Program Overview
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree is a professional doctoral degree for early to mid-career public health professionals with an MPH or health-related master's degree. It is well-suited to professionals seeking leadership roles in domestic or international public health agencies and organizations. Graduates are able to: (1) synthesize and translate knowledge to practice, (2) communicate with and convene diverse partners to effect change across a range of public health settings, and (3) advance programs, policies, and services through evidence-based public health practice. Alumni hold mid to senior-level positions in a variety of settings, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, academia, and healthcare.
In addition to the standard School application materials, DrPH applicants should also possess: (2) an MPH or public health-related master's degree; and (2) a minimum of 3 years of professional, full-time public health experience in a relevant area. Students apply to and matriculate into a concentration, which offers specialized training in a specific area of public health.
The DrPH program is built around a set of required courses that offer the opportunity to achieve foundational competencies in health policy, public health practice, professional skills (i.e., leadership, strategic planning, communication), data analysis, education, and workforce development. Students develop specialized expertise through the completion of coursework for their chosen concentration or track. In addition to coursework, the program requires applied practice experience (i.e., practicum) and a dissertation.
The DrPH program is a flexible, part-time program with courses offered during regular terms and weeklong intensives. The program can be completed fully online. Students are required to register for a minimum of 1 credit per term. Most students complete the DrPH in 5-7 years; part-time students have up to 9 years to complete the program.
Concentrations (Tracks)
- Custom
- Environmental Health (Environmental Health; Health Security)
- Health Equity and Social Justice
- Global Health: Policy & Evaluation
- Health Policy and Management (Healthcare Management & Leadership; Public Health Informatics; Health Policy; Quality & Patient Safety)
- Implementation Science
- Women's and Reproductive Health
Program Requirements
The program includes core requirements, foundational coursework, concentration coursework, an applied practice experience (practicum), a comprehensive written examination, and a dissertation. Students will be required to successfully complete a minimum of 64 term credits, including 57 didactic credits, 2 credits from dissertation proposal development, and 5 credits from dissertation research. Dissertation work includes preliminary and final oral examinations, a public seminar, and an integrative learning experience. Of the 57 didactic credits, 29 are earned through foundational courses and 28 are earned through concentration courses. Each concentration has required and elective courses. After completing required courses, students must complete elective courses to meet the minimum requirement for concentration credits.
Course location and modality is found on the BSPH website.
Core Requirements
The following courses are prerequisites for the DrPH program. If students have not taken these courses or equivalent ones within the past 5 years (for a B or higher), they will be required to take them after matriculation. Students who take the core requirements after matriculation cannot apply the credits toward the minimum credit requirement for the DrPH degree. For biostatistics, the core requirement can be fulfilled with a course in statistical methods or with two courses in statistical reasoning.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Epidemiology | ||
PH.340.721 | Epidemiologic Inference in Public Health I | 5 |
Biostatistics: Statistical Reasoning | ||
PH.140.611 | Statistical Reasoning in Public Health I | 3 |
PH.140.612 | Statistical Reasoning in Public Health II | 3 |
Biostatistics: Statistical Methods | ||
PH.140.620 | Advanced Data Analysis Workshop | 2 |
When students matriculate into the DrPH program, their prior coursework will be reviewed and considered for fulfillment of the core requirements. Students will be asked to submit course descriptions and syllabi for prior coursework in order to evaluate the comparability of topics and learning objectives. Students will be informed about which core requirements they need to address through coursework or waiver exams. The coursework and/or waiver exams may be completed during the DrPH Program; they do not need to be completed prior to matriculation.
Foundational Course Requirements
Foundational course requirements are designed to ensure students achieve DrPH Foundational Competencies established by the Council on Educational for Public Health (CEPH). Students earn 1 credit from DrPH Seminars, 12 from problem-solving courses, 10 from professional skills courses, and a minimum of 6 from data analysis courses, totaling to 29.
1. DrPH Seminars
During their first year, students are required to take DrPH First-Year Seminar, a non-credited, monthly course that provides fundamental training in research (e.g., reviewing literature, qualitative vs. quantitative research) and offers an overview of the DrPH program requirements. Students are required to take DrPH Proposal Planning Seminar (330.653) in their second or third year; this 1 credit, monthly seminar spans 3 terms and provides guidance in developing research proposals. Students cannot waive out of either of the seminars.
2. Problem-Solving Seminars
Problem-solving seminars offer the opportunity to achieve foundational competencies while learning about today's most pressing public health challenges. A distinct set of selectives is offered each term. Of all 13 problem-solving seminar, students are required to take at least one that fulfills the Environment, Ecosystems, and Globalization (EEG) requirement. Students cannot waive out of problem-solving course requirements.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Problem-Solving 1 Selective | ||
PH.410.621 | The Opioid Crisis: Problem Solving Seminar | 3 |
PH.224.630 | The Obesity Epidemic Problem Solving Seminar: What We Can Learn from Native American Communities | 3 |
PH.180.641 | Climate Change and Public Health Problem Solving Seminar: Global Challenges and Solutions for Mitigation, Adaptation, and Sustainability Fulfills EEG requirement | 3 |
Problem-Solving 2 Selective | ||
PH.180.621 | Protecting the Environment and Safeguarding Worker Health: A Problem-Based Approach Fulfills EEG requirement | 3 |
PH.380.633 | Promoting Equity for Adolescents and Emerging Adults: Problem-Solving Seminar | 3 |
PH.221.690 | Strengthening Primary Health Care Across the World: Problem Solving Seminar | 3 |
Problem-Solving 3 Selective | ||
PH.221.630 | Tackling the Intersectoral Challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance: Problem Solving Seminar Fulfills EEG requirement | 3 |
PH.330.675 | Suicide Prevention: Problem Solving Seminar | 3 |
PH.330.607 | PREVENTION of MENTAL DISORDERS: PUBLIC HEALTH InterVENTIONS | 3 |
PH.380.777 | Global Population Change and Local Public Health Needs: Problem Solving Seminar | 3 |
Problem-Solving 4 Selective | ||
PH.340.610 | The One Health Approach to Epidemiology and Global Public Health: Problem Solving Seminar Fulfills EEG requirement | 3 |
PH.223.630 | The Practice of Public Health Through Vaccine Case Studies: Problem Solving Seminar | 3 |
PH.301.650 | Crafting Effective Solutions to Gun Violence: Problem Solving Seminar | 3 |
3. Professional Skills Courses
Professional skills courses cover communications, leadership, teaching and learning, and strategic planning. Students can request to waive out of a professional skills course requirement based on previous coursework or professional experience. Students who waive a professional skills course must take a higher-level course that offers training in the same area.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Communications Selective | ||
PH.308.604 | Effective Writing for Public Health Change | 3 |
PH.308.701 | Media Interviews and Applied Public Health Communications | 3 |
PH.300.860 | Special Studies/Research: The Media and the Message: What Public Health Needs to Know about the News | 3 |
Leadership Selective | ||
PH.312.700 | Leading Organizations | 3 |
PH.221.636 | High Performing Organizations in Lmic Settings | 3 |
PH.221.607 | Essential Skills for Women’s Leadership in Global Health | 3 |
Teaching & Learning | ||
PH.300.750 | Teaching, Learning and Leading – in the Classroom, in the Workplace and in the Community | 3 |
Strategic Planning | ||
PH.312.720 | Designing a Strategic Plan | 1 |
4. Data Analysis Series
Students are required to complete a series of data analysis courses in qualitative methods, quantitative methods, or mixed methods. There are two sequences of courses to choose from for quantitative methods and two for qualitative methods. Students who opt to complete the mixed methods series must complete a qualitative methods sequence, a quantitative methods sequence, and a required course in mixed methods.
