Key Courses - DrPH in Public Health Preparedness and Response
The DrPH is a fully online, 60 credit-hour program that can be completed full-time (8-11 credit hours per semester) or part-time (5-7 credit hours per semester) in three to seven years.
Electives
In addition to the courses below, students will choose electives to align further training with their unique interests (e.g., application of implementation and evaluation science or preparedness and response in the context of global health, environmental health, behavioral/social science etc.).
A minimum of 9 credit hours at the master's (500) or doctoral (700) level are required.
Foundational Curriculum
The foundational curriculum consists of 25 credit hours of coursework which all students, regardless of their selected concentration, must complete.
The DrPH foundational curriculum also includes the following courses:
- DRPH 717: Health Equity through Action on the Social Determinants of Health
- DRPH 718: Integrating Law, Ethics, and Politics into Public Health Policy
- DRPH 719: Curriculum Development for the Public Health Workforce
Online Asynchronous. PRE-REQ: DrPH Only. This course focuses on the development of a community intervention or program designed to address a public health issue. Students will select a public health challenge and develop a system-level program plan that takes into account cultural value and practices.
Online Asynchronous. PRE-REQ: DrPH Only. This course teaches principles and methods of public health surveillance and its implications in public health practice. It concentrates on skill development in areas including the establishment of a public health surveillance program, the collation and analysis of data, data implications, program evaluation research, preparation and distribution of a surveillance report. The course also helps students recognize the importance of a direct association between a public health surveillance program and a public health action.
Online Asynchronous. PRE-REQ: DrPH Only. This course is designed to introduce students to the mixed methods paradigm in public health research and evaluation practice. The core goal of the course is to blend theory and practice in designing and conducting mixed methods research and evaluation. Students will learn the science behind developing rigorous mixed methods research, including: developing aims, determining the study design and sampling plan, constructing data collection instruments, communicating study findings, and assessing reliability, validity, and ethical issues in mixed methods studies. Ultimately, students will learn to communicate about the importance of using multiple methods of data collection to enhance translation of research and evaluation findings into improving public health practice.
Online Asynchronous. PRE-REQ: DrPH Only. Promoting health (both individual and at the population level) is inherently an interprofessional activity that requires strong leadership skills as well as integration of knowledge and methods across professions and sectors. As a health professional you will interact with experts from multiple fields, including medical doctors, nurses, public health professionals, lawyers, and educators. Communicating with individuals from other professions, even when working toward a common goal, can be challenging. This course will help you assess your leadership capacities and cultural proficiency and to enhance your performance effectively in interprofessional teams.
Online Asynchronous. PRE-REQ: DrPH Only. This course explores methods of applying behavioral and cognitive theories for effectively communicating health and behavioral change information and maximizing compliance with public health guidelines. It illustrates communication strategies using a variety of approaches including face-to-face instruction, technology-based strategies, electronic media, print-based products and adds media engagement. This course also provides students with an overview of concepts and strategies used in data presentation, social marketing, and public health information campaigns. Emphasis is placed on developing skills that enable practitioners to create and gain compliance with consumer-oriented public health interventions, advocacy strategies, and professional development initiatives. Skills covered in this course include formative research, audience segmentation, communication channel analysis, and multidimensional data presentation.
Online Asynchronous. PRE-REQ: DrPH Only. This course examines the formulation and implementation of business strategies in health care organizations, models of strategic management, and the role of stakeholders in the strategic management process. Reviews specific analytical tools used in strategy formulation, choice, and implementation, with an emphasis on real-world health care applications. Demonstrates how to use analysis tools to develop a comprehensive strategic implementation plan. Investigates when internal funding can and should be used as part of implementation and when and how to pursue external funding.
Online Asynchronous. PRE-REQ: DrPH Only. Negotiation is a critical element of everyday life in an organization and personal relations. How much will I earn in my job? How should I deal with a dissatisfied customer? How do my co-workers and I decide how we will manage a project? These are all examples of common work situations where we find ourselves negotiating with others. Yet, many know little about the strategies and conditions that lead to the most effective negotiated outcomes. The purpose of this course is to understand the basic theory and processes of negotiation so that you can negotiate successfully in a variety of organizational settings. Students will actively develop these skills by preparing for and simulating a variety of negotiations.
Concentration Curriculum
In addition to the foundational curriculum, students will complete 12 credit hours of coursework within their concentration.
The applied AI and data science curriculum also includes the following courses:
- DRPH 742: Data Governance, Ethics, and Privacy in Public Health
- DRPH 743: Case Studies in Applied Data-Driven Public Health Strategies
Online Asynchronous. PRE-REQ: DrPH PHPR Track Only. This course is devoted to teaching students about how to work effectively in the realms of public health preparedness and public health practice, primarily through an epidemiologic lens and via deep dives into specific topics relevant to public health preparedness. Through a curated series of guest lecturers and activities, we cover topics ranging from pandemic readiness and community outbreak surveillance to risk communications and vaccine promotion. We'll also pepper in topics that you might not yet know much about - like radiologic and nuclear preparedness - to give students exposure to less well-known, but still important, areas of preparedness. Students interested in public health preparedness, infectious diseases, public health practice, and biodefense are encouraged to take this course.
Online Asynchronous. PRE-REQ: DrPH PHPR Track Only. This course engages in considerations needed to adapt preparedness and response plans in low-resource settings and other vulnerable populations. Emphasis is on ethical issues and practical considerations in planning, implementing, and disseminating preparedness plans to mitigate existing disparities that are further enhanced by pandemics, climate emergencies, and other health emergencies. This course also explores effectively communicating health information and emergency plans for different communities to maximize effectiveness for the most vulnerable communities. Emphasis is placed on developing skills that enable practitioners to create plans that are inclusive and require attention to communities with diverse needs and baseline opportunities.
Online Asynchronous. PRE-REQ: DrPH PHPR Track Only. This course is designed to equip public health professionals with the essential skills needed to navigate and lead in dynamic environments, particularly in the context of public health preparedness planning. This course emphasizes how to strategically plan for public health preparedness and respond to rapid changes to allow for effective and adaptive decision-making. Students will explore the intricacies of assessing and prioritizing data for decision making, developing comprehensive and adaptable communication plans for diverse constituents, and assessing and planning for resource needs. Throughout the course, students will learn both about public health preparedness in the context of each of these three areas, as well as important considerations required for making rapid changes in an emergency.
Online Asynchronous. PRE-REQ: DrPH PHPR Track Only. This course explores the theories, strategies, and applied skills necessary to develop effective teams across public health emergency preparedness and response systems. Students will examine evidence-based approaches to team formation, leadership, decision-making, communication, psychological safety, and conflict management within high-stakes environments. Emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary and interorganizational teamwork, including coordination across Incident Command System (ICS) structures, public health coalitions, and multi-sector response networks. The course integrates principles of workforce development, organizational behavior, systems thinking, and equity-centered leadership to support team effectiveness in diverse and dynamic contexts. Students will analyze real-world preparedness and response team challenges and develop strategies to strengthen resilience, trust, accountability, and performance.