Curriculum
Required Prerequisites (for those without an MPH)
Students without a Master of Public Health degree are required to complete 9-19 hours of core public health prerequisites including:
*PHPH 7010
Foundations of Public Health
3 Credits
PHPH 7150
Environmental Health
3 Credits
*PHPH 7010 Foundations of Public Health may be waived with CEPH-accredited Bachelor’s degree.
Take One Epidemiology Course
PHPH 7011
Epidemiology for Public Health
3 Credits
PHPH 7711
Epidemiologic Methods I
3 Credits
These additional courses may be required upon review of the student’s completed graduate coursework and professional experience:
PHPH 7017
Fundamentals of Biostatistics I
4 Credits
PHPB 7140
Public Health Promotion & Planning
3 Credits
PHPB 7160
Fundamentals of Health Systems, Leadership, and Policy
3 Credits
DrPH Degree Requirements
The DrPH degree requires completion of a minimum of 54 credit hours of coursework, including 33 hours of core courses and 9 hours of elective courses. Students are also required to complete an applied practice experience (3 hours credit) and an integrated learning experience/dissertation (9 credit hours).
Students are required to complete a total of 33 hours of core courses as outlined below:
PHPH 8310
Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
3 Credits
PHPH 8721
Epidemiologic Methods II
3 Credits
PHPB 9005
Doctoral Seminar: Public Health Policy, Analysis, and Advocacy for Leaders
3 Credits
PHPB 9010
Doctoral Seminar: Urban Health, Diversity, and Inclusion
3 Credits
PHPH 9017
Applied Statistical Methods in Public Health
3 Credits
PHPB 9130
Intervention and Evaluation of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
3 Credits
PHPB 9140
Advanced Research Methods
3 Credits
PHPB 9150
Public Health Ethics
3 Credits
PHPB 9300
Public Health Leadership and Practice
3 Credits
PHPB 9310
Public Health Management and Finance
3 Credits
PHPB 9320
Public Health Education and Workforce Development
3 Credits
DrPH Elective Courses
Students are required to complete 9 hours of elective courses, only two of which can be a 7000 (Masters)-level course. In addition to the public health courses listed below, students may also take relevant graduate courses offered through other schools and departments at Georgia State University, with approval of the DrPH director.
PHPH 7265
Epidemiology & the Prevention of Violence
3 Credits
PHPH 7275
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
3 Credits
PHPH 7280
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
3 Credits
PHPH 7290
Case Studies in Epidemiology
3 Credits
PHPH 7365
Epidemiology of Adolescent and Young Adult Health Risk Behaviors
3 Credits
PHPB 7535
Dissemination & Implementation Science
3 Credits
PHPB 8250
Health Economics and Policy
3 Credits
PHPB 8260
Spatial Population Health I
3 Credits
PHPB 8261
Spatial Population Health II
3 Credits
PHPB 8290
Population Health Informatics
3 Credits
PHPH 8320
Human Health and Global Environmental Change
3 Credits
PHPH 8330
Environmental Factors in Maternal & Child Health
3 Credits
PHPH 8340
Genetic Susceptibilities and Environmental Health
3 Credits
PHPB 8410
Economic Evaluation
3 Credits
PHPH 8690
Special Topics in Environmental Health
3 Credits
PHPH 8790
Special Topics in Epidemiology
3 Credits
PHPH 8830
Advanced Statistical Topics
3 Credits
PHPH 8885
Fundamentals of Clinical Trials
3 Credits
PHPH 8890
Special Topics in Biostatistics
3 Credits
PHPB 9095
Measurement & Outcomes in Social & Behavioral Health
3 Credits
PHPB 9120
Theory and Practice in Health and Prevention
3 Credits
PHPH 9731
Epidemiologic Methods III
3 Credits
PHPH 9741
Advanced Topics in Epidemiologic Methods
3 Credits
PHPH 9820
Biostatistical Methods II
3 Credits
PHPB 9220
Principles of Health Service Research I
3 Credits
PHPB 9240
Principles of Health Service Research II
3 Credits
PHPH 9270
Environmental Exposure Analysis
3 Credits
Required DrPH Applied Practice Experience
Details
Regardless of the amount or level of prior experience, all DrPH students must complete an approved Applied Practice Experience (APE) in which students demonstrate a depth of public health competence that is meaningful for an organization and advances public health practice. The APE must include a significant advanced-level practical experience collaborating with practitioners and providing opportunities to both develop leadership competencies and contribute to the field. The APE must take place in a site external to the school; engagement of relevant organizations will leverage the School of Public Health’s extensive network of organizational, agency, and health system partners. Students must successfully complete all core DrPH coursework prior to beginning the APE.
Required DrPH Comprehensive Examination
Details
Upon completion of the core DrPH curriculum, students will be required to pass a doctoral comprehensive exam where they demonstrate mastery of the DrPH foundational competencies and the ability to perform high-level applied public health problem solving. Successful completion of the exam is necessary before moving forward with the integrated learning experience/dissertation.
Required DrPH Integrated Learning Experience/Dissertation
Details
The DrPH integrated learning experience/dissertation is intended to engage the doctoral student in a project that will significantly contribute to the existing public health practice knowledge base. The dissertation must present independent thinking, scholarly ability, and a systematic approach to addressing a contemporary public health issue. While the dissertation format will be determined in large part by the nature of the public health problem being addressed, it should reflect the variety of perspectives and approaches needed to analyze and ameliorate major public health problems and include assessment of both policy and practice implications. The DrPH dissertation must demonstrate meaningful synthesis and application of DrPH foundational competencies. DrPH candidates generate field-based products consistent with advanced practice designed to influence programs, policies, or systems addressing public health.
In addition to primary and secondary research, dissertation formats may include:
- Applied public health research
- Development and analysis of new public health interventions
- Design and implementation of a public health program
- Comprehensive program evaluations
- Policy analyses
Students must successfully complete their comprehensive examination before beginning their dissertation.