Students must complete at least 6 credits in data analysis. Those who waive out of a specific course must take a similar course at a higher level to meet the credit requirement. After meeting the 6 credit requirement, students in the mixed methods series can apply additional credits toward their concentration credit requirement if the course is listed as an elective for their concentration.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Quantitative Methods Sequences | ||
Statistical Reasoning | ||
PH.140.613 | Data Analysis Workshop I | 2 |
PH.140.614 | Data Analysis Workshop II | 2 |
PH.140.620 | Advanced Data Analysis Workshop | 2 |
Statistical Methods | ||
PH.140.622 | Statistical Methods in Public Health II | 4 |
PH.140.623 | Statistical Methods in Public Health III | 4 |
Qualitative Methods Sequences | ||
Qualitative Methods in Global Health | ||
PH.224.690 | Qualitative Research Theory and Methods | 3 |
PH.224.691 | Qualitative Data Analysis | 3 |
Introduction to Qualitative Methods | ||
PH.410.671 | Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
PH.410.673 | Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis for Public Health | 2 |
Required Course in Mixed Methods | ||
PH.330.621 | Mixed Methods for Research in Public Health | 2 |
Custom Concentration
The Custom concentration allows students the flexibility to tailor the DrPH program to their academic and professional goals. Students may choose to specialize either in a cross-cutting topical area (e.g., child health and welfare, substance use), in a public health field (e.g., mental health, surveillance, nutrition), or in another applied area not reflected in the other concentrations/tracks. This concentration is well-suited to those seeking leadership positions in agencies and organizations concerned with planning and implementing projects designed to meet a wide variety of public health needs. Students are required to complete: (1) the required courses listed below, (2) courses identified as meeting their individualized competencies, (3) additional elective courses in their area of study, and (4) 2 credits of DrPH Custom Concentration Seminar.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
PH.410.620 | Program Planning for Health Behavior Change | 3 |
PH.221.654 | Systems Thinking in Public Health: Applications of Key Methods and Approaches | 3 |
Program Evaluation Selective (Choose One) | ||
PH.221.645 | Large-scale Effectiveness Evaluations of Health Programs | 4 |
PH.380.611 | Fundamentals of Program Evaluation | 4 |
Environmental Health Concentration
The goal of the Environmental Health concentration is to train professionals to provide leadership and management in a wide variety of environmental health issues. Graduates should be able to analyze and assess complex environmental risks, emergencies, and problems; and should also be able to offer guidance for the reduction of these risks and the resolution of environmental problems. They will also work toward becoming practitioners who can comprehend and integrate the many dimensions of environmental health sciences, define the disciplines that can best be applied to a problem, make sound and critical judgments, and interpret their recommendations clearly in the decision-making processes of policy formulation in industry, government, or academia. In addition to the listed courses, students are required to complete 2 credits of DrPH Environmental Health Concentration Seminar.
