Departmental Handbook Effective Spring 2011
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Departmental Handbook Effective Spring 2011
Contents
Mission Statement................................................................................................................................................5
Introduction..........................................................................................................................................................5
Program Areas......................................................................................................................................................5
Global Health....................................................................................................................................................5
Infectious Diseases............................................................................................................................................5
Department Information......................................................................................................................................5
Graduate Coordinator.......................................................................................................................................5
Program Assistant for EGH................................................................................................................................6
Major Professor and Research Opportunities...................................................................................................6
Research Facilities.............................................................................................................................................6
GatorLink..........................................................................................................................................................7
Libraries............................................................................................................................................................7
Grievance Procedure........................................................................................................................................8
Academic Honesty............................................................................................................................................8
Financial Support..............................................................................................................................................8
Tuition Payments (Fee Waivers).......................................................................................................................8
Florida Residency Requirement........................................................................................................................9
Graduate Assistants United (GAU)....................................................................................................................9
Master of Public Health......................................................................................................................................10
College Overview............................................................................................................................................10
College Mission...............................................................................................................................................10
primary goals..................................................................................................................................................10
Organizational Structure.................................................................................................................................11
Public Health Program Overview....................................................................................................................11
Admission Criteria...........................................................................................................................................12
Application Requirements...............................................................................................................................13
Admissions Deadlines: Campus & Online........................................................................................................14
How the MPH Program Works........................................................................................................................14
Key Contacts for the MPH Program................................................................................................................15
MPH Core Competencies................................................................................................................................15
Concentration Overview.................................................................................................................................17
Plans of Study.................................................................................................................................................17
MPH Supervisory Committee..........................................................................................................................22
Additional Resources......................................................................................................................................23
Master of Science in Environmental and Global Health......................................................................................23
Admission Policies and Procedures.................................................................................................................23
Financial Assistance........................................................................................................................................24
Selection of Discipline for Degree and Major Professor..................................................................................25
Supervisory Committee...................................................................................................................................25
Curriculum......................................................................................................................................................26
Transfer of Credits..........................................................................................................................................29
Research Plan..................................................................................................................................................30
Leave of Absence............................................................................................................................................30
Thesis..............................................................................................................................................................30
Final Examination............................................................................................................................................30
Submission of Master's Thesis and Associated Documents to the Graduate School......................................31
Doctor of philosophy (PhD).................................................................................................................................32
Admission Policies and Procedures.................................................................................................................32
Financial Assistance........................................................................................................................................33
Selection of Discipline for Degree and Major Professor..................................................................................34
Supervisory Committee...................................................................................................................................34
Coursework and Registration Requirements..................................................................................................35
Qualifying Examination...................................................................................................................................39
Guidelines for Oral dissertation proposal.......................................................................................................44
Final Dissertation Research:............................................................................................................................45
Readmission Procedures.................................................................................................................................47
Appendix A:.........................................................................................................................................................49
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the PhD program in Public Health – Environmental and Global Health Concentration – is to prepare scholars to create new knowledge, conduct independent research to transform practice, and effectively communicate research findings (three characteristics that distinguish PhD-holders from those with bachelor’s and master’s degrees). The focus of the program is on research and its translation to practice. Graduates of the PhD program will be prepared to compete for assistant professor positions at AAU institutions and for post-doctoral fellowships.
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Department of Environmental and Global Health (EGH), one of many academic departments, housed in the College of Public Health and Health Professions at the University of Florida. This handbook outlines EGH's policies and requirements for graduate study leading to Master of Health Science (MHS), Master of Public Health with Environmental Health concentration (MPH), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.
Most programmatic degree requirements have been established by the Graduate School, the University of Florida, or the Board of Trustees. Additional policies and requirements have been established by EGH consistent with EGH research programs and the diversity of environments in which our students work. Graduate students should also become familiar with the Graduate School Catalog, the official public document of the Graduate School. You can find the current Graduate School Catalog at http://gradschool.ufl.edu/students/catalog.html. Policies and requirements listed in this Graduate Student Handbook are either clarifications of those described in the Graduate Catalog or additional requirements or additional policies and requirements of EGH. Graduate programs are administered through the College of Public Health. EGH also interfaces with the College of Veterinary Medicine (VetMed) through interdepartmental graduate degree programs. The Graduate School establishes and administers graduate student policies and procedures campus-wide for the University of Florida.
PROGRAM AREAS
GLOBAL HEALTH
Factors in the air, soil, and water that threaten human and environmental health are rarely contained within artificially drawn political borders. Thus environmental health is global and it is our goal to explore and examine its global dimensions fully. The Department collaborates extensively with the Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology (CEHT), the Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI), and the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Need small write-up here
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
FACULTY GRADUATE COORDINATOR FOR EGH
The Faculty Graduate Coordinator is the official representative of the graduate program in the EGH department to the Office of the Dean for Academic Programs, College of Public Health, and to the Dean of the Graduate School. Every department or program offering a graduate degree at the University of Florida has its own Graduate Coordinator. The Faculty Graduate Coordinator is EGH is Dr. Gregory Gray.
ACADEMIC PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR EGH
The Academic Program Coordinator in EGH is responsible for maintaining student records and assisting the Faculty Graduate Coordinator. This position is also an important source of information and will, in all likelihood, have more direct day-to-day contact with the graduate students than will the Faculty Graduate Coordinator. Students should get to know the Academic Program Coordinator and consider that person a friend and ally. For example, in most cases, the Academic Program Coordinator will submit the official documents required by the Graduate School, thus relieving the students of that responsibility. However, the Academic Program Coordinator does not serve the personal needs of individual students (e.g., type term papers, theses, etc.). Students are responsible for their own secretarial needs. The EGH Academic Program Coordinator is ___________ and can be found in Room ___ of the EGH Office in the HPNP building.
FACULTY ADVISOR (MAJOR PROFESSOR) AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
All graduate students are accepted into EGH by a faculty member who agrees to serve as their faculty advisor (or major professor) and often the chair of their supervisory committee. Graduate students in EGH work closely with this faculty advisor. Consequently, research opportunities within EGH reflect the expertise and research programs of the individual faculty (see EGH faculty webpage at http://egh.phhp.ufl.edu/faculty/). In some instances, after one or more semesters in EGH, a graduate student may wish to work with a faculty member other than the one under which the student was accepted. This desire to change major professors could be for one of several reasons (e.g., redirection of interests, funding availability, personality conflicts, etc.). Such changes acceptable if the student is in good academic standing (minimum 3.0 GPA with no flags on registration record) and both faculty members agree to the change. In this case, a letter of notification to the Faculty Graduate Coordinator, signed by the student and both faculty members (old and new), is all that is required. If the student is (a) not in good academic standing or (b) one or both faculty members do not agree to the change, then the request for change of faculty advisor will be handled on a case-by-case basis as guided by the Graduate Faculty Coordinator.
RESEARCH FACILITIES
The Department collaborates extensively with the Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology (CEHT), the Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI), and the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience.
The Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology serves as the focal point at the University of Florida for activities concerning the effects of chemicals on human and animal health. The Center serves as an interface between basic research and its application for evaluation of human health and environmental risks. This interface includes an educational component to transfer this knowledge to producers, consumers, and regulators. The research and teaching activities of the Center provide a resource for the State of Florida to identify and reduce risks associated with environmental pollution, food contamination, and workplace hazards. Development and improvement of risk assessment methods as well as toxicity testing and elucidation of mechanisms of action of chemical-induced adverse health effects are all activities of the Center that serve as resources for the State of Florida and the nation. The Center provides a forum for the discussion of specific and general problems concerning the potential adverse human health effects associated with chemical exposure. Using the interpretive skills of scientists and clinicians from various health disciplines, better decisions can be made for the protection of public health.
The Emerging Pathogens Institute was established as a multidisciplinary unit on the University of Florida campus in 2007 to bring together researchers from diverse fields to understand factors leading to the emergence of new pathogens and to develop methods for their control. The new institute is also charged to develop the teaching capability to train the next generation of scientists who will keep these pathogens at bay in the future, and to develop the outreach capability to educate the population on steps they can take to avoid human diseases as well as help our private sector avoid diseases that affect plants and animals. The Institute has a strong interest in understanding the role of environmental factors (including climate and other anthropogenic changes) in emergence of pathogens and in developing microbial risk assessment models, including modeling of transmission pathways and interventions.
The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience was established in 1974 as a free-standing laboratory adjacent to Marineland, the world's first oceanarium. The Whitney Laboratory is the site of a variety of research projects on marine mammals and their environments, as well as the spread of vector-born diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever. Educational programs for children, the general public, and university students at all levels are also provided by the Whitney Lab.
In addition to CEHT, EPI, and the Whitney Laboratory, EGH faculty members collaborate with colleagues within the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; the colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Agricultural and Life Sciences; the departments of Sociology and Criminology, Environmental Engineering, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Pathology, Geography, Agricultural Education and Communication, and other departments within our College of Public Health and Health Professions; the School of Natural Resources and Environment, and the UF Aquatic Animal Health Program.
EGH department faculty also conduct research in the Aquatic Pathobiology Laboratory and have established a research field research laboratory in rural Haiti.
GATORLINK
GatorLink is a computer ID and suite of services that allow access to a variety of UF campus computing resources. Every student is required to get a GatorLink ID. Students will be held accountable for information contained in official university mailings to the GatorLink address (which resembles this format: [email protected]). Free services, including an electronic mailbox and web space are made available. Other campus services require your GatorLink ID to authenticate your identity. To use GatorLink, you must agree to abide by the policies stated in the Policies for Use of GatorLink and in the UF Acceptable Use Policy. To create your GatorLink ID, go to the website http://gatorlink.ufl.edu. A UF Software CD can be purchased at the Hub and used to set up your computer’s Internet connection from home. If you need assistance in setting up your account, contact the UF Computing Help Desk in 132 HUB. You will need your UF Gator 1 card.
LIBRARIES
The University of Florida libraries form the largest information resources system in Florida. UF on-campus libraries include the Marston Science Library, Library West, the Health Sciences Library, and several other discipline-oriented branches (e.g., Education Library, Vet Med Reading Room, Mead Library, and Legal Information Center). The Marston Science Library includes an outstanding Map Library with extensive collections of aerial photographs and remote sensing imagery, particularly for the southeastern United States, Latin America, and Africa. The libraries are also a regional depository for over 600,000 U.S. government documents.
.
The Library web page is http://web.uflib.ufl.edu. You can request an interlibrary loan (ILL) for books and journals the library does not have. You can also request books that are located at the IFAS research centers. There is no fee for this service, but you will need your student ID number. Go to http://illiad.uflib.ufl.edu/illiad/ to access interlibrary loan service. To renew books, choose the institute and use your student ID number. Overdue fines are assessed at the rate of 25 cents per day per item. Fines for course reserve items are 25 cents per hour per item. These fees will automatically be entered into your student record. Unpaid or late library fees could result in a hold on your records, which would prevent you from registering.
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
The Graduate Student Handbook defines the word “grievance” as “dissatisfaction occurring when a student thinks that any condition affecting him or her is unjust or inequitable or creates unnecessary hardship. Areas in which student grievances may arise include scientific misconduct, sexual harassment, discrimination, employment-related concerns, and academic matters.” The first line of action is to resolve the conflict with the party directly involved. Communication is key to resolution. If the conflict cannot be resolved to the student’s satisfaction, he/she should speak with either his/her supervisory committee chair or the Graduate Coordinator. If the student does not feel comfortable in addressing the issue with either faculty member, he/she should discuss the grievance with the Academic Program Coordinator. As stated in the Graduate Handbook, “the right of appeal in writing to the Dean of the Graduate School is the next option if the student still feels the grievance has not been settled. The President of the University shall be the final appeal but only after the prescribed administrative channels and grievance procedures have been exhausted.”
