The Public Health Graduate Certificate with an emphasis in Public Health Foundations provides training on practical application of core public health skills, including epidemiological methodology, data collection and analysis, assessment and surveillance, and designing and implementing public health solutions. Individuals who complete this certificate can sit for the CPH exam if they have 3+ years of public health experience and/or a relevant graduate degree.
Overview
The Public Health Graduate Certificate with an emphasis in Public Health Foundations provides training in the five core areas of public health – this certificate is a great way to understand the basics of public health. It is comprised of the five core courses of Public Health: Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Epidemiology, Management and Policy, and Social and Behavioral Health.
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 2-5 semesters
- consists of 15 credits
- 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.
Certified in Public Health (CPH) Exam
Individuals who complete the five core classes (epidemiology, biostatistics, behavioral sciences/health education, environmental health, health administration/policy) at a CEPH-accredited institution are eligible to sit for the CPH exam as long as they meet either of two additional eligibility criteria:
- Minimum of three years of public health experience OR
- Possession of a relevant graduate degree
Click here to learn more about the CPH eligibility requirements.
The Graduate Certificate in Public Health Foundations includes all 5 Public Health Core Courses, which meets the academic criteria for CPH Exam eligibility.
Courses
Course Plan: Option 1 is recommended for students who are only interested in obtaining the certificate and do not intend to apply to the MPH program. Option 2, which goes more in depth with data analytic skills, is recommended for students who intend to apply for the MPH program after completion of the certificate.
Option 1
- PHC 6600, Foundations of Public Health (3-credits)
- PHC 6740, Public Health Methods 1: Quantitative Foundations (3-credits)
- PHC 6410, Designing & Implementing Public Health Solutions (3-credits)
- PHC 6742, Public Health Methods 2: Applications for Practice (3-credits)
- PHC 6605, Social Determinants of Health (3-credits)
Option 2 – Recommended for students who intend to apply to the MPH program upon completion of the certificate.
- PHC 6600, Foundations of Public Health (3-credits)
- PHC 6740, Public Health Methods (PHM) 1: Quantitative Foundations (3-credits)
- PHC 6XXX-L, PHM Statistical Programming Lab (1-credit)
- PHC 6149, Public Health Leadership (2-credits)
- Select two:
- PHC 6410, Designing & Implementing Public Health Solutions (3-credits)
- PHC 6742, Public Health Methods 2: Applications for Practice (3-credits)
- PHC 6605, Social Determinants of Health (3-credits)
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.
PHC 6740, Public Health Methods (PHM) I: Quantitative Foundations (3-credits)
Description: This is the first of two courses that focuses on public health/global health research and practice methods. This course, taken in conjunction with a lab, focuses on principles of epidemiology and biostatistics, emphasizing application of epidemiological methods, quantitative data collection, and quantitative data analysis and interpretation.
PHC 6XXX-L, PHM Statistical Programming Lab (1-credit)
Description: Trains students to perform basic exploratory data analysis and biostatistical inference procedures using SAS or R software. This course, taken in conjunction with PHC 6740, allows students to apply epidemiological and biostatistical concepts emphasized in both courses. Examples are drawn from public health, clinical, and biomedical settings.
PHC 6410, Designing & Implementing PH Solutions (3-credits)
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.
PHC 6149, Public Health Leadership (2-credits)
Description: This graduate course focuses on leadership and management within the Public Health field. Students acquire knowledge of management and leadership skills to grow as a public health professional, build collaborative professional relationships, develop strategies, serve as an effective team member and lead public health efforts.
PHC 6605, Social Determinants of Health (3-credits)
Description: Using established conceptual frameworks on the Social Determinants of Health, students will map the interrelationships among the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) and Health Inequalities (HI) / Health Disparities (HD); and discuss the social origins of illness, disease, and suffering that contribute to HD in people’s health.
PHC 6742, Public Health Methods 2: Applications for Practice (3-credits)
Description: The second of two courses focusing on public health/global health research and practice using quantitative and qualitative methods. This course introduces qualitative and mixed methods and their relevance to rigorous public health research and practice, emphasizing using qualitative methods to conduct needs and capacity assessments within communities and organizations.
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.