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:
- Why are you interested in pursuing a DrPH degree?
- What are your specific areas of interest related to the concentration area you are applying?
- How has your public health practice experience prepared you for the DrPH concentration to which you are applying?
- How will obtaining a DrPH in the selected concentration area will help you meet your career objectives?
- What are your personal skills and general preparation that will help you succeed in this DrPH program?
- 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.
- Advocacy and Leadership Concentration Prerequisites: A minimum of 5 years of relevant public health management or leadership experiene. Examples of such experience include but are not limited to:
- 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:
- Why are you interested in pursuing a DrPH degree?
- What are your specific areas of interest related to the concentration area you are applying?
- How has your public health practice experience prepared you for the DrPH concentration to which you are applying?
- How will obtaining a DrPH in the selected concentration area will help you meet your career objectives?
- What are your personal skills and general preparation that will help you succeed in this DrPH program?
- 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.
- Advocacy and Leadership Concentration Prerequisites: A minimum of 5 years of relevant public health management or leadership experience. Examples of such experience include but are not limited to:
- Designing and implementing programs
- Leading strategic program planning
- Gathering community stakeholders
- Analyzing, creating, and adapting public health messaging
- Advocacy and Lobbying
- Political and community organizing
- Sustainable development
- Managing employees
- Designing and conducting workshops
- Driving public health policy
- Health systems policy and management
- Community work for social justice
- Budgeting and financial management
- Grant writing for research
- Conflict resolution in various public health domains
- MPH or MSPH from a CEPH accredited institution. Additional foundational coursework will be required for individuals who do not meet this requirement.
Detailed application and admissions criteria is located on the DrPH Admissions website: https://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/admissions/doctorofpublichealth.html
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PREREQUISTE COURSES | ||
| CPH 500 | FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH (*) | 3 |
| CPH 506 | BIOSTATISTICS (**) | 3 |
| CORE COURSES | 18 | |
| CPH 700 | HEALTH EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | 3 |
| CPH 704 | ADVOCACY AND POLICY ENGAGEMENT | 3 |
| CPH 705 | PUBLIC HEALTH TEACHING AND TRAINING | 3 |
| CPH 707 | ADVANCED PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| CPH 711 | COMMUNICATION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS | 3 |
| CPH 712 | SYSTEMS AND STRATEGIC THINKING | 3 |
| CONCENTRATION COURSES | 12 | |
| CPH 718 | LEADERSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE | 3 |
| CPH 730 | ADVANCED EVALUATION AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT | 3 |
| CPH 731 | COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND ADVOCACY | 3 |
| CPH 757 | SURVEY RESEARCH METHODS | 3 |
| ELECTIVE COURSES (At least 3 of the 12 credit hours must be 700 level) | 12 | |
| PRACTICUM AND ILE COURSES | 12 | |
| CPH 798 | DRPH PRACTICUM | 6 |
| CPH 799 | DRPH INTEGRATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE | 1-6 |
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | 54-60 | |
*Only required if student does not have an MPH from an accredited program or institution
**Only required if student has not taken a similar graduate-level course
Students must also complete a zero-credit hour Digital Portfolio.
Concentration Competencies
| DRPHAL1 | Engage internal and external stakeholders to create, implement, and evaluate public health programs and policies |
| DRPHAL2 | Examine approaches to the administration of public health interventions, policies, and programs and prioritize opportunities for improvement |
| DRPHAL3 | Analyze and evaluate public health systems for gaps and design improvements to ethical decision-making, diversity, and advocacy into leadership and practice |
| DRPHAL4 | Analyze, evaluate, and translate research into public health practice and advocacy |
| DRPHAL5 | Build partnerships and organize stakeholders to advocate for communities to improve health equity. |