ACADEMIC HONESTY
PLAGIARISM IN COURSEWORK
In cases of plagiarism or academic dishonesty in a course, the instructor would inform the student’s academic advisor and the student would fail the course.
THESIS/DISSERTATION WORK
In cases of plagiarism or academic dishonesty in thesis or dissertation work, the student would fail his/her defense, and the supervisory committee would decide whether the student would be allowed to defend the thesis or dissertation in work the following semester. If a more severe or less severe penalty is sought by the student or involved faculty, the case would be presented to a group of three faculty members. The group will include the advisor, the department chair, and the instructor in cases of academic dishonesty in a course; or the advisor, the department chair, and an involved member of the student’s graduate committee in cases of academic dishonesty regarding thesis work. Decision on the case would be decided by the three faculty members. According to University of Florida policy, involved faculty and/or the student reserve the right to report the case to the University of Florida Student Judicial Affairs Office, where the University Hearing Board will determine the level of discipline.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Graduate students in EGH may receive some form of financial support from EGH. This support is usually arranged through the academic advisor, either as a graduate or teaching assistantship or as hourly employment (OPS).
In addition, a limited number of College graduate assistantships and fellowships may be available on a competitive basis, primarily for recruiting outstanding graduate students. Also, the Office of Research and Graduate Education in Grinter Hall maintains an extensive compilation of national and international programs supporting graduate and postdoctoral fellowships and scholarships. Usually, only a limited number of students qualify for any particular program. Prospective and accepted graduate students should review the information at their earliest possible opportunity, preferably prior to their first registration as a graduate student at the University of Florida. For more information about funding, see http://gradschool.rgp.ufl.edu/students/financial-aid.html.
TUITION PAYMENTS (FEE WAIVERS)
Graduate students, employed by EGH through a Graduate or Teaching Assistantship and those receiving fellowships, will be eligible for a tuition fee waiver. For Florida residents, the fee waiver covers the matriculation fee, or approximately 80% of the total in-state fees. For first-year students who are not legal residents of the state of Florida, this waiver will cover the matriculation fee plus the non-resident fee, or approximately 95% of the out-of-state fees. However, the non-resident fee will be waived for the first year (12 months) only.
After one year, non-residents, who are U.S. citizens or Resident Aliens of the United States, are expected to declare Florida their legal state of residence (see below). In general, international students are not eligible for tuition fee waivers or a graduate assistantship unless the major professor provides those funds through externally-funded grants. Current tuition and fee waiver rates per student credit hour are located at http://fa.ufl.edu/ufs/cashiers/feecalc.asp
FLORIDA RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
All graduate students, eligible to do so, are expected to declare Florida their legal state of residence after one year of residence in the state. Graduate students eligible for Florida residency are (1) U.S. citizens with non-Florida residency status, indicated by a resident code of "N" on University records, and (2) Resident Aliens with non-Florida residency status, indicated by a resident code of "E" on University records. International students with a resident code of "A" are not eligible to apply for Florida residency.
Non-resident students on an assistantship are eligible for a waiver of the non-resident fee for the first year only. Consequently, out-of-state students must begin the process of establishing Florida as their legal state of residence as soon as they move here. If you choose not to establish residency, you will be responsible for paying the difference between in-state tuition and out-of-state tuition after your first year. Students, not on assistantships, are also responsible for this surcharge as well.
Recommendations for establishing and declaring Florida as the legal state of residence are outlined below.
1) Obtain Request for Change in Residency Status form from Registrar's Office, S222 Criser Hall and review the information and items that will be requested when filing for residency after living in Florida for 11-1/2 to 12 months. 2) File a Declaration of Domicile in Florida at the Official Records Office, Room 101 in the Alachua County Administrative Building, located at the corner of University Avenue and Main Street. This document should be filed as soon as you have a local address in Florida. The cost is $11. Keep the receipt for attaching to the "Request for Change in Residency Status" form that you will submit after residing in the state for one year. 3) Obtain a Florida Driver's License, car registration, and register to vote in Alachua County (or other Florida county, if appropriate) as soon as you have a local Florida address. 4) Keep any receipts that provide proof of the date of your first residence in Florida (e.g., rental agreements, deposits for establishing utilities, etc.).
5) Keep any proof of employment in Florida, especially non-UF employment. 6) After residing in Florida for 11-1/2 months, file the completed Request for Change in Residency Status form and required documentation with the Office of the University Registrar, S222 Criser Hall.
There are cases, based on the residency status of the student's spouse, which may allow for earlier application and approval. In these latter cases, the student should consult the Registrar's Office as soon as possible to determine residency eligibility based on a spouse's residency status.
GRADUATE ASSISTANTS UNITED (GAU)
Graduate Assistants United (GAU) at the University of Florida represents all graduate assistants employed by the University. GAU bargains for health benefits, improved working conditions, and salary increases. GAU represents graduate assistants in workplace disputes and protects their rights as state employees. For more information or to download the membership form, visit their website at http://www.ufgau.org.
MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH
COLLEGE OVERVIEW
The Master of Public Health Program is offered by the College of Public Health and Health Professions (PHHP), one of six colleges that comprise the University of Florida Health Science Center. The other colleges are Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine. Established in 1958, the College was the first of its type in the United States dedicated to educating students of many different health professions in an academic health center. In 2003, the College expanded beyond its original focus on health professions to embrace public health as integral to its mission and goals. We envision our long history of national leadership in the education of health professionals to continue far into the future through development and application of innovative models of education, research, and service that derive from collaboration among public health disciplines and the health professions.
Students in the MPH program are highly encouraged to view the MPH Handbook on the University of Florida Public Health Programs Website (http://www.mph.ufl.edu/students/handbook/). Much of the following information and additional resources may be found there.
COLLEGE MISSION
The mission of the College, which was adopted in February 2007, is:To preserve, promote, and improve the health and well being of populations, communities, and individuals. To fulfill this mission, we foster collaborations among public health and the health professions in education, research, and service.
PRIMARY GOALS
Consistent with its mission, the College has three primary goals:1.Provide excellent educational programs that prepare graduates to address the multifaceted health needs of populations, communities, and individual2.Conduct quality research and disseminate findings that are responsive to priority health needs 3.Serve as active participants and leaders in University, public health, health practice, and health services communities through collaborative approaches to intervention, professional practice, and policy
We emphasize the development of intellectual resources and skills that can help our graduates address today’s complex health problems and pursue fulfilling careers in a variety of health arenas. The College strives to impart the following values to all of our students:
•Commitment to excellence•Diversity•Integrity•Respect for human dignity•Social responsibility
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The College is comprised of the dean’s office, eight departments and eleven centers. The Master of Public Health program is administered by the dean’s office, in collaboration with the departments of Behavioral Science and Community Health, Environmental and Global Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Health Services Research, Management and Policy. The four other departments in the College comprise the School of Health Professions.
PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Master of Public Health (MPH) program is offered in four different formats: a traditional 48-credit MPH program, an accelerated 42-credit MPH for qualified health professionals, a combined bachelor’s to master’s degree MPH program, and collaborative programs with complementary master’s and doctoral degrees. In each format, students may concentrate in one of the five core areas of public health: biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health management and policy, and social and behavioral sciences. In addition, health professionals who wish to obtain breadth in public health may pursue a concentration in public health practice. The MPH curricula have been designed to meet current developments in the field of
public health, Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation criteria, and the College’s mission, goals and objectives.
The major characteristics and graduation requirements of the 48-credit MPH curriculum are: One course in each of the five core areas (15 credits) Seminar in Contemporary Public Health Issues (1 credit) Core courses in an area of concentration (15-21 credits) Elective courses relevant to the chosen concentration and individual career goals (up to 12 credits) Public Health Internship (5-8 credits) Major paper and presentation (credit assigned through the Seminar in Contemporary Public Health
Issues)
Students attain depth in public health knowledge and skills by selecting one core area for their concentrations. MPH core and elective courses provide a broad knowledge base related to public health issues and professional perspectives. Concepts presented in these courses are integrated with the Public Health Internship that provides an opportunity for each student to apply his or her knowledge in the real world of public health practice. Students may engage in a variety of activities during their internship, however, each student must have one special project that will serve as the basis for their major paper and presentation. The internship, and associated paper and presentation, reinforces student’s understanding of their internship project in the larger context of public health - as a cross-disciplinary field and in relation to the competencies expected of all MPH graduates. Student presentations are scheduled during Public Health Days near the end of their graduating semester.
The 42-credit accelerated program is designed for working professionals, but it may be completed on either a full- or part-time basis. All professional students must complete 15 credits of core public health course work, 15-18 credits in a concentration area, 1 credit of seminar in contemporary public health issues, and 5 credits of an internship. Candidates for this program must possess a terminal degree in health-related fields.
Non-traditional and concurrent programs between the MPH and other graduate degrees are developed on an individual basis. The University allows no more than nine credits of coursework to be applied to a second graduate degree. When the MPH is the second degree, students work with their supervisory committee chairs to identify the courses that will be acceptable as electives in the MPH program. As in the case of joint programs, students pursue the 48-credit MPH and are required to complete MPH and concentration core courses, as well as a public health internship. Programs in this category have been shared with Psychology, Rehabilitation Science, Nursing, Journalism, and Sociology.
Admission Criteria
The following criteria must be met in order to be considered for admission to the MPH program:
Completed online application submitted to the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS): www.sophas.org
Completed University of Florida for Graduate Admissions submitted online to the University Graduate Admissions office: www.admissions.ufl.edu/phhp2009
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
At least a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 hours of undergraduate coursework.*
Satisfactory GRE scores sent directly from ETS (UF School code 5812)
English Proficiency **
All international applicants must submit scores from one of the tests listed below:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores: 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, or 80 Internet-based.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6
The Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) with a minimum score of 77
A professional Statement of Purpose that matches the philosophy and focus of the program.
*The GRE and the undergraduate 3.0 GPA minimums may be waived for applicants with previous graduate or professional degrees at the discretion of the admissions committee. Applicants with an M.D. or a Ph.D. in a health-related discipline from a University in the U.S. do not have to take the GRE. Please consult with the program director if you are uncertain whether you need to take the GRE.**International students whose native language is English or who have attended a college or university in the United States for at least one year are not required to submite TOEFL scores, but must have acceptable scores on the General Test section of the GRE. For a list of countries whose citizens are exempt from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) requirement that most non-US applicants must meet, go to the Graduate School English Language Testing Exemptions.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
To apply for admission to the University of Florida Master of Public Health Program, applicants MUST complete BOTH of the following application procedures:
1. Submit an online application to the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS), a service of the CEPH accredited schools of public health. The application can be found at: www.sophas.org
2. Submit the University of Florida online Application for Graduate Admission. The application can be found at: www.admissions.ufl.edu/phhp2009
Requirements for each application are outlined below.I. Application Requirements for SOPHAS (Applications should be submitted at: www.sophas.org)
1. Complete the SOPHAS online application and pay the application fee. (Please note that the fee will vary according to the number of school designations)
2. Arrange to have one set of official transcripts from each institution attended sent to SOPHAS (the address is listed below)
3. Arrange to have 3 Letters of Recommendation submitted. At least two should be from former professors. If you have been out of school for over 5 years, three (3) letters from employers are acceptable.
4. Submit your professional Statement of Purpose outlining objectives that match the philosophy and focus of the program and the concentration area you hav selected.
