Doctor of Public Health

 

The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Program in Epidemiology is designed to develop public health leaders who are skilled at identifying the factors that affect the health of a population and developing, implementing and evaluating disease control and prevention strategies to improve public health. Areas of specialization in epidemiology include (but are not limited to) health data and information systems, chronic disease prevention and control, communicable disease prevention and control and injury prevention. Graduates will be prepared to hold leadership positions in public health practice at the local, state or national level and in academia.

In addition to the general admissions requirements for the DrPH program, the Focus Area in Epidemiology requires the following: MPH or MSPH in epidemiology or equivalent. If admitted without an equivalent degree, courses can be taken during the first year.  These courses include the five core areas of public health, Analytic Epidemiology (EPID 6631) and at least six credits of graduate level work in epidemiology of specific content areas (e.g. chronic disease, communicable disease, injury).  Calculus is a pre-requisite and must be completed prior to admission. Preliminary Exam: DrPH students will take a preliminary exam required of both PhD and DrPH students in epidemiology at the end of their first year and completion of Advanced Epidemiology and the required courses in Biostatistics. The purpose of the written preliminary exam is to demonstrate competence in epidemiology and biostatistics methods. The exam includes three components: Epidemiology A covering interpretation and presentation of analytic results; Epidemiology B covering the principles and methods of epidemiology; and Biostatistics.