A. Environmental Health Track
The Environmental Health track emphasizes the skills necessary to: (1) assess needs for occupational and environmental health services at regional, national, and international levels, and (2) develop and monitor policy and regulatory frameworks.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
PH.180.628 | Introduction To Environmental and Occupational Health Law | 4 |
PH.183.631 | Fundamentals of Human Physiology | 4 |
PH.317.600 | Introduction to the Risk Sciences and Public Policy | 4 |
PH.187.610 | Public Health Toxicology | 4 |
Occupational Health Selective (Take 1) | ||
PH.188.680 | Fundamentals of Occupational Health | 3 |
PH.182.623 | Occupational Health Management | 3 |
Electives | ||
PH.182.615 | Airborne Particles | 4 |
PH.182.621 | Introduction to Ergonomics | 4 |
PH.182.625 | Principles of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene | 4 |
PH.185.600 | One Health Tools to Promote and Evaluate Healthy and Sustainable Communities | 3 |
PH.187.625 | Animals in Research: Law, Policy, and Humane Sciences | 3 |
PH.187.645 | Toxicology 21: Scientific Applications | 3 |
PH.187.655 | Evidence-Based Toxicology | 3 |
PH.340.666 | Foundations of Social Epidemiology | 3 |
PH.340.680 | Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology | 4 |
PH.550.630 | Public Health Biology | 3 |
PH.180.609 | Principles of Environmental Health | 4 |
PH.180.620 | Introduction to Food Systems and Public Health | 4 |
PH.180.624 | Biotechnology and Health Security | 3 |
PH.180.626 | Environmental Justice and Public Health Practice | 3 |
PH.180.634 | Public Health Emergencies: Risk Communication and Decision Science | 3 |
PH.180.606 | Case Studies in Food Production and Public Health | 4 |
PH.180.601 | Environmental Health | 5 |
PH.180.623 | Infectious Disease Threats to Global Health Security | 3 |
PH.180.640 | Molecular Epidemiology and Biomarkers in Public Health | 4 |
PH.180.632 | Introduction to Molecular Toxicology | 3 |
PH.180.647 | The Health Effects of Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution | 3 |
PH.317.610 | Risk Policy, Management and Communication | 3 |
PH.187.650 | Alternative Methods in Animal Testing | 3 |
PH.180.670 | Introduction to Public Health Emergency Preparedness | 3 |
PH.180.600 | Public Health Implications of Health as a Human Right | 2 |
B. Health Security Track
The Health Security track prepares students to prevent, detect, and respond to health security threats and public health emergencies, such as COVID-19, Zika, and Ebola.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
PH.317.600 | Introduction to the Risk Sciences and Public Policy | 4 |
PH.317.610 | Risk Policy, Management and Communication | 3 |
PH.180.634 | Public Health Emergencies: Risk Communication and Decision Science | 3 |
PH.180.623 | Infectious Disease Threats to Global Health Security | 3 |
PH.180.624 | Biotechnology and Health Security | 3 |
PH.185.600 | One Health Tools to Promote and Evaluate Healthy and Sustainable Communities | 3 |
Electives | ||
PH.187.610 | Public Health Toxicology | 4 |
PH.185.803 | Health Security Journal Club | 1 |
PH.221.613 | Introduction to Humanitarian Emergencies | 3 |
PH.317.605 | Methods in Quantitative Risk Assessment | 4 |
PH.221.639 | Health Care in Humanitarian Emergencies | 3 |
PH.317.615 | Topics in Risk Assessment | 2 |
PH.120.603 | Molecular Biology of Pandemic Influenza | 3 |
PH.300.650 | Crisis and Response in Public Health Policy and Practice | 3 |
PH.180.670 | Introduction to Public Health Emergency Preparedness | 3 |
PH.180.627 | Lessons Learned in 1918 Pandemic Flu | 1 |
PH.180.630 | Chemical and Biological Weapons Threats: Science, Public Health, Policy | 3 |
PH.260.606 | Major Global Infectious Diseases: Prospects for Control | 2 |
PH.301.692 | The Role of Community-Based Organizations (Cbos) and Non-Governmental Organizations (Ngos) in Improving Global Public Health | 3 |
PH.221.615 | Health Emergencies in Large Populations (H.E.L.P.) | 5 |
PH.340.668 | Topics in Infectious Disease Epidemiology | 3 |
PH.340.765 | Professional Epidemiologic Methods: Epidemiologic intelligence and Population Health Assessments | 2 |
PH.340.658 | Critical Reading of Epidemiologic Literature | 1 |
PH.340.636 | Epidemiology in Evidence-Based Policy | 2 |
PH.223.684 | Vector-Borne Diseases in the Tropics | 4 |
PH.340.666 | Foundations of Social Epidemiology | 3 |
Global Health: Policy & Evaluation Concentration
The concentration focuses on evidence-based interventions in public health to improve population health and health access globally. Students will learn methodologies related to policy and evaluation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through the application of interdisciplinary tools and approaches to study processes in complex global health systems. Some of the many global challenges students will address include sustainable development, environmental degradation and climate change, globalization, migration, displaced persons, diseases prevalent in LMICs, epidemics, vaccine access, injuries, emerging and reemerging diseases, and risk factors such as obesity and smoking. This concentration is well-suited to those seeking leadership positions in domestic and international agencies concerned with planning and implementing projects designed to meet global public health needs, particularly in LMICs. In addition to the listed courses, students are required to complete 2 credits of DrPH Global Health: Policy & Evaluation Concentration Seminar.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
PH.221.646 | Health Systems in Low and Middle income Countries | 3 |
PH.221.650 | Health Policy Analysis in Low and Middle income Countries | 3 |
PH.221.645 | Large-scale Effectiveness Evaluations of Health Programs | 4 |
PH.221.663 | Globalization and Health: Framework for Analysis | 3 |
Health Equity Selective (Take 1) | ||
PH.221.656 | Conceptual and Evidential Foundations of Health Equity and Social Justice (or) | 4 |
PH.410.605 | Fundamental Tools for Promoting Health Equity (or) | 3 |
PH.340.667 | Health Equity Research Methods to Address Social Determinants of Health | 4 |
Burden of Disease Selective (Take 1) | ||
PH.180.623 | Infectious Disease Threats to Global Health Security | 3 |
PH.221.620 | Applying Summary Measures of Population Health to Improve Health Systems | 3 |
Evaluation Selective (Take 1) | ||
PH.221.705 | Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Systems Strengthening in Low and Middle income Countries (or) | 3 |
PH.223.632 | Methods for Planning and Implementing Evaluations of Large-Scale Health Programs in Low and Middle income Countries | 4 |
PH.313.790 | Introduction to Economic Evaluation | 3 |
PH.313.601 | Economic Evaluation I | 3 |
PH.313.602 | Economic Evaluation II | 3 |
PH.313.603 | Economic Evaluation III | 3 |
PH.221.631 | Evaluation Methods for Injury Interventions (or) | 3 |
Electives | ||
PH.221.617 | Behavioral Economics in Health Decisions | 2 |
PH.221.639 | Health Care in Humanitarian Emergencies | 3 |
PH.221.652 | Financing Health Systems for Universal Health Coverage | 3 |
PH.221.654 | Systems Thinking in Public Health: Applications of Key Methods and Approaches | 3 |
PH.223.680 | Global Disease Control Programs and Policies | 4 |
