How it Works
Major Characteristics of the Program
Students in this online Graduate Certificate program may choose between a Certificate in Public Health Foundations or a Certificate in Prevention and Management of HIV/AIDS.
The major elements and requirements of this program are:
- Applicants must have a US-equivalent bachelor’s degree
- Each certificate program is comprised of (5) 3-credit courses, for a total of 15-credits
- All courses are taught at a Graduate level
- All participants must meet the minimum admissions standards (see Admissions)
- Students who successfully enter the University of Florida MPH program may request that all 15-credits of their certificate transfer into the MPH program (only for courses with a B or better)
- All courses are taught online with no campus visits required
- Courses are taught in a semester calendar with weekly course requirements, unless otherwise noted in the course syllabi
- Exams are conducted online and are proctored by an online proctoring service
The Graduate Certificate curriculum has been designed to meet current developments in the field of Public Health, HIV/AIDS, accreditation criteria of the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), and the College’s mission, goals and objectives.
Credits and Timeframe
The online certificate is offered in a fully online format comprised of (5) 3-credit courses for a total of 15-credits. The program runs all three calendar semesters; fall, spring and summer. Participants may apply to start for any semester.
The program can be completed in one year for learners who take 1-2 courses per semester, although it may be extended for students who require more time to complete the requirements. Coursework may be done any time of the day, or in any time zone, with minimal true-time log-in requirements.
Course Features
Courses are conducted completely online with no campus visits required via the UF Course Management System, Sakai. Courses are comprised of audio lectures with self-triggered Power Point slides, or audio/visuals, or downloadable MP3 files with PowerPoint slides so that your course lectures can travel with you everywhere you go.
Interaction is a very high priority in the program. Courses are designed to encourage student interactions with faculty, teaching assistants, and fellow students in weekly discussion boards. Students are also linked to other students via chat boards, live Web meetings, email, discussion boards, and a live Internet meeting venue called Elluminate.
Faculty
Instructors of the online certificate program are faculty who teach MPH courses on campus. Many of them are full-time in the College. Others are public health practitioners with specific areas of expertise that are of value to our program and students. These instructors have adjunct or other special faculty appointments. In addition, some courses may have experts in various fields of HIV/AIDS that deliver guest lectures for one or more courses.
Online Program Staff
Program staff are available to help you with academic advising, registration, and technical challenges of the program.