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COPH Department: Community & Family Health
Concentration: Community & Family Health (CFH)
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health
The educational mission of the Department of Community & Family Health is to prepare public health professionals who can meet the challenge of improving the health status of the family and the overall community. Programs offered focus on: (1) the analysis of the health status and needs of a population including social, behavioral and demographic factors and characteristics; (2) health promotion and education; (3) client and community-based intervention strategies; (4) development and evaluation of community and family health programs. This program and its faculty provide students with excellent research opportunities in domestic or international arenas through basic and applied research; conducting innovative community-based demonstration programs; providing consultation and technical assistance to agencies and communities; and providing continuing education programs.
The curriculum is a cooperative, learning, research, problem-solving endeavor in which students and faculty contribute interdependently to pursuits essential to the health of human society. The educational process requires active participation and self-direction by the student in pursuit of a type of scholarship and intellectual discipline that remains for life. Scholarship implies the application of a body of knowledge, intellectual curiosity, vision, insight, critical thinking, imagination, analysis and synthesis for the advancement of society.
A graduate from the PhD program will be able to:
- Contribute to the improvement of the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities through intra- and interdisciplinary effort;
- Implement change within the community and public health;
- Conduct basic and applied research in identification, prevention and evaluation of public health problems;
- Teach in University settings; and
- Assume leadership roles at the local, state, national and international levels.
Program of Study
The courses in your program of study can be found below, for your reference. Note: You may choose a program of study that corresponds to the academic year of your admission or any year thereafter. Please see the guidelines below.
USF Guidelines on Choosing a Program of Study
Competencies
PhD Competencies
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Community & Family Health Competencies
Doctoral students successfully completing a program of study in the Department of Community and Family Health (CFH) will possess a defined set of competencies in four areas. These competencies should be used as a guidepost for the student and academic advisory committee in planning a program of study. Competencies can be met through previous academic or work experience, or they can be fulfilled through a combination of planned course work and other scholarly experience.
In addition to the overall Doctor of Philosophy degree competencies, a graduate from the Community & Family Health Doctoral program will be able to perform the following competencies:
Domain 1: Scientific Knowledge and Theory
- Defend the importance of theoretical frameworks in planning, implementation, and evaluation of community and family health interventions.
- Describe significant public health achievements, changing paradigms, and continuing challenges.
- Analyze research traditions in community and family health from the standpoint of the philosophy of science.
Domain 2: Research
- Critically analyze research literature;
- Identify models for guiding independent research;
- Formulate research questions and testable hypotheses that will impact community and family health;
- Align research questions with appropriate methods of inquiry;
- Describe techniques and methods for community-based participatory research;
- Assess appropriateness of existing data sets to answer research questions;
- Analyze research data;
- Interpret research findings;
- Demonstrate appropriate methods of data collection and analysis for innovative;
- Apply ethical standards of public health in the conduct and dissemination of research;
- Work as an effective research team member;
- Prepare scholarly publications and deliver oral presentations; and
- Recognize appropriate funding sources for research.
Domain 3: Teaching
- Demonstrate ability to teach a university level course using current pedagogical techniques; and
- Align teaching methods to learner needs.
Domain 4: Practice
- Identify the practice and policy implications of specific research;
- Describe techniques and methods for including community members in planning, implementing, and evaluating public health programs;
- Disseminate knowledge across targeted audiences in practice, policy, and community settings;
- Demonstrate proficiency in writing audience-centered technical reports; and
- Advocate for public health issues in community and family health.
Department Details
For department guidelines see the Community and Family Health Student Resources Page.
Please send feedback on the PhD Guidebook