PH.380.603 | Demographic Methods for Public Health | 4 |
PH.550.601 | Implementation Research and Practice | 3 |
PH.302.675 | Crisis Response in Public Health Practice: International Perspectives | 2 |
PH.221.725 | Commercial Determinants of Health | 3 |
PH.221.607 | Essential Skills for Women’s Leadership in Global Health | 3 |
PH.221.629 | Prospective policy analysis for health policy and systems research: methods and applications | 2 |
PH.221.657 | Disease and Program Costing in Global Health Programs | 3 |
PH.221.676 | Migrant Health Policy in LMICs | 2 |
PH.221.619 | Introduction to Global Health Economics | 3 |
PH.221.710 | Designing Innovation and Access for Technologies in Global Health | 3 |
Health Equity & Social Justice Concentration
This concentration is focused on understanding and addressing the multiple determinants of health, particularly among disadvantaged and marginalized groups. Students learn about innovative epidemiological, social, and behavioral tools to assess population health and influences upon it. Required and elective courses offer the opportunity to learn about the conceptual and philosophical bases of health equity and social justice and also to acquire skills relevant to the design, implementation, and evaluation of health programs designed to benefit poor and marginalized groups. This concentration is well-suited to those seeking leadership positions in agencies concerned with planning and implementing projects designed to meet public health needs. In addition to the courses listed below, students are required to complete 2 credits of DrPH Health Equity & Social Justice Concentration Seminar.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
PH.410.605 | Fundamental Tools for Promoting Health Equity | 3 |
PH.410.630 | Implementation and Sustainability of Community-Based Health Programs | 3 |
PH.340.667 | Health Equity Research Methods to Address Social Determinants of Health | 4 |
Design and Implementation Selective (Take at least 3 credits) | ||
PH.330.647 | Childhood Victimization: An Overview of Public Health Efforts | 1 |
PH.330.610 | Knowledge for Managing County and Local Mental Health, Substance Use, and Developmental Disability Authorities | 1 |
PH.221.625 | Evaluation of District-Level Primary Health Care Implementation in Low-and Middle-income Settings | 3 |
PH.221.665 | Early Childhood Intervention in Tribal Communities | 2 |
PH.330.658 | Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in International Humanitarian Settings | 2 |
PH.330.681 | Mental Health and Psychosocial Needs of Refugees After Resettlement in High income Countries | 1 |
PH.188.694 | Health of Vulnerable Worker Populations | 3 |
PH.380.768 | Selected Topics in Women's Health and Women's Health Policy | 4 |
PH.410.620 | Program Planning for Health Behavior Change | 3 |
PH.180.600 | Public Health Implications of Health as a Human Right | 2 |
PH.410.668 | Policy Interventions for Health Behavior Change | 3 |
PH.380.663 | Gender-Based Violence Research, Practice and Policy: Issues and Current Controversies | 3 |
PH.410.672 | Organizing for Public Health with the Six Steps to Effective Advocacy: Turning Public Will into Public Policy | 3 |
PH.380.623 | Adolescent Health and Development | 3 |
PH.380.750 | Migration and Health: Concepts, Rates, and Relationships | 3 |
PH.221.688 | Social and Behavioral Foundations of Primary Health Care | 4 |
PH.221.635 | Global Advances in Community-Oriented Primary Health Care | 3 |
PH.380.765 | Preventing Infant Mortality and Promoting the Health of Women, Infants and Children | 3 |
PH.380.761 | Sexually Transmitted Infections in Public Health Practice | 4 |
PH.221.624 | Urban Health in Developing Countries | 3 |
PH.380.725 | The Social Context of Adolescent Health and Development | 3 |
PH.330.680 | Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Mental Disorders in Low- and Middle-income Countries | 3 |
Research and Evaluation Selective (Take at least 3 credits) | ||
PH.309.712 | Assessing Health Status and Patient Outcomes | 3 |
PH.340.706 | Methods and Applications of Cohort Studies | 2 |
PH.410.635 | Applications of innovative Methods in Local and Global Health Equity Research | 4 |
PH.309.631 | Population Health Informatics | 3 |
PH.313.790 | Introduction to Economic Evaluation | 3 |
PH.221.645 | Large-scale Effectiveness Evaluations of Health Programs | 4 |
PH.380.603 | Demographic Methods for Public Health | 4 |
PH.380.611 | Fundamentals of Program Evaluation | 4 |
PH.380.604 | Life Course Perspectives on Health | 4 |
PH.380.711 | Issues in Survey Research Design | 3 |
PH.380.651 | Methods and Measures in Population Studies | 4 |
PH.340.666 | Foundations of Social Epidemiology | 3 |
PH.330.672 | Evaluation of Mental Health Service Systems | 1 |
PH.221.620 | Applying Summary Measures of Population Health to Improve Health Systems | 3 |
PH.221.722 | Quality Assurance Management Methods for Developing Countries | 4 |
PH.330.621 | Mixed Methods for Research in Public Health | 2 |
PH.330.657 | Statistics for Psychosocial Research: Measurement | 4 |
PH.140.664 | Causal Inference in Medicine and Public Health I | 4 |
PH.340.613 | Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials | 2 |
PH.223.632 | Methods for Planning and Implementing Evaluations of Large-Scale Health Programs in Low and Middle income Countries | 4 |
PH.410.671 | Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
PH.410.673 | Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis for Public Health | 2 |
PH.410.615 | Research Design in the Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
PH.309.616 | Introduction to Methods for Health Services Research and Evaluation I | 2 |
Electives | ||
PH.410.619 | Social Justice: Policy, Practice, and Research | 4 |
PH.410.606 | Local and Global Best Practices in Health Equity Research Methods | 4 |
PH.550.844 | Current Issues in Public Health: COVID-19 Pandemic Response | 2 |
PH.700.622 | Bioethics, Human Rights, and Global Health | 3 |
PH.318.623 | Social Policy for Vulnerable Populations in the U.S. | 3 |
PH.308.610 | The Political Economy of Social inequalities and Its Consequences for Health and Quality of Life | 3 |
PH.410.864 | Critical Issues in Health Disparities | 1 |
PH.330.600 | Racism and Public Mental Health | 1 |
PH.221.654 | Systems Thinking in Public Health: Applications of Key Methods and Approaches | 3 |
PH.221.656 | Conceptual and Evidential Foundations of Health Equity and Social Justice | 4 |
PH.180.625 | Community-Driven Epidemiology and Environmental Justice | 3 |
PH.410.660 | Latino Health: Measures and Predictors | 3 |
PH.410.683 | Global Perspectives on LGBT Health | 3 |
Health Policy & Management Concentration
This concentration trains students to: (1) analyze policies that impact population health, (2) evaluate health services, healthcare delivery, and information systems, and (3) identify strategies for enhancing the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of systems of care. Training addresses today’s most pressing health, medical, and mental and behavioral health problems. In addition to the courses listed below, students in the concentration are required to take 2 credits of DrPH Health Policy & Management Concentration Seminar.
