Public Health and Health Professions, College of

The college offers a diverse variety of degree programs — two bachelor’s, seven master’s, eight Ph.D. and three professional degrees, as well as several certificate programs. By combining the population perspective of public health with the patient focus of our health professions disciplines, the continuum of care is covered, from prevention and treatment to rehabilitation that supports the health and well-being of communities and individuals.

Contact

Dean’s Office
101 South Newell Drive
352.273.6214

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Academic Advising
G-205 HPNP Complex
352.273.6400, ext. 1

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 100185
Health Science Center, University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32610-0185

Established

1958 as the first college of health professions in the United States; renamed Public Health and Health Professions in 2003

Location

Health Professions/Nursing/Pharmacy Complex (HPNP)
1225 Center Drive
Gainesville, FL 32610
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Rankings

Eight programs are ranked in the Top 20 among AAU public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Accredited

The college is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. In addition, all clinical programs are accredited by the appropriate national organization.

Degrees

The college offers a Bachelor of Health Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders or Health Science, and a Bachelor of Public Health degree. The Public Health program is designed to provide students with foundational skills for both individual and community based health care. The Health Science program is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills to pursue careers in medicine, rehabilitation, therapeutic care, and communication sciences. Health Science specializations include: general health science, pre-occupational therapy, occupational therapy accelerated, pre-physical therapy, and pre-professional.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

The University of Florida’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program prepares students to become professional-level OT practitioners who are leaders in the rapidly changing and dynamic contemporary health and human services delivery systems. The program will facilitate students’ clinical knowledge and skills, professional development, leadership and advocacy skills, and advanced knowledge base to inform high quality, evidence-informed practice in occupational therapy. Students will engage in projects and leadership activities that will improve practice quality and advance evidence-based clinical practice.
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Academic Advising

Make an appointment with an academic advisor at 352.273.6400, option 1.
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Libraries

In addition to the university’s other libraries, students access the Health Science Center Libraries, one of the largest biomedical library systems in the country.
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Internships and Career Guidance

College academic advisors and the Career Connections Center are available to help with career planning. Shadowing healthcare providers is also encouraged.
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Helpful Links

Admission

Admission requirements vary for the different majors; therefore, applicants should contact an academic advisor in the college to ensure appropriate academic planning.

In addition to specific GPA and coursework requirements, applicants should have evidence of service through volunteer experiences. Additional admisssion information may be found on the college's undergraduate programs page.

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines and instructions may be found on the college's undergraduate program page.

Student Selection

Undergraduate programs are limited access. Admission to the college at the junior level is limited and selective. Satisfaction of minimum GPA and course requirements does not guarantee admission to the junior level. A student’s total record, including educational objectives, courses completed, quality of academic record and application essay are considered when evaluating an applicant for admission.

Native UF Student Admission

Freshmen and Sophomores

Students can declare a major in one of the college’s undergraduate programs upon admission to the university. However, continued progress as a junior in the major is contingent upon selection and requires completion of an application process. Progression standards include courses completed, cumulative and tracking GPAs, and academic conduct. Students apply for junior level limited access admission in their sophomore year.

Juniors Level Admission

A formal application process is required for admission consideration. STUDENTS MUST SUBMIT an online program application for the major/specialization of interest and should carefully follow the instructions for the particular specialization.

Students eligible for admission consideration at the junior level must

  • Earn at least 60 semester credits of acceptable college credit with a minimum overall 3.0 GPA for all majors for all college/university-level course work.
  • Complete all critical-tracking coursework with the required GPA. (Critical-tracking courses are listed in the semester plans under Majors in this catalog.)
  • Fulfill the general education requirements described in the Academic Advising section of this catalog. Specific course sequences for each program of study indicate how to fulfill these requirements while planning careers in public health and/or discipline-specific health professions.
  • Complete all writing requirements.
  • Submit a completed program application to the College of Public Health and Health Professions.
  • Complete all requirements by the end of spring for Summer B admission consideration or by the end of Summer A for fall admission consideration.

Transfer Student Admission

Meeting minimum standards as freshmen and sophomores does not guarantee admission to the junior year within the college because space is limited.

Application Materials

Non-UF students must apply to the University of Florida and to the College of Public Health and Health Professions for admission consideration at the junior year. These are separate applications. Students with questions should speak with a college advisor 352.273.6400, option 1.

Florida public college students must have:

  • Received the A.A. degree.
  • Completed all critical-tracking coursework with the required GPA.
  • Completed 60 semester credits of transferable college-level credit with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.
  • Submitted a transfer application to UF.
  • Submitted a program application to the College of Public Health and Health Professions.

PHHP Academic Policies

Double Majors

PHHP does not offer a double major; however, students in this college can pursue an additional degree outside of the college. Students from other colleges can also consider a dual degree within PHHP. Permission of both colleges is required. Students are eligible to apply for a dual degree after they have completed 45 credits and before completion of 96 credits. Students must meet all requirements for both degrees.

Minors

The college offers four minors:

  • communication sciences and disorders
  • deaf and hearing sciences
  • disability science
  • health science
  • public health

These minors are open to students in other colleges who meet the prerequisite and GPA requirements. The minor form and course information are available from the college website.