5. Submit a Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
SOPHAS Mailing Address:SOPHASP.O. Box 9111Watertown, MA 02471For Overnight Delivery Only:SOPHASc/o Liaison International311 Arsenal StreetWatertown, MA 02472II. Application Requirements for the University of Florida, Application for Graduate Admission (Applications should be submitted at: www.admissions.ufl.edu/phhp2009)
1. Complete the University of Florida Application for Graduate Admissions online and pay the non-refundable $30 application fee. You may pay online by credit card or send the application fee and other required materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions (the address is listed below). Please note that the $30US application fee is required from all students applying to a graduate program including current and former University of Florida students.
2. When completing the application:If applying to the Campus MPH Program:Under College/School, select Public Health and Health Professions (PHHP)Under Program/Major, select Master of Public Health (MPH)Under Specialization type in your MPH Concentration choice. For a listing of the MPH Concentrations visit: http://www.mph.ufl.edu/concentrations
Note: The Statement of Purpose should be submitted in SOPHAS only. Therefore, when prompted to enter your Statement of Purpose on the UF Application for Graduate Admission, please type "Submitted in SOPHAS."
If applying to the Online MPH Program:Under College/School, select Public Health and Health Professions (PHHP)Under Program/Major, select Master of Public Health (MPH)Under Specialization type in "Online". Please note that the Online MPH is offered only in Public Health Practice concentration area.Note: The Statement of Purpose should be submitted in SOPHAS only. Therefore, when prompted to enter your Statement of Purpose on the UF Application for Graduate Admission, please type "Submitted in SOPHAS."
3. Arrange to have official transcripts from each previous institution attended (other than University of Florida) sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions (the address is listed below).
4. Arrange to have official GRE test scores sent directly to University of Florida. The University of Florida code is 5812. Please allow 6-8 weeks for the official scores to arrive.
5. Arrange to have official TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB scores sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions (International students only).
University of Florida Office of Graduate Admissions Mailing Address:UF Office of Graduate AdmissionsUniversity of FloridaP.O. Box 2946Gainesville, FL 32602-2946(352) 392-1365Things to Remember... Original Transcripts should be sent to BOTH SOPHAS and the UF Graduate Admissions Office Items to be submitted to SOPHAS only: Online Application with Application Fee, 3 Letters of
Recommendation, Statement of Purpose and Resume/CV Items to be submitted to the UF Graduate Admissions Office only: Online application, $30US application
fee, GRE scores, English Proficiency Scores
ADMISSIONS DEADLINES: CAMPUS & ONLINE
MPH ADMISSIONS (STANDARD 48-CREDIT AND ACCELERATED 42-CREDIT)
Applications for the standard 48-credit MPH Program and the accelerated 42-credit MPH Program (both campus and online) are reviewed on a "rolling" basis. You are strongly encouraged to apply early, at least 3-4 months before the deadline for the semester in which you would like to begin the program. Admission decisions are generally made within 4 weeks of receiving completed application materials.
Please see the University of Florida Public Health Programs website for admissions deadlines by semester:http://www.mph.ufl.edu/admissions/admissioncriteria.htm
HOW THE MPH PROGRAM WORKS
The MPH Program is administered through the office of the Senior Associate Dean for Public Health in PHHP. Other administrative personnel include the Associate Director of the MPH Program, the MPH Internship Coordinator, and the Program Assistant. MPH concentrations are housed in the departments of Behavioral Science and Community Health, Environmental and Global Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Health Services Research, Management and Policy (see page 5 for the organizational structure of the College).
MPH students declare a concentration area when they apply to the program. Upon enrollment, they track through the approved concentration area of their choice. Each concentration has a coordinator who is responsible for overseeing curriculum development and applying program policies in his/her concentration. Each student is assigned a faculty member who serves as supervisory committee chair to provide individual guidance and advice (see page 105 for additional information about supervisory committees). Working from the templates provided within each concentration of this handbook, students consult with the Associate Director of the MPH Program to draft individualized plans of study, which are subsequently finalized with the each student’s supervisory committee chair.
Each concentration allows a different array of options for elective courses, and faculty will often approve new courses to meet elective requirements. However, the MPH is approved by UF to allow courses from only the following prefixes to be accepted toward the degree:ABE CLP FYC MMC PUP URBAEB EDF GMHS PAD RCS VMEALS EES HAS PHA SDSANG ENV INR PHC SOSANT FOS LAW POS STARegistration for the MPH program is managed through the Program Assistant to assure that MPH students have access to the program’s courses.
KEY CONTACTS FOR THE MPH PROGRAM
Mary Peoples-Sheps, DrPHSenior Associate Dean for Public Health HPNP Room [email protected]
Telisha S. Martin, MA, MHSE MPH Associate DirectorHPNP Room [email protected]
Mike Menefee Assistant Director of Student Financial Affairs Room G208 HPNP [email protected] Celeste, MPH, CHESMPH Internship CoordinatorHPNP Room 3108352-273-6148
______________Program AssistantHPNP Room [email protected]
MPH CORE COMPETENCIES
All students in the MPH Program are expected to master a set of public health competencies during the course of their studies. The competencies that have been selected by the faculty of the College of Public Health and Health Professions are derived from the Ten Essential Public Health Services and are consistent with recommendations of the Association of Schools of Public Health (www.asph.org). The following table lists the competencies expected of all of our MPH graduates and the courses that contribute to them. During your first semester in the MPH program, a session of the Seminar in Contemporary Public Health Issues will focus on the derivation and applications of these competencies. Throughout your MPH program, each decision you make about courses and other learning experiences will be guided by its relationship to achieving the competencies.
Each concentration also has a set of competencies specific to practice in its field.
Tables with core competencies can be found in the MPH Handbook on the University of Florida Public Health Programs Website (http://mph.ufl.edu/files/2012/08/MPHStudentHandbook20122013.pdf
CONCENTRATION OVERVIEW
Professionals trained in Environmental Health study the impact of our surroundings on our health. They understand how environmental risk factors can cause diseases like asthma, cancer, and food poisoning. Environmental health professionals make up approximately half of public health personnel and the field accounts for about half of public health expenditures.
Students interested in environmental health typically have a background in biological or physical sciences, engineering, nursing, medicine, and veterinary medicine. Prior experience in chemistry, biology, statistics, and Microsoft Excel software is desirable.
Those who graduate with an MPH in environmental health find challenging positions in federal, state, and county departments of health and environmental protection, other federal agencies, consulting and research companies, and industry. They work as environmental health specialists, risk assessors, and project managers. Recent graduates from UF are employed by several major environmental consulting firms as risk assessors and by a research consulting firm.
The MPH environmental health concentration is part of the Environmental Health Program in the College of Public Health and Health Professions. Many faculty members in the concentration are also members of the Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology (CEHT) and/or the Emerging Pathogens Institute (EPI). Some of the faculty hold joint appointments in other UF colleges including the College of Veterinary Medicine. The environmental health curriculum addresses a diverse range of environmental issues that concern individuals and communities. Courses and other educational experiences are carefully structured to enable students to develop competence in very specific environmental health skills. The program offers particular depth in the effects of hazardous materials on human health and the environment through courses in toxicology and risk assessment. Required courses include general toxicology, toxic substances, human health risk assessment, risk communication, and exposure assessment. Included in the concentration core are courses on water biology,
air pollution, water pollution and wastewater management, and food sanitation and safety where public health activities are guided by federal and state laws and regulations. Through additional elective courses, which draw on the extensive expertise of University of Florida faculty and the unique ecology of our state, students may focus on community environmental health, food health, pathogens, or toxicology and risk assessment.
PLANS OF STUDY
General plans of study for the 48-credit and 42-credit environmental health MPH curriculum are provided in the following pages. These plans are templates for developing individual plans specific to each student’s needs and career goals.
Students should meet with the Associate Director in their first semester to begin developing their individual plan of study. In preparation for this meeting, students should develop a list of goals they wish to accomplish through the MPH Program. Your supervisory committee chair and other public health faculty are also available to consult in the development of the plan of study.
Once you have met with the MPH Associate Director and developed your initial plan of study, you will need to have your supervisory committee chair sign your plan of study. Please provide a copy of the signed plan of study to the Program Assistant to be placed in your student file. At this time, the Program Assistant will register you for public health coursework.
If your initial plan of study does not change, you will be registered each semester according to the original plan. If you need to change the plan of study, please contact the Associate Director or your supervisory committee chair for guidance. The revised plan of study, signed by your supervisory committee chair and the MPH Associate Director, must be sent to the Program Assistant prior to course registration. You will not be registered for practicum, supervised research or internship credits until appropriate proposal forms with signatures have been submitted.
Offerings and contact appropriate department for permission to register prior to registration.
For more details regarding the MPH program, students are referred to the MPH Student Handbook: http://mph.ufl.edu/files/2012/08/MPHStudentHandbook20122013.pdf
MASTER OF HEALTH SCIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND GLOBAL HEALTH
The proposed Master of Health Science in Environmental and Global Health (MHS-EGH), offered by the College of Public Health and Health Professions, is a nonthesis degree that will require a minimum of 40 credit hours (Table A), including a concentration. The MHS-EGH degree will involve 12 credit hours of core public health course work including epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, and an overview of public health issues. Beyond these foundation courses, the MHS-EGH diverges significantly from a traditional public health degree to a focused training program in applied research in a specific concentration. Students will take 13 credit hours of concentration core courses that include a focus on global health, interpreting scientific research, and teaching. The concentration course work is followed by 12 credit hours of elective course work consistent with each student’s individual career goals. The final phase of training involves a capstone, applied 3-credit hour field research experience.
Core Concentration Courses - Through concentration core courses, the MHS-EGH degree will provide students with special training in occupational health, agricultural medicine, entomology, food safety, zoonotic infections, water-borne infections, climate, molecular diagnostics, environmental detection systems,
Figure 1. Complex zoonotic disease problems often cannot be solved without partnering with professionals from a number of disciplines to identify the often inter-related human, animal, and environmental risk factors
environmental hazard controls in agriculture, and various associated disease control methods. The proposed degree’s flexibility will permit us to tailor training for specific needs.
The first concentration proposed in the MHS-EGH, One Health, is oriented towards recruiting out-of-state and international students and equipping them to protect agricultural workers from zoonotic infections. Emerging zoonotic infections problems (avian influenza virus, SARS virus, monkeypox virus, Nipah virus, shiga toxin-producing E. coli, etc.) are increasing and expected to continue to increase. Controlling them often requires cross-disciplinary approaches to identify the human, animal, and environmental risk factors for disease transmission. The concept of working across disciplines to solve complex problems has been termed the One Health approach or initiative (Figure 1). Perhaps this is best summarized by this quote from the American Veterinary Medical Association:
Although new opportunities have emerged to promote health in the rapidly changing human, animal, and environment domains, our ability to protect, improve, and advance health cannot be based on strategies and mindsets in the past. Rather, we need to adopt an integrated, holistic approach that reflects both our profound interdependence and the realization that we are part of a larger ecological system—exquisitely and elaborately connected.18
While many organizations are calling for such a cross-disciplinary One Health approach to these problems, there are no U.S. degree programs to develop such professionals. In this proposal, we leverage the diverse talent of faculty at the University of Florida in offering the first degree focused on One Health in the United States. The 40-credit, MHS-EGH degree, One Health concentration, will focus on controlling zoonotic infections among animal workers, particularly those working in agriculture. In contrast to traditional MPH degrees, this degree will have an applied research focus and will be aggressively marketed to attract a new population of students to the University of Florida, especially out-of-state U.S. and international students. Later in this proposal, we provide documentation supporting interest in the program.
