Online Master’s Degree Programs Available at the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida appears in our ranking of the Top 20 Most Affordable Accelerated Master’s in Public Safety Administration Online
The University of South Florida offers nearly 40 online master’s degree programs for students. Many of these programs include multiple concentrations for students too. In the university’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program, students can focus on epidemiology, global disaster management, public health practice, public health administration, infection control or health, safety, and environment. An executive version of the program focuses on public health practice also. Students in each program have the chance to take classes such as Toxicology and Risk Assessment, Global Health Practice, Maternal and Child Health, and Health Policies and Programs.
Twelve of the online graduate programs available are through the university’s education department. There is a secondary education program with an emphasis on Teaching English as a Second or Other Language and programs for working with students on their reading skills or helping exceptional children. The university’s graduate program in physical education prepares students for working as coaches and school trainers as well as gym teachers. Students can enroll in different programs based on whether they have a Florida teaching license or they need to obtain one. Other education programs include majors in gifted education, career, and technical education, and career and workforce education.
Multiple arts programs are also available online, including an intelligence studies program and a track in cybersecurity. The university’s cybersecurity program is a popular choice for military students. It features a digital forensics concentration, which includes classes such as Digital Evidence Recognition, Introduction to Digital Evidence, and Network Forensic Criminal Investigations. The program also has a practicum that lets students do a final research project or an internship in the field. Intelligence studies majors can choose from concentrations in strategic intelligence or cyber intelligence. Both programs include a practicum.
There are also programs designed for students with an interest in human behavior and helping the community at large. In the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program, students develop the skills necessary to both work with and help those on the autism spectrum as well as their loved ones and teachers. The university’s social work program is open to those who have several years of experience in the field or a bachelor’s degree in social work. It reduces the amount of fieldwork they need to do and the courses they would otherwise take. Their required classes include Diversity and Social Justice, Social Work Practices with Individuals, and Social Work Practice with Couples and Families. Students can also enroll in an online business administration program.
About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is a major public university also known as USF located in Tampa. Established in 1956, it is one of the state’s largest university systems and has an enrollment of more than 50,000 students. While most of those students take classes on the Tampa campus, they can also study in Sarasota or St. Petersburg. Several hundred students also work on their degrees through the USF online system, which allows them to take classes from anywhere in the world. Both Washington Monthly and ARWU rank USF within the top 100 of all colleges in the United States and ARWU also ranked it as one of the top 300 schools in the world. USF now offers degrees in more than 100 areas across all major education levels.
University of South Florida Accreditation Details
Due to the regional accreditation that it holds, USF graduate students can easily use their credits from another school in one of the online degree programs. That accreditation comes from the organization responsible for overseeing schools in the south, which is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC). Students who want to use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to get financial aid can also do so because of that accreditation. USF also has accreditation for many of its programs, including those in psychology, nursing, and education.
University of South Florida Application Requirements
The final deadline for graduate students applying to USF is June first. Individual departments and programs may have a deadline that comes earlier in the year, which is the priority deadline for students who need funding to complete those programs. Students also have until October 15 and February 15 to submit their applications for the spring or summer semesters. The main requirements for students include a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in any undergraduate or graduate classes taken and a bachelor’s degree.
Students must pay a $30 fee when they submit the USF online application. They can then send their transcripts to the Office of Admissions, making sure that the papers come in a sealed envelope. The university will also accept electronic records and allow students to submit unofficial transcripts ahead of time through the application portal. Some programs require a test score such as the GMAT or GRE. Students can add their unofficial scores to the application and then send an official copy to the university. USF programs can also require that students submit a personal statement, resume, writing sample, and/or letter of recommendation too.
Tuition and Financial Aid
USF grad students who are Florida residents will pay $431 per credit hour for any classes taken on the main campus. The cost of taking classes on the other two campuses can range from $418 to $426 per credit hour. All nonresident graduate students pay $877 per credit hour on the main campus and between $864 and $871 per credit hour on the other campuses. Online students pay the same rate but also pay an extra $30 per credit hour, which covers the technology they use and the other resources available to them.
Though graduate students can get financial aid through USF when they use the FAFSA, they typically only qualify for unsubsidized student loans. These loans come from the federal government and start picking up interest almost as soon as the funds are dispersed. Students who want to reduce the amount of interest owed can pay on their loans before they graduate. They can also look at the PLUS loans that are available and borrow money from traditional banks in the form of alternative or private loans. Students enrolled in the University of South Florida online graduate programs can also use external scholarships or employer reimbursement programs.
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