USF 2000-2001 Undergraduate Catalog - Page 195
As we enter the new millenium, public health looms large at the forefront of the world’s concerns. Population pressures, environmental problems, maternal and child health care, disaster management, new emerging diseases, behavioral challenges, health care management and cost containment demand solutions from the public health professional.
To meet these challenges, the mission of the College of Public Health combines excellence in education, research and service to lead in health promotion and disease prevention in Florida and the global community. The USF College of Public Health is one of only 28 public health colleges in the nation and is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.
Undergraduate students major in a broad range of Bachelor degree programs including engineering, business, social sciences, biological sciences, nursing, social work, pre-medicine, other allied health specialties or interdisciplinary degrees in order to be prepared for graduate work in the College. Pre-medical students seeking admission to medical school may want to consider completing a Master’s degree in public health prior to application or admission to medical schools or as an alternative to clinical degrees.
The graduate course of study and field experiences are designed to prepare health professionals with skills to develop, implement, manage and evaluate programs which focus on health, behavioral, legal, medical and economic factors. Inter-disciplinary areas include the mapping and control of infectious and chronic diseases, environmental factors that effect populations, and the methods of providing care to targeted populations including those faced with geographic, financial, cultural and other access barriers. Public health is also concerned with finding cost-effective ways to keep health care costs down while assuring quality. Career opportunities are available in a variety of work settings including hospitals and ambulatory care facilities, managed care organizations, voluntary health agencies, public and private school systems, colleges and universities, local, federal and state health agencies, private industry and international health organizations.
Undergraduate students seeking careers in public health should request the College of Public Health Catalog and Career Guide in order to review the broad range of professions and plan an undergraduate program that will meet the College’s admission requirements for graduate work. Learning opportunities are provided through advanced methods and technology, and the College embraces the use of not only traditional classroom methods but distance learning via satellite, internet, television, executive and weekend programs, learning institutes, certificate and continuing education courses.
The College offers undergraduate courses to prepare students for the graduate criteria required for admission. USF undergraduate courses HSA 4120 “Introduction to Public Health” and HSC 4554 “Survey of Human Disease” (or their equivalent) are prerequisites to graduate study in public health. The College offers undergraduate HSC 2933 “Selected Topics in Public Health.” The Selected Topic course “Sex, Health, and Decision Making” is offered each semester. This course provides the student with an overview of the issues involving sexual behaviors, decision-making processes and health outcomes. HSC 4933 “Special Topics in Public Health” targets public health concerns and issues. Current Special Topics undergraduate courses include “The Health Care Market,” which examines the evolution, structure, financing and provision of medical and health services; “Introduction to Water Resources Management” explores water quality, supply and the management and regulatory options; “Stress, Health and College Life” addresses the relationship between stress, as a multi-causal concept, health, and disease, and the recognition and prevention of an unhealthy level of stress.
Departments within the College include Community and Family Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Health, and Health Policy and Management. Master’s degrees include the Master of Public Health (MPH), a professional, non-thesis degree, the Master of Health Administration (MHA), the Master of Science of Public Health (MSPH), a research thesis degree, as well as the doctoral (PhD) degree.
The Department of Community and Family Health offers an accelerated entry program that enables qualified undergraduate students to enter the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program with a concentration in Public Health Education following the completion of 90 semester hours of undergraduate study (usually the end of the junior year). It is recommended that students enroll in undergraduate programs related to the field of public health as noted above. The program emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach of developing strategies for the efficient utilization of health services, the adoption of self-care practices, and the promotion of healthier lifestyles. Full-time students are able to complete Master’s degree requirements in 2 to 2-1/2 years. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact a health education faculty advisor during the term in which they expect to complete 60 undergraduate semester hours.
Students seeking admission to the MPH accelerated degree program must have completed 90 undergraduate semester hours, achieved at least a 3.0 GPA or a combined verbal and quantitative score of at least 1000 on the GRE, and satisfied the CLAST and Gordon Rule 6A-10.30 requirements. Students interested in this program or other public health graduate fields should contact the Office of Academics at the College of Public Health for a career guide and college catalog, 974-6665 or refer to the College Website www.hsc.usf.edu/publichealth.
Potential applicants should prepare at the undergraduate level for careers in public health. Except for the Accelerated Health Education program option, all applicants should have completed or be in their last semester of completing the Bachelor’s degree prior to applying to this College. Several departments accept the MCAT score in lieu of the GRE for admission. The GMAT may be submitted for the Department of Health Policy and Management. Advisors in the College assist undergraduate students with career planning and selecting undergraduate coursework. For specific information, request a College of Public Health Catalog and Career Guide followed by an appointment with the College advisor.
Advising Office: The College of Public Health (CPH) is located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and Fletcher Ave. in the Northwest corner of the USF campus. The Advising office is CPH Rm 1011.
Call toll free 1-888-USF-COPH or locally (813) 974-6665 for a College Catalog, Career Guide and an upcoming Schedule of Classes. Students who have completed the Bachelor’s may register for up to 12 hours as non-degree students while in the process of applying to the College.
Address: 13201 Bruce B. Down Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612-3805; Mailpoint - MDC 56
Office Hours: 8am–5pm, Monday through Friday. Walk-ins are welcome but an appointment is recommended.
Email: advisor@hsc.usf.edu
Web Address: http://www.hsc.usf.edu/publichealth
USF 2000-2001 Undergraduate Catalog - Page 281
Dean - CHARLES S. MAHAN
Chairpersons:
USF 2000-2001 Undergraduate Catalog - Page 195
Please send questions or comments to:
Karen M. Hall - webCat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 2000
http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0001/pubheal.htm