Public Health Practice, DrPH

DrPH Admission Requirements

• Hold an MPH or related master’s degree(s) (or terminal clinical/doctoral degree) from a recognized institution,
• Submit an application to the SPH via SOPHAS (Schools of Public Health Application Service) at www.sophas.org,
• Submit complete, official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended,
• Submit official scores from one of the following graduate admissions examinations: Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT), Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or Pharmacy School Admissions Test (PCAT). The examination requirement is waived for applicants possessing a professional doctoral degree with a license to practice in the United States,
• At least three (3) letters of recommendation from professionals who are familiar with the applicant’s academic and/or professional work, with at least two (2) letters being from university faculty members, 
• Current resume or curriculum vita,
• Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages) addressing the applicant’s career goals and how the DrPH will assist career aspirations,
• Applicants with foreign transcripts must also include an official WES or ECE transcript evaluation report listing course-by-course U.S. grade point equivalencies,
• International applicants must demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in oral and written English before being granted admission. Minimum TOEFL exam requirements: written = 550; computer-based = 213; internet-based = 79. The TOEFL is waived if the applicant has earned a high school diploma or a bachelor or master degree from an accredited institution within the United States or Canada,
• A minimum graduate GPA of 3.2. Although a minimum GPA has been established, admission to the program is highly competitive,
• A minimum of three years of significant public health or other appropriate work experience is strongly recommended, 
• If invited for an interview, applicants are expected to participate in either an on-campus interview or a technology-assisted interview. Interviews on campus or by telephone at the student’s request are always welcome.

Once an offer of admission has been extended to a student, official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended must be re-submitted directly to the SPH Office of Admissions.

Once an offer of admission has been extended to an international applicant, the Health Science Center will not issue immigration papers for student visas until the following documents have been received and approved by the Health Science Center:

• Proof of financial resources
• Official transcripts from each college or university attended should be re-submitted both in English and the student’s native language

Financial Assistance

The SPH Dean offers a limited number of multi-year competitive scholarships to new incoming students. To be considered applicants must have completed and submitted their admission application through SOPHAS by the January 15th application deadline. Please note that all application materials must be received by the application service well enough in advance for the service to complete the coursework verification process to meet the January 15th deadline. In addition doctoral students may obtain a Teaching Assistant or Graduate Research Assistant position. Other financial assistance may be available through the Office of Financial Aid.

Admissions Decisions and Deferments for DrPH Students

Applicants will be furnished written notification regarding their admission status by the SPH Office of Admissions. Statements by other Health Science Center personnel concerning the applicant’s admissibility are not valid until confirmed in writing by the Office of Admissions.

Applicants who are admitted to a degree program and plan to enroll are required to submit an Admissions Decision Form along with a non-refundable $200 assurance fee that will be used toward tuition upon their arrival. Applicants admitted to a degree program that do not intend to enroll in the semester for which they applied must contact the Office of Admissions to request a deferment. Deferments must be made in writing and cannot exceed one year from the original acceptance date. There is a non-refundable deferment fee of $300; the deferment fee is due at the time the request is made.

Information submitted in the application materials must be complete and correct. Prospective and current students must notify the proper institution officials regarding any changes in the information provided on their application. Falsification or omission of any information on the application documents will void a student’s admission, cancel their enrollment, and/or result in appropriate disciplinary action.

All materials submitted during the application process become the property of the Health Science Center and cannot be returned.

DrPH Competencies and Learning Objectives

Program content and learning experiences will address the public health competencies identified by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH). Overall, upon completion of the DrPH program, the graduate will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Advocacy - Use scientific knowledge and ethical considerations to create and sustain active support for a cause or position with the intent of influencing decision-making regarding policies, practices and beliefs that advance public health at local, tribal, state, national, and international levels.
2. Communication - Study and use communication strategies to inform and influence individual and community decisions that enhance health.
3. Community/Cultural Orientation - Interact and communicate effectively with people of different cultures. This includes having:
   • An awareness of one’s own cultural worldview;
   • Mature attitudes towards cultural differences;
   • Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews; and
   • Possession of cross-cultural skills.
4. Critical Analysis - Develop, synthesize, interpret, and apply evidence-based research and theory from a broad range of disciplines and health-related data sources to facilitate studies, interventions and policies for promoting population health.
5. Leadership - Inspire trust and motivate individuals and teams to use evidence based strategies to envision and communicate a positive future that enhances essential public health services for all populations.
6. Management - Provide fiscally responsible strategic and operational guidance for a variety of health-related organizations, both public and private, for the purpose of achieving individual and community health and wellness.
7. Professionalism and Ethics - Identify ethical issues, balance the claims of personal liberty against concerns about population health, consider the full spectrum of the determinants of health, identify the range of options for interventions, demonstrate the values and professional practices which form the basis of public health practice; understand and act upon the ethical concepts of social justice, virtue, and human rights; model accountability; and formulate and commit to personal and institutional development plans.

DrPH Curriculum