All applicants to the Doctor of Public Health degree must have:

• A master’s-level degree in public health (MPH or MSPH). Students with other master’s degrees may be considered and accepted, but will need to complete the five MPH core courses (15 hours) prior to acceptance into the DrPH Candidacy. These courses will not apply to the DrPH Program of Study. All master’s degrees must be from an accredited institution.
• At least three years of experience in the public health area after having completed a master’s degree.
• Applicants are expected to have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

DrPH Prerequisite Courses (15 hours)
BIOS 7010 – Introduction to Biostatistics I (3 hours)
EHSC 7010 – Fundamentals of Environmental Health (3 hours)
EPID 7010 – Introduction to Epidemiology I (3 hours)
HPAM 7010 – Introduction to Health Policy and Management (3 hours)
HPRB 7010 – Social and Behavioral Foundations of Public Health (3 hours)

*Students with only a bachelor’s degree will NOT be accepted into the program. No exceptions will be given.*

The curricular focus of the DrPH program at the UGA College of Public Health is management, leadership and health policy and development.  The degree requires 57 credit hours beyond master’s level. The program operates in an executive-style format requiring two courses per semester and operate on a Fall, Spring and Summer schedule that allows for completion in four years. A minimum letter grade of “B” is required in all course work.

Year One
FALL SEMESTER
HPAM 8840- Managerial Epidemiology (3 hours)
HPAM 8760 – Public Health Law and Ethics for Public Health Practitioners (3 hours)

SPRING SEMESTER
HPAM 8850 – Economic Evaluation Methods (3 hours)
HPAM 8700 – Management of Healthcare Organizations (3 hours)

SUMMER SEMESTER
HPAM 9100 – Doctor of Public Health Seminar I (3 hours)

Year Two
FALL SEMESTER
HPAM 8450 – Policy Evaluation (3 hours)
HPAM 8410 – Informatics and Analytics in Health (3 hours)

SPRING SEMESTER
HPAM 9200 – Doctor of Public Health Seminar II (3 hours)
HPAM 8300 – Research Methods (3 hours)

SUMMER SEMESTER
HPAM 8800 – Leadership in Public Health (3 hours)

Year Three
FALL SEMESTER
PBHL 9560– Public Health Applied Learning Experience (3 hours)
Elective 1 (3 hours)
Doctoral Comprehensive Examination

SPRING SEMESTER
Elective 2 (3 hours)
Elective 3 (3 hours)

SUMMER SEMESTER
Elective 4 (3 hours) or
HPAM 9300- Doctoral Dissertation (1-12 hrs)

Year Four
FALL SEMESTER
Elective 4 (3 hours) or
HPAM 9300 – Doctoral Dissertation (1-12 hrs)

SPRING SEMESTER
HPAM 9300 – Doctoral Dissertation (1-12 hrs)

DrPH Foundational Competencies

The DrPH is the professional doctoral degree in public health, designed to produce transformative academic and practice leaders with expertise in evidence-based public health practice and research. These individuals are able to convene diverse partners; communicate to effect change across a range of sectors and settings; synthesize and translate findings; and generate practice-based evidence that advance programs, policies, services and/or systems addressing population health. The DrPH competencies defined by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) are:

Data & Analysis

1. Explain qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods and policy analysis research and evaluation methods to address health issues at multiple (individual, group, organization, community and population) levels
2. Design a qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, policy analysis or evaluation project to address a public health issue
3. Explain the use and limitations of surveillance systems and national surveys in assessing, monitoring and evaluating policies and programs and to address a population’s health

