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.
- Epidemiology Concentration Prerequisites: A minimum of 3 years of relevant public health practice experience with emphasis on epidemiology. Examples of such experience include but not limited to:
- Designing, implementing, and evaluating a public health surveillance system
- Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating public health data
- Analyzing health trends and patterns in a population to assist in the development of interventions or needs assessments
- Creating data visualizations and reports based on analysis results
- Conducting data automation and linkages between systems
- Responding to and advising on public health data requests, including data sharing and research agreements
- Conducting outbreak investigations
- Designing and preparing surveillance and field investigation protocols, survey instruments, and surveillance forms
- Responding to public inquiries on epidemiologic issues
Detailed application and admissions criteria is located on the DrPH Admissions website at https://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/admissions/doctorofpublichealth.html
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PREREQUISITE COURSES | ||
| CPH 500 | FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH * | 3 |
| CPH 628 | EPIDEMIOLOGIC METHODS 1 (**) | 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 621 | APPLIED EPIDEMIOLOGY | 3 |
| CPH 626 | HEALTH INFORMATION AND SURVEILLANCE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE | 3 |
| CPH 746 | EPIDEMIOLOGY IN PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE | 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 | 1-6 |
| 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
**Only required if student has not taken a similar graduate-level course.
Students must also complete a zero-credit hour Digital Portfolio.
Concentration Competencies
| EPIDRPH1 | Critically review and interpret scientific literature to synthesize evidence, identify gaps and inform public health research and practice |
| EPIDRPH2 | Use epidemiologic concepts and methods to design, implement, and evaluate research studies and public health programs |
| EPIDRPH3 | Select and utilize appropriate epidemiologic data and analytic methods, and interpret the results to inform public health research and practice |
| EPIDRPH4 | Incorporate ethical principles and cultural sensitivity into the design, implementation, analysis, and dissemination for public health research and practice |
| EPIDRPH5 | Communicate epidemiologic concepts and findings orally and in writing in accordance with professional standards to professional audiences, policy makers, and the public |