Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
On This Page
Overview
The Rollins DrPH
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) is a fully online program designed for professionals who seek to expand their knowledge of evidence-based public health and aspire to excel in leadership roles that impact the complex public health challenges we face, both today and in the future.
Who is the DrPH Program For?
The DrPH program is designed for professionals who are ready for an advanced degree and higher levels of public health leadership.
Applicants typically have:
- An MPH/MSPH or equivalent master’s degree, although it is not required. (Students who have not earned an MPH or MSPH from an accredited institution will be required to complete specific coursework in addition to the regular DrPH curriculum).
- Three years of professional work experience at the time of matriculation. (Students may begin the application process once they have acquired two years of full-time work experience
Is a DrPH or PhD Right for Me?
While both a DrPH and a PhD provide rigorous, doctoral-level training in public health, there are important differences to keep in mind as you decide which degree to pursue. Learn more about the differences between a DrPH and PhD below.
DrPH
- Public health work experience required for admission
- Often completed on a part-time basis to accommodate working professionals; tuition is typically self-funded
- Curricular focus on applied public health: leadership, policy, advocacy, communication, in addition to concentration area
- Applied practice experience required
- Integrative learning experience required: dissertation, applied project, case study, program, or policy development
PhD
- Public health work experience not required for admission; prior research experience preferred
- Typically completed on a full-time basis; tuition supported by institutional funding sources
- Curricular focus on research methods, data analysis
- No practice experience required
- Independent dissertation required
Our DrPH Programs
Obtain a refined skill set and an intricate understanding of the methodologies crucial for becoming a public health leader through one of our two DrPH concentrations.
Public Health Preparedness and Response
Prepare to lead in times of crisis and respond to local, regional, national, or global public health threats.
Implementation and Evaluation Science
Bridge gaps between what we know and what we do to improve population health.
DrPH Curriculum
Curriculum
The DrPH program requires 60 credit hours of coursework, a 200-hour Applied Practice Experience in the field, and an Integrative Learning Experience that lets you apply your knowledge to a culminating project on a topic you’re passionate about.
The online, asynchronous format of the DrPH program offers convenience and flexibility for professionals to complete their studies while working full time. Students may complete the program full time (taking 8 to 11 credit hours per semester) or part time (taking 5 to 7 credit hours per semester) in three to seven years, consisting of:
- Foundational courses – 25 credits
- Concentration courses – 21 credits
- Applied Practice Experience – 3 credits
- Integrative Learning Experience – 11 credits
- Comprehensive Exam
The foundational curriculum consists of 25 credit hours of coursework which all students, regardless of their selected concentration, must complete. This includes course on:
- Mixed methods research and evaluation
- Public health surveillance
- Health equity through action on the social determinants of health
- Integrated communication strategies
- Negotiation and conflict management
- Strategic management
- Public health leadership and professional practice
- Program planning
- Integrating law, ethics, and politics into public health policy
- Curriculum development for the public health workforce
The applied practice experience (APE) is a unique opportunity that enables students to apply their knowledge learned through coursework and leadership skills to a professional setting that complements the student’s interests and career goals. The APE can be completed in the student’s workplace when appropriate; however, the project and associated deliverables must be distinct from the student’s daily work responsibilities.
All DrPH students must complete a 200-hour APE, regardless of their number of years in the workforce or other relevant experience.
The DrPH dissertation research or project is the student’s final comprehensive written product that demonstrates mastery of DrPH foundational and concentration competencies.
Students will register for a total of 11 integrative learning experience credits, including:
- Dissertation Research/Project Seminar (first year)
- Dissertation Proposal Planning Seminar (fall of second year)
- Dissertation Proposal Development (spring of second year)
- Dissertation (final year)
The dissertation topic will be selected by the student with guidance from their faculty advisor. Consistent with the nature of the DrPH as an applied degree, we expect that dissertations will apply doctoral-level research and practice skills to address higher-level leadership, policy, and critical public health problems in an evidence-based, methodologically rigorous manner.
The dissertation can be in one of three formats:
- Five-chapter format: This is the traditional dissertation format consisting of a) the problem statement and specific aims; b) comprehensive literature review; c) data collection and research methods; d) data analyses and results; e) discussion of findings and implications/recommendations for policy and public health practice.
- Manuscript format: A minimum of three manuscripts that must be submitted for publication in a refereed public health related journal following the formatting guidelines of the journal. The dissertation submission must include introductory and concluding chapters synthesizing the work across manuscripts.
- Public health project portfolio: this format requires selecting one or more practice-based projects in an organization (e.g., organizational assessment, program evaluation, program plan/implementation, economic evaluation). The number of required projects and target deliverables depends on the scope of the projects and will be determined in collaboration with the dissertation advisor.
Students must complete key foundational methods, leadership courses, and the four required concentration courses before scheduling their comprehensive exam (CE). Students will be required to maintain a professional portfolio that will serve as the basis for their CE to evaluate their readiness to advance to candidacy. The CE will consist of a reflective written document and an oral defense.