DrPH Degree in Community Health and Prevention

The DrPH program in Community Health and Prevention prepares candidates for leadership roles in education, research, and practice through theoretical and content study as well as practical experience. Upon graduation DrPH students in Community Health and Prevention are expected to attain five core competencies for understanding and solving public health problems. The core competencies for the DrPH program, shown below, integrate public health competencies developed by the Council on Linkages between Academia and Public Health Practice with the unique characteristics of the Department faculty and the practice community.

1. Understand the mission, goals, and strategies of community health and prevention
   
2. Understand and assess community health status and needs
   
3. Understand and assess individual and environmental determinants of health
   
4. Design, implement, and evaluate public health programs and policies
   
5. Translate findings into policy recommendations and advocate for change
   

DrPH class breakfast

Requirements for Admission

Applicants to the DrPH program must have an MPH or a master’s degree in a related field, documented evidence of applied research skills (masters thesis, masters research paper or publication), and potential for high level of performance in the DrPH Program and significant contributions to the field of public health. Students will be admitted on a competitive basis, and those with a demonstrated ability to integrate public health competencies and skills into public health practice will be preferred. The admission portfolio will include: undergraduate and graduate transcript, satisfactory GRE results, three letters of recommendation including one from a public health practitioner, a written statement of career and educational goals, professional experience, and area of interest for the dissertation. An in-person or telephone interview is required of all finalists.

Admissions Deadlines for DrPH degree

Completed applications: March 15, 2008
Screening by Department: March 15 – 31, 2008
In person or phone interviews (for applicants located more than 50 miles from school): April 1 – 15, 2008
DrPH Admissions Committee Meeting sends decisions back to University Admissions: April 30, 2008.

Degree Requirements

Completion of the DrPH in Community Health will require:

1. a minimum of 60 quarter credit hours of course work beyond the master's degree as prescribed by the program's curriculum;
   
2. a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.3;
   
3. passing the doctoral comprehensive/candidacy examination;
   
4. completing a practicum;
   
5. passing the preliminary oral examination;
   
6. completing a dissertation of publishable quality; and
   
7. passing the final defense.
   

Advising Practices

Students entering the DrPH Program will come from different disciplines and be at varying developmental stages with respect to their career plans. Academic advising and planning will play a critical role in sustaining the interdisciplinary focus of the program, the diversity of students, and responding to the evolutionary nature of public health. Faculty members will be assigned as academic advisors to incoming doctoral students by the Program Director. Each student will develop a plan of study describing how career goals will be achieved through his/her learning experience in the program, in concert with the Faculty Advisor. Students will be encouraged to use multiple methods for achieving objectives, including coursework, research activities, and other professional activities. Students will update their plans of study annually, and faculty advisors will use the academic plans to report on progress of all doctoral students at the end of each academic year.
 

Marjorie Fitzpatrick (Air & Waste Management Assoc.) presents scholarship award to DrPH student Eunice Omanga

For Further Information

If you would like further information about the DrPH Program at the Drexel University School of Public Health, or would like to discuss the program in relation to your professional and career interests, please contact:

Karen DeVose, M.Ed., DrPH Coordinator
kd42@drexel.edu
215.762.2572