Nov 06, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Welcome to Graduate Studies


 
 

USF President Rhea Law

A Message from USF President Rhea Law

On behalf of the entire University of South Florida community, I am delighted to welcome you to USF and thank you for your interest in completing your graduate studies at our incredible university. USF is situated in the heart of one of the fastest-growing and most diverse regions in the country, and with three extraordinary campuses located across the Tampa Bay area, we are deeply connected to all aspects of our surrounding community.

You are studying at a university that is recognized as one of the nation’s most elite institutions. USF is a member of the  Association of American Universities, a prestigious group of 71 leading research universities in the United States and Canada. This is a distinction held by only 3% of all four-year universities in the U.S., and membership in the AAU empowers us to further invest in USF’s powerful research enterprise, attract even more bright minds to our region, and make an even greater impact on our society.

Additionally, membership in the AAU allows USF’s students, faculty and staff to serve at the forefront of shaping the future of higher education, science and innovation. Alongside our fellow AAU member institutions, our university is a leader in promoting best practices in undergraduate and graduate education while strengthening the contributions of leading research universities to American society.

At USF, our graduate students play an important role in the teaching and research that are so critical to our institution’s success, and they help power the robust research engine that generates innovation across the Tampa Bay region, the state of Florida, and beyond. Researchers at USF are pioneers in a variety of disciplines, and our graduate students have countless opportunities to participate in groundbreaking research that helps solve complex challenges in society.  

Our university is also a top producer of new inventions and life-changing discoveries. USF is 14th among American public research universities, 24th among all American public or private universities, and 34th among all universities worldwide in generating new U.S. utility patents. This marks the 11th consecutive year that USF has ranked in the top 15 among American public universities. We are on a path of growth and continued excellence, which is why U.S. News & World Report has ranked USF as one of the top 50 public universities in the nation for five years in a row.

As USF Bulls, you are bold, creative, and determined to build a better future, and we are committed to providing you with an enriching experience that empowers you to achieve your goals. You’ll find a multitude of student services and departmental resources that are available to support you throughout your studies at USF, such as the Office of Graduate Studies, the Graduate and Professional Student Council, and nearly 850 registered student organizations that encompass a variety of interests and fields.

I invite you to explore our wide array of graduate programs and the various opportunities to learn and work alongside some of the world’s most accomplished scholars, scientists and inventors, who each make our university the remarkable institution it is today. Our faculty and staff look forward to supporting you throughout your educational, professional, and personal journeys here at USF.

In Bull Pride,

Rhea F. Law
President 
 

 

Provost and Executive Vice President, Dr. Prasant Mohapatra

 

A Message from Provost and Executive Vice President, Dr. Prasant Mohapatra

Welcome to the University of South Florida. I am pleased to have an opportunity to greet you as you begin this exciting time and challenging journey into graduate education. As a top 50 research university situated in the Tampa Bay region, USF attracts many of the world’s best and brightest students, and today, that includes you.

Graduate school is a significant commitment and one to which USF’s dedicated faculty and staff attach special importance. We promise to engage you in meaningful programs and initiatives that promote the educational and socio-economic welfare of the communities we serve locally, nationally, and globally. We champion interdisciplinary inquiry and collaboration as the keys to success within our academic programs and in the global landscape of 21st-century business, communications, science, and culture. We commit to equipping you with the skills and knowledge needed for lifelong success whether you aspire to remain in academia or pursue professional positions in the public sector, business, or industry.

We believe that partnerships between students, faculty, and researchers across campus, in the community, and worldwide strengthen both the university and the graduate student experience leading to new knowledge and exciting, innovative solutions to pervasive and emerging problems.

USF 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. I have no doubt that your time, talent, and energy as a graduate student at USF will open exciting and fulfilling opportunities for your future.

Prasant Mohapatra, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President

www.acad.usf.edu

 

 

 


A MESSAGE FROM OUR DEAN

 

Welcome!  We are glad that you have chosen to attend the University of South Florida. I invite you to explore the many academic opportunities available. As a new member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), USF provides a quality graduate education preparing you to meet the demands of today’s workforce. USF is also one of 65 public research universities nationwide classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral University with “Very High Research Activity” and as a “Community Engaged” institution. Our metropolitan location provides many opportunities to engage in internships, research, and study abroad activities that allow you to put your knowledge into practice and impact the local community and beyond.

Our Graduate Catalog serves two purposes: 1) to provide information to individuals interested in pursuing a graduate degree and 2) to support our current students as they navigate their graduate careers. It serves as the primary source of academic information, University policies and procedures, as well as specific details on 178 graduate majors     and over 129 graduate certificates  . 

The Office of Graduate Studies is ready to answer your questions and assist you with your graduate journey. Please visit our website to learn about funding opportunities, as well as workshops and professional development events, which can help you with your personal and professional goals.  Each major has a Graduate Director who is available to assist with Department/School level issues. You can find your Graduate Director and contact information at this link: http://www.grad.usf.edu/programs/search_all.php 

We hope that you enjoy your time at USF and that you will take full advantage of the opportunities that the University of South Florida has to provide.

Ruth Huntley Bahr, Ph.D.
Dean, Office of Graduate Studies
www.grad.usf.edu