Leadership, Management & Governance

4. Propose strategies for health improvement and elimination of health inequities by organizing stakeholders, including researchers, practitioners, community leaders and other partners
5. Communicate public health science to diverse stakeholders, including individuals at all levels of health literacy, for purposes of influencing behavior and policies
6. Integrate knowledge, approaches, methods, values and potential contributions from multiple professions and systems in addressing public health problems
7. Create a strategic plan
8. Facilitate shared decision making through negotiation and consensus-building methods
9. Create organizational change strategies
10. Propose strategies to promote inclusion and equity within public health programs, policies and systems
11. Assess one’s own strengths and weaknesses in leadership capacities, including cultural proficiency
12. Propose human, fiscal and other resources to achieve a strategic goal
13. Cultivate new resources and revenue streams to achieve a strategic goal

Policy & Programs

14. Design a system-level intervention to address a public health issue
15. Integrate knowledge of cultural values and practices in the design of public health policies and programs
16. Integrate scientific information, legal and regulatory approaches, ethical frameworks and varied stakeholder interests in policy development and analysis
17. Propose interpersonal team approaches to improving public health

Education & Workforce Development

18. Assess an audience’s knowledge and learning needs
19. Deliver training or educational experiences that promote learning in academic, organizational or community settings
20. Use best practice modalities in pedagogical practices

As a DrPH student, you will be required to complete an Applied Practice Experience. The office of the Practice Coordinator at the College of Public Health has agreements with many exciting sites.  These sites reflect the current Public Health job market and include agencies such as the Georgia Department of Public Health and District Health offices, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, American Red Cross, local hospitals, and non-profits. New agreements can be coordinated upon request.

The following is a timeline and checklist for field placement along with links to all of the forms you will need. For more detailed information on the Applied Practice Experience (APE) process, please refer to your DrPH Applied Practice Experience Manual. Read everything carefully; you are responsible for all submissions and deadlines.  If you have any questions, please contact CPH Field Placement & Practice Coordinator at mumbi@uga.edu.

Pre-Field Experience (Begins 2 Semester Before)

1. Schedule advisement with Academic Advisor to approve/discuss Field Placement timing.
2. Schedule advisement with Practice Coordinator regarding site and MOU information and approval. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with your placement site is required for it to count toward your degree. The Practice Coordinator will be able to tell you if the site you are interested in has a current MOU. New MOUs can be initiated, but it can take up to 8 weeks to have one fully executed. (No new MOUs will be initiated after the mid-point of the semester before you are to enter into the field placement.)
3. Contact and schedule Interview with site and acceptance into placement.
4. Discuss projects and activities with Site Supervisor/Preceptor. Check with Site Supervisor about any IRB approval needed.
5. DrPH Applied Practice Experience Approval and Proposal Form completed with all signatures and sent to Practice coordinator (as PDF by email) DUE BY MID-TERM OF SEMESTER BEFORE GOING INTO INTERNSHIP.
6. Applied Practice Agreement and the Records Release forms signed and witnessed and sent to the Practice Coordinator as a PDF via email along with proposal documents.
7. Obtain liability Insurance if applicable. (Refer to the current DrPH Applied Practice Experience Manual.)
8. Communicate with site about HR requirements. (e.g. background checks, paperwork, orientations, badges, parking)
9. Register for the 3-hour Applied Practice Experience course (PBHL 9560) in Athena. (You will not be cleared to register unless you have your approval paperwork in and a MOU is in place. NO EXCEPTIONS!)

Field Experience Mid-Term (By Mid-Term Date)

1. Check the UGA Registrar Office’s Academic Calendars for important dates (e.g. – Mid-term, last day of class, etc.)  Respond to “First of the Semester” check-in email’
2. Respond to Mid-term email. Make Mid-term evaluation document available to Site Supervisor/Preceptor.
3. DrPH Mid-term Applied Practice Experience Evaluation completed with Site supervisor and sent to Practice Coordinator and Academic Advisor.

End of Semester (Due Last Day of Class)

NOTE: Instructions for steps 1-4 are located in the DrPH Applied Practice Experience Manual.

1. Schedule Final APE Presentation.
2. Submit Written Report.
3. Submit Organizational Report.
4. Submit Final APE Leadership Self-Assessment.
5. Complete Field Supervisor/Preceptor Evaluation.
6. Complete the Applied Practice Experience Survey. This will be sent to you via a Qualtrics Link.

