Program overview
The College of Public Health and Health Professions has a long-standing commitment to treatment and rehabilitation of individuals with chronic diseases and disabilities. Adding a public health, population-based set of skills to the research training in this Ph.D. program produces a uniquely-qualified researcher. Individuals who complete this program are in exceptional positions to conduct research that will contribute to cutting-edge paradigm shifts and to inform health policy decisions that affect chronic diseases and disabilities. The Ph.D./M.P.H. program involves collaboration among four departments and the M.P.H. program in the College of Public Health and Health Professions.
Graduation requirements
All students in combination M.P.H. programs must meet graduation requirements of the M.P.H. A student must satisfy the curriculum requirements for each degree before either degree is awarded. Rehabilitation Science Ph.D./M.P.H. plans of study are developed for each student individually, taking into account the public health competencies to be achieved and the manner in which M.P.H. courses will be integrated into the four years of course and laboratory work normally required for the Ph.D. Students in the Ph.D. program may take M.P.H. courses concurrent with their Ph.D. courses.
Nine credits of appropriate Ph.D. coursework may be applied to requirements in the 48-credit M.P.H. program. The nine credits selected from the Ph.D. curriculum must be approved by the M.P.H. program upon the recommendation of the student’s faculty advisors. Conversely, the Ph.D. program may accept up to 30 credits of approved master’s-level coursework towards the requirements of the Ph.D.
Requirements for graduation from the M.P.H. program are outlined on the Campus M.P.H. degree webpage.
Admission criteria and process
Candidates for the program must:
- Meet the Rehabilitation Science Ph.D. entrance requirements and procedures for admission to the Rehabilitation Science Ph.D. program
- Meet the M.P.H. entrance requirements and procedures for admission to the Master of Public Health
The nontraditional degree program is not open to students who have already earned one of the two degrees.
Timing of application/admission
Students may apply to both programs simultaneously, or they may enter one degree program and apply to the other after beginning the first program. However, the sequencing of applications and acceptances is important. Since the Ph.D. program is much smaller than the M.P.H., the recommended method is for students to begin their Ph.D. studies and confer with Rehabilitation Science faculty mentors and M.P.H. faculty before applying to the M.P.H. program. After acceptance into the M.P.H., Combination Degree Program forms are completed and submitted to the Graduate School for classification as a combination program student. Complete the University of Florida Graduate School Nontraditional Doctoral/Master’s Degree Program Form 1.
Students should feel free to contact Telisha Martin (M.P.H. contact) or Laura Quintana (Rehabilitation Science contact) if they have questions regarding the M.P.H./Ph.D. degree program.