public health phd programs online

Best Doctorate Degrees in Public Health Online

A doctorate in public health is a terminal degree designed to prepare graduates for academic opportunities, research positions, and top leadership roles in public health organizations. Public health professionals are in high demand across the U.S. and perform critical work improving the overall health of communities.

Those in the field provide invaluable services such as advocating for the healthcare of marginalized groups and communities, researching and combating diseases, and developing health education programs. Graduates may also work in top-level positions responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and other disease outbreaks.

A doctorate in public health may lead to high-paying careers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical and health services managers earned median salaries of $104,280 as of May 2020.

The following guide offers a variety of resources for prospective doctoral students in public health and helps them choose from the top programs in the field.

Explore This Page: Why Get This Degree? | What To Expect | Jobs | Top Program Descriptions

Why an Online Doctorate in Public Health?

At all degree levels, professionals in the public health field work to prevent disease and promote individual, family, and community health. Public health doctoral programs align with these core concerns and build additional skills in research, policymaking, program development, and program evaluation.

Learners are often drawn to the doctor of public health (DrPH) for career advancement opportunities. Public health doctoral programs prepare students to enter high-level leadership positions in administration, practice, research, and education.

Three key benefits of completing a doctor of public health online include:

• Learning Flexibility: Several universities offer public health doctoral programs through remote learning formats. Studying online enables public health professionals to pursue a terminal degree without relocating or sacrificing their current employment.
• Diverse Job Opportunities: With a doctorate in public health, graduates can pursue advanced leadership positions in public health organizations, healthcare facilities, and government agencies. Opportunities also exist in public health research, consulting, and higher education.
• Salary Potential: According to the BLS, epidemiologists earn median salaries of $74,560 and biostaticians earn median salaries of $93,290 as of May 2020. With a terminal degree and extensive experience, public health professionals can earn wages in the top percentiles.

What to Expect From Public Health Doctoral Programs

Public health professionals interested in a terminal degree can select from two different pathways: the Ph.D. or the DrPH. We explore the differences between Ph.D. and DrPH programs in the following section. The DrPh program is outlined in more detail below

Completing a DrPH typically requires 45-60 credits, including an extensive dissertation project. Some programs also require a practicum. Courses focus on leadership, ethics, program and policy development, and practice-based research.

DrPH students may select a concentration based on their professional interests. Possible specialties include epidemiology, environmental health, or health policy and management.

In an online DrPH, students complete most classes through remote learning. However, some programs may require on-campus attendance.

Admission requirements typically include a master’s degree, several years of relevant professional experience, and, in some cases, GRE or GMAT scores. Full-time students can complete their DrPH degree in about 3-5 years. Part-time students may take 6-9 years to graduate.

Public Health Degree Options

Terminal degree seekers in the public health field can pursue either a Ph.D. or a DrPH, depending on their career aspirations and interests.

A Ph.D. program focuses on scientific research and applications, while a DrPH program is practice-oriented in nature. A Ph.D. in public health tends to lead to careers in academia. In contrast, a DrPH typically prepares graduates for jobs in research, practice, consulting, or leadership.

Characteristics of a Ph.D. in public health include:

• Theoretical, research-focused degree for scientists and academics
• Admission requirements prioritize academic experience over work experience
• 4-7 years, full-time program
• Dissertation required

Characteristics of a doctorate in public health include:

• Applied, professional degree for public health practitioners
• Admission requirements include several years of relevant work experience
• 3-5 years, full-time program

Students in DrPH or Ph.D. programs may select a concentration. For the Ph.D., common options include epidemiology or social and behavioral sciences. DrPH students may pursue concentrations in environmental health, health policy and management, or global health.

Popular Doctoral Program Courses

While completing a doctor of public health online, students can expect to complete core and elective courses. Core courses provide foundational knowledge to all students. Electives, which often double as concentration courses, allow for degree customization according to interests and goals.

Organizational Theory and Leadership

This common core course offers an advanced exploration of various organizational theories, leadership principles, and the evolution of healthcare organizations. Coursework addresses behavioral, power-influence, trait, and situational approaches to leadership. Students learn how to create positive organizational change through strategic and transformational leadership.

Introduction to Epidemiologic Methods

Commonly required for those students without a master’s in public health, this class introduces students to the methods and principles of epidemiology. Learners also discuss the various applications of epidemiology within the public health field. Topics covered include measures of occurrence, statistical testing, study design, and bias.

Health Policy Analysis

Students in this course learn how U.S. health policies are made at the legislative, regulatory, and judicial levels. Coursework examines how to identify and analyze policy options to address specific health problems. The course may also cover topics in health policy advocacy.

Public Health Equity

While course titles vary by school, many DrPH programs cover equity and disparity in public health. Coursework explores historical perspectives of health equity and the relationships between culture and health. Students gain an understanding of how health equity and disparity are measured. They also explore strategies and policies used to promote health equity.

The Doctoral Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation is a major research and writing project that serves as the culminating project for a terminal degree. While both Ph.D. and DrPH degrees require dissertations, the scope and goals of each project differ.

Ph.D. dissertations contribute new research, theories, and knowledge to the field. In contrast, DrPH dissertations expand upon existing knowledge and research and apply findings to current problems in the field.

For example, a Ph.D. student’s dissertation may explore the effects of COVID-19 on senior care facilities, thereby contributing new research and knowledge to the public health field. Alternatively, a DrPH student’s dissertation may explore ways to improve employee retention in senior care facilities.

Dissertations require roughly 1-2 years to complete. Key stages of the process include:

• Topic identification
• Prospectus and research proposal development
• Proposal presentation and approval
• Dissertation completion (research, data analysis, writing, etc.)
• Draft review by committee
• Oral defense

What Jobs Can You Get as a Doctor of Public Health?

Earning a doctorate in public health prepares students for the most advanced opportunities in the field. Graduates commonly work in community and public health agencies, universities, and in consulting.

While many public health leadership positions are obtainable with a master’s degree, a DrPH can enhance a candidate’s job competitiveness and salary expectations. The BLS reports that the top 10% of medical and health services managers earned a median annual salary of $195,630 as of May 2020. Median earnings and job descriptions for three potential public health careers are outlined below.

Biostatistician

Biostatisticians are specialized statisticians in the field of bioinformatics . They work in the healthcare field for pharmaceutical companies or government entities. These professionals help identify sources of disease outbreaks and design studies to test the efficacy of drugs. Common duties include interpreting data, using mathematical theories to solve problems, and analyzing data to improve business decisions.