In core concentration courses, students will receive the multidisciplinary training necessary to solve appropriate problems, e.g., with One Health thinking and interventions. For instance, in the course Occupational & Environmental Health among Agriculture Workers, students will receive training in classical occupational and environmental health; however, it will have a heavy emphasis upon agribusiness workers and in prevention of zoonotic infections among them. Lectures will involve examples of occupational-associated diseases among agricultural workers, identification of risk factors, and disease mitigation and control. Environmental Infectious Diseases: A Molecular Approach is designed to introduce students to modern tools for environmental pathogen detection and characterization including: sampling strategies, molecular
diagnostics, DNA sequencing, sequence alignment, genomics, proteinomics, etc. Water Quality and Human Health or Aquatic Systems & Environmental Health provide an introduction to the variety of factors that affect water quality and present hazards to human and animal health. An Introduction to Entomology, Zoonotic Diseases, and Food Safety will introduce students to methods for controlling zoonotic diseases, especially those involved in meat, dairy and produce production and will involve practical tours of these environments with discussions from employees. In the past, we have worked with professionals at Pilgrims Pride Corporation, Live Oak, FL (large poultry processing plant), Cedar Key Marine Field Station (bivalve aquaculture and food safety lectures), and North Florida Holsteins (large modern dairy farm), and these would be reasonable sites for degree training. Finally, the Seminar Environmental and Global Health: Critical Thinking and Teaching will teach students to think from a global perspective in their approach to environmental health analysis and problem solving. It will also teach them to present their ideas to a critical audience.
Elective Courses - Similarly, elective courses have been selected to permit students to gain considerable knowledge in specific occupational fields depending upon their interests and career goals. Necessarily, these courses are taught by professionals in these fields. Elective courses are taught by faculty from diverse disciplines, such as agricultural and life sciences, veterinary medicine, and environmental engineering sciences. (Letters of support from representatives from these areas are provided in the appendix.) These extensive interdisciplinary offerings provide students with opportunities to learn from and interact with allied disciplines. For instance, if a student is interested in the occupational health of meat processing workers he or she will select 12 credit hours of elective training with that in mind (e.g. courses like Industrial Hygiene, Food and the Environment, Current Issues in Food Safety and Sanitation, and Meat Technology), In contrast, a student interested in the growing industry of aquaculture or fishing and its workers might take 12 credit hours of Aquatic Systems & Environmental Health, Water Quality & Human Health, Introduction to Aquaculture, and Soils, Water and Public Health. A student interested in protecting the workers in the poultry industry might take 12 credit hours of related courses such as Agricultural Waste Management, Zoonotic Diseases, Drug Biotransformation and Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicity, and Environmental Management of Vector-borne Diseases. A student interested in occupational diseases associated with timber and logging might focus upon wild animal and vector-borne zoonoses and take Environmental Management of Vector-borne Diseases, Aquatic Systems and Environmental Health, Global Health & Development I, and a forestry graduate course for his or her elective 12 credit hours.
In short, the wide array of electives available to our students will enable them to focus on diverse specialty training so that they might be effective in protecting the health of animal-exposed workers in equally diverse occupational settings.
Occupational Health Field Research Experience - The capstone experience for the MHS-EGH degree program will be the placement of the student in an occupational setting with an occupational health professional mentor. A new course is being developed for this purpose – Occupational Health Field Research Experience. Through this field experience the graduate student will learn to exercise his or her training in answering important occupationally relevant research questions. The student will be required to develop a research project with that mentor and to report the results of this field research as part of graduation requirements.
Through this program students will develop advanced analytical skills for applied research careers in their concentration area. The program is targeted at developing the solid knowledge base of public health and theory, while including advanced applied research and technical skills needed to address emerging and global environmental health threats. Drawing upon the existing strengths of UF to develop areas of concentration not only makes the proposed program unique, but the program will lead to broader interdepartmental and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Upon successful completion of all program components, program graduates will be awarded the MHS-EGH. When students have completed the MHS-EGH program, they will have the skills to effectively communicate and conduct research on important environmental health issues.
The MHS-EGH will prepare some students to pursue further graduate studies in PhD programs in occupational health, environmental health, toxicology, epidemiology, etc., and equip them with the tools to be effective collaborators on multidisciplinary research teams. Other graduates may pursue careers as research environmental health specialists or work as environmental health scientists for public health agencies.
Supervisory Committee: Each student will be assigned a Graduate Faculty member who will serve as the primary faculty advisor to provide individual guidance and advice. This individual will serve as the supervisory committee, which is comprised of one Graduate Faculty member.
ADMISSION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The EGH MHS degree program track adheres to the minimum standards set forth by the UF Graduate School:
A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (4-point system) satisfactory scores on the GRE General Test (minimum of 1000)
You must apply to and be accepted by BOTH the Graduate School at the University of Florida and the PhD Program in Environmental and Global Health.
Application to the Graduate School at University of Florida can be found at the following link: http://gradschool.ufl.edu/students/application-and-admission.html The mailing address of the Graduate School is:
Office of Graduate AdmissionsUniversity of FloridaP.O. Box 2946Gainesville, Fl 32602-2946
1. Submit application form for admission to Graduate School, along with $30 US nonrefundable application fee. Or, you may complete the application form online at http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/forms.html, but you still must send the $30 US application fee and the other required materials to the address listed above. (Current and former University of Florida students are no longer exempt from this application fee; the $30 US application fee is required from all students applying to a graduate program.)2. Under College/School, specify Environmental and Global Health MHS.3. Arrange to have official transcripts from each previous institution attended (other than University of Florida) sent to the address above.4. Arrange to have official GRE test scores sent directly to University of Florida.5. Arrange to have official TOEFL scores sent to address above (International students only).
Application to the MHS Program in Environmental and Global HealthSend the items below to:
PhD Program Environmental and Global HealthUniversity of Florida101 S. Newell Drive, Room 2150P.O. Box 100188
Gainesville, FL 32610O Phone: 352-273-9188 Fax: 352-273-6070
1. Departmental portion of application form sent to Graduate School 2. Copies of transcripts from each previous institution attended (other than University of Florida)3. Copies of GRE4. Three letters of reference that attest to your accomplishments and management potential5. Current CV6. Statement of Purpose (1-2 page explanation of your career goals and why you wish to earn the PhD degree at the University of Florida)7. Copy of TOEFL scores (International students only) 8. Assistant/Fellowship Application
Although a formal interview is not required at this time, applicants are encouraged to visit the department prior to or during the application process.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
It is the general policy of the EGH Department that all students accepted to pursue graduate studies must demonstrate support in the form of a teaching or research assistantship, or show evidence of other adequate support from a fellowship or other source. The EGH Department does not guarantee support to MHS students.
Those students assigned to teach during any given semester by the graduate studies coordinator are appointed Teaching Assistant (0.33 FTE) and are required to work 13.3 hours per week. All graduate students receiving a stipend who are not employed as teaching assistants will be designated Research Assistants or Fellows depending on the source of funds. Students are expected to diligently pursue that research.
Prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, every graduate student will receive a statement specifying (i) total amount of stipend for that period, (ii) position to which appointed, e.g. TA, R.A., or other, (iii) starting and ending dates of appointment, (iv) assignment for that period, (v) the supervisor for that period, and (vi) other pertinent information. A copy of this document will be kept in the student's personnel file. Students will be asked to sign the form to indicate that it has been read, understood and accepted.
At the end of each fiscal year, each student will be evaluated on his/her assigned duties by the supervisor in writing. The student has the right to a written rebuttal in case he/she does not agree with the evaluation. The evaluation will also be kept in the student's personnel file.
A faculty member may support with his/her own funds any number of graduate students in addition to the College-supported graduate students
Students are encouraged to apply for national and graduate school fellowships and awards. If a student succeeds in receiving a grant, the department or the center may supplement the student's salary with a fraction of the amount up to the current funding levels (provided the granting agency allows such an arrangement).
SELECTION OF DISCIPLINE FOR DEGREE AND MAJOR PROFESSOR
Upon entering the department, students will be allocated a supervisor from the MHS committee. In addition, students may meet with each faculty member and select an advisor. Even if a student indicates an interest in working with a particular faculty member, he/she is advised to nevertheless interview with a group of graduate faculty members from the whole department before a final decision is made. However, students who have made individual arrangements with a professor prior to entering the program and are sponsored through non-College funds provided by this professor will not need to go through this selection process.
Students must select a major advisor by the end of their first semester of graduate school but are encouraged to do so as early as possible.
If a student desires to change the major advisor, he/she must discuss the change with the current advisor. If both parties agree to such change, the student can select a new advisor. If the parties cannot come to an agreement concerning the proposed change, then the student and the faculty member must each write a letter to the department chairperson explaining the situation. The student must specify the reason(s) for wanting to change. The advisor's letter must specify the reason(s) for the disagreement and contain an overall evaluation and appraisal of the situation. The MHS committee chairperson will evaluate the letters, discuss the situation with both individuals, and make a decision. If the student is permitted to change advisors, he/she will not be allowed to continue the same research project with another faculty member, except if both faculty members agree in writing to the MHS committee chairperson that the student should continue the same project under the new advisor.
The department coordinator will advise the student in general policies as set forth in this document. This individual is also responsible for general oversight of the MHS program for quality assurance, assignment of teaching duties, and recruitment of students.
SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE
The supervisory committee is proposed by the student's major advisor in consultation with the student, nominated by the MHS committee chairperson, approved by the chair of the department, and appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. Each committee member should hold Graduate Faculty status with the Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School is an ex-officio member of all Supervisory Committees. The Supervisory Committee should be appointed as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the second semester of the MHS program. The student is encouraged to meet with the Supervisory Committee as often as possible, with a minimum of one meeting per year.
The Supervisory Committee shall consist of at least four (3) members of the Graduate Faculty. At least (2) members of the EGH graduate faculty must be on the committee. The chairperson need not be tenured, but must hold a full-time tenure track position in the Department. All the members of the committee are voting members.
DUTIES OF SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE
To provide optimum support and guidance to help the student meet his/her academic goals. Inform the student of all regulations (listed here) governing the MHS degree. This does not absolve
the student from the responsibility of becoming informed of these regulations.
To meet soon after appointment with the student to consider the student's individual goals and proposed program, and evaluate the student's progress to date.
The Supervisory Committee will monitor and evaluate the student's progress and give clear directions as to the final work plan leading to graduation. It is recommended that the committee meets once a year. To conduct the final oral examination in defense of the thesis.
COMMITTEE CHANGES
It is important to remember that any changes made to the Supervisory Committee must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School as the changes occur. Changes need to be approved at least 30 days prior to the date of the Final Oral Defense so that all new members will have ample time to become familiar with the dissertation. Committee changes cannot be made after a final oral defense takes place.
MINIMUM NUMBER OF CREDITS PER TERM
All graduate students in the Department of Environmental and Global Health are required to register for a minimum of either three (Fall and Spring Semesters) or two (Summer Session) credits while they are actively working toward their degrees. Students receiving assistantships or fellowships must register for the number of credits required by the Graduate School. MHS students, conducting their thesis research at remote sites away from Gainesville, will be required to register for a minimum of three (Fall and Spring Semesters) or two (Summer Session) credits of Supervised Research (PHC 6917). Students, failing to register for two or more consecutive terms, must submit an "Application for Readmission" if they wish to resume their graduate studies at the University of Florida.
