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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 Community and Family Health Student Resources Page.
Please send feedback on the PhD Guidebook