• Requirements: Typically a master’s, at a minimum. DrPH holders earn the highest salaries.
• Job Outlook (2019-29): +33%
• Median Annual Salary: $93,290

Postsecondary Teacher

Postsecondary teachers educate students in colleges and universities. DrPH holders often find work as public health professors. Common duties for postsecondary faculty include developing instructional plans, helping students develop career skills, and staying informed about innovations in their field. University faculty may also conduct research.

• Requirements: At least a master’s, though terminal degrees are commonly required.
• Job Outlook (2019-29): +9%
• Median Annual Salary: $80,790

Medical and Health Services Manager

Medical and health services managers plan, direct, and coordinate health services. Common duties include improving efficiency and quality of services, developing goals and objectives, and preparing and monitoring budgets. DrPH holders may manage public health departments, community health agencies , or other medical facilities.

• Requirements: At least a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Terminal degrees can increase salaries.
• Job Outlook (2019-29): +32%
• Median Annual Salary: $104,280

How to Find the Right Public Health Program

Factors like cost, prestige, and competitiveness can impact your doctoral program selection. Make sure to choose a regionally accredited program to guarantee the value of your investment. Other considerations to keep in mind include:

Faculty Credentials

Doctoral students rely on faculty to teach courses and serve as advisors during the dissertation process. Look for program faculty you want to learn from by reviewing their credentials.

Program Length

Earning a DrPH is a significant time commitment. However, different programs maintain varying schedules and pacing options. Consider whether you want to study on a full- or part-time basis and how that will impact your degree completion timeline.

Do you want to study close to home? Are you willing to relocate?Even if you earn your doctor of public health online, some travel may be required for on-campus sessions.

Concentration Availability

Look for programs with concentrations that align with your professional goals. Alternatively, you may want to choose a degree with a general track, which provides more flexibility in elective selection.

Should You Get Your DrPH Online?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics , more than 30% of all post baccalaureate students took courses exclusively via distance learning in fall 2018. Prospective doctoral students often have careers, families, and other obligations that make relocating for school or taking on-campus courses difficult. For these learners, online degrees offer a flexible solution.

Earning your doctor of public health online allows you to learn virtually wherever and whenever you want. Some programs require limited on-campus attendance and/or set class meeting times. Before committing to an online program, make sure you can reliably access a quiet place to study and that your computer meets the school’s technology requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it take to get a drph.

DrPH programs require between 45 and 60 credits of coursework focused on practice and leadership. Students typically graduate in 3-5 years. Online programs may require some in-person sessions. DrPH students must complete a dissertation to graduate.

What is the difference between a DrPH and a Ph.D. in public health?

The DrPh and Ph.D. in public health are both terminal degrees. A DrPH is a professional program leading to advanced leadership careers in public health. A Ph.D. is a scientific degree leading to research and academic careers in the field.

Is a doctoral degree in public health worth it?

The answer to this question largely depends on your interests and goals. While many public health leadership positions can be obtained with a master’s, a doctoral degree can give you more leverage in the job market and increase your earning potential.

What can you do with a doctorate in public health?

DrPH holders serve in a variety of advanced leadership positions. After completing a doctor of public health online, graduates may find employment in public health agencies, government, healthcare facilities, higher education, or consulting.

Public Health Online Doctoral Programs in 2021

If you want to start your doctor of public health online in 2021, consider the list of schools below. You can find out more about each program by clicking the corresponding link.

Each program listed holds accreditation from the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) and one of the following regional accrediting bodies:

• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

East Carolina University

• Doctor of Public Health
• Accreditation: CEPH, SACSCOC
• Delivery Format: On-campus or online

Johns Hopkins University

• Accreditation: CEPH, MSCHE
• Delivery Format: On-campus or online with some on-campus requirements

University of Illinois at Chicago

• Doctor of Public Health Leadership
• Accreditation: CEPH, HLC

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Executive Doctoral Program in Health Leadership

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Online Doctorate in Public Health

Online Public Health Degree: An Overview

How long does it take to earn a doctorate in public health online, how much does an online doctorate in public health cost, online doctorate in public health admissions requirements, choosing an accredited online public health doctoral degree program, online coursework, public health degree specializations, research project, professional associations in public health.

• American Public Health Association : APHA works to promote community health and strengthen the public health profession, and it advocates for research-based health policy. It publishes the American Journal of Public Health, organizes an annual public health conference and leads public-awareness campaigns. APHA also offers a variety of online professional development resources.
• National Commission for Health Education Credentialing : NCHEC advances the professional practice of health education by offering industry certifications, such as the certified health education specialist designation. It provides a job board, and it also offers resources for students considering working in the field.
• American College of Epidemiology : ACE serves the interests of epidemiologists working in both academia and professional practices. The organization sponsors scientific meetings, publishes a peer-reviewed journal, advocates for policies and issues relevant to epidemiology, and gives awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the field.

Example courses

• History and theory of public health
• Global health and issues in disease prevention
• Management of public health programs
• Public health leadership and systems thinking
• Evaluation and interpretation of data in health care

Job Outlook and Salaries for Graduates

What can you do with a doctorate in public health.

• Community health educator : Health educators teach people how to lead healthier lives. They develop and implement strategies to improve the health of individuals and their communities. Some health educator positions require candidates to have a master's or even a doctoral degree in public health or a related area.
• Epidemiologist : Epidemiologists study the patterns and causes of human disease to help reduce the risk and occurrence of negative health outcomes. These professionals collect and analyze data, supervise technical and clerical personnel, and communicate their findings to stakeholders and the public. While epidemiologists typically need at least a master's degree, those who direct their own research projects often have a doctoral degree in a field like public health.
• Postsecondary teacher : Postsecondary teachers instruct students in subjects like health at professional schools, colleges and universities. These professionals develop instructional plans, assess student progress, and stay informed about changes and innovations in their chosen field. Typically, teachers in four-year universities and colleges need a doctoral degree in their field of study.
• Social and community service manager : Community service managers lead programs and organizations that provide services to those in need, such as individuals suffering from mental health issues or substance abuse. These professionals can work in several different types of organizations, some of which serve particular populations, such as children, the homeless, older adults and veterans. Some community service manager positions require an advanced degree.

How much are salaries for public health graduates?

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Public Health Practice, DrPH (Epidemiology)

Doctor of Public Health Degree in Public Health Practice with a Concentration in Epidemiology

The online Doctor of Public Health Program (DrPH) in Public Health Practice with a concentration in Epidemiology program provides rigorous training in epidemiologic concepts and methodology to prepare students for a career in public health.

