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titleDescription of the DrPH Qualifying Exam

Please look at the descriptor that applies to the catalog you will graduate under.

 

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titleQualifying Exam 2014-2016 Catalogs

When all required coursework is satisfactorily completed (including tools of research and prerequisites), the student must pass a written comprehensive qualifying examination covering the subject matter in the major and related fields. Exam questions will be generated by the DrPH Admissions and Advisory Committee. The exam will be administered and evaluated by the student’s DrPH Dissertation Committee. Results of the written exam will be communicated in writing to the student within 15 working days of the examination. If all or part of the exam is failed, the student will have one more opportunity to retake the exam. After successful completion of the qualifying exam and appropriate paperwork is submitted to and approved by the Office of Graduate Studies, the student is admitted to candidacy and may register for dissertation hours in the semester following Office of Graduate Studies approval. 

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titleQualifying Exam 2017 Catalog

When the majority of the student's coursework is satisfactorily completed, the student must pass a qualifying examination. The student is required to submit a concept paper describing the proposed doctoral project, followed by an oral examination that relates the content, approach, and deliverables of the project to the DrPH curriculum domains in the student's concentration. The examination will be administered and evaluated by the student’s doctoral project committee. The student must enroll in at least two credits in the semester the exam is completed.

Please note that a DrPH student should not submit the "Admission to Candidacy" form to USF–it is not required in this the 2017 program. InsteadOnce the qualifying exam is approved, the student must submit a the DrPH -specific form: DrPH Qualifying Exam Completion Form to the College (see process below).

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titleContent, Process, and Evaluation of Exam
  • The student must complete a dissertation that is designed to influence programs, policies, or systems addressing public health practice. The dissertation must also demonstrate synthesis of competencies across all domains in the student's concentration, as follows:
    • Advanced Practice Leadership in Public Health:
      • Community Engagement
      • Leadership and Management
      • Communication and Education
      • Evidence-Informed Public Health
  • When the majority of the student’s coursework is satisfactorily completed, the student must pass a qualifying examination. The student is required to submit a concept paper describing the proposed dissertation project, followed by an oral examination that relates the content, approach, and deliverables of the project to the DrPH curriculum domains in the student’s concentration. The examination will be administered and evaluated by the student’s doctoral project committee. The student must enroll in at least two credits in the semester the exam is completed.
The concept paper will be initially developed in the Evidence-Informed Public Health 2 course. The student should then work with the Major Professor and

