology Concentration
  • Aging Health Studies and Health Care Administration Concentration
  • Aging Health Studies Concentration
  • Biological Health Sciences and Aging Health Studies Concentration
  • Biological Health Sciences and Health Information Technology Concentration
  • Biological Health Sciences and Health Care Administration Concentration
  • Biological Health Sciences and Social and Behavioral Health Sciences Concentration
  • Biological Health Sciences Concentration
  • Health Information Technology Concentration
  • Health Care Administration and Health Information Technology Concentration
  • Health Care Administration Concentration
  • Nutrition Science Concentration*
  • Social and Behavioral Health Sciences and Aging Health Studies Concentration
  • Social and Behavioral Health Sciences and Health Information Technology Concentration
  • Social and Behavioral Health Sciences and Health Care Administration Concentration
  • Social and Behavioral Health Sciences Concentration

Note: Nutrition Science cannot be combined with a second concentration.

Global Pathways

A Global Pathway is an undergraduate major or degree program that has significant global content. Global Pathways provide students with the opportunity to practice and apply global competencies through the major or degree program. 

Bachelor of Science in Public Health

https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/undergrad/bsph

USF offers the first Bachelor of Science in Public Health housed in an accredited College of Public Health in Florida. The Bachelor of Science in Public Health at the University of South Florida provides students with a flexible degree emphasizing skill development to promote future academic and career success within public health and clinical health professions.

Students majoring in public health can pursue specialized coursework in pre-health, epidemiology, biostatistics, food safety, infection control, nutrition, global health, environmental and occupational health, and health coaching, among others. This innovative curriculum can be completed either fully online or through a mix of online and classroom-based courses.The B.S. in Public Health provides student-centered courses required for entry-level public health jobs found in government agencies, health corporations, community non-profit organizations and health care facilities.

Career Options: This program prepares students for graduate study in public health, health administration, social and behavioral health, and health professions. Students can also pursue careers as health educators, community navigators, community outreach workers, emergency planning officers, FEMA officers, disease intervention specialists, research specialists, safety coordinators, health inspectors, food safety officers, environmental health consultants, health plan enrollment specialists, legislative policy advocates, or advocacy officers. Public health graduates work in government, non-profit, philanthropic, and hospital-based settings.

Accelerated Programs

The College offers several programs the Fast Track from BSPH to MPH.  For more information, please see Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathways.

Minors

The College of Public Health offers the following minors. For more information, see https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/undergrad/minors.

  • General Public Health
    The goal of the General Public Health minor is to provide students with a broad foundation necessary to understand and appreciate the field of Public Health.

  • Community Engaged Homeland Security & Emergency Management
    The Community Engaged Homeland Security & Emergency Management minor provides a broad foundation of homeland security and emergency management coursework for individuals interested in pursuing a career in local, state or national government and military careers.

  • Environmental Health
    The Environmental Health minor provides students with a broad range of courses necessary to pursue an advanced degree in the field of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety or to seek entry-level employment in a related field and is preparatory for careers in: environmental science, industrial hygiene, toxicology, risk assessment, and related health sciences careers.

  • Infection Control
    The Infection Control minor is based on the competencies in the National Board Certification Exam for infection control. The minor provides a foundation of infection prevention and control principles for individuals interested in pursuing a career in infection prevention and control at a healthcare facility or alternate setting; or those who need this knowledge base to pursue opportunities at a local, state or national public health department; a governmental agency; an academic and/or research institution; or any other applicable arena. 

  • Nutrition
    The Nutrition Science minor is both personally and professionally relevant, emphasizing health promotion, optimal human performance, disease prevention, quality of life and longevity. Career opportunities that are complemented by a nutrition minor include public health, health sciences, food technology, psychology, gerontology, social work, health promotion and communication, with potential employment in the public and/or private sector.

Undergraduate Advising Information

College of Public Health
The WELL - USF Health Shared Student Services (MDA)
12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33612
(813) 974-4633

Public Health Advising: UG-COPHAdvise@usf.edu

The advising team at the USF College of Public Health provides guidance on academic policies, requirements, and processes. Just as each College of Public Health student is unique, so is each degree plan. Advising is determined to working alongside students to design individualized plans while providing compassionate guidance in their educational journey.

To schedule an advising appointment:

  • Prospective or current students with an active UID can schedule an appointment online through Archivum or the Public Health Advising email.
  • Prospective students who have not yet applied or students who are inactive (e.g., dismissed or not enrolled for 3 consecutive terms) should contact the appropriate advising location in their intended major: https://www.usf.edu/undergrad/students/advising.aspx

Programs

Major

Minor