Total Credits

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The epidemiology concentration is designed to develop public health leaders who are skilled in identifying the factors that affect the health of a population and developing, implementing and evaluating disease control and prevention strategies to improve public health.

Students in the DrPH program gain:

• Skills to occupy leadership positions at the local, state and national levels as well as industry and academia. These students will have a major influence on achieving important, broad-reaching, public health objectives in their communities.
• Knowledge in the areas of data analysis, leadership management and governance, policy and programs and education and workforce development.
• Advanced-level practice experience by collaborating with public health practitioners to develop leadership competencies and contribute to the public health field.
• Competency in epidemiologic methods.
• Flexibility to tailor coursework to best serve individual career goals as public health leaders.

In addition to the foundational DrPH coursework, students in the epidemiology concentration will learn to use epidemiologic concepts and methods to design, implement, and evaluate research studies and public health programs; critically review, interpret and identify gaps in the scientific literature; and utilize epidemiologic methods to inform public health practice.

DrPH students also work with leaders in public health practice during practicum experiences providing the opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a practice setting and complete a practice-based dissertation consistent with an advanced practice designed to influence programs, policies or systems addressing public health.

Additional Program Information

For up-to-date application, course and licensure information, visit the campus program page.

The University of Nebraska Medical Center trains more health professionals than any other institution in the state. UNMC’s scientists and clinicians are at the leading edge of discovering new medical breakthroughs, transforming lives across the state and around the world.

UNMC has come together with its primary clinical partner, Nebraska Medicine, on a set of core values, which include focusing on the educational learner, research scope and prominence, clinical excellence, community engagement. Diversity, equity and inclusion, economic development, as well as organizational culture and leadership.

Career Outlook

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow at a rate of 14%, much faster than the average for all occupations. This projected growth is mainly due to an aging population, leading to greater demand for healthcare services.

Career options may include:

• Health department director
• Health policy advisor
• Public health program director
• Community health manager

Finance Your Education

The University of Nebraska offers some of the most affordable tuition rates in the region, particularly for our online programs. Explore the array of funding options to finance your education in a way that makes sense for you.

Online tuition rates are calculated by credit hour and college offering the course and, because the University of Nebraska is a public institution supported by Nebraska taxpayers, Nebraska residents may receive a lower tuition rate than out-of-state students.

If you are a college student considering transferring courses, an adult returning to college or a high school student with college credit, Transfer Nebraska is for you.

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CAMPUS & ONLINE DOCTORATE DEGREES IN PUBLIC HEALTH

A Diverse Degree Option for Health Professionals

Online Doctorate Degrees in Public Health

Doctorate degree in public health scholarships, professional associations for public health.

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A doctorate in public health is the highest degree one can earn in the field. The degree is designed for students who have earned a master’s in public health or its equivalent and want to become a leader in the public health field. They have the analytical skills, program management experience and communication skills to drive change and make a difference anywhere across the globe.

Any doctorate program is demanding, and even more so if that program is online. Students complete coursework remotely, taking intensive classes on leadership and management in the public health field. Because they don’t have daily face-to-face interaction with professors and peers, students are often expected to participate in class discussions via an online system, such as Blackboard. These interactions help to broaden the students’ knowledge base and also get feedback from others with very different belief systems and perspectives.

Students are expected to approach the requirements from an individual outlook, taking their unique professional background and interests into account as they complete the coursework. A residency is required for a doctorate in public health, which the student completes through a series of field experience segments and a written culminating project.

An online doctorate program in public health requires a great deal of dedication from the student. Self-motivated, driven individuals do well in an online program.

Can I earn my doctorate in public health completely online?

In most cases, a doctorate program cannot be completed 100 percent online. A dissertation must be presented to a panel of experts and peers, and a residency also typically accompanies a doctorate in public health. However, many post-graduate programs are specialized to the individual student’s needs so check with your program advisor for more information.

How long will it take to earn my degree?

A doctorate in public health generally takes a minimum of two to three years to complete. Those attending school part time should expect to complete the program requirements in five to six years. Program requirements often vary by university, however, so check with your enrollment advisor for more information.

What is the difference between a DrPH and a PhD in public health?

A DrPH is designed for individuals who wish to become leaders in the health sector, rather than enter a career in academia. A PhD is for students who wish to enter academia or a research setting after graduation.

Can I earn a specialization with my doctorate?

Typically, no. Doctorate programs are specialized by nature, so as you take the coursework necessary for your dissertation and residency, you will take classes that are of interest to you. So while you won’t earn a specific specialization, your dissertation will ultimately define it for you.

At the doctorate level, scholarships often come in the form of dissertation funding and fellowships. These opportunities are invaluable in experience for both the funding agency and the student. Students are able to take their time researching specific public health needs or working in the field while learning more about their future career. The funding agency benefits in the form of manpower and research that will ultimately help benefit its cause.

C. Sylvia and Eddie C. Brown Community Health Scholarship Program – This program is intended to train future public health leaders who are committed to eliminating health disparities in Baltimore.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Research Training and Education – The AHRQ provides numerous opportunities for pre-doctoral and postdoctoral educational and career development grants and opportunities in health services research.

HUD Doctoral Dissertation Research Grant Program – HUD awards this competitive grant of $15,000 per student each year to about 15 doctoral candidates currently enrolled in accredited programs. It is designed to help students complete dissertations on housing and urban development issues.

IFER Graduate Fellowship Program – Fellowships are awarded to candidates who are looking to develop alternatives to using animals in research, testing and education and are open to students enrolled in a master’s or Ph.D. program in the sciences and human or veterinary medicine.

Gilbert S. Omenn Anniversary Fellowship – This two-year fellowship allows the fellow to continue his or her academic work while serving on a board of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). A $25,000 stipend is administered through the appropriate department at the fellow’s home institution.

HSHPS/Department of Veterans Affairs Graduate Fellowship Training Program – This program involves a 10-week paid fellowship to increase the overall knowledge of public health, provide necessary tools to enhance the fellow’s career in the health field, and to increase the overall understanding of the VA as a federal agency.

AfyaBora Fellowship in Global Health Leadership – This 12-month fellowship prepares African and U.S. health professionals to lead and manage major health programs in African countries.

Professional associations, especially at the post-graduate level, are an avenue for students to network and make professional connections that will carry over to their careers. There are many associations from which to choose, from those that focus on general public health to those that focus on one specialty. Many associations offer discounted membership fees for students.

International Association for Food Protection – An organization dedicated to advancing food safety across the globe, the IAFP is made up of about 4,000 food safety professionals.

Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs – AEHAP supports environmental health education to help provide a quality environment for optimal health.

American Society of Safety Engineers – With more than 35,000 members worldwide, ASSE’s occupational safety professionals enjoy the professional development, advocacy and standards development provided by ASSE.

American College of Healthcare Executives – This international professional society is for health care executives who lead and manage hospitals, health care systems and other health-related organizations.

Medical Group Management Association – The premier membership association for professional administrators and leaders at medical group practices, the MGMA helps members navigate changes in the health care system.

American Health Information Management Association – The AHIMA serves more than 71,000 health information management members worldwide and provides rigorous professional education and training.

International Foundation for Ethical Research – The IFER supports the development of methodologies to advance research, product testing and education without harming animals.

National Academy of Sciences – This private, non-profit society was established by an Act of Congress in 1863 and provides independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology.

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Learn about program revisions starting Academic Year 2024-25

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The need for public health leaders has never been greater. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need for the U.S. public health system to address the profound health inequities resulting from long-standing historical and structural racism and other economic and social injustices. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are experiencing a climate emergency, inadequate food systems, a growing burden of mental health problems, and a rise in low-wage, precarious work.

The UIC DrPH Program is a completely online program and is tailored to mid-career public health professionals who want to expand their knowledge and practice of public health and strengthen their leadership capabilities to address these complex challenges. Few practitioners in public health have doctoral-level degrees, and few doctoral programs focus on developing leadership skills specific to the public health arena. The DrPH degree offered at the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois Chicago provides comprehensive training aligned with the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH) DrPH Competencies with a focus on leadership, equity, and transformational systems change. With the flexibility to learn from anywhere worldwide, students in the DrPH program will join a community of peers and renowned faculty en route to a remarkable educational experience.

About the programmatic leadership approach

The UIC Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Leadership Program focuses on adaptive leadership as an approach that most resonates with conditions facing the public health field today. Adaptive leadership is fundamentally about using leadership skills to assist a community or organization face an adaptive challenge — a problem or issue characterized by complexity and for which no technical solution can be readily employed using conventional technical expertise or traditional management skills.  Adaptive challenges usually require transformational change and leadership in both definition and resolution.

About the program's equity and anti-racism focus

The DrPH Program believes that many of the adaptive challenges that impact the health and well-being of populations relate to the social and structural determinants of health and health equity.  Achieving health equity – the attainment of the highest level of health for all people, requires valuing everyone equally with focused and ongoing societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities, historical and contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and health care disparities (Healthy People 2030).  The social determinants of health (SDOH) are the non-biological and non-medical factors that influence health outcomes.  Addressing SDOH is fundamental for improving health and reducing longstanding inequities in health.  (WHO, 2022)

Among the social and structural factors that are at the root of many long-standing inequities in health in our world is racism. Racism is defined as a “system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on the social interpretation of how one looks…  that unfairly disadvantages some individuals and communities, unfairly advantages other individuals and communities, and undermines realization of the full potential of our whole society through the waste of human resources.”(APHA, 2022)

This understanding informs the DrPH emphasis on addressing equity through anti-racism in public health, encompassing a breadth of ideas, language and theories and deliberate, conscious actions by individuals and organizations to 1) expose structures, policies, and practices that create and sustain racial disparities in health; and 2) confront the underlying root causes of inequities. Our goal for public health centers on dismantling structural racism and transforming systems to realize equity for all.

About the program's vision

The DrPH Program vision follows from this commitment to equity and anti-racism – “to build a cadre of dedicated public health leaders who can set strategic direction, drive transformational change, create responsive systems, and contribute to the evidence base of public health practice, while incorporating anti-racism and equity in what they do.”  Begun in 2021, much groundwork has been done, but much is still ‘in progress’.  The work is emerging, evolving and ongoing.  The program has and continues to engage students, faculty, staff and the School at-large in a continuous process to align the curriculum, content, and emphasis with this vision.

About curriculum and competencies

The UIC DrPH Program curriculum is organized around a collection of leadership skills that are most called upon to generate adaptive leadership. These include specific skills that directly lead to leadership development and other research and practice skills that are needed to inform an adaptive challenge. The program is competency-driven, following the recommendations of the Association of Schools of & Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) and the requirements of the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH) for the Doctor of Public Health degree.  Our curriculum is aligned with the 20 foundational competencies promulgated by CEPH.  In addition, as required by CEPH, the DrPH degree program identifies five concentration competencies, focused on leadership principles which are central to the program’s mission and vision.  In completing the curriculum, students will achieve a level of mastery for each competency, recognizing that each student will approach these from an individual perspective in line with their academic and professional background, interests, and leadership goals.

The UIC DrPH Program employs a research approach that emphasizes systems thinking; novel and applied research designs; mixed methods; and engaged scholarship that seeks to meet the needs of practice challenges and intends to inform or impact an adaptive problem, thereby contributing to the evidence base of public health practice.

• DrPH Handbook

DrPH approaches to address complex "wicked problems" Heading link Copy link

Equity focused:.

A core principle of adaptive leadership recognizes that social structures all around us have historically evolved invisible but real institutional barriers that impair the ability of some population groups to enjoy the full benefits of health and equal participation in community life, and actively attempts to surface and confront these barriers in the course of problem-solving activities conducted by organizations and communities

Evidence Based:

An approach to investigation into organizational or community challenges that draws on the tenets of science but maintains a pragmatic focus on experience-based problem solving to gather real-world data and employs systematic methods and critical thinking related to those who are directly experiencing the problem.

Adaptive Leadership:

The collaborative approach to leadership that generates commitment by groups, organizations and communities to face and resolve complex challenges requiring significant change that rise above the usual management problems of everyday organizational life.

System Change:

Requires systems thinking and involves the identification and transformation of multiple higher-level structures and practices needed to address the complexity of “wicked” problems faced by organizations and communities, which have resisted more conventional pragmatic or technical solutions.

DrPH student recognized as a rising leader in public health Heading link Copy link

Tooka Zokaie, California Dental Association senior health policy analyst was named to the de Beaumont Foundation’s 40 Under 40 in Public Health.

New scholarship honors legacy of drph student heading link copy link.

A new scholarship honors the memory of André Gilmore Stanley, a proud member of SPH’s 2016 DrPH cohort and a policy analyst for the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products.  The scholarship focuses on equity and anti-racism, one of André’s focal points in public health.  Meet our scholarship recipients below, read more about the scholarship and make a donation.