DrPH Qualifying Exam Completion Form: DrPH Qual Exam Completion Form.docx

  • When the majority of the student’s coursework is satisfactorily completed, the student must pass a qualifying examination. The student is required to submit a concept paper describing the proposed doctoral project, followed by an oral examination that relates the content, approach, and deliverables of the project to the DrPH curriculum domains in the student’s concentration. The examination will be administered and evaluated by the student’s doctoral project committee. The student must enroll in at least two credits in the semester the exam is completed. In order to qualify for submission of this form, the student must meet the following requirements:
    • Attainment of an overall and degree program Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 at USF at the time of the exam.
    • All “I” and “M” grades, including “IF” and “MF”, must be cleared.
    • Registration in a minimum of two credits in the semester the form is submitted.
  • The field-based doctoral project should be designed to influence programs, policies, or systems addressing public health practice. The doctoral project must include a minimum of three high-quality, evidence-based deliverables, with at least one written product. The doctoral project must also demonstrate synthesis of competencies across all of the DrPH curriculum domains in the student's concentration, as follows:
    • Advanced Practice Leadership in Public Health:
      • Community Engagement
      • Leadership and Management
      • Communication and Education
      • Evidence-Informed Public Health
  • The concept paper will be initially developed in the Evidence-Informed Public Health 2 course. The student should then work with the Major Professor and other committee members as needed on completing the concept paper prior to submission for evaluation.
  • Once approved by the Major Professor, the student will notify the committee members of intention to be examined on the concept paper, and will schedule the oral examination with the committee members at a mutually agreeable time. The oral examination can take place via electronic means of communication if the student is unable to be physically present at the Tampa campus. The student must submit the final draft of the concept paper to the committee members a minimum of two weeks prior to the scheduled oral examination.
  • The oral examination will consist of questions and clarification on the content, approach, and deliverables of the proposal, as well as questions on how the proposal demonstrates synthesis of competencies across the domains in the student's concentration. Typical questions for the concentration in Advanced Practice Leadership in Public Health could include:
    • How does the proposed project engage the community? Explain how your content, approach, and deliverables are grounded in your knowledge of community engagement.
    • How does the proposed project develop the leadership skills or management goals of yourself or others connected to your project? Explain how your content, approach, and deliverables are grounded in your knowledge of the development of leadership skills, and how organizations and systems are managed.
    • How does the proposed project provide for the communication and education needed for transforming public health practice? Explain how your content, approach, and deliverables are grounded in your knowledge of communicationa communication and education in public health practice.
    • How are the approach, procedures, and deliverables of your project evidence-based? Explain how your content, approach, and deliverables are grounded in research evidence and methodology, and/or in evidence-based program or policy evaluation or program delivery methods.
  • The committee members will verify satisfactory completion of the qualifying examination by providing their signature on the Admission to Candidacy formDrPH Qualifying Exam Completion Form, within one week of completion of the qualifying examination. After submitting the Admission to Candidacy form to Graduate Studies and obtaining approval, the student will be eligible to enroll in PHC 7910: Dissertation in a subsequent semester. The signed form must be submitted to Academic and Student Affairs at cophpermits@health.usf.edu. The student must also upload the signed form to their students document folder in Box: https://usfhealth.account.box.com/login.
  • If the student's research involves human subjects, the student is responsible for applying for review by the appropriate IRB review board before proceeding with the proposed work.

The Dissertation must conform one of two available formats. Students may submit a traditional dissertation, or a manuscript-based dissertation, which can increase their professional profile.

Option 1–Traditional format:

Part I: Preliminary Pages

 

  • Title Page
  • Dedication (optional page)
  • Acknowledgments (optional page)
  • Table of Contents
  • List of Tables (if applicable)
  • List of Figures (if applicable)
  • Abstract

 

Part II: Text (divided by chapter or section headings)

Part III:

  • References / Bibliography
  • Appendices Title Page
  • Appendix Sections (if applicable)

Part IV: About the Author (required for dissertations)

Option 2–Collection of articles/papers instead of chapters. References may be at the end of each section or at the end of the entire document. Copyright permissions (if applicable) must be noted on the Acknowledgements page.

Part I: Preliminary Pages

  • Title Page 
  • Dedication (optional page)
  • Acknowledgments and copyright permission (if applicable) 
  • Table of Contents
  • Abstract

Part II: Collection of Articles/Papers (minimum two)

Part III:

  • References / Bibliography (unless )
  • Appendices Title Page
    • Appendix Sections (if applicable) 
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    titleFormat Options
    titleAdmission to Candidacy

    USF ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY FORM

    In order to be admitted to doctoral candidacy, students must meet the following requirements at USF:

    1. admission to a doctoral program
    2. appointment of a Doctoral Committee (see Dissertation Committee section of the guidebook)
    3. attainment of an overall and degree program Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 at USF at the time of candidacy. All “I” and “M” grades, including “IF” and “MF”, must be cleared before candidacy may be finalized
    4. successful completion of a qualifying examination
    5. certification by the Doctoral Committee that the above qualifications have been successfully completed

    The Admission to Candidacy form should be submitted for approval during the semester that the qualifying exams were completed, but no later than the semester following the successful completion of the exam. The form will be approved by the Dean of the College and forwarded to the Dean of the Office of Graduate Studies for final approval. Doctoral Candidacy is effective as of the day that the Office of Graduate Studies approves of the request and changes the student’s status to 6C. For procedures and processing deadlines refer to the Office of Graduate Studies website at www.grad.usf.edu.

    Once candidacy status is approved, students with approved candidacy are eligible to enroll in dissertation hours (7980) in the semester that immediately follows the last business day of the approval window. For example, students approved during the Fall approval window may enroll in the Spring. Students approved during the Spring approval window may enroll in the summer and students approved during the Summer approval window may enroll in the Fall. Students may NOT enroll in dissertation hours prior to being admitted to doctoral candidacy. 