Fall Admission Deadline:  January 31

The DrPH application opens in mid-August on SOPHAS and closes on January 31. Applicants who submit all applications and supporting materials by this deadline will be notified in late February or early March of their status in the program. Applications received after the January 31 deadline may be considered but complete applications received before the deadline will be prioritized in the review process.  *This notification will follow scheduled interviews to occur late February and the month of March.  An invitation and completion of an interview is mandatory for continued consideration of admission.

*Prior to the deadlines, you must have both applications completed, VERIFIED, and all supporting materials must be received by the College.

**Admissions offices recommend submitting all materials as soon as possible since applications can take 3 to 4 weeks to be processed.

Application Requirements

• Completed SOPHAS application and fee
• Official academic transcripts from every institution attended sent directly to SOPHAS.
• International applicants: Only World Education Services (WES) evaluations of international coursework are accepted for inclusion in your SOPHAS application. Any WES-evaluated coursework cleared through SOPHAS will be reviewed once both application steps are fully completed. For specific details, please refer to www.wes.org/sophas.
• Statement of purpose and degree objectives
• Three letters of recommendation are required from individuals familiar with the applicant’s academic achievements, aspirations, personal qualities, and professional attributes.
  • Persons writing letters should typically be current or former supervisors or professors.
  • Recommendations must be specific to the University of Georgia application, written in English, placed on official letterhead, signed and dated within six months prior to date submitted.
• GRE scores are no longer required. (If you wish to submit, ETS Code is 5813)
• Resume/CV
• Supplemental Fee to UGA Graduate School (This fee can be processed HERE)
• Personal interview

International Applicants only – additional information needed by the UGA Graduate School
(please click here for more detailed information)

• Official TOEFL or IELTS scores sent by testing agency to “University of Georgia”
• World Education Services (WES): You must provide any WES evaluations as part of your SOPHAS application. You may refer to this link for further information about sending your WES report.
• Certificate of Finances (COF) form
• Visa Information

Applicant Interviews

Invitations are extended to selected applicants to an in-person Interview Day following initial review of applications. This series of Interview Days are scheduled in late February and the month of March.

NOTE: In order to proceed with admissions consideration for the Doctor of Public Health, an invitation MUST be extended by the program and the invited candidate must fully participate in the events during Interview Day.  Appropriate accommodations can be made when the selected candidate has extenuating circumstances which may prevent their attendance.

How is a DrPH different from a Ph.D.?

It is important to differentiate a Ph.D. from a DrPH program.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is an advanced degree in research training, theory, and methodology. The program stresses knowledge and competency in statistical methods and research design. Recipients of this degree have a comprehensive understanding of research methods and the application of these methods. Usually, Ph.D. programs emphasize the utilization of experimental and quasi-experimental research designs. Such training prepares Ph.D. graduates for academic and related professions that involve teaching and research. Universities, other academic institutions, or organizations conducting research generally employ these graduates.

This program focuses on a “professional” DrPH degree targeted toward administrators and practitioners who have three or more years of professional experience beyond the MPH degree. As an advanced professional degree emphasizing methods, applications, and applied research, the DrPH links theory to practice. Its graduates solve significant public health issues using innovative methods and new knowledge. Prospective careers include high-level administration, teaching, policy-making, applied research, or program evaluation positions in which graduates will utilize the advanced analysis, critical evaluation, and problem-solving skills at the core of the DrPH program.

Where are courses taught?

All required courses are taught on the University of Georgia Gwinnett Campus in Lawrenceville, Ga.

How long will it take to complete the program?

The Dr.P.H. program operates on a Fall, Spring, and Summer schedule that allows for completion of the degree in four years. The program may be accelerated with the addition of one elective to Fall and Spring semester schedules of Year 1 and 2, but electives will be limited.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the program, you can contact the DrPH Program office at drph@uga.edu or by calling 678-377-3656.