About Trevia Brooks

Senior Public Health Advisor, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC), National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Research Proposal

I am proposing to conduct a case study design using a qualitative approach looking at addressing gun violence. This approach will allow the exploration of the innovative approach of a community-based organization that effectively addresses gun violence. The case study design will afford me the opportunity to conduct in-depth data collection and analysis in three phases using the following methods, document reviews, observation, semi-structured interviews, and facilitated discussion.

Gun violence is a complex and adaptive issue of epic proportions in the United States. National public health approaches are largely absent due to political controversy and/or commercial determinants, which focus only on the profits related to the manufacturing and sales of firearms and not the health of or impact on the population. Until recently, gun violence has been looked at politically and not as a public health issue. Recently, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) said, “gun violence should be considered a public health issue, not a political one—an epidemic that needs to be addressed with research and evidence-based strategies that can reduce morbidity and mortality.”

I plan to use the funds from the award to assist with:

• providing a token of appreciation (e.g., gift cards) for the interviewees and program participants at the partner/community-based organization for their time, participation, and support of my research;
• assisting with transportation cost to travel to conduct interviews and observation in person;
• to cover refreshments/water and incidentals at partner/community-based organization for interviewees and program participants.

About Stacey Cunningham

• Project Director, National Network for Perinatal Quality Collaboratives
• Project Director, Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health, Quality Improvement Community of Learning

My proposed dissertation research will utilize a qualitative case study design to explore how systemic and structural racism, as well as bias may exist within hospital-based care and how these factors contribute to inequities in maternal morbidity occurrences among Black women. Furthermore, hospital organizational factors including delivery of care, hospital and patient safety culture, and communication among providers and staff will also be explored. This combination of factors and their relationship to maternal health outcomes has not been widely researched. Therefore, I aim to further inform the public health field on the critical role that the hospital infrastructure and its organizational culture plays in obstetrical outcomes, patient safety, and the delivery of maternal care. I intend to conduct semi-structured interviews with hospital administrators and staff within Illinois birthing facilities to help answer my research questions:

• How do organizational factors influence the delivery of care within Illinois hospitals?
• How do hospital labor and delivery practices impact patient safety?

DrPH faculty, student, and alumni impact on public health Heading link Copy link

Alumna tina tong.

In May of 2022, Tina Tong (2017 cohort) received the 2021 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Award for Meritorious Service.  This award is the second-highest honor award granted by the department and is conferred by the Secretary. No more than ten awards are granted annually. The award recognizes HHS leaders for their achievements and for inspiring others to improve their performance. As part of the COVID-19 Vaccine Project Coordination Team as the clinical co-lead for the AstraZeneca and Sanofi Ph3 vaccine programs, Tina was honored with this award. Tina also received a commendation letter from President Biden for her work on COVID vaccines. She also recently published new findings on the vaccine development experienced. In 2022, she earned the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ merit awards for her efforts in phase III COVID-19 vaccine trials and experimental medicine studies for novel HIV vaccines.

Alumna Feygele Jacobs

Feygele Jacobs, DrPH (2012 cohort), was recently named the new director of the Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health at George Washington University. Jacobs, formerly the president and CEO of the RCHN Community Health Foundation, collaborated closely in establishing and developing Geiger Gibson Program.  Jacobs has a long and celebrated career in administration of health care programs and services for medically underserved populations, first as a hospital executive and later as a senior executive overseeing one of the nation’s first and most successful health center-led Medicaid managed care plans.

Alumna Adriane Griffin

Wuleta Betemariam, DrPH (2013 cohort), has been named director of JSI’s Center for Healthy Women, Children, and Communities. JSI is a global public health consulting organization dedicated to greater health equity and improving the health of individuals and communities, and to providing an environment where people of passion can pursue this cause. The Center leads JSI’s reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health work, developing and implementing state-of-the-art, sustainable programs that are integrated with health systems strengthening efforts to achieve universal health coverage.

Student Gwen Foster

Col. Gwen Foster (2019 cohort) is the new senior medical advisor to Lt. Gen. Robert Irving Miller, Surgeon General for the U.S. Air Force. Previously, she served as the Air Force’s Defense Health Agency Sacramento market director and 60th Medical Group commander. She says her DrPH education is a key asset in her new leadership role with the Air Force at the Pentagon.  “I now have the words to systems thinking and organizational behaviors and, really, I was already doing the dance between the balcony and the floor, but now I can articulate to my team better what and why I am doing it and see that it impacts how I lead,” Foster said.

• Health Communication
• Healthcare Management
• Global Health
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
• Choose a Public Health Degree Based on Your Personality
• Public Health vs. Medicine vs. Nursing
• What is Online Learning
• Master’s in Health Informatics vs. Health Information Management
• MPH vs. MSPH vs. MHS
• Online MPH programs with no GRE requirements
• Accelerated Online MPH
• Online Executive MPH
• Online DrPH
• Biostatistics
• Community Health and Health Promotion
• Environmental Health
• MPH in Epidemiology vs. Biostatistics
• Generalist Public Health
• Health Equity
• Health Science
• Health & Human Services
• Infectious Disease
• Maternal & Child Health
• Occupational Health
• Social and Behavioral Health
• What Can You Do With a Public Health Degree?
• How to Be a Good Candidate for a Public Health Job
• How to Become a Biostatistician
• How to Become an Emergency Management Specialist
• How to Become an Environmental Health Specialist
• How to Become a Health Educator
• Healthcare Administration Certifications
• Healthcare Administrator Salary
• Types of Epidemiologists and Salary
• How to Become an Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
• How to Become a Public Health Nurse
• Nutritionist vs Dietitian
• Registration Examination for Dietitians (CDR Exam)
• Internships for MPH Students
• Health Informatics Careers and Jobs
• Health Informatics vs. Bioinformatics
• Guide to CDC Jobs
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Home » Degrees » Doctorate » DRPH

Explore Doctor of Public Health Programs (PhD & DPH)

Pursuing higher positions in public health can prove to be beneficial for individuals with leadership characteristics. Those in public health that seek the most out of their degree should consider enrolling into Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Health or Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH) in Public Health programs across the country.

The Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH) and the PhD in Public Health are advanced terminal degrees for public health, meant for experienced public health professionals that already have their Masters in Public Health (MPH) or similar degree. Specific degree nomenclature varies based on university and specific public health school. Some offer DPH degrees, while other universities name the terminal degree PhD in Public Health, Doctorate in Public Health, or Doctoral Public Health.

