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:
*PH 7010
Foundations of Public Health
3 Credits
PH 7150
Environmental Health
3 Credits
*PH 7010 Foundations of Public Health may be waived with CEPH-accredited Bachelor’s degree.
Take One Epidemiology Course
PH 7011
Introduction to Epidemiology
3 Credits
PH 7711
Epidemiologic Methods I
3 Credits
These additional courses may be required upon review of the student’s completed graduate coursework and professional experience:
PH 7017
Fundamentals of
Biostatistics I
4 Credits
PH 7140
Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health
3 Credits
PH 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:
PH 8310
Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
3 Credits
PH 8721
Epidemiologic Methods II
3 Credits
PH 9005
Doctoral Seminar: Public Health Policy, Analysis, and Advocacy for Leaders
3 Credits
PH 9010
Doctoral Seminar: Urban Health, Diversity, and Inclusion
3 Credits
PH 9130
Intervention and Evaluation of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
3 Credits
PH 9140
Advanced Research Methods
3 Credits
PH 9150
Public Health Ethics
3 Credits
PH 9300
Public Health Leadership and Practice
3 Credits
PH 9310
Public Health Management and Finance
3 Credits
PH 9320
Public Health Education and Workforce Development
3 Credits
Take One Advanced Biotatisical Methods Course
PH 7027
Fundamentals of
Biostatistics II
3 Credits
PH 8830
Advanced
Statistical Topics
3 Credits
PH 8890
Special Topics (Applied Biostatistics)
3 Credits
DrPH Elective Courses
Students are required to complete 9 hours of elective courses, only one 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.
PH 7265
Epidemiology & the Prevention of Violence
3 Credits
PH 7275
Chronic Disease Epidemiology
3 Credits
PH 7280
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
3 Credits
PH 7290
Case Studies in Epidemiology
3 Credits
PH 7365
Epidemiology of Adolescent and Young Adult Health Risk Behaviors
3 Credits
PH 7535
Dissemination & Implementation Science
3 Credits
PH 8250
Health Economics and Policy
3 Credits
PH 8260
Spatial Population Health I
3 Credits
PH 8261
Spatial Population Health II
3 Credits
PH 8290
Population Health Informatics
3 Credits
PH 8320
Human Health and Global Environmental Change
3 Credits
PH 8330
Environmental Factors in Maternal & Child Health
3 Credits
PH 8340
Genetic Susceptibilities and Environmental Health
3 Credits
PH 8410
Economic Evaluation
3 Credits
PH 8690
Special Topics in Environmental Health
3 Credits
PH 8790
Special Topics in Epidemiology
3 Credits
PH 8830
Advanced Statistical Topics
3 Credits
PH 8885
Fundamentals of Clinical Trials
3 Credits
PH 8890
Special Topics in Biostatistics
3 Credits
PH 9095
Measurement & Outcomes in Social & Behavioral Health
3 Credits
PH 9120
Theory and Practice in Health and Prevention
3 Credits
PH 9731
Epidemiologic Methods III
3 Credits
PH 9741
Advanced Topics in Epidemiologic Methods
3 Credits
PH 9820
Biostatistical Methods II
3 Credits
PH 9220
Principles of Health Service Research I
3 Credits
PH 9240
Principles of Health Service Research II
3 Credits
PH 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.