    Each degree program has a required number of dissertation hours for completion of the degree. Departments may, with College approval, apply Directed Research hours toward the total number of dissertation hours required. Directed Research hours shall not exceed 50% of the dissertation hour requirement. No directed research hours will be converted to dissertation hours (i.e. a directed research course dropped and a dissertation course added) prior to or during the approval window.

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    titleUse of "c" in Degree Acronyms

    The College of Public Health does not permit students who are pursuing masters or doctoral degrees to use the degree acronym after their names and a small “c” for candidate. In other words students are not permitted to use MPHc, MSPHc, MHA, PhDc, or DrPHc. If students, after successfully completing all comprehensive exams (core and concentration) for the master degrees or the qualifying exam for the doctoral degree wish to put after their name the words “master degree candidate” or “doctoral degree candidate*” – we allow this. The use of the degree acronym and small “c” creates confusion for faculty, employers, and other individuals who are reviewing students’ CVs and other materials. It creates a situation wherein a student appears to have earned a degree when such is not the case. As a degree‐granting College, we do not allow this.

    *Note: the use of “doctoral degree candidate” should only be done after Admission to Doctoral Candidacy has been processed and approved through the Office of Graduate Studies. 

     

    DrPH Practice-Based Dissertation

    The student is ready for the dissertation process after successful completion of the qualifying examination and admission to candidacy. The student is required to complete a minimum of six credits in PHC 7980 while working on the dissertation, and must enroll in at least two credits in the semester of graduation. Up to three credits of directed research can be utilized towards the dissertation credits, so long as the student meets the total number of credits required to graduate. All students must follow the University's guidelines for Theses and Dissertations. Students participating in the thesis/dissertation process are required to pay a processing fee.  

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    titlePractice-Based Purpose

    The DrPH student must complete a dissertation project that addresses, generates, interprets and/or evaluates knowledge applicable to public health practice. For example, the student can propose to implement and evaluate a project in the field, adapt an evidence-based program to be used on a local level, do a behavioral, economic, or policy analysis, or evaluate a public health intervention.

    Use of "c" in Degree Acronyms

    The College of Public Health does not permit students who are pursuing masters or doctoral degrees to use the degree acronym after their names and a small “c” for candidate. In other words students are not permitted to use MPHc, MSPHc, MHA, PhDc, or DrPHc. If students, after successfully completing the qualifying exam for the doctoral degree wish to put after their name the words “master degree candidate” or “doctoral degree candidate*” – we allow this. The use of the degree acronym and small “c” creates confusion for faculty, employers, and other individuals who are reviewing students’ CVs and other materials. It creates a situation wherein a student appears to have earned a degree when such is not the case. As a degree‐granting College, we do not allow this.

     

    ...

    DrPH Doctoral Project

    After successfully completing the qualifying examination, the student must complete a field-based doctoral project that is designed to influence programs, policies, or systems applicable to public health practice. The doctoral project must include a minimum of three high-quality, evidence-based deliverables, with at least one written product. The doctoral project must also demonstrate synthesis of competencies across all DrPH curriculum domains in the student's concentration.

    To complete the doctoral project, the student will be required to enroll in a minimum of six credits in PHC 7908 Specialized Field Study. The final doctoral project deliverables must be approved by the doctoral project committee prior to graduation, and the student must be enrolled in a minimum of two credits in the semester the doctoral project is completed and approved.

     

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    titleField-Based, Evidence-Based Deliverables

    The DrPH student must complete a doctoral project that is designed to influence programs, policies, or systems applicable to public health practice. For example, the student can propose to implement and evaluate a project in the field, adapt an evidence-based program to be used on a local level, do a behavioral, economic, or policy analysis, or evaluate a public health intervention.