These terminal degree programs in public health can prepare learners for careers in research, education, or even management within the public health sector. Graduate level public health specialists are in great need across the country to assist with nationwide epidemic research as well as the implementation of vital government programs.

George Washington University

School of public health.

Earn your DrPH online from the George Washington University. Our CEPH-accredited program combines interactive, online classes and an on-campus immersion to prepare you to become a thought leader. You will graduate poised to shape public health policy, programs, and initiatives in the U.S. and worldwide. No GRE required.

• Complete the online DrPH program in as few as 36 months. 
• The online DrPH program is CEPH accredited. 
• No GRE required.

info SPONSORED

PhD in Public Health vs. Doctor of Public Health

A PhD in Public Health will be focused on developing the skills needed to become an advanced researcher. The understanding of research theories and methodologies is an important part of this degree. Even though a PhD in Public Health is more narrowly focused, it lends itself to careers in various health sectors, such as academia, governmental agencies, and pharmaceutical companies.

A DrPH is an advanced graduate-level degree that focuses on the professional and practical elements of the field, rather than the academic. It is designed for public health practitioners and is geared towards practice and fieldwork. It is multidisciplinary and will cover everything from communications and marketing to advocacy and economics. It was developed to train students and practitioners for careers in public health leadership. 

Both the DrPH and PhD have career options in academia available to them. These two degrees are suited for individuals who have received an MPH or another graduate-level degree and have worked in their field for a number of years. The DrPH is ideal for the public health practitioner looking to advance their career to positions needing additional education. The PhD may suit an individual earlier on in their career who is looking to embed themselves in a career of research.

What are the Typical Pre-Requisites of a DrPH/PhD Degree?

As mentioned above, the prerequisites for advanced degrees require a master’s degree and post-graduate work experience. For some programs, if an individual applying does not have their master’s in public health they will require master’s level classes in public health up to a certain amount of credit hours. A recent Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score is often required along with academic transcripts. An additional requirement for admittance into a Doctorate program is a personal statement or statement or purpose.

Concentration Options for a DrPH/PhD

The degree options for a DrPH or a PhD become more specialized within those concentrations. Those receiving their PhD in public health will have to pick a program by the department they wish to specialize and conduct research in. This could be Health Policy and Administration, Health Economics, Health Systems, etc. A DrPH will also specialize by department, but will often pick from the core public health concentrations (Epidemiology, Environmental Health, etc.) along with a few additional departments (i.e. International Health and Social and Behavioral Sciences).

Online Doctor of Public Health Options

Entering the right educational program is important to the success of a career. Students that are interested in obtaining their degree online should research their chosen school’s accreditation status prior to applying. Since this program is highly research-oriented, learners are expected to take part in a lot of independent learning in an online environment.

Online Doctorate programs will have the same requirements and courses as a traditional degree. Online programs allow for greater flexibility with work and family life but also require self-discipline and accountability. Some online programs will require site visits to the campus or alternate sites for orientations, leadership development, adviser meetings, etc. Classes will be taught online either through live streams or recorded video. Online discussion forums and group work are also the main parts of the online curriculum. A dissertation is still a requirement for online doctorate programs and it may be required that it is presented in person.

Typical Curriculum & Classes

In general, the DrPH degree curriculum will consist of core courses, research courses, and a culminating project such as a capstone course, dissertation, or thesis. The core courses, much like the MPH, will cover the main concentrations in Public Health (Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Health Policy, etc.) and will also include statistics and data management. Each of these classes are taught with a focus on Leadership and Organization. Additional classes may include:

• Marketing and Public Relations
• Community and Cultural Understanding

These will guide the focus of the degree. A Dissertation or thesis is often required at the end of each semester, year or at the end of the program.

PhD in Public Health

The PhD in Public Health is much less straightforward and will vary significantly from program to program and within degrees. A PhD in Public Health is much more research-based and will cover topics ranging from disease and injury prevention to health informatics and communication. Many schools do not offer a PhD in Public Health per se, but in Health Policy, Bioethics, Environmental Health Sciences, Chronic Disease Epidemiology, etc. Each of these is rooted in public health but are much more focused in their scope. Because of this, classes and curriculum will be much more focused and centered around research.

Different Career Opportunities

After completing a DrPH or Ph.D. in Public Health, graduates may seek out positions in government agencies, healthcare facilities, or even community organizations. Professionals at this level have the capacity to become instructors of public health at universities, researchers for public health associations, and directors of nonprofit agencies.

Having a doctorate degree in this discipline gives learners the most education available for this field. With a Ph.D. in Public Health, professionals in the field may have access to careers working with government organizations in the planning, implementation, and training of important public health procedures. Organizations, such as  American Public Health Association ,  accept members that are in public health careers that desire to communicate their studies and policies on different platforms. Getting involved with a society such as this one can allow professionals to spread their work to educational and professional settings across the country.

Information updated as of April 2020

Top 8 Best Online Public Health PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)

We rank the best online public health degree programs for a PhD.

Key Takeaways

• The demand has never been higher for qualified public health professionals.
• Students seeking an online public health PhD program have a number of excellent options to choose from.
• An online doctorate in public health can lead to opportunities for public health educators, health services managers, and careers in environmental and occupational health.

Featured Programs

Students interested in health education, public health, community health, and public health leadership may benefit from the online doctorate in public health. Many public health professionals will pursue the public health online PhD program as a pathway into various careers in global health leadership, occupational health education, health policy consultation, and much more.

An online PhD is considered a terminal degree, which means it is the highest degree that you can earn in the field of public health. The online doctorate in public health can lead to opportunities for health systems administration, health policy consultation, research for federal government agencies, and post-secondary public health education.

Online public health PhD candidates are typically already working at a high level in their field. This means that students seeking their doctorate in public health must balance existing work and personal responsibilities with a challenging course of education. For many graduate students, online courses and fully online programs provide a way to achieve this balance.

For a look at how these public health online doctoral programs stack up against traditional on campus programs, prospective students can check out our look at the Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students.

Or learn more with a look at our List of College Rankings .

Otherwise, read on and learn more about how you can earn an online PhD in public health through a top-ranked online doctorate program.

About Online Doctorate in Public Health Programs

Quality and credibility are important when it comes to finding an online PhD. The best online doctorate in public health programs will have proper accreditation:

• Institutional Accreditation : Accreditation is vital for online doctoral programs. It signifies that the online PhD programs offered by the online school are in compliance with the standards of a Department of Education-approved accrediting body. A school must also be accredited in order to offer federal financial aid to its online doctorate candidates.

