General MPH Program

Program Highlights & Accreditation

The University of Florida's Master of Public Health (MPH) program is designed to prepare students to become effective public health practitioners, scientists, and educators. The program equips students to make an impact on their communities and create change by tackling complex health challenges at local, national, and global levels. As a student in this program, offered by a university ranked #7 in Top Public Schools by U.S. News & World Report, you will benefit from:

• One-on-one advising from a faculty mentor.

• The chance to work with and learn from award-winning instructors.

• The freedom to pick elective courses that relate to your specific interests.

• The flexibility to take courses from anywhere in the world through the online program option.

• The opportunity to engage with your community through an internship experience, volunteer opportunities, and a final project.

The University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This accreditation attests to the quality of the educational programs and ensures the curriculum covers essential skills and knowledge for graduates' professional success.

Delivery Modes

The MPH program is available in multiple formats to suit diverse student needs:

• On-Campus MPH: For students who prefer a traditional campus experience in Gainesville.

• Online MPH: Offering flexibility for students to learn from anywhere in the world. The Public Health Practice concentration is available online.

• Accelerated MPH: A 42-credit program for students who hold a terminal degree (usually doctoral) in a health science discipline.

• Combination Bachelor's/MPH: Allows qualified UF undergraduates to earn both degrees efficiently.

• Combined Graduate/MPH Degrees: Options to pursue joint MPH degrees with DVM, MD, JD, PharmD, DPT, or DMD, or concurrent master’s and PhD programs.

Curriculum Overview

The MPH is a non-thesis program. The standard program requires 48 credits for students without terminal health science degrees, while a 42-credit accelerated program is available for students with a terminal degree. The curriculum includes:

• Core Courses: All MPH students take five public health core courses (16-18 credits). These cover Environmental Health (PHC 6313), Epidemiology (PHC 6001), Public Health Management and Policy (HSA 6114), and Social and Behavioral Sciences (PHC 6410). The core biostatistics course varies by concentration: PHC 6052 (Introduction to Biostatistical Methods) for Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, and Social and Behavioral Sciences concentrations, and PHC 6050 (Statistical Methods for Health Sciences Research I) for other concentrations.

• Concentration-Specific Courses: 12 to 15 credits tailored to one of the six available concentrations.

• Elective Courses: Up to 12 credits, allowing students to explore areas of interest.

• Applied Practice Experience (APE): A 3-credit course (PHC 6946, or 5 credits for accelerated students) where students complete an internship, applying classroom knowledge to real-world public health problems and producing at least two portfolio products.

• Integrated Learning Experience (MPH Capstone): A 3-credit course (PHC 6940) where students synthesize foundational and concentration competencies through an individual or group project, producing a high-quality written report and presenting their project.

Admissions Requirements

Eligibility for the MPH program varies based on the specific track:

• Standard 48-credit MPH: Students who do not hold a terminal degree in a health science discipline are eligible.

• Accelerated 42-credit MPH: Students who hold a terminal degree (usually a doctoral degree) in a health science discipline may be eligible.

• Combination Bachelor's/MPH: Open to qualified UF undergraduate seniors with any major, an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2, and competitive scores on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE (Note: GRE requirements may vary; check current admissions guidelines).

For detailed application instructions, deadlines, and required materials, please refer to the official admissions page.

Career & Practical Experience

The MPH program prepares graduates for careers as public health practitioners, scientists, and educators. A key component is the Applied Practice Experience (APE), where students complete an internship in a practice setting. This provides an opportunity to apply knowledge acquired in the classroom to a real public health problem, working with organizations in their individual communities. Students engage in various activities during their internship and must produce at least two portfolio products demonstrating achievement of public health competencies.