CURRICULUM
I. Public Health Core: 12 credits Credits *Semester PHC 6052 Introduction to Biostatistical Methods 3 FPHC 6001 Principles of Epidemiology 3 FPHC 6313 Environmental Health Concepts in Public Health 3 FPHC 6937 Introduction to Public Health 3II. Concentration Core: 24 credits Credits *SemesterPHC 6301 or PHC 6312
Aquatic Systems and Environmental Health; orWater Quality & Human Health
3 F, S
PHC 6515 or PHC 6937
An Introduction to Entomology, Zoonotic Diseases, and Food Safety; or Zoonotic Diseases
3 ss
PHC 6346 Occupational & Environmental Health among Agriculture Workers
3 F
PHC 6036 Environmental Infectious Diseases: A Molecular Approach 3 FGeneral Elective*
3
General Elective*
3
General Elective*
3
General Elective*
3
III. Professional Issues: 1 credit Credits *SemesterPHC 6937 Environmental and Global Health Seminar 1 SIV. Field ExperiencePHC 6937 Occupational Health Field Research Experience 3
Total Hours 40
*F=Fall; S=Spring; ss=Summer. Class schedules are subject to change each semester. Students should verify course offerings and contact appropriate department for permission to register prior to registration.
Possible electives CreditsCourse number Instructor
Aquatic Systems and Environmental Health 3 PHC 6937 KaneEnvironmental Management of Vector-borne Diseases 3 PHC 6512 OkechWater Quality & Human Health 3 PHC 6937 AliApplied Infectious Disease Epidemiology 2 PHC 6006 GrayPublic Health Laboratory Techniques 1 PHC 6937 HeilGlobal Health & Development I 3 PHC 6764 RheingansInternational Public Health 3 PHC 6762 Amaya-BurnsPublic Health Biology 3 PHC 6937 PrinsPublic Health Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response 3 PHC 6937 StaffZoonotic Diseases 3 PHC 6519 StaffWater Quality Analysis 3 EES 5245 DelfinoCurrent Issues in Food Safety and Sanitation 3 FOS 5205 SchneiderSpecial Topics: Soils, Water and Public Health 3 SWS 5551 O’ConnorTopics in Veterinary Medical Sciences 3 VME 6934 DenslowDrug Biotransformation and Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicity 3 PHA 6425 JamesCurrent Issues in Food Regulations 3 FOS5732 Schmidt
Possible electives CreditsCourse number Instructor
Culture and Nutrition 3 ANG 5467 StaffAerosol Mechanics 3 ENV 6130 WuSpecial Topics in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 1-4 FAS 6932 HillFood and the Environment 3 ALS 5106 StaffFoundation of Air Pollution 3 ENV 5105 JangAerosol Chemistry and Physics 3 ENV 6932 JangAtmospheric Chemistry 3 EES 6225 JangAgricultural Waste Management 3 ABE 5707C PullammanappilliIndividual Work in Agricultural and Biological Engineering 1-4 ABE 6905 StaffMeat Technology 3 ANS6636 JohnsonProblems in Entomology 1-4 ENY6905 Staff
TRANSFER OF CREDITS
Transfer of credit - A maximum of two courses, totaling not more than eight semester credits (max. of 6 credits per course) of graduate work (5000-level courses or equivalent) at another institution or from baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate studies at UF, may be applied toward the credit requirement for the MHS degree. Requests for transfer of credits to a MHS program must be performed during the first term of registration using the form "Transfer of Graduate Courses for Master's Degrees" (http://gradschool.rgp.ufl.edu/pdf-files/graduate-credit-transfer-form.pdf). Only graded (non S/U) courses obtained with a grade of B or better can be transferred.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
Students desiring not to register for two or more consecutive terms, but who wish to maintain their graduate student status in EGH, must obtain an approved leave of absence in the form of a letter from the chair (cochairs) of their supervisory committee. A copy of this letter must also be submitted by the chair (cochairs) to the Program Assistant for permanent filing with the student's academic record. Students with an approved leave of absence must submit an "Application for Readmission" to the Office of Admissions (201 Criser Hall) and have it approved by the University Registrar in order to resume their graduate studies. No other forms are required.
Graduate students failing to register for two consecutive terms without the written permission of the chair (cochairs) of their supervisory committee will no longer be considered students in the MHS program. These students will need to complete the "Application for Readmission" form and be approved by the Graduate Programs Committee of EGH. In addition, applicants for readmission, who did not obtain written permission for their leave of absence, must submit, to the Program Assistant, the same supporting documents that were required by EGH as part of the original application for admission; these documents include (1) a cover letter outlining the applicant's activities during the leave of absence and desire/justification for readmission, (2) transcripts of coursework taken elsewhere during the leave of absence, (3) three new letters of recommendation, and (4) a new statement of purpose. Readmission of a student, with an unapproved leave of absence, will be based on the same admission criteria that are applied to new applicants for admission; these criteria are (1) the individual merits and interests of the applicant, (2) fulfillment of the general admission requirements of the Graduate School, and (3) written acceptance by a faculty member in EGH, who agrees to serve as chair of their supervisory committee. This latter faculty member may not necessarily be the same faculty member who served as chair (Cochair) of their supervisory committee prior to the unapproved leave of absence. In this latter case, a new supervisory committee will also need to be appointed if the student is readmitted.
All leaves of absence, including single terms in which a student fails to register, are included in the seven-year time period within which all degree requirements for the MHS degree must be completed. Students wishing to be readmitted seven or more years after their first date of registration must submit an "Application for Admission" and all associated documents that are required as part of the application process. Students that are readmitted to the University, come in at the new, generally higher, tuition and fee rate.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHD)
The PhD in Public Health has two concentrations in the EGH department: One Health and Environmental and Global Health
ONE HEALTH CONCENTRATION
The new PhD in Public Health, One Health concentration will require a minimum of 90 post-
baccalaureate credit hours. These credits will include core public health coursework (15 credits);
quantitative methods and statistics (12 credits); professional issues (7 credits); concentration area
(35 credits); supervised research (3 credits); supervised teaching (3 credits); and dissertation
research (15 credits). Recommended undergraduate prerequisite training for One Health degrees
include basic biology, chemistry, physiology, and college algebra.
The One Health concentration is a research-oriented health degree that emphasizes working
across public health, veterinary health, and environmental health disciplines to tackle difficult
health problems. This program is designed to bridge the gap between various areas of animal,
plant, and human health to improve the well being of all species
ENVIRONMENTAL AND GLOBAL HEALTH CONCENTRAION
The PhD in Public Health, Environmental and Global Health concentration requires a minimum of
90 post-baccalaureate credit hours. These credits will include core public health coursework (15
credits); quantitative methods and statistics (12 credits); professional issues (7 credits);
concentration area (35 credits); supervised research (3 credits); supervised teaching (3 credits);
and dissertation research (15 credits).
Upon successful completion of all program components, culminating in the dissertation defense,
program graduates will be awarded the PhD in Public Health. Examples of places of employment
include universities, federal and state government agencies (e.g. Centers for Disease Control,
public health departments), health and environmental research firms, and non-profit local,
national, and international agencies.
ADMISSION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The new PhD in Public Health, One Health concentration will require a minimum of 90 post-
baccalaureate credit hours. These credits will include core public health coursework (15 credits);
quantitative methods and statistics (12 credits); professional issues (7 credits); concentration area
(35 credits); supervised research (3 credits); supervised teaching (3 credits); and dissertation
research (15 credits). Recommended undergraduate prerequisite training for One Health degrees
include basic biology, chemistry, physiology, and college algebra.
The One Health concentration is a research-oriented health degree that emphasizes working
across public health, veterinary health, and environmental health disciplines to tackle difficult
health problems. This program is designed to bridge the gap between various areas of animal,
plant, and human health to improve the well-being of all species.
ADMISSION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The EGH PhD track adheres to the minimum standards set forth by the UF Graduate School:
A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (4-point system) satisfactory scores on the GRE General Test (minimum of 1000)
You must apply to and be accepted by BOTH the Graduate School at the University of Florida and the PhD Program in Environmental and Global Health.
Application to the Graduate School at University of Florida can be found at the following link: http://gradschool.ufl.edu/students/application-and-admission.html The mailing address of the Graduate School is:
Office of Graduate AdmissionsUniversity of FloridaP.O. Box 2946Gainesville, Fl 32602-2946
1. Submit application form for admission to Graduate School, along with $30 US nonrefundable application fee. Or, you may complete the application form online at http://www.admissions.ufl.edu/forms.html, but you still must send the $30 US application fee and the other required materials to the address listed above. (Current and former University of Florida students are no longer exempt from this application fee; the $30 US application fee is required from all students applying to a graduate program.)2. Under College/School, specify Environmental and Global Health PhD.3. Arrange to have official transcripts from each previous institution attended (other than University of Florida) sent to the address above.4. Arrange to have official GRE test scores sent directly to University of Florida.5. Arrange to have official TOEFL scores sent to address above (International students only).
Application to the PhD Program in Environmental and Global HealthSend the items below to:
PhD Program Environmental and Global HealthUniversity of Florida101 S. Newell Drive, Room 2150P.O. Box 100188
27
Gainesville, FL 32610O Phone: 352-273-9188 Fax: 352-273-6070
1. Departmental portion of application form sent to Graduate School 2. Copies of transcripts from each previous institution attended (other than University of Florida)3. Copies of GRE4. Three letters of reference that attest to your accomplishments and management potential5. Current CV6. Statement of Purpose (1-2 page explanation of your career goals and why you wish to earn the PhD degree at the University of Florida)7. Copy of TOEFL scores (International students only) 8. Assistant/Fellowship Application
Although a formal interview is not required at this time, applicants are encouraged to visit the department prior to or during the application process.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
It is the general policy of the EGH Department that all students accepted to pursue graduate studies must demonstrate support in the form of a teaching or research assistantship, or show evidence of other adequate support from a fellowship or other source.
Teaching assistantships may be provided for a period of time contingent upon continuing funding from State sources. A student may receive support for one (1) more year if a relevant reason is presented to the departmental faculty by the major advisor, and the departmental faculty approves the request by majority vote of the entire faculty. Except in extenuating circumstances, the department is not financially responsible for any student taking longer than 5 years to complete the doctoral program.
Those students assigned to teach during any given semester by the graduate studies coordinator are appointed Teaching Assistant (0.33 FTE) and are required to work 13.3 hours per week. All graduate students receiving a stipend who are not employed as teaching assistants will be designated Research Assistants or Fellows depending on the source of funds. Students are expected to diligently pursue that research.
Prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, every graduate student will receive a statement specifying (i) total amount of stipend for that period, (ii) position to which appointed, e.g. TA, R.A., or other, (iii) starting and ending dates of appointment, (iv) assignment for that period, (v) the supervisor for that period, and (vi) other pertinent information. A copy of this document will be kept in the student's personnel file. Students will be asked to sign the form to indicate that it has been read, understood and accepted.
At the end of each fiscal year, each student will be evaluated on his/her assigned duties by the supervisor in writing. The student has the right to a written rebuttal in case he/she does not agree with the evaluation. The evaluation will also be kept in the student's personnel file.
28
A faculty member may support with his/her own funds any number of graduate students in addition to the College-supported graduate students
Students are encouraged to apply for national and graduate school fellowships and awards. If a student succeeds in receiving a grant, the department or the center may supplement the student's salary with a fraction of the amount up to the current funding levels (provided the granting agency allows such an arrangement).
Decisions concerning the allocation of state stipends are made by the departmental PhD committee faculty at the same time as a decision is made to admit a particular candidate.
SELECTION OF DISCIPLINE FOR DEGREE AND MAJOR PROFESSOR
Upon entering the department, some student may be sponsored such that they will be familiar with their advisor. However, most students will have their records reviewed and will be assigned an advisor. Later some students may want to change that advisor and this is easily performed (see below).
