Certificate / Courses in Prevention and Management of HIV/AIDS-Prospective Students

-AVAILABLE SOON: (FALL 2012)

Welcome to the Online Graduate Certificate in Public Health information page!

This 15-credit Graduate Certificate in Prevention and Management of HIV/AIDS is a specific way to build a foundation in public health, expand your job opportunities, or enhance your current degree program. This online certificate program is specifically designed for working professionals and students who are interested in building their skills and knowledge base in the prevention and management of HIV/AIDS in rural populations, while also having the flexibility of an online course format. Individuals who enroll in this certificate program will earn credits learning about the social, behavioral, ecological, epidemiological, pharmaceutical and health care access factors that are associated with HIV/AIDS transmission, prevention and treatment in the rural south, all of which may be applied toward an online Master of Public Health degree at the University of Florida’s College of Public Health and Health Professions. This program is ideal for:

Health professionals, such as physicians, nurses, nutitionists and veterinarians who work in public health and would like to increase their expertise and develop confidence in their knowledge of public health issues.
Health professionals who wish to move into career positions in public health
Those interested in pursuing a MPH degree, but want to get a head start often find the certificate program a good first step
Current public health graduate students

Program

The content of the online Graduate Certificate in Public Health ( Prevention and Management of HIV/AIDS ) is a public health foundations program similar to campus versions of public health certificates. What is different is the environment in which learners gather together. The online version of this certificate uses E-Learning, a course management system, as the classroom. The online program is a General Plan of Study Certificate consisting of five (5) Public Health graduate level courses. All five courses are offered within one calendar year so that participants can complete their coursework in a fairly short period of time, or take up to 3 years to complete.

Quick Links

Application Computer requirements
Costs Course Registration
Earning Certificate EEP policy
E-Learning Frequently Asked Questions
Immunizations ISIS
Payments Technical Support
Textbooks/Materials

Prequisites

Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited academic institution. International students must provide translated, certified transcripts and diplomas showing equivalency to the U.S. bachelor’s degree.

Courses

Epidemiology and Biology of HIV/AIDS

This course is intended to serve as a broad introduction to the study of HIV/AIDS. Epidemiology refers to the distribution of disease within a population, and is concerned with the causes and risk factors that influence health and its outcomes. The biology of HIV infection refers to the physiologic processes and cellular processes involved in HIV infection and its treatment. The overall goal of this course is to provide a basic understanding of the biological process by which HIV causes infection and AIDS, and to provide skills in finding current epidemiological data on HIV/AIDS and interpreting it.

Ecology of HIV/AIDS in the Rural South

The causal factors, responses, and outcomes associated with HIV/AIDS in the rural south are complex and steeped within a culture that poses unique barriers to both prevention and the provision of services. The overall goal of this course is to use an ecological framework to explore and understand multilevel factors associated with (1) risk and protective behaviors; (2) testing and disclosure of HIV status; (3) availability and sources of social support; (4) need for and use of medical, psychological, and social services; and (5) the development and use of culturally appropriate interventions.

Community-level Approaches to Preventing and Managing HIV/AIDS

Pharmaceutical Issues in Treatment of HIV/AIDS

This course is designed for individuals with no pharmacology background and will highlight the issues associated with drug therapy for HIV/AIDS. Content will include; (1) an Overview of the drug discovery process; (2) Challenges specific to HIV/AIDS clinical trials; (3) Current molecular targets of antiretroviral agents; (4) Drug resistance and its impact on treatment; (5) Difficulties associated with treatment compliance including economic costs access to treatment and side effects of treatment; (6) Vaccine development; (7) Future drug development targets. These pharmaceutical issues will be discussed mainly in the context of the U.S. healthcare system, but global challenges associated with HIV/AIDS treatment will also be covered.