A. Healthcare Management & Leadership Track
This track is focused on measuring, monitoring, and improving the clinical and financial performance of health services organizations, as well as training leaders for organizational change.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
PH.312.603 | Fundamentals of Budgeting and Financial Management | 3 |
PH.312.701 | Strategic Leadership and Decision Making | 3 |
PH.312.620 | Performance Measurement in Health Care | 2 |
PH.313.641 | Introduction to Health Economics | 3 |
PH.313.790 | Introduction to Economic Evaluation | 3 |
Health Informatics Selective (Take 1) | ||
PH.309.631 | Population Health Informatics | 3 |
PH.312.633 | Health Management Information Systems | 3 |
Quality and Patient Safety Selective (Take 1) | ||
PH.309.712 | Assessing Health Status and Patient Outcomes | 3 |
PH.309.730 | Patient Safety and Medical Errors | 3 |
PH.311.615 | Quality of Medical Care | 3 |
Electives | ||
PH.312.693 | Introduction to Comparative Effectiveness and Outcomes Research | 3 |
PH.140.607 | Multilevel Models | 2 |
PH.309.616 & PH.309.617 | Introduction to Methods for Health Services Research and Evaluation I and Introduction to Methods for Health Services Research and Evaluation II (Multi-Term Course) | 4 |
PH.312.604 | Quantitative Tools for Managers | 3 |
PH.312.617 | Fundamentals of Financial Accounting | 3 |
PH.312.630 | Healthcare Financial Management | 3 |
PH.313.793 | Extended Exercises in Cost Effectiveness | 2 |
PH.340.727 | Introduction to Health Survey Research Methods | 2 |
PH.380.611 | Fundamentals of Program Evaluation | 4 |
PH.410.635 | Applications of innovative Methods in Local and Global Health Equity Research | 4 |
PH.410.671 | Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
PH.410.673 | Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis for Public Health | 2 |
PH.312.703 | Learning Organizations & Knowledge Management | 3 |
PH.312.702 | Leading Change: Building and Empowering Teams | 3 |
PH.309.617 | Introduction to Methods for Health Services Research and Evaluation II | 2 |
PH.340.667 | Health Equity Research Methods to Address Social Determinants of Health | 4 |
PH.340.716 | Implementation Science Concepts, Methods & Study Designs | 2 |
PH.550.601 | Implementation Research and Practice | 3 |
PH.330.650 | Methods in Implementation Science | 3 |
B. Public Health Informatics Track
This track offers training in methods and concepts of informatics for application to public health and population health management. It is designed for public health professionals or population health managers who wish to develop an area of expertise or specialization in the emerging field of public health informatics.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
PH.309.635 | Population Health: Analytic Methods and Visualization Techniques | 3 |
PH.309.631 | Population Health Informatics | 3 |
ME.250.953 | Introduction to Public Health and Biomedical Informatics | 3 |
ME.250.750/PH.315.700 | Health Information Systems: Design to Deployment | 3 |
ME.250.901/PH.315.709 | HSI: Knowledge Engineering and Decision Support | 2 |
ME.250.955/PH.315.725 | Applied Clinical Informatics | 3 |
ME.250.952/PH.315.703 | Leading Change Through Health IT | 3 |
Electives | ||
PH.380.603 | Demographic Methods for Public Health | 4 |
PH.340.696 | Spatial Analysis I: ArcGIS | 3 |
PH.340.697 | Spatial Analysis II: Spatial Data Technologies | 2 |
ME.250.957 | Database Querying in Health | 3 |
ME.250.756 | Informatics and the Clinical Research Lifecycle: Tools, Techniques and Processes | 3 |
ME.250.771 | Introduction to Precision Medicine Data Analysis | 3 |
ME.250.770 | Clinical Data Analysis with Python | 3 |
ME.250.777 | Clinical Decision Analysis | 2 |
ME.250.755 | Natural Language Processing in the Health Sciences | 3 |
ME.250.778 | Implementing Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources | 2 |
ME.250.782 | Observational Health Research Methods on Medical Records | 3 |
PH.312.633 | Health Management Information Systems | 3 |
ME.250.954/PH.315.708 | HIT Standards and Systems Interoperability | 3 |
C. Health Policy Track
This track provides training to develop, identify, and translate the best available evidence to inform critical public health policy challenges at the local, national, and global levels. The curriculum incorporates systems-thinking and rigorous scientific methods from multiple disciplines to be responsive to the needs of public health practitioners and policymakers. Through coursework, students develop skills needed to understand and evaluate complex problem and to propose and critically assess solutions to those problems. The track is relevant to those currently working in public health policy and practice settings at the intersection of evidence, decision-making, and implementation.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
PH.300.650 | Crisis and Response in Public Health Policy and Practice | 3 |
PH.300.712 | Formulating Policy: Strategies and Systems of Policymaking in the 21st Century | 3 |
PH.301.645 | Health Advocacy | 3 |
PH.305.684 | Health Impact Assessment | 3 |
PH.318.864 | Current Issues in Policy: Special Topics in Advanced Policymaking for DrPH | 3 |
Electives | ||
PH.305.630 | Transportation Policy, Equity and Health | 2 |
PH.306.650 | Public Health and the Law | 3 |
PH.313.643 | Health Economics | 3 |
PH.313.601 | Economic Evaluation I | 3 |
PH.313.602 | Economic Evaluation II | 3 |
PH.313.790 | Introduction to Economic Evaluation | 3 |
PH.313.793 | Extended Exercises in Cost Effectiveness | 2 |
PH.317.605 | Methods in Quantitative Risk Assessment | 4 |
PH.317.610 | Risk Policy, Management and Communication | 3 |
PH.317.615 | Topics in Risk Assessment | 2 |
PH.340.663 | Epidemiology Workshop: Interpreting and Using Epidemiologic Evidence | 2 |
PH.380.611 | Fundamentals of Program Evaluation | 4 |
PH.380.740 | Nutrition Programs, Policy and Politics in the United States: the Impact on Maternal, Child and Family Health | 3 |
PH.380.761 | Sexually Transmitted Infections in Public Health Practice | 4 |
PH.380.768 | Selected Topics in Women's Health and Women's Health Policy | 4 |
PH.380.663 | Gender-Based Violence Research, Practice and Policy: Issues and Current Controversies | 3 |
PH.180.634 | Public Health Emergencies: Risk Communication and Decision Science | 3 |
