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Admissions Requirements

  • MPH or MSPH from a CEPH accredited institution. Additional foundational coursework will be required for individuals who do not meet this requirement.
     
  • A minimum of 3 years of relevant public health practice. See concentration prerequisites below for additional detail.
     
  • Official Transcripts - Official transcripts are required from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.
     
  • Letters of Recommendation - Applicants must submit 3 letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to academic, practice and/or research abilities.
     
  • Personal Statement - The personal statement should be no more than 1500 words in length and answer the following questions
    • Introduction: Give background and motivation for pursuing a DrPH in Emergency Preparedness.
    • Academic and Professional Journey: While your CV lists your academic and professional achievements, your personal statement should provide context and insight into these experiences. Discuss how your education and work experiences have prepared you for a DrPH program. Highlight specific projects, research, or roles that have been particularly influential in public health emergency preparedness.
    • Skills and Competencies: Identify the key skills and competencies you have developed that are relevant to public health emergency preparedness. Discuss how you overcome competing priorities.
    • Fit with the UNMC Program: Demonstrate your knowledge of the program, why UNMC is a good fit for you, and how it will help you grow professionally and academically in public health emergency preparedness.
       
  • Resume or CV - An updated resume/CV that includes: Employment history, relevant public health practice experience, volunteer/service experience
     
  • TOEFL or IELTS Scores - Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS scores are required of all applicants whose primary language is not English or whose undergraduate degree is from a college or university outside of the United States.
     
  • Emergency Preparedness Concentration Prerequisites: A minimum of 3-5 years of relevant emergency preparedness experience. Examples of such experience include but are not limited to:
    • Conducting a Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA)
    • Gathering community stakeholders to discuss vulnerabilities and planning strategies
    • Coordinating and writing an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
    • Conduct workshops to review the EOP
    • Design, develop and execute Tabletop, Functional and Full-Scale Exercises to test the EOP
    • Update the EOP on a regular basis
    • Conduct community or organization Emergency Preparedness educational programs
    • Participate in community planning meetings
    • Actively contribute to the Incident Command (IC) process in an Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
    • Coordinate (recruit, train, retain) community volunteers to assist in disaster response operations
    • Work closely with community response organizations (Emergency Management, Volunteer Organizations, Law Enforcement, EMS)
    • Write and submit periodic reports on community/organization ongoing operations

Detailed application and admissions criteria is located on the DrPH Admissions website: https://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/admissions/doctorofpublichealth.html

PREREQUISITE COURSES
CPH 500FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH *3
CPH 506BIOSTATISTICS **3
CORE COURSES18
CPH 700HEALTH EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT3
CPH 704ADVOCACY AND POLICY ENGAGEMENT3
CPH 705PUBLIC HEALTH TEACHING AND TRAINING3
CPH 707ADVANCED PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT 3
CPH 711COMMUNICATION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS3
CPH 712SYSTEMS AND STRATEGIC THINKING3
CONCENTRATION COURSES12
CPH 729DISASTER LAW AND POLICY3
CPH 732RESEARCH METHODS FOR ADVANCED PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE 3
CPH 728DISASTER EPIDEMIOLOGY3
CPH 727MANAGING COMPLEX PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS3
ELECTIVE COURSES (At least 3 of the 12 credit hours must be 700-level)12
PRACTICUM AND ILE COURSES12
CPH 798DRPH PRACTICUM6
CPH 799DRPH INTEGRATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE 6
Total Credit Hours54-60

*Only required if student does not have an MPH from an accredited institution
**Only required if student does not have a graduate-level course in Biostatistics. Consult with advisor.
Students are also required to complete a Digital Portfolio.

Concentration Competencies

EMPDRPH1 Analyze a public health emergency and coordinate a public health emergency response utilizing foundational theories, key crisis leadership, and crisis communications skills.
EMPDRPH2 Use scientific methodology to design, analyze, and evaluate emergency preparedness response solutions.
EMPDRPH3 Recommend and integrate solutions for public health preparedness programmatic and policy development at the micro-community and macro-community levels.
EMPDRPH4 Analyze policies and laws to identify gaps and areas for improvement and recommend strategies that integrate inclusivity, advocacy, and science in public health preparedness and response.
EMPDRPH5 Select, assess, and produce preparedness-based evaluation tools to develop and implement quality and adaptive programs.
EMPDRPH6 Use a systems approach to evaluate new information and technology for current and future preparedness threats.