Health Outcomes and Access Disparities in Rural Areas

This course will review determinants that influence health outcomes of the most disadvantaged populations in rural areas of the United States. Special attention will be given to socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and gender status and their relationships with health disparities and inequities in the rural south. Content areas will include (1) Current Public Health interventions and initiatives to reduce health disparities in the rural south; (2) The role of Public Health practitioners in identifying and reducing health disparities; (3) Cultural backgrounds of native and immigrant populations that belong to the most disadvantaged groups and how they affect the ability to communicate with health professionals and thus, affect health outcomes; (4) Civil and human rights in relation to health disparities; and (5) Current health status and trends of the most disadvantaged groups in the rural south.

Application Process

Below is a list of all the materials that you will need to submit for your application into the Online Graduate Certificate in Public Health program. All forms are attached as Acrobat forms. You should complete these forms electronically, print them and send all materials to the public health program at the address below.

Forms

Submit all of the following to Diamond Collier (address below):

1. Online Certificate Application and Check List – complete this form in Adobe Acrobat, print, and submit with all your materials

If applying to one of the specialty certificates, click for specialty certificate information and applications

2. Postbaccalaureate application form – complete this form in Adobe Acrobat, print, and submit with all your materials

3. $30 check to: University of Florida

4. Personal Statement: not a form, but a 1-page written statement that outlines your reasons for pursuing the certificate

5. Two official transcripts from all the colleges you have attended – all transcripts must be unopened, official transcripts

6. If your degree is from a country outside the US, please read the additional requirements listed at the bottom of the certificate application form.

NOTE: all forms are in pdf format. You may download Acrobat Reader to open them if you do not have it installed on your computer, for free by clicking here.

Diamond T. Collier

Program Assistant for the Rural South Public Health Training Center

University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions

P.O. Box 100175 Room 4181, Gainesville, FL 32610-0175

Office: 352.273.9588 Fax: 352.273.6048

email: d.collier@phhp.ufl.edu

Computer Requirements

Visit our computer requirements page for computer, software and technical requirements.

E-Learning

E-Learning is the online course management system that all certificate courses will use for course delivery. The University of Florida uses E-Learning for its online courses and also for many campus courses as a communication, submission and reference tool. E-Learning provides an online place for faculty and learners to meet and discuss course content, an access point for course announcements and content, and a place for submitting assignments.

The eLearning website, http://lss.at.ufl.edu, has tutorials to aid you in understanding how to navigate through your online courses and the functionality of eLearning. In addition, each course contains a folder with helpful information on how to function in Sakai eLearning.

Technical Support

You may experience technical difficulties from time-to-time when taking an online course. Technical assistance is available from the college and the UF Help Desk. Many students find it helpful to test out various features of their systems during the hours this service is available. When you do need help, here is the list of contacts to use:

Problems with coursework: For questions about assignments, the first step is always to check your eLearning course site. Your course web site is the place where you will see announcements, emails, and information from your faculty. Other types of messages at the web site include: Assignments, Announcements, Learning Modules, Calendars, Discussion Boards, and E-mail. E-mailing within eLearning is easy as it contains an internal e-mail system that allows users to send e-mails to other users in the class, and discussion boards for posting questions for your professor or fellow students. Fellow students are often a quicker source of information and may be online and available for chatting. You may e-mail your faculty or the TA (Teaching Assistant) if you need additional information or have questions. Faculty often will set up times to be available online, particularly before exams or major assignments. You may set your preferences in Sakai to send a copy of course emails to your personal email account (you will not be able to respond from this copy, but must go to the course to respond).
Difficulties logging onto eLearning: Contact the UF Computing Help Desk at 352-392-HELP, helpdesk@ufl.edu. See their website for types of assistance and hours of operation http://www.helpdesk.ufl.edu. During peak use, you may be asked to leave a message for someone to call you back, so plan accordingly. Please note that your Gatorlink password will need to be updated periodically. UF will send you an email via your UF email (check it at www.webmail.ufl.edu) to update this password. An expired password willl prevent you from entering the eLearning site.