PH.180.628 | Introduction To Environmental and Occupational Health Law | 4 |
PH.180.620 | Introduction to Food Systems and Public Health | 4 |
PH.180.619 | Drinking Water and Water Policy: Avoiding Another Flint | 1 |
PH.180.606 | Case Studies in Food Production and Public Health | 4 |
PH.221.654 | Systems Thinking in Public Health: Applications of Key Methods and Approaches | 3 |
PH.223.680 | Global Disease Control Programs and Policies | 4 |
PH.410.604 | Harm Reduction: A Framework for Evidence-Based Policy and Practice | 3 |
PH.410.614 | A New View: Improving Public Health Through innovative Social and Behavioral Tools and Approaches | 4 |
D. Quality and Patient Safety Track
This track addresses issues related to quality of healthcare, patient safety, patient-centered outcomes, and performance measurement and improvement. The curriculum is designed for public health, clinical, and management professionals—especially those who wish to develop the expertise to implement evidence-based interventions and improve care delivery.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
PH.309.712 | Assessing Health Status and Patient Outcomes | 3 |
PH.309.730 | Patient Safety and Medical Errors | 3 |
PH.311.615 | Quality of Medical Care | 3 |
PH.312.620 | Performance Measurement in Health Care | 2 |
PH.312.693 | Introduction to Comparative Effectiveness and Outcomes Research | 3 |
PH.312.701 | Strategic Leadership and Decision Making | 3 |
Health Informatics Selective (Take 1) | ||
PH.309.631 | Population Health Informatics | 3 |
PH.312.633 | Health Management Information Systems | 3 |
Evaluation and Research Methods Selective (Take One Sequence) | ||
Program Evaluation Sequence | ||
PH.309.600 | Evaluating Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Programs | 3 |
Health Services Research Sequence | ||
PH.309.616 & PH.309.617 | Introduction to Methods for Health Services Research and Evaluation I and Introduction to Methods for Health Services Research and Evaluation II (Multi-Term Course) | 4 |
Elective(s) | ||
PH.140.607 | Multilevel Models | 2 |
PH.221.722 | Quality Assurance Management Methods for Developing Countries | 4 |
PH.309.620 | Managed Care and Health insurance | 3 |
PH.309.731 | Patient Safety in Developing Countries | 2 |
PH.312.604 | Quantitative Tools for Managers | 3 |
PH.312.603 | Fundamentals of Budgeting and Financial Management | 3 |
PH.340.717 | Health Survey Research Methods | 4 |
PH.340.727 | Introduction to Health Survey Research Methods | 2 |
PH.380.611 | Fundamentals of Program Evaluation | 4 |
PH.410.635 | Applications of innovative Methods in Local and Global Health Equity Research | 4 |
PH.410.671 | Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
PH.410.673 | Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis for Public Health | 2 |
PH.312.670 | Negotiation in Health Care Settings | 3 |
PH.330.650 | Methods in Implementation Science | 3 |
PH.340.716 | Implementation Science Concepts, Methods & Study Designs | 2 |
PH.550.601 | Implementation Research and Practice | 3 |
Implementation Science Concentration
This concentration is focused on developing and sharing evidence to support the formulation, implementation, and scale-up of new health policies and programs through the application of interdisciplinary tools and approaches to study processes in complex health systems. The curriculum provides students with the skills to work collaboratively and integrate diverse perspectives into cogent intervention designs and implementation strategies. Students learn how to support iterative cycles of implementation and adaptation of public health programs based on evaluation and learning and how to synthesize and present complex information to policymakers and practitioners. This concentration is relevant to those working domestically and internationally and is well-suited to people seeking to develop careers as program managers, physician managers, and those working in the knowledge translation field or in policy advisory positions. In addition to the courses listed below, students are required to take 2 credits of DrPH Implementation Science Concentration Seminar.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
PH.410.630 | Implementation and Sustainability of Community-Based Health Programs | 3 |
PH.550.601 | Implementation Research and Practice | 3 |
PH.330.650 | Methods in Implementation Science | 3 |
PH.340.726 | Implementation Research Methods to Address Real World Epidemiological Questions | 3 |
Methodology and Analysis Selectives (Take 7 credits minimum) | ||
PH.221.722 | Quality Assurance Management Methods for Developing Countries | 4 |
PH.221.654 | Systems Thinking in Public Health: Applications of Key Methods and Approaches | 3 |
PH.309.616 | Introduction to Methods for Health Services Research and Evaluation I | 2 |
PH.340.686 | Introduction to Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis | 2 |
PH.340.725 | Methods for Clinical and Translational Research | 1 |
PH.312.693 | Introduction to Comparative Effectiveness and Outcomes Research | 3 |
PH.309.617 | Introduction to Methods for Health Services Research and Evaluation II | 2 |
PH.330.621 | Mixed Methods for Research in Public Health | 2 |
PH.340.613 | Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials | 2 |
PH.410.664 | Knowledge Management for Effective Global Health Programs | 3 |
PH.340.767 | Professional Epidemiologic Methods: Topics and Methods for Health Situation Analysis | 2 |
Electives | ||
PH.340.861 | Clinical Trials: Procedures, Design, and Interpretation of Results | 3 |
PH.340.636 | Epidemiology in Evidence-Based Policy | 2 |
PH.340.765 | Professional Epidemiologic Methods: Epidemiologic intelligence and Population Health Assessments | 2 |
PH.340.663 | Epidemiology Workshop: Interpreting and Using Epidemiologic Evidence | 2 |
PH.301.692 | The Role of Community-Based Organizations (Cbos) and Non-Governmental Organizations (Ngos) in Improving Global Public Health | 3 |
PH.410.620 | Program Planning for Health Behavior Change | 3 |
PH.410.755 | Health Communication Programs | 4 |
PH.309.600 | Evaluating Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Programs | 3 |
PH.390.678 | Introduction to Quality Improvement & Knowledge Translation Research | 3 |
PH.312.620 | Performance Measurement in Health Care | 2 |
PH.140.664 | Causal Inference in Medicine and Public Health I | 4 |