If a student desires to change the major advisor, he/she must discuss the change with the current advisor. If both parties agree to such change, the student can select a new advisor. If the parties cannot come to an agreement concerning the proposed change, then the student and the faculty member must each write a letter to the department chairperson explaining the situation. The student must specify the reason(s) for wanting to change. The advisor's letter must specify the reason(s) for the disagreement and contain an overall evaluation and appraisal of the situation. The PhD committee chairperson will evaluate the letters, discuss the situation with both individuals, and make a decision. If the student is permitted to change advisors, he/she will not be allowed to continue the same research project with another faculty member, except if both faculty members agree in writing to the PhD committee chairperson that the student should continue the same project under the new advisor.
Students must settle upon a major advisor by the end of their second semester of graduate school but are encouraged to do so as early as possible.
The department PhD coordinator will advise the student in general policies as set forth in this document. This individual is also responsible for general oversight of the PhD program for quality assurance, assignment of teaching duties, and recruitment of students.
SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE
The Supervisory Committee is proposed by the student's major advisor in consultation with the student, nominated by the PhD committee chairperson, approved by the chair of the department, and appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. Each committee member should hold Graduate Faculty status with the Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School is an ex-officio member of all supervisory committees. The supervisory committee should be appointed as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the second semester of the doctoral program. The student is encouraged to meet with the Supervisory Committee as often as possible, with a minimum of one meeting per year.
29
The supervisory committee shall consist of at least four (4) members of the Graduate Faculty. At least (2) members of the EGH graduate faculty must be on the committee. The chairperson need not be tenured, but must hold a full-time tenure track position in the Department. All the members of the committee are voting members.
In unusual cases, the doctoral research may require the guidance of a specialist in an area of study other than that of the supervisory committee chairperson. In such cases, the PhD committee chairperson may recommend the appointment of a co-chairperson who should be on the graduate faculty.
DUTIES OF SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE
To provide optimum support and guidance to help the student meet his/her academic goals. Inform the student of all regulations (listed here) governing the PhD degree. This does not
absolve the student from the responsibility of becoming informed of these regulations.
To meet soon after appointment with the student to consider the student's individual goals and proposed program, and evaluate the student's progress to date.
After the student has completed all required course work, the committee will normally serve as the comprehensive qualifying examination committee and conduct the student's exam. This exam consists of written and oral examination of knowledge (part 1). After successful demonstration of knowledge in part 1, the student will develop a dissertation proposal in a 10-page single-spaced document and give an 15-30 minute oral presentation (part 2 of qualifying examination) of this project to the comprehensive qualifying examination committee. Once the committee is satisfied that the student has the necessary knowledge (part 1) and has a well-designed dissertation proposal (part 2), the comprehensive qualifying examination committee will recommend the student's admission to candidacy.
The supervisory committee will next monitor and evaluate the student's progress in his/her dissertation research and give clear directions as to the final work plan leading to graduation. It is recommended that the committee meets once a year before the student advances to candidacy and every six months thereafter to review the student's research, to make suggestions for completion of research, and to encourage the student to write up the dissertation work as soon as the major advisor and student believe that the research is nearing completion.
To conduct the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation.
COMMITTEE CHANGES
It is important to remember that any changes made to the supervisory committee must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School as the changes occur. Changes need to be approved at least 30 days prior to the date of the Final Oral Defense so that all new members will have ample time to become familiar with the dissertation. Committee changes cannot be made after a final oral defense takes place.
COURSEWORK AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
30
TRANFER CREDITS
A minimum of 90 credit hours beyond the Master’s degree is required for the doctoral degree. All credits earned in the approved degree program count toward this minimum. A maximum of 5 credits in each of Supervised Teaching (PHC3940) can be applied toward the 90-credit requirement. The student's will recommend the number of credits earned at another institution which are appropriate for transfer to the University of Florida. A maximum of 30 semester credits from a related Master's degree program at another accredited university can be applied to the 90-credit requirement. This transfer of credit must be approved by the supervisory committee and requested by the chair of the supervisory committee in a letter to the Dean of the Graduate School with copies of the appropriate transcripts attached. All Master's degrees used for transfer of credit toward the 90-credit minimum must have been earned within seven years of the date that the PhD is conferred. All courses beyond the Master's degree taken at another university, to be applied toward the PhD degree at the University of Florida, must have been taken at an institution offering the doctoral degree and must be approved for graduate credit by the Graduate School of the University of Florida. All requests for transfer of credit from another institution should be performed during the term that the supervisory committee is appointed.
For graduate students completing both their Master's and PhD degrees in the same discipline at the University of Florida, the Graduate School will automatically apply all courses and credits accumulated during the Master's program toward the 90-credit PhD requirement. Graduate students must maintain an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 for all coursework.
MINIMUM NUMBER OF CREDITS PER TERM
All graduate students in the Department of Environmental and Global Health are required to register for a minimum of either three (Fall and Spring Semesters) or two (Summer Session) credits while they are actively working toward their degrees. Students receiving assistantships or fellowships must register for the number of credits required by the Graduate School. PhD candidates, conducting their dissertation research at remote sites away from Gainesville, will be required to register for a minimum of three (Fall and Spring Semesters) or two (Summer Session) credits of PHC 7980 Dissertation Research. Students, failing to register for two or more consecutive terms, must submit an "Application for Readmission" if they wish to resume their graduate studies at the University of Florida.
All PhD students must register for a minimum of either 3 (Fall and Spring Semesters) or 2 (Summer Session) credits of PHC 7980 during the term they expect to graduate. All candidates must submit a "Degree Application" form on-line through ISIS (go to http://gradschool.ufl.edu/students/student-forms.html) by approximately the second week of their final term (see the Graduate Catalog or posted deadlines for the exact date). This application must be renewed for a subsequent term if all degree requirements are not fulfilled in the term in which the application was filed.
CURRICULUM
All Students must demonstrate through previous course work the attainment of basic level knowledge in environmental and global health including toxicology, risk assessment, and infectious diseases. Students
31
who do not demonstrate previous coursework in these basic areas must complete it before beginning their second year of doctoral study.
CreditsCourse Number
Course Director
PhD, One Health conc
PhD, EGH conc
Public Health Core Courses Intro to Biostatistical Methods 3 PHC 6052 Staff 3 3Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health 3 PHC 6001 Staff 3 3Introduction to the US Healthcare Systems 3 HAS 6114 Hall 3 3Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Issues in Public Health 3 PHC 6410 Curbow 3 3Environmental Health Concepts in Public Health 3 PHC 6313
Sabo-Attwood 3 3
Seminar in Contemporary Public Health Issues 1 PHC 6601 Staff Introduction to Public Health 3 PHC 6937 Staff
Subtotal 15 15Quantitative Methods and Statistics Regression Methods for the Life Sciences 3 PHC 6053 Staff 3 3Epidemiological Methods 3 PHC 6000 Staff 3 3Electives in upper level Statistics classes 3 PHC 6937 Staff 3 3Electives in upper level Statistics classes 3 PHC 6937 Staff 3 3
Subtotal 12 12Concentration Area General Toxicology 3 VME 6602 Roberts 3Exposure Measurement and Assessment 3 PHC 6702 Lednicky 3Health Risk and Crisis Communication 2 PHC 6937 Pealer 2Human Health Risk Assessment 4 VME 6607 Staff 4
Global Health and Development I 3
PHC 6762 or
PHC6764 Rheingans3, either course
3, either course
Aquatic Systems and Environmental Health or Water Quality & Human Health
PHC 6301 or PHC 6312
Kane or Ali 3
An Introduction to Entomology, Zoonotic Diseases, and Food Safety 3 PHC 6515
Gray or Staff 3
Occupational & Environmental Health among Agriculture Workers 3 PHC 6937 Liang 3 Environmental Infectious Diseases: A Molecular Approach 3 PHC 6937 Lednicky 3 Environmental and Global Health Journal Club 1 PHC 6937 Staff 1 1
Research Methods Rotation 4 PHC 6937
Heil, Lednicky,
Sabo-Attwood 4 4
General Electives 12 various various 12-15 12-15Elective from a different area 3 various various 3 3
Subtotal 35-38 35-38Professional Issues
Pubilc Health Journal club 1 PHC 6937Robbins/
Burns 1 1Public Health & Biomedical Ethics or Approved Course 1-2 PHC 6937 1-2 1-2Public Health Grant Writing or Supervised 2-3 PHC 6937 2-3 2-3
32
Grant Writing or approved courseEnvironmental & Global Health Seminar: Critical Thinking & Teaching 1 PHC 6937 Rheingans 1 1
Subtotal 5-7 5-7Supervised Research Supervised Research/Field Experience PHC 7979 Staff 3 3Occupational Health Field Research Experience PHC 6937 Staff Supervised Teaching in Public Health Supervised Teaching in Public Health PHC 6940 Staff 2 2Dissertation Hours Research for Doctoral Dissertation PHC 7980 Staff 15 15Internship Public Health Internship PHC 6946 Staff
Required Total Credit Hours: 90 90* Denotes number of Elective Credit Hours Needed
Electives in area of Specialization Electives Aquatic Systems and Environmental Health 3 PHC 6301 Kane Environmental Management of Vector-borne Diseases 3 PHC 6512 Okech Water Quality & Human Health 3 PHC 6312 Ali Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology 2 PHC 6006 Gray Public Health Laboratory Techniques 1 PHC 6561 Heil An Introduction to Entomology, Zoonotic Diseases, and Food Safety 3 PHC 6515
Gray/Okech
Global Health & Development II 3 PHC 6445 Rheingans
International Public Health 3 PHC 6762 Amaya-Burns
Public Health Biology 3 PHC 6937 Prins Public Health Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response 3 PHC 6937 Staff Bioterrorism 3 PHC 6937 Staff Water Quality Analysis 3 EES 5245 Delfino Current Issues in Food Safety and Sanitation 3 FOS 5205 Schneider
Soils, Water and Public Health 3SWS* 6932 O’Connor
Toxic Substances; (PreReq VME 6602) 3 VME 6503 Roberts Advanced Toxicology (PreReq VME 6602) 3 VME 6603 Staff Ecological Toxicology and Risk Assessment 3 VME 6934 Denslow Drug Biotransformation and Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicity 3 PHA 6425 James Food and the Environment; course offered in alternating years 3 ALS 5106 Staff Current Issues in Food Regulations 3 FOS5732 Schmidt Culture and Nutrition 3 ANG 5467 Staff Aerosol Mechanics 3 ENV 6130 Wu Introduction to Aquaculture 3 FAS 6932 Hill Elements of Air Pollution 3 ENV 4101 Jang Foundation of Air Pollution 3 ENV 5105 Jang Aerosol Chemistry and Physics 3 ENV 6932 Jang Atmospheric Chemistry 3 EES 6225 Myoseon
Agricultural Waste Management 3 ABE 5707C
Pullammanappilli
Industrial Hygiene 3 ABE 6905 Correll
33
Issues in the Responsible Conduct of Research 1 VME 6767 Long Applied Biostatistics II 3 GMS 6862 Staff Environmental Infectious Diseases: A Molecular Approach 3 PHC 6937 Lednicky,
Waltzek Occupational & Environmental Health Among Agriculture Workers 3 PHC 6937 Liang Occupational Health Field Research Experience 3-5 var PHC 6937 Staff Advanced Mosquito Biology 3 ENY 6905 Alto The Geography of Vector-Borne Diseases 3 GEO 6948 Tatem Medical Geography 3 GEO 6938 Mao GIS Models for Public Health 3 GIS 6XXX Mao Environmental Toxicology 3 EES 6405 Bitton Microbial Physiology 3 ANS 6932 Jeong
Exp Tech & Proc Meat 3 ANS 6288Johnson,
Jeong
Hazard Analysis & Critical Control 3 ANS 4936 FOS 4936 Eubanks
Disease Mapping with Kriging 3 GIS 4938 Mao Course work must be 5000 level or higher. Courses for major credit must be taken by letter grade, except for those courses listed as S/U in the catalog.
