The 51做厙s public health degree program is the highest ranked in Florida by U.S. News & World Report, acknowleding the academic commitment to preparing students for a career in the health sciences.
This underscores the work of the (COPH), which for more than 10 years has consistently been the highest ranked program in Florida and has also ranked in the top 30 nationally among the Council on Education for Public Health accredited schools and colleges.
COPH is reshaping the student experience to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving public health landscape, said , dean of the college.
Dean Sten Vermund (right) at one of the USF Center for Global Health and Inter-Disciplinary Research laboratories. (Photo by Allison Long)
Established in 1984 by the Florida Legislature, COPH is the first college of public health in the state. Legislators specifically charged the college with training and developing a public health workforce.
Today, the college includes more than 500 faculty members with regular, adjunct, postdoctoral and affiliate appointments, and 14,000 alumni. Its student body of 4,350 bold Bulls represent 58 countries.
USF Health
The college joins USFs Morsani College of Medicine, College of Nursing, Taneja College of Pharmacy, School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences from USF Health.
Through curriculum modernization, expanded experiential learning, use of AI and strategic investment in interdisciplinary research, COPH is translating discovery into action, Vermund said. Its partnerships across Florida spans health care systems, community organizations, and policy leaders to ensure that students and faculty are engaged in timely and relevant work.
Our reforms reinforce our mission to advance public health through innovation, practicebased education and research that improves health outcomes across the state and the world, Vermund added. This effort is championed by the colleges 13 internationally recognized addressing areas of public health importance.
Academically, students choose from through on-campus, online or blended formats. COPH is home to the largest undergraduate program. Plus, there are more than 20 unique graduate degree concentrations and 100 .
- of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS), Public Health (BSPH), Health and Nutrition Science or Health and Physical Rehabilitation Science
- of Public Health (MPH), Health Administration (MHA) or Science in Public Health (MSPH)
- of Philosophy (PhD) or Public Health (DrPH)
USF College of Public Health master's graduates reciting their public health oath at the spring 2025 graduation ceremony. (Photo by Caitlin Keough)
There are numerous avenues for public health students to enhance their academic training. Students who desire to get away can embark on an established study abroad experience to London, Japan, Panama or Quebec. Undergraduate and graduate students hone their research skills through formal opportunities with a faculty mentor. And, the award winning helps students develop their skills to champion human rights in their communities.
Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship
Returned Peace Corps volunteers are eligible for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship. The program awards financial assistance to fellows pursuing an MPH degree.
A jewel in the colleges crown is the program. It has consistently led the country in registering the most people for insurance under the Affordable Care Act. This achievement, given the 90% reduction in funding in the past fiscal year, is particularly meaningful because of the programs leadership efforts to reach Floridas population that is most in need of health insurance coverage, said , COPH professor and senior associate dean for research and practice.
The USF Activist Lab during their Adopt-a-School Program, an ongoing initiative that invites students from local schools to participate in lab activities to learn how to be strong public health advocates. (Photo courtesy of Karen Liller)
COPH prepares students at every level to be workforceready through a rigorous, experiential curriculum grounded in community context and global public health challenges, said , professor and senior associate dean for academic and student affairs in the college. By connecting classroom learning with realworld practice, the college equips graduates to serve the publics health and lead programs that create meaningful, lasting impact.