Doctor of Public Health Program
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 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 | PhD |
|---|---|
| Public health work experience required for admission | Public health work experience not required for admission; prior research experience preferred |
| Often completed on a part-time basis to accomodate working professionals; tuition is typically self-funded | Typically completed on a full-time basis; tuition supported by institutional funding sources |
| Curricular focus on applied public health: leadership, policy, advocacy, communication, in addition to concentration area | Curricular focus on research methods, data analysis |
| Applied practice experience required | No practice experience required |
| Integrative learning experience required: dissertation, applied project, case study, program, or policy development | Independent dissertation required |
DrPH applications are completed through SOPHAS. Admissions requirements can be found here.
What Can I Do with a DrPH?
Our strong, global network of Rollins alumni work in a variety of sectors, from government, to industry, and everything in between.
The DrPH program uniquely positions participants to:
- Shape public health policies.
- Spearhead health promotion initiatives.
- Conduct impactful applied research.
- Build collaborative partnerships.
- Apply sophisticated communication strategies.
Professionals with a DrPH degree are in positions such as:
- Public Health Program Director
- Health Services Director
- Health Policy Advisor
- Global Health Director
- Non-Profit Executive Director
DrPH graduates will obtain a refined skill set and an intricate understanding of methodologies crucial for becoming public health leaders. Their preparation extends beyond academic knowledge, equipping them with the experience and tools to lead and influence with distinction, ultimately contributing significantly to the advancement of public health on both local and global scales.
Program Overview
The DrPH curriculum cultivates foundational competencies essential for effective leadership in public health, including:
- Mastery of data and analysis
- Adeptness in leadership
- Management
- Governance
- Understanding of policy, programs, and educating the public health workforce
This fully online program offers two concentrations:
- Public Health Preparedness and Response
- Implementation and Evaluation Science
Public health preparedness and response is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on leading, coordinating, and implementing systems in response to local, regional, national, or global public health threats.
Doctoral training in public health preparedness and response encompasses foundational methods coursework to:
- Assess community risk through appropriate sampling strategies.
- Facilitate rigorous data collection, analysis, and data linkage to emerging health problems.
- Engage in timely and science-driven communication to the public through data dashboards and other visualization methods.
This concentration prepares graduates for leadership roles, providing them with the knowledge and skills to lead teams in times of crisis and to communicate and collaborate effectively with external partners at the local, regional, national, and global level across various industries.
Graduates are well-prepared for careers as directors of public health preparedness at public health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local health departments, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, and the World Health Organization, as well as other leadership roles within hospital systems, private industry, and the military.
Implementation and evaluation science is a multidisciplinary field focused on the systematic study of strategies and processes for effectively adapting, adopting, and scaling evidence-based interventions and assessing outcomes for diverse populations and contexts.
This training encompasses foundational methods coursework to enable the design, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based interventions, including policies, practices, and programs. The primary goal is to bridge gaps between what we know (research) and what we do (practice and policy) to improve population health.
Students will learn to:
- Identify contextual factors that influence successful design and implementation of evidence-based interventions.
- Employ implementation strategies to increase effective service delivery.
- Apply implementation science and evaluation theories, models, and frameworks.
- Measure implementation outcomes and impacts.
- Inform iterative improvements.
This concentration prepares graduates for leadership roles, providing them with the knowledge and skills to work collaboratively and to scale evidence-based strategies that ultimately amplify effectiveness and improve outcomes in health promotion and disease prevention, public health policies, and health care systems.
Graduates are well-prepared for careers as program managers, public health directors, health systems managers, policy advisors, and other leadership roles at the local, state, tribal, national, and international level.Program Structure
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 crdit hours per semester) in three to seven years, consisting of:
- Foundational courses – 25 credits
- Concentration courses – 21 credits (students select one of two concentrations)
- Public Health Preparedness and Response
- Implementation and Evaluation Sciences
- Applied Practice Experience – 3 credits
- Integrative Learning Experience (dissertation research/project) – 11 credits
- Comprehensive Exam
The online, asynchronous format of the DrPH program offers convenience and flexibility for professionals to complete their studies while working full time.
Foundational Curriculum
The foundational curriculum consists of 25 credit hours of coursework which all students, regardless of their selected concentration, must complete.
| Course Name* | Credits |
|---|---|
| Mixed Methods and Research Evaluation | 3 |
| Public Health Surveillance | 3 |
| Health Equity through Action on the Social Determinants of Health | 3 |
| Integrated Communication Strategies | 3 |
| Negotiation and Conflict Management | 2 |
| Strategic Management | 3 |
| Public Health Leadership and Interprofessional Practice | 1 |
| Program Planning | 2 |
| Integrating Law, Ethics, and Politics into Public Health Policy | 2 |
| Curriculum Development for Public Health Workforce | 3 |
*Specific course titles and associated credits are subject to change.
Concentration Curriculum
In addition to the foundational curriculum, students will complete 11-12 credit hours of coursework within their selected concentration, in addition to 9-10 credit hours of elective courses.
| Course Name* |
Credits |
| Public Health Preparedness and Practice | 3 |
| Strategies for Effective Preparedness: Data, Communication, and Resources | 3 |
| Preparedness in Low and Inequitably Resourced Settings: Mitigating Inequities During a Health Crisis | 3 |
| Design and Implementation of Epidemiology Studies to Support Public Health Actions | 3 |
| Electives | 9 |
*Specific course titles and associated credits are subject to change.
| Course Name | Credits |
| Theories, Models, Frameworks in Implementation Science | 3 |
| Research Design in Implementation Science | 3 |
| Translating Research to Practice: Using Implementation Science to Advance Public Health Practice | 3 |
| Partnering to Leverage Implementation and Evaluation Science for Public Health | 2 |
| Electives | 10 |
*Specific course titles and associated credits are subject to change.