SUGGESTD COURSE SCHEDULE
These are suggested courses only and specific course work may change depending upon individual requirements.
Public Health PhD – EGH ConcentrationYear 1
Fall Spring Summer
Statistical Methods for Health Sciences – PHC 6050 (3)
US Health Care Systems – HSA 6114 (3)
Theory Breadth Course (3)
General Toxicology – VME 6602 (3)
Public Health and Biomedical Ethics – PHC 6937 (2)
Exposure Measurement and Assessment PHC – 6702 (3)
Psychological, Behavioral, and Social Issues in Public Health –
PHC 6410 (3)
Statistical Methods in Research I – PHC 6052 (3)
Issues in Responsible Conduct of Research – VME 6767 (1)
Total: 9 Credit Hrs Total: 9 Credit Hrs Total: 6 Credit Hrs
34
Year Two
Fall Spring Summer
Human Risk Assessment – VME 6607 (4)
Regression Methods for the Life Sciences – PHC 6053 (3)
Grant Writing – PHC 6162 (3)
Principles of Epidemiology in Public Health – PHC 6001 (3)
Environmental Health Concepts in Public Health – PHC 6313 (3)
Risk Communication – PHC 6937 (2)
Specialization or Theory Breadth (2)
Regression Methods for Life Sciences – PHC 6053 (3)
?
Total: 9 Credit Hrs Total: 9 Credit Hrs Total: 6 Credit Hrs
Year Three
Fall Spring Summer
Laboratory Rotation – PHC 6917 (4)
Specialization or Theory Breadth (3)
Supervised Research – PHC 7979 (3)
Seminar in Public Health
Teaching (1)Specialization or Theory Breadth
(3)International Health –Summer B
PHC 6762 (3)
Advanced Statistics Course (student’s area of specialization)
(3)
Specialization or Theory Breadth (3)
Journal Club – PHC 6937 (1) Curbow
Total: 9 Credit Hrs Total: 9 Credit Hrs Total: 6 Credit Hrs
Year Four
Fall Spring Summer
Supervised Teaching – PHC 6940(3)
Research for Doctoral Dissertation – PHC 7980 (9)
Research for Doctoral
35
Dissertation – PHC 7980 (6)
Total: 9 Credit Hrs Total: 9 Credit Hrs
Students with adequate training in any of the above courses may apply for exemption from such courses. Additional course requirements can be fulfilled by completion of electives from the provided list or the graduate catalog selected in consultation with the student’s supervisory committee.
36
QUALIFYING EXAMINATION
The co comprehensive qualifying examination will consist of two parts (see below), and is normally administered by the end of the second year of a student’s program. Successful completion of the qualifying examination is necessary for a student to advance to candidacy. In order to take the qualifying examination, the student must (I) have a minimum 3.00 GPA; (ii) have completed all core courses; and (iii) be registered at the time the examination is taken. Exceptions (e.g., if a core course is not offered, but the student has fulfilled all other requirements and has formulated a research program) may be granted by Candidacy by the qualifying examination committee. It is expected that the qualifying exam will focus on the student’s specific area of interest and background information from PhD course work
TIMETABLE FOR QUALIFYING EXAMS:
GENERAL GUIDELINES
The format for the comprehensive qualifying examination will be a 2- part process. Part 1 will be a written and oral examination designed to test the students’ ability to apply knowledge and methodologies to address relevant environmental and global health problems. Part 2 will follow after successful completion of part 1 and involve the student’s submission of no more than a 13-page single spaced dissertation proposal (NIH R01 format) and an oral presentation of the proposal to his/her qualifying examination committee (normally the supervisory committee). Once the qualifying examination committee is satisfied that the student has the necessary knowledge (part 1) and has a well-designed dissertation proposal (part 2), the qualifying examination committee will recommend the student's admission to candidacy.
Normally the student’s supervisory committee and chair will serve as the qualifying examination committee and chair. However, if the supervisory committee chair is not a member of the EGH department or not recognized as a UF graduate faculty member, then a substitute with those credentials must be identified to chair the qualifying examination committee and communicate with the student. It is also important to note that student’s advisor may be a member of the supervisory committee, but
37
Admission Identify Supervisory Committee & Chair
End of yr2 apply for qualifying exam
Outline of research interest
area (1 page)
Take qualifying exam (part 1 & 2) in
summer of yr2
Begin dissertation
work as a PhD candidate
does not have to be the supervisory committee chair. Composition of the qualifying examination committee will be consistent with University guidelines for dissertation committees (i.e., at least four faculty members with the majority being graduate faculty).
Prior to the part 1 of comprehensive exam, the student should provide a written 1 page prospectus of their specific research interest area to their qualifying examination committee chairperson. This should be provided no later than 1 month prior to qualifying exam date. This prospectus will be considered in designing part 1 of the exam.
The qualifying examination committee members will have a meeting prior to the comprehensive qualifying examination to discuss lines of questioning and to address core competencies (relative to each focus area and the student’s prospectus paper). The chair of the qualifying examination committee will communicate the proceedings of this meeting to the Graduate Program Administrator.
Part 1 of the exam will consist of the student’s critical written review of 2 scientific articles and the written design of a research study based upon a hypothetical situation as well as the oral defense of this written work. At least one of the questions will require the student to develop an appropriate research approach for investigating a hypothetical situation. The question will require student to select and apply appropriate methods and explain how the results would be analyzed to address the question. The student’s qualifying examination committee members will suggest articles to review and the hypothetical research question. The chair of qualifying examination committee will consider these recommendations and compile questions for part 1 of the comprehensive qualifying exam. The total length of the written response to the questions will not exceed 10 pages single spaced.
Part 1 exam questions will be given to the student 2 weeks before his/her committee is scheduled to meet. The student will have 1 week to draft his/her response and to give his/her written response to the qualifying examination committee chair. The student must do his/her own work (no aid from others) but may use multiple sources to craft a response (exam is open book). The chair will distribute the exam, scientific articles, and the student’s response to the qualifying examination committee members approximately 1 week before they are scheduled to meet with the student.
Upon the appointed day, the qualifying examination committee will meet with the student to discuss the student's written response to the questions. The student will be expected to be able to orally defend his/her work. The goal of this meeting is to examine the student’s ability to apply their relevant knowledge and methodologies needed for conducting dissertation research in global and environmental health.
As led by the chair, the qualifying examination committee will grade the student’s part 1 exam as pass, provisional pass, or fail. A student who receives a provisional pass will be asked to undergo a partial reexamination (must be done within the next two semesters). If he or she again does not receive a pass during the partial reexamination, the student will terminated from the PhD program. A student who fails the qualifying examination will be permitted one full reexamination (must be done with the next two semesters) and if he or she again fails, the student will terminated from the PhD program.
After a student passes part 1 they will be encouraged to coordinate a future date with the committee for the oral defense of their 10-page dissertation proposal (part 2 of the comprehensive qualifying exam).
38
This should be scheduled approximately one week after the student gives the qualifying examination committee chair their dissertation proposal. In the oral defense of part 2 of the exam, the student should begin the session with a 15 minute PowerPoint summary of the proposed work. Again as led by the chair, the qualifying examination committee will grade the student’s part 2 exam as pass, provisional pass, or fail. A student who receives a provisional pass will be asked to undergo a partial reexamination (must be done within the next two semesters). Again the student will be permitted one full reexamination (must be done with the next two semesters) and if he or she again fails, the student will terminated from the PhD program.
Both the oral defense of part I and the oral defense of part 2 of the exam should take no more than 2 hours.
Normally, part 2 of the qualifying examination will occur with two months of part 1.
All communication of grading and exam results to the student will be conducted by the qualifying examination committee chair.
A Successful completion of both part 1 and part 2 comprehensive qualifying examination with an approved dissertation proposal permits PhD candidacy.
The doctoral student becomes a doctoral candidate when the following requirements are satisfied:
The student academic record is satisfactory. The breadth requirement is completed.
The qualifying examination committee certifies that the student has passed both part 1 and part 2 of the comprehensive qualifying examination.
The Admission to Candidacy form has the required signatures.
The EGH department requires that the student be admitted to candidacy as soon as the criteria listed above have been met but not later than two years after passing the written portion of the qualifying exam.
The Student Services Office must be notified at least two weeks in advance of the oral qualifying examination so the Announcement of Examination form can be mailed and the Admission to Candidacy form prepared. This form should be taken to the qualifying exam by the committee chair, signed by the qualifying examination committee and returned to the Student Services Office for processing.
Between the date of completion of the qualifying exam and the date of the degree, there must be a minimum of two semesters if the candidate is residence full-time student or a calendar year if the candidate is in attendance on less than a full-time basis. The semester in which the qualifying examination is completed is counted provided that the exam is completed before the midpoint of the 2nd term. No more than five years may pass between the completion of the qualifying exam and the conferring of the degree.
39
DISSERTATION PROPOSAL PRESENTATION
It is suggested that the research proposal be presented within two months but no later than 1 year following successful completion of part 1 of the comprehensive qualifying exams. The topic of the research proposal must be an original research project. The topic must be the student’s proposed dissertation research. A written abstract of the research proposal, maximum of one page in length, should be provided, examined and approved by the academic committee chair and committee prior to preparation of the complete proposal.
The written proposal, maximum of 13 pages of text plus references, single spaced prepared in a NIH R01 format (SF 424) should be distributed along with "key" references to the committee at least one week prior to the oral dissertation presentation (part 2 of the qualifying exam). The expect format for the proposal is that described in the SF424 directions:
Text Adapted from Form SF424 (R&R) Application Guide for NIH and Other PHS Agencies:
Specific Aims (no more than 1 page)
State concisely the goals of the proposed research and summarize the expected outcome(s), including the impact that the results of the proposed research will exert on the research field(s) involved.
List succinctly the specific objectives of the research proposed, e.g., to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm or clinical practice, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology.
The Specific Aims attachment is required unless otherwise specified in the FOA. Specific Aims are limited to one page.
Save this information in a single file in a location you remember. Click Add Attachment, browse to where you saved the file, select the file, and then click Open.
Research Strategy (no more than 12 pages)
Organize the Research Strategy in the specified order and using the instructions provided below. Start each section with the appropriate section heading – Significance, Innovation, Approach. Cite published experimental details in the Research Strategy section and provide the full reference in the Bibliography and References Cited section (Part I Section 4.4.9).
(a) Significance
Explain the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress in the field that the proposed project addresses.
Explain how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice in one or more broad fields.
Describe how the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved.
40
(b) Innovation
Explain how the application challenges and seeks to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms.
Describe any novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation or interventions to be developed or used, and any advantage over existing methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.
Explain any refinements, improvements, or new applications of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.
(c) Approach
Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Unless addressed separately in Item 15 (Resource Sharing Plan), include how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted as well as any resource sharing plans as appropriate.
Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success anticipated to achieve the aims.
If the project is in the early stages of development, describe any strategy to establish feasibility, and address the management of any high risk aspects of the proposed work.
Point out any procedures, situations, or materials that may be hazardous to personnel and precautions to be exercised. A full discussion on the use of select agents should appear in Item 11, below.
If an applicant has multiple Specific Aims, then the applicant may address Significance, Innovation and Approach for each Specific Aim individually, or may address Significance, Innovation and Approach for all of the Specific Aims collectively.
As applicable, also include the following information as part of the Research Strategy, keeping within the three sections listed above: Significance, Innovation, and Approach.