PH.221.625 | Evaluation of District-Level Primary Health Care Implementation in Low-and Middle-income Settings | 3 |
PH.221.645 | Large-scale Effectiveness Evaluations of Health Programs | 4 |
PH.221.711 | Managing District Health Systems in Low and Middle Income Countries | 3 |
PH.700.621 | Ethics in Clinical Practice: Fundamentals, Problems and Approaches | 3 |
Women’s and Reproductive Health Concentration
This concentration focuses on the general and reproductive health status of women, the determinants of their health status, the disparities therein, the application of relevant gender equity frameworks, and preventive strategies and programs to address women’s health and the health of their newborns and young children. There are many challenges to improving women’s and reproductive health, including the low status of women in many cultures and countries, political constraints to addressing reproductive health needs, limited access to reproductive health services, and insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of strategies to improve women’s health and reproductive health. This concentration is well-suited to those seeking leadership positions in domestic and international agencies concerned with addressing the complex and challenging problems in women’s and reproductive health. In addition to the courses listed below, students are required to take 2 credits of DrPH Women's & Reproductive Health Concentration Seminar.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
PH.380.611 | Fundamentals of Program Evaluation | 4 |
PH.380.604 | Life Course Perspectives on Health | 4 |
PH.380.603 | Demographic Methods for Public Health | 4 |
Health Concerns for Women, Mothers, and Newborns Selective (Take 2) | ||
PH.380.609 | Women's Health: Disparities and Equity Implications | 2 |
PH.380.613 | Gender-Based Violence Research, Practice and Policy | 2 |
PH.380.765 | Preventing Infant Mortality and Promoting the Health of Women, Infants and Children | 3 |
PH.380.663 | Gender-Based Violence Research, Practice and Policy: Issues and Current Controversies | 3 |
PH.380.761 | Sexually Transmitted Infections in Public Health Practice | 4 |
PH.380.762 | HIV Infection in Women, Children, and Adolescents | 4 |
PH.380.664 | Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology | 4 |
PH.380.666 | Women's Health | 3 |
Promoting Women's, Reproductive, Maternal, and Child Health Selective (Take 1) | ||
PH.380.624 | Maternal and Child Health Legislation and Programs | 4 |
PH.380.768 | Selected Topics in Women's Health and Women's Health Policy | 4 |
PH.380.665 | Family Planning Policies and Programs | 4 |
PH.380.667 | Women's Health Policy | 3 |
PH.380.771 | Understanding and Changing International Reproductive Health Policy | 3 |
Women's & Reproductive Health Frameworks Selective (Take 1) | ||
PH.380.744 | Nutrition and Growth in Maternal and Child Health | 3 |
PH.380.768 | Selected Topics in Women's Health and Women's Health Policy | 4 |
PH.380.655 | Social and Economic Aspects of Human Fertility | 3 |
PH.380.668 | International Perspectives on Women, Gender, and Health | 3 |
Electives | ||
PH.380.765 | Preventing Infant Mortality and Promoting the Health of Women, Infants and Children | 3 |
PH.380.710 | Public Health Perspectives on Abortion Policy | 1 |
PH.380.662 | Critiquing the Research Literature in Maternal, Neonatal, and Reproductive Health | 4 |
PH.380.755 | Population Dynamics and Public Health | 2 |
PH.380.600 | Principles of Population Change | 4 |
PH.380.610 | Substance Use in Women and Families | 3 |
PH.380.620 | A Coalition-based SMART Approach to Public Health Advocacy | 3 |
PH.380.623 | Adolescent Health and Development | 3 |
PH.120.620 | Fundamentals of Reproductive Biology | 3 |
PH.340.727 | Introduction to Health Survey Research Methods | 2 |
PH.380.706 | Using Data to Inform Family Planning Policies | 2 |
PH.380.707 | Advocating for Global Reproductive Health | 2 |
PH.380.601 | Critically Evaluating the Science for Policy and Practice | 2 |
PH.380.711 | Issues in Survey Research Design | 3 |
PH.380.749 | Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health | 3 |
PhD Program Policies
For a full list of program polices, please visit the DrPH Program page where students can find our handbook.
DrPH Program Objectives
- Identify, synthesize, and apply evidence-based public health research and theory from a broad range of disciplines and health-related data sources for problem-solving and to advance programs, policies, and systems promoting population health. (Data analysis)
- Identify and analyze ethical issues including balancing the claims of personal liberty with the responsibility to protect and improve the health of the population and act on the ethical concepts of social justice and human rights in public health research and practice. (Ethics)
- Influence decision-making regarding policies and practices that advance public health using scientific knowledge, analysis, communication, and consensus building. (Policy)
- Assess and use communication strategies across diverse audiences to inform and influence individual, organization, community, and policy actions to promote the health of the public. (Communication)
- Enable organizations and communities to create, communicate and apply shared visions, missions and values; inspire trust and motivate others; build capacity; improve performance, and enhance the quality of the working environment; and use evidence-based strategies to enhance public health. (Leadership)
- Provide fiscally responsible, strategic, and operational guidance within both public and private health organizations for achieving individual and community health and wellness. (Management)
- Design and evaluate system-level and programmatic initiatives in multidisciplinary teams so as to promote public health outcomes and health equity (Program design and evaluation)
- Assess adult learning needs and design and deliver training or educational experiences that respond to these needs using the best pedagogical practices available. (Education)
CEPH Learning Objectives & Foundational Competencies
According to the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) requirements, all BSPH degree students must be grounded in foundational public health knowledge. Please view the list of specific CEPH requirements by degree type.