When looking for an online doctoral program, seek out options with accreditation from a colleges and schools commission in your region. This stamp of approval is critical for ensuring the quality and credibility of your online program.

• Programmatic Accreditation : In addition to institutional accreditation, be sure that you prioritize online doctorate degree programs with programmatic accreditation. Programmatic accreditation in public health is granted by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), and can be an indication that your online doctorate in public health is compliant with current standards and best practices in the field of public health.
• Carnegie Classification : The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, or as it is more commonly known, the Carnegie Classification, is a framework for categorizing all accredited, degree-granting institutions in the United States. Originally formulated in 1970 by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and administered through the University of Indiana’s Center for Postsecondary Research since 2014, the Carnegie Classification is “the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education.”

Under this classification, top research universities for doctoral degrees and PhD candidates are identified as either R2: Doctoral Universities for “high research activity” or R1: Doctoral Universities for “very high research activity.” Look for these classifications when considering options for your online Phd programs.

Key Point: Be sure that you only consider online PhD programs with proper accreditation.

Public Health Program Admission Requirements

Schools that offer online doctorate programs in public health have different admission requirements. However, most online doctoral programs will carry the same basic threshold for admission:

• A completed online application
• Official undergraduate college transcripts
• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• GRE scores, MAT scores, or GMAT scores
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal interviews
• Personal statement or essay
• Plan of study

Key Point: In most cases, you’ll be eligible to enter a doctoral degree online after earning a bachelor’s degree. However, some specialized online PhD programs may require you to have earned a related master’s degree as well.

Curriculum and Courses

As with other advanced degree and graduate programs, research is the central component of your online public health doctorate program. This is true for fully online doctorate degrees as well as hybrid degrees combining online education with traditional on-campus courses. Regardless of whether you complete a traditional, hybrid or online doctoral program, the typical time to completion is three to six years.

The typical components of your online public health PhD program may include:

Foundational Courses

Foundational online doctor of public health courses will be focused on your specific concentration.

Such concentrations may include:

• Health services management
• Disease prevention
• Public health policy
• Advanced practice leadership

Additional courses will focus on developing research skills, practicing research methods, and modeling experimental design. You may be able to complete many of these requirements through online classes.

Examinations for PhD Candidacy

Many online doctoral students are required to complete certain examinations to enter into online PhD candidacy. This will typically occur after you’ve completed one to two years of foundational courses.

Dissertation

In most cases, the central component of your online PhD program will be the completion of your dissertation. After gaining status as an online PhD candidate, you will typically work closely with a professorial advisor or mentor to develop an original research question and conduct research around this question.

This research question will form the basis of your dissertation—an ongoing project designed to address this research question through applied research. While you will work closely with your advisor or mentor, much of your dissertation will be rooted in independent research. This is especially true for students pursuing an online PhD.

Oral Defense

Upon completion of the written portion of your dissertation—which will typically present the findings from your original research project—you will be expected to defend your findings. This “oral defense” will typically be conducted by a commission of professors and experts in your field. PhD candidates in some online degree programs may be able to conduct this defense via teleconferencing.

Teaching Requirements

Some online PhD programs will also include a teaching component, which will require you to work as an adjunct professor or teacher’s assistant in an undergraduate or graduate school. It may be possible for students in the online doctoral degree program to also serve teaching requirements by instructing online students.

In addition to your own research projects, some public health programs may require you to take part in fieldwork such as applied public health research.

Key Point: The online public health PhD is a research-focused degree. Your dissertation will be a central part of your online doctoral degree program.

Careers for Students Who Complete Their Online Doctorate in Public Health

Accredited online doctoral programs are generally terminal degree programs. This means that students who complete credible online doctoral programs in their field are generally eligible for top positions and opportunities in their field.

The BLS reports that the top 10% of health and medical services administrators earned more than $119,000 in 2021.

The BLS also notes that public health professionals who conduct research on epidemiology for government agencies earned more than $130,000 in 2021.

These higher earnings reflect the high demand for public health researchers, public health policy consultants, and public health educators. Working professionals who earn an accredited online doctorate in public health may be eligible to work in the following public health careers.

• Public Health Outreach
• Population Health Research
• Community Health Manager
• Epidemiologist
• Post-Secondary Public Health Education
• Public Health Policy Consultation
• Medical Services Management

Key Points: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, students who complete public health doctoral programs will be eligible for top scientific research and health education professions.

What’s the difference between online doctoral programs and online PhD programs?

Technically, a PhD is a type of doctorate degree. This means that all online PhD candidates are doctoral students. By contrast, not all doctoral students are PhD candidates.

The primary distinction is that doctoral students are primarily focused on putting existing theories into practice. Depending on your chosen field, your online doctoral degree may require participation in an educational leadership program, engagement in clinical practice, work as a resident in a nursing program, and much more.

By contrast, online PhD students are focused on creating new knowledge in their area of study. This usually means that online PhD candidates are focused on introducing new theories, creating research projects around these theories, and presenting new findings that demonstrate a mastery of existing knowledge and the insight to introduce new ideas into the field.

Today, more working professionals than ever before are pursuing both online doctoral degrees and online Phd programs.

The Best Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)

The best public health online program for earning a PhD will depend on your professional goals. Each public health program online offers different areas of emphasis. The public health online programs identified here are ranked based on influence, with weighting for graduation rate and full-time online enrollment.

Johns Hopkins University

• #14 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #17 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2024
• #1 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
• #1 Best Grad Schools in Maryland 2024
• #1 Best Private Colleges in Maryland 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in Maryland 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in Maryland 2024
• #3 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #15 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #16 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #17 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #18 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #19 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Maryland
• #1 Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Maryland 2024
• #1 Best Online Master’s in Sustainability and Green Technologies
• #1 Top 10 Best Online MBA in Economics Degree Programs Ranked in 2024
• #1 Best Online Master's in Organizational Leadership
• #1 Best Online Master's in Economics
• #2 The Best Online MBA Degree Programs in 2024 Ranked for Students
• #2 Top 50 Best No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #2 Best Data Science Online Master’s Programs
• #2 Top 5 Best Online Sociology PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates) 2024
• #2 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #3 Best Online Master’s in Finance
• #4 Fastest Accelerated Online Computer Science Doctorates (PhDs)
• #6 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #8 Best Online Master's in Management
• #18 Fastest Accelerated Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
• #22 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Tuition + fees

Student body

Median SAT/ACT

Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Political Science
• Anthropology

Most Influential Alumni

• G. Stanley Hall
• John Archibald Wheeler
• Thorstein Veblen
• John Mauchly
• Thomas Hunt Morgan
• Gertrude Stein
• Rachel Carson
• Joseph Jastrow
• Robert Fogel
• Richard E. Bellman
• John R. Commons

What do we love about Johns Hopkins University?