Students will choose elective courses from the options below to align further training with their unique interests (i.e., 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 10 credit hours are required for Implementation and Evaluation Science students and 9 credit hours for Preparedness and Response students. List of elective courses is subject to change.
| Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences Courses | Credits |
| Socio-behavioral Measurement | 3 |
| Introduction to Public Mental Health | 2 |
| LGBTQ+ Public Health | 2 |
| Prevention of Mental and Behavioral Disorders | 2 |
| Foundations in Addressing Racism as a Public Health Issue | 1 |
| Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Courses | Credits |
| Introduction to Geographical Information Systems | 2 |
| Introduction to R | 2 |
| Database Development for Public Health | 3 |
| Data Visualization in Public Health | 2 |
| Environmental Health Courses | Credits |
| Environmental Justice: Theory and Public Health Practice | 2 |
| Global Environmental Health Policy: Power, Science, and Justice | 2 |
| Air Quality in the Urban Environment | 2 |
| Global Climate Change: Health Impacts and Response | 2 |
| Epidemiology Courses | Credits |
| Field Epidemiology | 2 |
| Issues in Women's Health | 2 |
| Structural Interventions | 2 |
| Social Epidemiology | 2 |
| Case Studies in Infectious Disease | 2 |
| HIV Epidemiology | 2 |
| Health Policy and Management Courses | Credits |
| Mental Health/Medical Interface in the U.S. | 2 |
| Introduction to Health Economics | 3 |
| Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programs | 4 |
| Public Health and Health Resource Allocation | 3 |
| Grant Writing for Public Health | 2 |
| Global Health Courses | Credits |
| Immunization Programs and Policies | 2 |
| Health in Humanitarian Emergencies | 2 |
| Foundational Ethical Challenges in Global Health | 3 |
| Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries | 2 |
| Leadership in Global Health and Development | 2 |
| Global Elimination of Maternal Mortality from Abortion | 2 |
Applied Practice Experience
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 deliverable(s) 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.
Integrative Learning 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.
Comprehensive Exam
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.
Recommended Course Sequence
The recommended course sequence for each concentration is based on a full-time student enrolled in a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester. Part-time students will take a reduced course load each semester.
| Recommended Sequence | Credits |
| Fall Year 1 | 9.5 |
| Mixed Methods Research | 3 |
| Public Health Surveillance Methods | 3 |
| Public Health Preparedness and Practice | 3 |
| Dissertation Research/Project Seminar | 0.5 |
| Spring Year 1 | 10.5 |
| Health Equity through Action on the Social Determinants of Health | 3 |
| Public Health Leadership and Interprofessional Practice | 1 |
| Preparedness in Low and Inequitably Resourced Settings | 3 |
| Dissertation Research/Project Seminar | 0.5 |
| Applied Practice Experience | 3 |
| Fall Year 2 | 11 |
| Integrated Communication Strategies | 3 |
| Strategies for Effective Preparedness: Data, Communication, and Resources | 3 |
| Design and Implementation of Epidemiology Studies to Support Public Health Actions | 3 |
| Dissertation Proposal Planning Seminar | 2 |
| Spring Year 2 | 10 |
| Strategic Management | 3 |
| Negotiation, Conflict Management, and Organizational Change | 2 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Dissertation Proposal Development | 2 |
| Fall Year 3 | 10 |
| Program Planning | 2 |
| Integrating Law, Ethics, and Politics into Public Health Policy | 2 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Dissertation | 3 |
| Spring Year 3 | 9 |
| Curriculum Development for the Public Health Workforce | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Dissertation | 3 |
| Recommended Sequence | Credits |
| Fall Year 1 | 9.5 |
| Mixed Methods Research | 3 |
| Public Health Surveillance Methods | 3 |
| Theories, Models, and Frameworks in Implementation Science | 3 |
| Dissertation Research/Project Seminar | 0.5 |
| Spring Year 1 | 10.5 |
| Health Equity through Action on the Social Determinants of Health | 3 |
| Public Health Leadership and Interprofessional Practice | 1 |
| Research Design in Implementation Science | 3 |
| Dissertation Research/Project Seminar | 0.5 |
| Applied Practice Experience | 3 |
| Fall Year 2 | 10 |
| Integrated Communication Strategies | 3 |
| Translating Research to Practice: Using Implementation Science to Advance Practice | 3 |
| Partnering to Leverage Implementation and Evaluation Science for Public Health | 2 |
| Dissertation Proposal Planning Seminar | 2 |
| Spring Year 2 | 11 |
| Strategic Management | 3 |
| Negotiation, Conflict Management, and Organizational Change | 2 |
| Elective | 4 |
| Dissertation Proposal Development | 2 |
| Fall Year 3 | 10 |
| Program Planning | 2 |
| Integrating Law, Ethics, and Politics into Public Health Policy | 2 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Dissertation | 3 |
| Spring Year 3 | 9 |
| Curriculum Development for the Public Health Workforce | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Dissertation | 3 |
Cost of Attendance
The cost of DrPH tuition is $1,311 per credit hour.
Admissions
Visit our DrPH admissions page for information about requirements and how to apply.