College of Public Health and Health Professions

• Contact Information
• Overview
• Academic Policies
• Degree Requirements
• Majors
• Minors
• ALCs

Admission

This section summarizes requirements for admission to the various tracks and majors in the bachelor of health science program in the College of Public Health and Health Professions (PHHP).

Requirements vary for the different preprofessional career interests of students within the health science program. Thus, applicants should contact an academic adviser in the college to ensure appropriate academic planning. Premedical, predental and preveterinary students are also encouraged to contact the pre-health adviser located in the Academic Advising Center at 100 Farrior Hall. Pre-physician assistant students are encouraged to contact the PA adviser (352-265-7955). All students also should review the relevant program admission requirements for their specific discipline at the graduate/professional level.

UF Freshmen and Sophomores: Students can declare a major in one of the college’s undergraduate programs upon admission to the university. Progression standards include courses completed and cumulative and tracking GPA.

A formal application process is required in order to be considered in the applicant pool for admission at the junior level. The requirements for admission are listed below. In addition, all students must submit a health science application for the track/major of interest to the College of Public Health and Health Professions. Students need to carefully follow the instructions for the BHS track of interest.

UF Juniors and Seniors: Students eligible to be considered for admission must meet the following criteria:

• Earned at least 60 semester hours of acceptable college credit with an overall average GPA of 3.0 or higher for health science, pre-occupational therapy and pre-public health, and 2.7 or higher for communication sciences and disorders on all college/university-level work attempted.
• Completed all critical-tracking course work with the required GPA. (Critical-tracking courses are listed in the programs of study section that follows.)
• Fulfilled the university-wide general education requirements described in the Academic Advising section of this catalog. The specific course sequences in the programs of study section indicate how to fulfill these requirements while planning careers in public health and/or discipline-specific health professions.
• Completed all writing and math requirements.
• Submitted a college application.
• Completed all requirements by the end of Spring for Summer B admission or by the end of Summer A for Fall admission consideration.

Transfer Students

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

Florida SUS state and community college students must have:

• Received the A.A. degree.
• Completed all critical-tracking course work with the required GPA (3.0 health science, pre-occupational therapy and pre-public health; 2.7 for communication sciences and disorders).
• Completed 60 semester hours of transferable college-level credit with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher for health science, pre-OT and pre-public health, and 2.7 or higher for communication sciences and disorders.
• Submitted a health science application to PHHP and a transfer application to UF (two separate applications).

Special Admission Requirements

In addition to specific GPA and course work requirements, all health science majors require evidence of commitment to the field. Students are encouraged to volunteer in a human services field to demonstrate this commitment. An interview may be required for admission to the college.

Application materials for all undergraduate programs: Students must apply to the college to be considered for admission to the junior year. In addition to applying to UF, non-UF students must also apply directly to the College of PHHP. These are separate applications. Students with questions should contact the dean’s office and speak with an adviser.

Application Deadlines: The Bachelor of Health Science program admits twice per year (summer B and fall) for all majors and tracks. The application deadline for all admissions is February 1. After the deadline has passed, student applications are considered only on a space-available basis.

Student Selection: Admission to the college at the junior level is selective. Satisfaction of minimum GPA and course requirements does not guarantee admission to the junior level because enrollment is limited. 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.

Double Majors/Dual Degrees

The college does not offer a double major.

However, students in the College of Public Health and Health Professions can pursue an additional degree outside of the college and students from other colleges can consider a dual degree within the College of Public Health and Health Professions, with permission of both colleges. Students are eligible to apply for the dual degree after they have completed 45 credit hours and before completion of 96 credit hours. Students must meet the necessary curricular requirements for both degrees.

Minors

The College of Public Health and Health Professions offers four minors: health science, disability science, public health and communication sciences and disorders. These minors are open to students in any college other than PHHP at the university if the student has completed the prerequisites with the required GPA. Specific minors are available to health science majors based on the track in which the student is enrolled as noted below.

Communication Sciences and Disorders: health science, disability science and public health.

Health Science and Pre-OT: communication sciences and disorders and public health.

Students interested in a minor can obtain an application form and a course list from the BHS website.

S-U Option

The S-U option is not permitted for required prerequisite or major courses. However, it can be used for electives.

Academic Probation/Off-Track Students

Students who do not make sufficient progress toward program completion are considered to be off track. Off-track status means the student has not met all tracking criteria for the designated term. Students who are off track can be placed on probation. The purpose of probation is to develop a plan to help the student return to good academic standing. Off-track students can be dismissed from the college based on the college's policy below.

Freshmen and Sophomores: Freshmen and sophomores can be off track for one of two reasons: low GPA or missing or low grades in prerequisite or major courses.

• All students who are off track at the end of any semester are required to meet with an academic adviser in the college to determine the steps needed to get back on track.
• The academic performance of all students who are off track after two semesters will be reviewed by a college academic adviser. If, in the opinion of the adviser, the student could return to on-track status within one additional semester, the student will be considered for continuation in the college. Otherwise, the student needs to select a different major.
• If a student fails to meet requirements to return to on track status and/or is off track after three semesters, the student must withdraw from the major. The student has the right to appeal the decision for dismissal to the dean within one week of notification. Students who must withdraw from the college will be offered assistance in choosing a different major at the university.
• Students dismissed from the college for academic reasons who believe they have remediated all college pre-application requirements by the deadline for the major have the right to apply for admission. However, dismissal from the college can be considered when making admissions decisions.
• Regardless of the number of semesters the student is off track, if a student meets university guidelines for dismissal, that student can be dismissed consistent with university policy.

Juniors and Seniors: Students must receive at least a C grade 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.

If a student in the college receives one grade of D+ 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 D+ or lower while on probation, the student must withdraw from the program unless the college determines mitigating circumstances warrant a probationary extension. (Please note: If a student receives the first and second D+ or lower in the same term, the college has the right to dismiss the student without first offering probation.)

If a student receives a D+ or lower in a second college course, regardless of whether this occurs in the same term or different term as the first D+ or lower, the student can be required to withdraw from the program. However, 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 his/her 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.) the second unsatisfactory grade was received.

Following completion of this course with a grade of C or higher, the student can continue in the program. However, if the student again receives a D+ or lower, the student must withdraw from the program. The college will help the student choose another major at UF, if desired, if he or she withdraws 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 adviser 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 bloodborne pathogen training, repeat their TB test annually 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.