Community Health Management Focus

The Public Health Certificate with an emphasis in Community Health Management includes course that will build a foundation in public health with a focus on its application in the field of community health. It is comprised of course that focus on developing public health solutions, management of healthcare systems, and understanding the current trends in healthcare.

Overview

Successful completion of this certificate will be denoted on a student’s transcript by “Completed Graduate Certificate in Public Health.” A paper certificate with the same notation will be mailed to the students home 8-12 weeks after final grades are posted.

Features of the Graduate Certificate in Public Health

  • can be completed in 3-5 semesters
  • consists of 5 courses of 3 credits each
  • requires students to maintain a 3.0 GPA and have no grades lower than a “C”
  • requires a final exam covering the 10 Essential Services of Public Health
  • courses in this certificate program may be transferred into the University of Florida’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program upon admission with a B or better grade, provided that the courses were completed less than 7 years prior.

Courses

Applicants will choose their specific plan of study and course schedule when completing the departmental application. Schedules can be found on our Course Schedule page

Required:

  • PHC 6600, Foundations of Public Health
  • HSA 6114, Introduction to US Health Care Systems
  • PHC 6410, Designing and Implementing PH Solutions

Select Two:

  • PHC 6195, Health Information for Diverse Populations: Theory & Methods
  • PHC 6704, Community Based Participatory Research
  • PHC 6251, Assessment & Surveillance in Public Health
  • PHC 6104, Evidence-Based Management of PH programs
  • HSA 6115, Introduction to Management of Health Service Organizations
  • PHC 6103, Systems Thinking and Public Health (online)
  • NOTE: 6195, 6704, or 6251 are recommended for those with a strong behavioral or community health interest; 6104, 6115, or 6103 are recommended for those with a strong organizational/healthcare management focus

Course Descriptions

PHC 6600, Foundations of Public Health (3-credits)

Description: This foundational course introduces public health and healthcare within the US and globally, emphasizing the ecological perspective and the interconnectedness of population and individual health. Course topics include public health history and impact, the role of ethics and evidence, and the importance of health equity and human rights.

HSA 6114, Introduction to US Healthcare Systems

Description: The course provides an overview of the structure of the healthcare delivery system and policy. With periodic changes in diverse aspects of health care system, its dynamic mechanism should be understood. Particularly, the health care system encompasses organization, management, finance, policy and technology. Thus, comprehensive thinking is required.

PHC 6410, Designing & Implementing Public Health Solutions

Description: Acquire knowledge of behavioral science theories and community mobilization strategies, including how to apply these theories along with evidence and ethics in creating culturally-concordant public health solutions. Identify, prioritize, and adapt evidence-based solutions to develop an intervention rationale, advocacy strategy, and implementation plan for an identified solution.

Pick 2 of the following courses:

PHC 6195, Health Information for Diverse Populations: Theory & Methods

Description: This is an introductory course; as such, we will be examining basic concepts and social scientific research in persuasive communication to gain an understanding of how individuals process and respond to public health information.

PHC 6704, Community-Based Participatory Research

Description: This course provides an overview of theories, principles, and strategies associated with Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR). This course is intended for graduate students and community practitioners interested in adding CBPR to their repertoire of effective approaches to understanding and addressing social and health disparities in public health.

PHC 6251, Assessment and Surveillance in Public Health

Description: This course is designed to provide students with knowledge, skills, and methods for conducting community health assessments to identify factors that affect the health of a population so to inform design of social and behavioral interventions.

PHC 6104, Evidence-Based Management of Public Health Programs

Description: This course provides practical guidance on how to choose, administer, and evaluate evidence-based programs and policies in public health settings.

HSA 6115, Introduction to Management of Health Service Organizations

Description: Organizational principles and practices as applied to management. This course covers organizational theory, managerial role, managing groups, work design, and organization design.

PHC 6103, Systems Thinking for Public Health

Description: Conceptual and empirical tools for understanding and managing complex organizations and interacting with other large systems that impact public health. Simulated work experiences show intended and unintended consequences of interventions in complex systems.


For more information, please check out our FAQs or specific program contacts below.

For information about certificate eligibility, admission, or the application process, please contact Brittany Gibson.

For information about registration, courses, designing a plan of study, or transitioning from the Certificate in Public Health to the UF MPH program, please contact Telisha Martin.