Specific minors are available to PHHP juniors and seniors based on the student's specialization, as noted below.

Communication Sciences and Disorders Students: deaf and hearing sciences, health science, disability science and public health minors.

Health Science Students: communication sciences and disorders and public health minors.

Public Health Students: communication sciences and disorders minors.

S/U Option

The S/U option is not permitted for prerequisite or major courses; however, it can be used for electives.

Academic Peformance

 

Juniors and Seniors

Students must receive minimum grades of C in all courses required for the major. Unsatisfactory grades, defined as grades lower than a C or grades of unsatisfactory in classes graded S/U, are grounds for probation and/or dismissal from the college. In addition, dismissal from the college can result from honor code violations.

If a student in the college receives one grade of C- or lower in a college course, the student is placed on academic probation. Faculty will provide an opportunity for the student to make up material (e.g., through independent study, repeating the course, etc.). If the student receives at least a C in the course for which probation was implemented, the student will return to good academic standing. If the student receives a C- or lower while on probation, the student must withdraw from the program unless the college determines mitigating circumstances warrant a probationary extension. If a student receives the first and second C- or lower in the same term, the college has the right to dismiss the student without first offering probation.

If a student receives a C- or lower in a second college course, regardless of whether this occurs in the same term or a different term as the first C- or lower, the student can be required to withdraw from the program. The student has the right to petition this decision.

In order to petition the faculty committee, the student must provide the program director with a letter stating the reasons that the student should be allowed to remediate their academic performance. Upon successful petition and on a space-available basis, the student will be placed on academic probation and allowed to make up material in an appropriate manner determined by the instructor and program director (e.g., via independent study, course repetition, etc.)

If the student successfully completes the remediation requirements and receives a minimum course grade of C, the student can continue in the program. However, if the student again receives a C- or lower, the student must withdraw from the program. The college will help the student choose another major at UF, if desired, if they withdraw from a college major.

In the first two cases above, the individual instructor is responsible for assigning student grades. The program director, in consultation with the instructor and program faculty as needed, is responsible for determining if a student who appeals a dismissal will be placed on academic probation or dismissed from the program. The student will be notified in writing of the director’s decision concerning academic probation or dismissal.

If the student is placed on probation, the letter will include the activities that the student must successfully complete to remedy the academic deficiencies and the timeframe in which these activities must be completed. Failure to adhere to or to meet the terms of the letter constitutes grounds for dismissal from the program. The student will be offered assistance, if desired, to select a different major.

If the student disagrees with the director’s decision regarding dismissal or the terms of the probation letter, the student may appeal in writing within one week to the associate dean overseeing academic affairs. The associate dean will review both the director’s decision and the student’s concerns and make a determination about academic probation/dismissal. Both the student and director have the right to further appeal to the dean, who will review the case in its entirety and make the final decision.

Changing Majors

Freshmen and sophomores wishing to change majors must contact a college advisor in the new major. Juniors and seniors wishing to change majors in the college must contact the program director. If a student withdraws from the major, specific permission from the program and the college must be given at the time of withdrawal for the student to be eligible to re-enter the college.

Health Policy

The college requires evidence of ability to meet the physical and academic requirements of the program. Personnel in the Department of Student Health will test each student for sensitivity to tuberculosis. The Department of Student Health will verify immunization against diphtheria, rubella (German measles) and tetanus.

All students must be immunized against Hepatitis B and varicella (chicken pox) or provide the Student Health Center with medical documentation that they have had chicken pox. All students must participate in annual bloodborne pathogen training, repeat their TB test annually if observing in a clinical setting, and be HIPAA compliant.

Students registered in clinical courses must have hospitalization insurance. Full-time students are eligible for the health insurance plans sponsored by Student Government. Twelve-month coverage may be purchased at the time of registration.

Expenses

Required immunizations and other expenses are the student’s responsibility.

Students must satisfy all college and university degree requirements for their major and specialization.

College requirements include:

  • Completion of 120 semester credits with a 2.0 GPA, including 60 hours of upper division college credit
  • Completion of all core courses with minimum grades of C
  • Satisfactory completion of all approved college and general electives
  • Completion of a PHHP degree candidate exit survey

To graduate in the desired term, students must submit by the deadline a completed degree application to the Office of University Registrar.
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Dean’s List

The dean’s list recognizes outstanding academic achievement at the completion of each semester. Students receiving a final grade of U or a failing grade may not be considered for the dean’s list, regardless of overall grade point average. Students may request a letter confirming dean’s list status from the college's dean’s office.
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Graduating with Honors

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Postbaccalaureate students are not eligible to receive honors recognition. Guidelines for completion of honors program requirements to graduate magna cum laude or summa cum laude.

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MAJORS

MINORS

CERTIFICATES

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UF ONLINE MAJORS

Students are encouraged to participate in organizations that will help them gain leadership and teamwork experience.

Examples of student organizations, include, but are not limited to:

  • Student Occupational Therapy Association
  • Health Science Student Organization
  • Generational Relief in Prosthetics (GRiP)
  • Multicultural Association of Pre-Health Students
  • PHHP College Council