Preliminary Studies for New Applications: For new applications, include information on Preliminary Studies. Discuss the PD/PI’s preliminary studies, data, and or experience pertinent to this application. Except for Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21/R33), Small Research Grants (R03), and Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Grants (R15), preliminary data can be an essential part of a research grant application and help to establish the likelihood of success of the proposed project. Early Stage Investigators should include preliminary data (however, for R01 applications, reviewers will be instructed to place less emphasis on the preliminary data in application from Early Stage Investigators than on the preliminary data in applications from more established investigators).
41
The graduate student will give an oral PowerPoint presentation that should be succinct, yet complete (approximately 15 minutes). It should focus on the proposal topic and methodology.
The committee will identify questions relevant to each research focus area, which may include but not be limited to:
Literature evaluation Writing and organization skills
Theoretical application
Study design
Models of disease or conditions relative to Social Behavioral Science
Measurement and analytical methods
Data and statistical analysis skills
Differentiation of clinical and statistical significance
Basic concepts covered in the Professional Program
The final evaluation by the supervisory committee should be communicated to the student and the graduate academic affairs committee utilizing the following scale:
a. Pass
b. Provisional pass
c. Fail
Specific needs for additional learning experiences (e.g., scientific area, statistics, writing, etc.) may be identified.
Remedial work may include a minor rewrite of the proposal or a major rewrite and re-defense of the proposal.
Remedial work must be completed within six months from the time of proposal presentation.
The candidate will propose a format for the final dissertation write up at the oral proposal presentation. The final format will be discussed and agreed upon with the candidate’s qualifying examination committee chair. (See template in Appendix A)
GUIDELINES FOR ORAL DISSERTATION PROPOSAL
All candidates will present their proposals in PowerPoint style. Visual aids and graphics may be provided to assist the committee. Proposal presentation will last no longer than 30 minutes. The duration of the oral examination is 2 hours.
42
A proposal re-write may be required following oral proposal presentation. If this occurs, an additional oral presentation may also be scheduled.
43
FINAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH:
The PhD final exam consists of an oral defense of the research results that are described in the doctoral dissertation. This exam is given within six months of graduation, after the first submission of the dissertation, and the completion of all other prescribed work for the degree.
ORAL DISSERTATION DEFENSE
This will comprise a presentation of the candidate’s research as per the proposal.
At the time of the oral defense, all Dissertation committee members should sign the signature pages in the dissertation and sign the Final Exam Report form which is to be returned to the Student Services Office. Students will also submit the original copy of their dissertation to the Student Services Office.
All oral defense presentations will be advertised via the college of Public Health & Health Professions two weeks in advance. All faculty and students are welcome to attend.
A written abstract of the project (200 words minimum) will be provided to the Dissertation Committee chair no later than two weeks prior to the scheduled presentation.
SUGGESTED TIMELINE FOR PHD WORK To Do When
Diligently complete course work. Draft a study plan and win approval
First year first term (fall)
Considering likely dissertation research, work with advisor and appoint a supervisory committee. This committee must be appointed by the end of the second semester. First year
second term (spring)If appropriate, petition to the Graduate Committee to have non-UF master’s course work (30 hours maximum) transferred to the doctoral record.
Second yearsecond term (spring)
Give supervisory committee 1 page summary of research interests. Check with the Student Services Office to see if all graduation requirements, including appropriate course hour credit, will be satisfied. If all requirements are met, schedule part I of the comprehensive qualifying examination with supervisory committee.
Second yearsecond term (spring)
Complete part 1 of the comprehensive qualifying examination exam.
Second yearthird term (summer)
Schedule part 2 of the comprehensive qualifying examination with supervisory committee
Second yearthird term (summer)
At least two weeks in advance of part 2 of the comprehensive qualifying examination, notify in writing, the Student Services Office of plans to complete the
Second yearthird term (summer)
44
To Do When qualifying exam.Complete part 2 of the comprehensive examination exam.
Second yearthird term (summer)
If appropriate, petition to the Graduate Committee to have non-UF master’s course work (30 hours maximum) transferred to the doctoral record.
Second yearthird term (summer)
Having passed part 1 and part 2 of the comprehensive examination be recognized as a PhD candidate and begin dissertation research
Third yearfirst term (summer)
Meet at least every six months with supervisory committee to discuss dissertation research Third and fourth years
Comply with Graduate School dissertation and final examination deadline dates If you have any grades less than C (i.e. D, I, or E grades), discuss your options for meeting graduation requirements.
Third and fourth years
Be registered for at least the minimum number of dissertation hours (3 hours in the fall and spring semester, 2 hours in the summer) Submit degree application to the Student Services Office prior to the deadline.
Third and fourth years
Schedule the doctoral oral defense with the supervisory committee. Inform the Student Services Office of plans to take the final dissertation defense, and reserve a conference room. The Student Services Office will send the announcement of exam and student + committee will prepare and review the Final Dissertation Report. Comply with Graduate School dissertation and final examination deadline dates
Semesterbefore
graduation
Schedule the doctoral oral defense with the supervisory committee. Inform the Student Services Office of plans to take the final dissertation defense, and reserve a conference room. The Student Services Office will send the announcement of exam and student + committee will prepare and review the Final Dissertation Report. Comply with Graduate School dissertation and final examination deadline dates
Semesterbefore
graduation
FINAL DISSERTATION EXAMINATION
After submission of the original copy of the dissertation to the Graduate School (see below) and completion of all other work for the degree, and the appropriate dates and time intervals will follow the guidelines set forth by the University of Florida Graduate School, as detailed in the Graduate Catalog.
An announcement of the scheduled examination must be submitted in writing to the Dean of the Graduate School by the chairperson of the supervisory committee at least ten (10) working days prior to the scheduled date. An announcement of the examination is sent at least one (1) week prior to the date of examination to faculty members in the College of Public Health & Health Professions (PHHP) inviting them to attend.
45
At least four (4) faculty members, including all members of the supervisory committee, must be present at the final oral portion of the final examination. The four (4) faculty members must be Graduate Faculty members. Only the official members of the supervisory committee may sign the dissertation signature pages.
Assuming the candidate is successful, the Final Dissertation Report shall be signed by all faculty members attending the examination. The dissertation, original and copies, are to be signed by the official members of the supervisory committee and by the Dean of the College of PHHP. The signed Final Dissertation Report and the original copy of the dissertation should be returned to the Graduate School after the dissertation has been corrected.
Every candidate for a doctoral degree is required to prepare and present a dissertation that shows independent investigation, and is acceptable in form and content to the supervisory committee and to the Graduate School. Since all doctoral dissertations will be published, it is necessary that the work be of publishable quality and that it be in a form for publication. A draft copy of the dissertation must be given to the supervisory committee at least one month prior to the defense. This allows time for any major changes to be made. A final copy of the thesis should be circulated to the committee at least one week before the final defense. A final dissertation must be signed by all members of the committee prior to submission.
All copies of the dissertation, except the original copy and the College copy, must be provided as a hard bound copy by the student. The original copy and the second copy of the dissertation must be presented to the Dean of the Graduate School on or before the date specified in the University Calendar. A copy of the final dissertation must also be provided to the chair of the student’s supervisory committee, chair of the EGH department, and committee members by request.
Note: any data resulting from dissertation research is the property of the University of Florida and shall remain so, following a candidate’s graduation. All data must remain at UF.
READMISSION PROCEDURES
Students, who have left the program prior to graduating and wish to be readmitted, require the following:
• A minimum GPA of 3.00 for readmission into the Master’s program and a minimum GPA of 3.5 for readmission to the PhD program. • GRE scores that satisfy the admission requirements of the EGH program in effect at the time of readmission. • Three letters of recommendation from faculty members in the EGH department.
Readmission is not guaranteed, irrespective of the circumstances that necessitate it.
From the Graduate School -- Checklist for Final Submission
Students must submit the dissertation electronically. Students should refer to the Graduate School Editorial Office for more information regarding their dissertation submission. The guidelines are also online at: (http://gradschool.rgp.ufl.edu/editorial/introduction.html)
46
Submit to Graduate Editorial: University of Florida, 224 Hub (Stadium Road), Gainesville FL 32611-8461. Phone: (352)392-1282. Doctoral Dissertation First Submission (checklist):
____ UF Publishing Agreement, signed by you and your supervisory committee chair. To create your UF Publishing Agreement, you will need to log into the EDM system: https://gradschool.ufl.edu/edm_app/etd_login.cfm (if you have trouble logging in, early in the semester, call 392-1282 and ask us to create a workaround). Type your dissertation title in Title Case. Choose a release level (most people choose immediate; some people choose 2 year embargo if they are trying to get an article published in a journal). Choose Yes or No (whether to send your dissertation to ProQuest). When you see the "print form" button, print the form.
____ ProQuest/UMI Publishing Agreement (Page 3 and 4): Here is the link to the entire 27-page ProQuest/UMI Publishing Agreement: http://gradschool.ufl.edu/pdf-files/dissertation-publishing-agreement.pdf. Print and complete only Pages 3 and 4, for the Graduate School Editorial Office. Most people choose “Traditional” and “Immediate.” The ProQuest embargo period begins after the UF embargo period (if any) has been satisfied. (In other words, the embargo periods are additive.)
____ Expanding wallet, labeled (upper left) with your name, degree, major, month and year of degree award, defense date, and UF ID number.
____ Dissertation, on plain paper, completely formatted (print on only one side of the paper). This should be loose; do not bind it or clip it.
____ Journal article: a photocopy of an entire article from the journal whose reference system you used in formatting your reference citations and list.
____ Transmittal letter from your supervisory committee chair: “I have read _____’s dissertation and it is ready for the Graduate School to review.”
____ Fee receipts for $67.80 dissertation processing, payable in S113 Criser Hall (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 3:30pm).
____ General audience abstract: For example, http://gradschool.ufl.edu/editorial/format.html.
____ Survey of Earned Doctorates: print from http://gradschool.ufl.edu/editorial/doctoral-forms.html , then complete by hand.
Student will be notified when their reviewed dissertation is ready. Please pick it up promptly, so that you can begin making final corrections. As soon as your committee is satisfied, work quickly and carefully to achieve Editorial final clearance.
Forms needed for your defense: Your department’s graduate secretary creates the two forms below, from the Graduate Information Management System (GIMHS) database. Both forms are typically signed at the defense. If you have not defended yet, make sure you have the correct forms. Then make sure that you get these forms signed before you leave your defense. Although departmental procedures vary regarding delivery of these forms, the student is ultimately responsible (the student is the one who will be inconvenienced if these forms are not delivered).
47
____ ETD Signature Page: Your supervisory committee signs. In some colleges, the college dean signs [not Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS)]. The Dean of the Graduate School generally does not sign.
____ Final Exam form: Your supervisory committee signs. The department chair signs. In some colleges, the college dean signs. If your committee wants revisions, your chair (or designee) may hold your final exam form until satisfied. The Editorial Office needs your final exam form before you can achieve Final Clearance.
Submit to the Department of Environmental and Global Health:
(1) Bound copy of the signed, defended, and approved (by the Dean for Academic Programs, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences) dissertation.
(2) Copy of the signed "Report on Thesis or Dissertation and/or Final Examination" form.
Submit to the supervisory committee: The student is responsible for providing a softbound (e.g., velobound) or hardbound copy of the signed, defended, and approved dissertation (high quality photocopy paper is sufficient) to each member of their supervisory committee.
The Student Services Office should be informed of the examination one week prior to the defense date in order to process the Final Exam Report form and send out notices. Copies of the student’s dissertation must be given to the supervisory committee members at least two weeks in advance of the final examination. Graduation may be delayed for those who do not adhere to this rule.
Students are also required to complete an Exit Survey during the semester they plan to graduate. Students can find more information about the Exit Survey in the Student Services Office. All work for the PhD degree must be completed within five calendar years after the completion of the PhD qualifying exam.
48
Related Documents