    The student must produce a minimum of three high-quality, evidence-based deliverables, with at least one written product. These can be presented in any form that is acceptable to the committee members. Examples of types of deliverables include the following:

    • publishable quality journal article
    • program manual
    • training program
    • software development 
    • presentation to stakeholders
    • strategic plan developed with stakeholder input
    • needs assessment
    • evaluation plan and instrument development
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    titleIRB Approval

    Institutional Review Board Approval (IRB) All research investigators at USF are responsible for making the initial determination as to whether their research will involve human subjects as defined in the Quick Start Guide for Investigators (2004), available online at http://www.research.usf.edu/cs/quickstart.htm.

    After the Doctoral Dissertation Committee has determined that the final draft of the dissertation is suitable for presentation; the committee will request the scheduling and announcement of the Dissertation Defense (also called Final Oral Examination or Oral Defense). A copy of the announcement should be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies, preferably two weeks in advance of the defense date. The announcement must also be posted in a public forum for a minimum of twenty‐four hours to comply with statute requirements for a public meeting. The defense can be done via distance technology. A student must successfully defend the dissertation in order to be able to proceed and complete the final submission process. 

    Procedures for Conducting the Doctoral Dissertation Defense (Final Oral Examination) 

  • The Doctoral Dissertation defense (final oral examination) should be conducted within a timeline to allow for the student to make any necessary corrections following the defense and still meet the final copy deadline for turning in the Dissertation to the Office of Graduate Studies.

  • The presentation should be considered an important function in the Department and all graduate students and faculty be encouraged to attend.

  • The presentation and defense are open to the public and as such, must meet the requirements of the Sunshine Laws for the State of Florida. The Doctoral Dissertation Committee deliberation is not public.

  • The room selected for the examination should have adequate seating with an alternate room selected in case of problems.

    • It is required that all members of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee be present for the examination unless an absence is approved prior to the defense taking place by the Office of Graduate Studies Dean. In the event that a member cannot attend in person, participation is permissible via speakerphone or video conference. A minimum of three members, including the Major Professor is required to proceed with the defense. If a non‐committee member (Outside Chair) chairs the Defense, this individual does not count as one of the three required members in attendance. If an unforeseeable situation arises that would prevent compliance with this requirement the Major Professor or Doctoral Dissertation Defense Chair should contact the Office of Graduate Studies for guidance and approval to proceed with the defense

    When it is not clear whether the research involves human subjects, research investigators must seek assistance from the USF Office of Research. If it is determined that human subjects are involved, the investigator is responsible for applying for review by the appropriate IRB. This task is accomplished by research investigators preparing a protocol giving a complete description of the proposed research, a detailed application and, when appropriate, a sample of the proposed informed consent form. All forms can be found online at http://www.research.usf.edu/dric/As a part of the application process, the student should ensure that adequate scientific review of the research study has been performed, via the student's signature, the major professor's signature, and the signature of the DrPH Program Director or designee before the IRB form is forwarded. All doctoral students must complete the IRB training during their first semester following admission. IRB training courses are available task is accomplished by research investigators preparing a protocol giving a complete description of the proposed research, a detailed application and, when appropriate, a sample of the proposed informed consent form. All forms can be found online at http://www.research.usf.edu/dric/

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    titleDissertation Defense

    .research.usf.edu/dric/

    As a part of the application process, the student should ensure that adequate scientific review of the research study has been performed, via the student's signature, the major professor's signature, and the signature of the DrPH Program Director or designee before the IRB form is forwarded. All doctoral students must complete the IRB training during their first semester following admission. IRB training courses are available online at http://www.research.usf.edu/dric/

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    titleDoctoral Project Defense

    DrPH Doctoral Project Defense Announcement: DrPH Doctoral Project Defense Announcement.docx

    DrPH Doctoral Project Defense Completion Form: DrPH Doctoral Project Defense Form.docx

    After the Doctoral Committee has determined that the doctoral project is suitable for presentation, the committee will request the scheduling and announcement of a public doctoral project oral defense. Procedures for conducting the doctoral project defense are as follows:

    1. The doctoral project defense should be conducted at the latest by one month prior to the end of the semester in which the student would like to graduate.

    2. The presentation should be considered an important function and all graduate students and faculty be encouraged to attend.

    3. The presentation and defense are open to the public and as such, must meet the requirements of the Sunshine Laws for the State of Florida. The doctoral committee deliberation is not public.

