PhD Community and Family Health

Concentration: Community & Family Health (CFH)
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health
Delivery: Traditional

The educational mission of the Community & Family Health concentration 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

If you have questions on your program, please contact the Doctoral Training Office at cophdoctoral@usf.edu. 

Current students may access their Degree Works planner (Degree Works may also be accessed from my.usf.edu or OASIS). Students may view their current progress in Archivum at usf.appiancloud.com/. (See Archivum instructions.). If you are not a current student, or want to view program requirements from a different catalog year please use these sources:  

• 2021/22 USF catalog PhD planner or COPH catalog section 

• 2020/21 USF catalog PhD planner or COPH catalog section

• 2019/20 USF catalog PhD planner or COPH catalog section 

• Any prior year please view the USF Graduate Catalog Archives 

There may be circumstances in which a student may need to change their catalog year. This must be initiated through a discussion with your academic advisor. Details regarding USF policy on changing catalog year can be found at https://catalog.usf.edu/content.php?catoid=15&navoid=2107#students-major-degree-requirements.