In 2016, the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH) published their extensively revised Master of Public Health (MPH) core competencies, moving from 10 core competencies to 22. As a result, and like many programs across the country, the University of Florida (UF) MPH program’s core curriculum underwent revisions in 2019 to accommodate the new core competencies and competency structure.
In summer 2021, after the first full cohort of students had graduated from the new core curriculum, the UF MPH program formed the MPH Curriculum Task Force charged with examining the core curriculum to assess its effectiveness in preparing students for their future in public health (Phase 1). A second phase was undertaken to re-envision the MPH Program Curriculum using the data collected as part of Phase 1. A summary of the data collection process, findings, and outcomes are provided in this Executive Summary.
When will the new curriculum go into effect?
In Fall 2025, the new curriculum will be launched. The syllabi are approved, instructors identified, and the new course content is being developed.
How does the new curriculum differ?
The new MPH curriculum features an integrated and sequenced core curriculum focused on practical application of skills, and preparing students for the public health workforce. The UF MPH program’s move toward an integrated curriculum is similar to what many schools and programs are making or have made recently.
What are the public health core courses?
- · Foundations of Public Health (3 credits)
- · Public Health Methods 1: Quantitative Foundations (3 credits)
- · Public Health Methods 1 Programming Lab: Statistical Applications (1 credit)
- · Social Determinants of Health (3 credits)
- · Public Health Leadership (2 credits)
- · Public Health Methods 2: Applications for Practice (3 credits)
- · Designing & Implementing Public Health Solutions (3 credits)
- · Professional Series (ProSeries) in Public Health (1 credit)
In addition to the public health core, all students complete an Applied Practice Experience (APE; 3 credits) and their MPH Capstone Project (2 credits).
The ProSeries is also offered as a 0-credit course in which students register for the semester before APE (Preparing for APE) and the semester before MPH Capstone (Preparing for Capstone).
For more information, check out our MPH Curriculum Course Overviews & Current Status.
Who is redesigning the Curriculum?
The MPH Curriculum Task Force (comprised of faculty from each concentration, students, alumni, and staff) developed the course syllabi. All course content is being team developed by faculty from the different concentrations.
Will students still belong to a Concentration?
Yes, the public health core is the new core for all MPH students across all concentrations. Concentrations have examined the new core and taken the opportunity to update their own concentration core requirements. Visit each of the concentration pages to see a sample Plan of Study for the new curriculum.
Will Admissions be affected?
There will be no changes to admissions or the admissions process.
Will current students be affected?
The new curriculum will apply only to students accepted for the fall 2025 semester or later.
Some of the former core courses are being modified for use in other academic programs within our college. For that reason, pre-Fall 2025 part-time (or slower) paced students may want to check in with their Academic Advisor to discuss course availability and sequencing.
Will the Program still be accredited?
Yes. The new curriculum meets all accreditation standards set by the Council for Education in Public.