Courses not listed after logging onto eLearning: Follow the following steps:

Verify your registration in the course via ISIS or www.isis.ufl.edu, all you need is your UF ID#.
If you ARE registered, contact the online advisor, kramtrah@phhp.ufl.edu or 352-273-5367, and ask to be added to the course roster for the course at eLearning.
If you find that you are NOT registered, contact the College of Public Health and Health Professions registrar to verify your registration in the course at352-273-6443 or 1-866-62-UFMPH. Be sure to include in your message that you are calling to verify registration in your specific online course.
Need guidance with navigating your way through eLearning within your course: There is a very detailed description of the types of assistance that are available on our Frequently Asked Questions there are also tutorials availble at the eLearning website http://lss.at.ufl.edu. Click here to go directly to this question. Or you may contact the online coordinator at 352-273-8545or kramtrah@phhp.ufl.edu
- Technical support tutorial – this 20-minute production will help guide you through your eLearning course log on and use of the course site

Course Text Books

Textbook and material requirements for each course are also listed in the course syllabi. Open the syllabus link for the course to find out the text requirements on this page. It is recommended that textbooks be purchased no sooner than one semester in advance as textbooks are subject to change. It is also highly recommended that books and materials be purchased so that they are available by the first day of the course. This could take several weeks via a mail-service, please plan accordingly.

Textbooks may be ordered via any online or physical bookstore. Some textbooks may even be rented (do a Google search). Students may buy textbooks from the UF online bookstore at www.bkstr.com, use the “UF Bookstore – Health Sciences Branch” campus option. .

Contact Information

Here is a list of contacts that you may find useful:

Program Assistant: Diamond Collier: d.collier@phhp.ufl.edu , 352-273-9588
Online coordinator: Mark Hart: kramtrah@phhp.ufl.edu , 352-273-8545
Online technical support: UF Computing Help Desk, 352-392-HELP, helpdesk@ufl.edu, http://www.helpdesk.ufl.edu

UF Immunization Policy

The University of Florida requires that all students who will be taking courses on, or visiting the UF campus for part of their coursework be vaccinated. Students who are enrolled ONLY in online courses that will not be visiting the UF campus for coursework will be granted an immunization waiver. Students will not have to request the waiver, as the college wiil secure this waiver. This waiver can only be requested after a student has been admitted and takes 24-48 hours to procure. Students who are taking courses on the UF campus will not be allowed to register for their courses without proof of immunization.

Payments

Each semester’s tuition payment is based on the number of courses taken in each semester times the cost per credit. Tuition payments for the online certificate program are due to the UF Financial Services Office via www.isis.ufl.edu. Tuition and fee payments are due shortly after the semester starts, check the www.isis.ufl.edu website for payment deadlines. Late tuition payments will result in a late tuition fee of $100.

o Tuition payments are $510 per credit hour + UF fees (US$) / Tuition and fees are payable online at www.isis.ufl.edu
o Payments online may be made using a MasterCard, Discover, or American Express
o UF does not accept Visa
o There is a 2.8% credit card fee – this includes debit cards
o To avoid the credit card fee you may pay by electronic check online
o Or mail a check to: UF Financial Services, PO Box 144000, Gainesville, FL 32611

Costs

The cost for the online certificate program is based on a per credit hour tuition rate. In-state and out-of-state tuition is at the same rate. The current tuition rate, as of August 2011, is $510 per credit hour plus UF fees. This equates to $1530 + fees.

Employee Education Program (EEP) Policy

Post-baccalaureate students in the online certificate program cannot use an EEP waiver or State Tuition waiver for online certificate courses. The UF EEP and State Tuition waivers can only be used in the campus program on a space availability basis. For further information you may go to the UF EEP information page at: http://www.hr.ufl.edu/education/eep/default.asp

Earning your public health certificate

To earn your certificate, students must:

complete all 5 courses within 3-years of starting the course work;
earn an minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA;
and all courses must be passed with a C or better to earn the certificate.

Note to student wishing to enter the MPH program: Upon acceptance into the UF MPH program, only courses with a B or better may be transferred into the MPH program for credits toward this degree.

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