    4. The room selected for the examination should have adequate seating with an alternate room selected in case of problems.

    5. Participation of the student and/or external mentor is permissible via speakerphone or video conference.

    6. The length of the examination period will generally not exceed three hours. Throughout this time the Doctoral Dissertation Defense Faculty Chair is to be in charge of all proceedings and, ideally, is expected to play a balancing role between advocacy and contention.

    7. The Doctoral Dissertation Defense Faculty Chair, at any time during the course of the examination, may request all visitors to leave.

    8. Presentation:

      • The Doctoral Dissertation Defense Faculty Chair should open the proceedings by introducing the candidate and the Doctoral Dissertation Committeedoctoral committee.

      • The examination should begin with a presentation by the candidate designed to summarize the dissertationdoctoral project.

    2. Questions: Following the presentation the Defense may be moved to a different setting for the main examination. The College determines the student will be questioned about the doctoral project. The order of the proceedings is described below:

      • The examination will consist of questions about the research by the Doctoral Dissertation Defense Chair and the Doctoral Dissertation Committeedoctoral committee.

      • It is suggested that questioning should be limited to about 15 minutes for each Doctoral Dissertation Committee committee member with subsequent rounds of questioning as necessary.

      • Questions from the faculty‐at‐large and/or the public may be allowed following the presentation. It is suggested that questioning from the general audience be limited up to 5 minutes per person.

    3. Deliberations and Voting: Following the completion of these proceedings, the Doctoral Dissertation Defense Faculty Chair:

      • will ask all visitors and the candidate to leave and will re‐convene the Doctoral Dissertation Committee doctoral committee only.

      • will preside over the deliberations and voting of the Committee. (Note: If a non‐committee member [Outside Chair] is used, he/she will not participate in the voting)doctoral committee.

      • is responsible for tallying the votes and informing the candidate of the final decision. The voting is to be limited to “pass” and “fail” votes. The vote of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee doctoral committee must be unanimous. If unanimous agreement cannot be reached, the Doctoral Dissertation Defense Faculty Chair notifies the Department Chair (or appropriate equivalent) DrPH Program Director, who will endeavor to resolve the dispute in an expedient fashion. records the vote

      • withholds his/her own signature on the Successful Defense Form and conveys the decision of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee (Successful Defense form) to the Department/College Graduate office to be kept in the student’s file. DrPH Doctoral Defense From until all required revisions are satisfactory.

    The Doctoral Project Defense Completion Form:

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    titleDissertation Doctoral Project Final Submission

    Information on requirements for submission of the finished and approved manuscript copies is available online at the Thesis and Dissertation website. Students who fail to submit the final copy of a dissertation by the posted submission deadline will not be considered for graduation. The student may be considered for graduation in the following semester and must therefore apply for the degree (graduation) by the posted deadline, enroll in a minimum of two (2) dissertation hours for that subsequent semester, and meet the submission requirements as posted on the Thesis/Dissertation website. Only after the Office of Graduate Studies has approved the manuscript can the student be certified for the degree. 

    Students are required to submit the dissertation in an electronic format (ETD). Requirements and procedures are available at the Office of Graduate Studies website. All theses/dissertations will be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies designated System for official publication and archiving. Once a dissertation is approved and accepted by the Office of Graduate Studies for publication, it cannot be changed. 

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    titleDissertation Grades
     In the semester in which the final manuscript has been received, reviewed, and certified for permanent filing in the University Library, the Office of Graduate Studies submits the change of grade from “Z” to “S” for the last registration of dissertation courses to the office of the registrar when all grades are due at the end of the semester

    . 

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    titleUse of PhD in Credentials and Publication

    Students may only use the credential of “Ph.D.” after degree conferral is granted. It is inappropriate to use the credential until it is officially and formally granted. The use of the abbreviation “Ph.D.” in university publications, correspondence, etc., including websites and other electronic media, shall be upper case “P”, lower case “h” followed by a period, an upper case “D” and another period. It shall not be used in the format of all upper case letters without periods, as in “PHD”. 

    ...