Prior to beginning your thesis research:
- Work with your advisor and faculty mentor to ensure that your Core required coursework and your electives are in place. Most of these are identical to the GCD MPH, though you are not required to take Translation to Practice, and the number of elective credits is less more than for the MPH. This is so that you are able to take the necessary research and thesis credits to complete the MSPH degree.
- First fall semester, enroll in PHC 6561 Laboratory Techniques in Public Health (along with PHC 6588-History & Systems of Public Health and PHC 6756-Population Assessment: Part 1)
- Mid-fall semester you will receive an email from Dr. Unnasch with the potential rotation opportunities as well as points of contact for each attached.
- It is the student’s responsibility to secure a rotation for spring and email Dr. Unnasch with the information once it has been confirmed.
- First spring semester, enroll in PHC 6722 Laboratory Rotations in Global Health Research. (along with PHC 6757-Population Assessment: Part 2)
- First summer semester, choose a thesis mentor/major professor. Sign up for a 3-credit directed research class (PHC 7910) under your major professor. Conduct preliminary research on your proposed thesis project. Change your faculty mentor on Archivum to your major professor at this time.
- First summer semester identify a thesis committee and complete the MSPH Student Supervisory Committee Appointment Form. This should consist of three faculty members in Global Health or from other affiliated departments that have expertise in your research area. Confirm with your advisor that all committee members have been credentialed to serve on your committee. You can turn the completed form into your Faculty Mentor or Advisor.
- At the end of your first summer semester or the beginning of your second fall semester, convene a thesis committee meeting and prepare a Powerpoint presentation (ca. 45 minutes) that presents your proposed research project. Your committee will ask you questions to determine if you have a thorough understanding of the project and its context. If you are successful in convincing the committee that you have a good project and a thorough understanding of the background material, they will approve your project. This is considered as passing your qualifying examination. You may now complete the Consent of Instructor Form (leave the CRN field blank) and email this to RRP@health.usf.edu. Then wait for the Registration Team to give the student a CRN, this typically takes 4-6 business days. Then you would use this 5 digit CRN to register through OASIS.
- Students will be unable to enroll for thesis hours their second fall semester in the program without submission of a signed MSPH Request for Thesis Proposal form (https://usf.app.box.com/s/fb2k0r8efyyzpg6f1wqng07mygofftr5) that confirms that they have successfully passed the qualifying examination. If you do not complete your qualifying exam by the end of the summer semester, you must sign up for directed research for the second fall semester and complete your thesis credits in your second spring and summer semesters. The completed form must be submitted by the end of your second fall semester in order for you to complete the program in two years.
- Second fall and (at least part of) your second spring semester, complete your thesis research. It is common for students to need the entire spring semester to complete their research project. Those students that are not able to complete their research project in time to graduate at the end of their second spring semester use the second summer semester to complete their thesis preparation and defense.
Thesis preparation, writing, defense and committee Meetings
The semester before you plan to defend your thesis, attend Electronic Thesis Dissertation (ETD) help session or training online or in person: https://www.usf.edu/graduate-studies/students/electronic-thesis-dissertation/etd-workshops-and-help-sessions.aspx.
The semester you plan to defend your thesis monitor the ETD submission deadlines: https://www.usf.edu/graduate-studies/students/electronic-thesis-dissertation/current-etd-deadlines.aspx. You MUST be registered for a minimum of two thesis credits under your major professor in the semester in which you plan to graduate. Ensure your major professor opens an assignment for you in Canvas to allow you to submit your completed thesis for a plagiarism check. The assignment must have Turnitin enabled.
Schedule a final committee meeting to present your work and get the committee’s approval to proceed in writing your thesis.
Once your committee has confirmed that you are ready to defend your thesis:
- Find a mutually convenient date/time for all committee members and book a conference room in COPH or IDRB. Complete the thesis defense announcement form (https://usf.app.box.com/s/ui8m5bq4ktiffwltl29rgviywfruzfj3 ) at least two weeks prior to your defense date and send it to your advisor. Your advisor will announce the defense to the faculty, staff and student lists in the College.
- On the day you defend, bring the ETD Certificate of Approval (COA) form with you (https://www.usf.edu/graduate-studies/documents/usf-graduate-studies-etd-certificate-of-approval-form-fillable.pdf ). Obtain the signatures of your committee members.
- Submit the COA signed by your committee members along with (1) a bound copy of your thesis and (2) the plagiarism summary (provided to you by your major professor) to Dr. Penniecook in COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs (ASA).
- ASA will email you once Dr. Penniecook has signed the COA form. It is then the student’s responsibility to pick up the COA form and submit it to USF Graduate Studies (ALN 226) along with the plagiarism summary.
For more information about MSPH forms please go to - https://health.usf.edu/publichealth/academicaffairs/forms