Concentration & Track Competencies
Custom Concentration
-
Compare and contrast intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, and social behavior change theories and frameworks and assess their usefulness for designing public health interventions overall and in a chosen specialty area.
-
Assess the strengths and weaknesses of applying the systems approach to public health problems overall and in a chosen specialty area.
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Design a comprehensive evaluation plan for a health program.
Note. There are three competencies that all students are expected to achieve. In consultation with their advisors, students identify at least two additional competencies that are tailored to their planned course of study.
Environmental Health Concentration
Environmental Health Track
- Analyze and address the science and current issues related to environmental and occupational health.
- Explain how environmental and occupational health sciences can be integrated to improve public health practice.
- Evaluate environmental and occupational health risks by applying toxicology and risk analysis (i.e., risk assessment, risk communication, and risk management) to improve environmental and occupational health outcomes.
- Design, advocate, and provide leadership for effective environmental and occupational health.
- Assess environmental and occupational health-related illnesses and risks based on human physiology and human-environment interactions.
Health Security Track
- Apply risk assessment principles to program planning, implementation, and goals, particularly in the context of emergency response and health security problems.
- Evaluate major health security threats, and characterize the human, social, economic, and political risks they pose to societies.
- Analyze major US and international initiatives to prevent, detect, and respond to health security threats, and assess those areas of health security where preparedness is strongest and where additional progress is needed.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of strategies to enhance health security and prevent or mitigate health security threats.
- Synthesize and communicate important health security information in a way that increases the likelihood that political leaders and policymakers take appropriate action.
Global Health: Policy & Evaluation Concentration
- Assess global public health burdens and threats and formulate strategies to solve complex health issues.
- Examine health systems frameworks, strategies, actors, and tools to analyze and evaluate health systems performance and their reforms in global settings with a primary focus on LMICs.
- Apply key policy frameworks and models in policy development and analyze the role and contribution of actors, context, and evidence in shaping effective policies and programs in LMICs.
- Create effective and comprehensive evaluation plans for small and large programs in health with ethical and resource considerations, with a primary focus in LMICs.
- Examine theories on globalization's impact on health and apply analytical tools to evaluate globalization's impact on health, with a primary focus on LMICs.
Note. LMIC is an acronym for low- and middle-income countries.
Health Equity & Social Justice Concentration
- Critically evaluate issues relating to health equity and social justice in analysis of public health programs and policies.
- Apply theoretical frameworks to identify social determinants of health that promote or compromise health equity and health disparities in disadvantaged groups.
- Apply methods to measure social determinants of health and their relation to health outcomes for vulnerable and marginalized populations.
- Apply social justice principles to inform strategies and policies to promote health equity in communities.
- Evaluate the implementation and sustainability of health programs at the interpersonal, intrapersonal, organizational, social/environmental, and political levels.
Health Policy & Management Concentration
HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP TRACK
- Evaluate the role of organizational leadership in the development and communication of a shared mission, vision, and core values.
- Evaluate the role key financial performance indicators serve in managing and improving organizational performance.
- Apply evidence-based tools and frameworks to enhance organizational performance in the human, clinical, financial, information and supply chain domains to drive value and improved outcomes.
- Manage data, information, and knowledge systematically to improve assessment of patient outcomes, reduce medical errors, enhance quality of medical care and patient safety, and strengthen overall service delivery.
- Assess Quality and Patient Safety programs as a means to develop and sustain a culture of patient/client focused excellence.
HEALTH POLICY TRACK
- Critically assess policy interventions to address complex public health problems.
- Apply data to inform decision-making for policy formulation and weigh scientific, political, ethical, and social public health concerns.
- Formulate and execute advocacy strategies that are responsive to public health policy goals.
- Communicate the role of public health within the larger health and social policy system, with a focus on response to managing health crises.
- Apply state-of-the-science, leadership, and communication strategies to effectively disseminate scientific evidence to policymakers.
PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS TRACK
- Assess the state of the science and current research and policy issues related to the foundation of population health informatics.
- Identify the most effective visualization techniques that can be used to convey impactful results to different end users (e.g., patients, clinicians, care managers/coordinators, health system admins, and policymakers).
- Propose a high-level design for a decision support intervention and implementation.
- Evaluate various informatics solutions for public or population health management interventions based on different criteria such as user-centered software design and system architecture, design thinking and interoperability, standards, human factors, security, privacy, and ethical issues.
- Articulate the proper management approaches for an organization to evaluate organizational readiness and implement solutions utilizing change management strategies.
Quality & Patient Safety Track
- Apply quality improvement and evaluation frameworks to health services challenges.
- Evaluate and manage measurement challenges.
- Identify implementation barriers and leverage facilitators and evidence to enhance quality and patient safety in practice.
- Assess utility of specific quality improvement and patient safety measurement interventions and methods.
- Apply a framework for analyzing and improving the quality of medical care.
Implementation Science Concentration
- Apply key implementation science constructs and theories to public health problems.
- Distinguish implementation outcomes from efficacy, service, and client outcomes.
- Recognize which stakeholders should be engaged in the process of developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining a community-based program.
- Propose implementation of research study aims, methods, data sources, and study designs to address a public health question.
- Critically evaluate the relevance of study designs used for efficacy, effectiveness, and implementation research.
Women's & Reproductive Health Concentration
- Assess the principal health concerns for women or mothers and newborns, the associated population-based risk factors, and the relative impact of each risk factor.
- Apply a life course framework to understanding the determinants of a woman’s or reproductive health concern, implications for a woman’s health later in life, and the population strategies to address it.
- Evaluate strategies to promote population-level women's or reproductive, maternal, and child health, including healthcare services and systems delivery strategies used to address health concerns in the population.
- Evaluate research approaches to understand woman’s or reproductive health concerns and the implications of the research.
- Apply frameworks related to women’s and reproductive health for improving their health.
- Identify and assess the causes and consequences of population change related to women’s and reproductive health using demographic methods.