Johns Hopkins University was formed in 1876 and, in addition to being the oldest research university in the U.S., Johns Hopkins is actually the oldest research institution in the western hemisphere! In fact, Johns Hopkins was considered a groundbreaking institution from its very formation for its innovation merging of research and teaching.

Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Johns Hopkins serves more than 26,000 students today.

Noted for its topflight research opportunities, Johns Hopkins offers an innovative Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program geared toward early- to mid-career domestic and international public health professionals. Described as a flexible, part-time program delivered through online and intensive, week-long on-site courses in summer and winter institutes, students are expected to remain in relevant public health employment throughout their studies.

Are looking to conduct research at the graduate level. The vast majority of Johns Hopkins students–well over 20,000–are pursuing advanced postgraduate degrees.

Are seeking a social campus experience. Many students at Johns Hopkins are primarily focused on the rigorous academic experience.

Texas Tech University

• #7 Best Colleges in Texas 2024
• #1 Best Online Colleges in Texas 2024
• #1 Best Online Master's in English
• #2 Best Online Bachelor's of English Degree Programs for 2024
• #2 Best Online Certificate in Liberal Arts and Humanities Ranked for Students
• #2 Best Online MBA Programs in Texas
• #3 Top 5 Best Online English PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #3 Fastest Accelerated Online Doctorate of Information Technology
• #4 10 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of English Programs
• #4 Top 10 Best Online Master's of Public Relations Ranked 2024
• #5 Top 10 Best Online Communications PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #5 Best Online Bachelor’s of Communications Degree Programs for 2024
• #5 Best Online Bachelor’s of Digital Media for 2024
• #5 20 Fastest Accelerated Online English Doctorates (PhDs) 2024
• #6 Best Online Bachelor’s of Early Childhood Education Degree Programs for 2024
• #6 Best Online Master’s in Engineering Management
• #7 Best Online Master's Programs in Texas 2024
• #7 Best Online Master's in Agriculture and Agribusiness Degree Programs
• #7 Best Online Bachelor's in Sociology Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
• #8 10 Best Online Master's of Music Education Degree Programs
• #8 The Most Affordable Online Clinical Nutrition Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs) 2024
• #9 Best Online Doctorate of Educational Psychology (PhDs) 2024
• #10 Best Online Master’s in Communications
• #11 Best Online Master's in Marketing and Advertising
• #12 The Best Online Colleges Ranked for Students in 2024
• #12 Top 20 Most Affordable Online Doctorate of Education (PhDs)
• #14 Best Online Master's in Computer Science Degree Programs
• #14 Best Online Master's in Special Education
• #14 Best Online Master’s in Engineering
• #15 Best Online Doctorate in Education Degree Programs Ranked for Students
• #15 Best Online Master’s in Education
• #16 Best Research Universities with Online Doctorates (PhDs) 2024
• #20 Top 20 Best Online Accredited Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs) 2024
• #20 Best Data Science Online Master’s Programs
• #23 The Best Online MBA Degree Programs in 2024 Ranked for Students
• #23 Top 50 Best No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)

Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Texas Tech University

What do we love about texas tech university.

Texas Tech University began life as the Texas Technical College with its founding 1923. Based in Lubbock, Texas Tech is considered the primary institution among the five schools making up the Texas Tech University System.

Taking its present name in 1969, Texas Tech University would become the sixth-largest institution in the state of Texas. Today, there are more than 40,000 students earning degrees at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at the public research university

Texas Tech is particularly noteworthy as a destination for prospective PhDs. Texas Tech is classified among R1: Doctoral Universities, so noted for their very high research activity. For instance, Texas Tech offers a unique online Family and Consumer Sciences Education PhD program . This is an excellent advanced degree for students pursuing careers in areas like public policy, consumer sciences research, and post-secondary education on issues critical to public health.

Like a college with strong school spirit. Students repeatedly note that the school spirit is a major feature of campus life, which can make Texas Tech feel like one big community.

Are looking for a small campus. Like a lot of other things in Texas, Texas Tech is a sprawling campus. Students note that the sheer distance of walking between classes can sometimes be exhausting.

East Carolina University

• #6 Best Colleges in North Carolina 2024
• #2 Most Affordable Online Master's of Speech Pathology Programs
• #2 Best Online Colleges in North Carolina 2024
• #3 Best Online Bachelor’s in Marketing and Advertising Degree Programs for 2024
• #3 Best Online Bachelor’s of Elementary Education Degree Programs for 2024
• #4 Top 20 Most Affordable Online PhD of Nursing (DNP) Programs
• #6 Best Online Master's Programs in North Carolina 2024
• #6 Most Affordable Online Master's of Music Education Programs
• #6 Best Online Bachelor's in Hospitality and Tourism Degree Programs for 2024
• #7 Best Online Bachelor’s of Education Degree Programs for 2024
• #8 10 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of English Programs
• #9 15 Most Affordable Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
• #9 Best RN to BSN Online
• #11 20 Best Online Master's of Speech Pathology Degree Programs
• #14 Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Administration Degree Programs
• #18 Best Online Bachelor’s of Communications Degree Programs for 2024
• #19 Fastest Accelerated Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
• #21 The Best Online Colleges Ranked for Students in 2024
• #4 10 Best Accelerated Online PhD Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #12 Most Affordable Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranked for 2024

Career Outlook for Public Health degree at East Carolina University

What do we love about east carolina university.

Eastern Carolina University was founded as a teacher training school in 1907. Today, the public research institution is the fourth largest in North Carolina with more than 29,000 students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

East Carolina University’s excellent in-state tuition rate makes it an attractive and affordable destination for many local students, with 90% of the student population coming from in state.

Students interested in pursuing a Doctoral in Public Health (DrPH) have two online concentrations to choose from at ECU— Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) and Health Policy Administration Leadership (HPAL) .

Are interested in its top-flight degree programs in areas like nursing, psychology, public health, and more.

Don’t enjoy a “party school” atmosphere.

Loma Linda University

Career outlook for public health degree at loma linda university.

Loma Linda University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Social Work
• Religious Studies
• Criminal Justice
• Earth Sciences
• Alexander A. Clerk
• Robert G. Picard
• Eric Esrailian
• David R. Williams
• Brian Brock
• John Nwangwu
• Loree Sutton
• James Gooch
• James L. Gulley
• Noel C. Gardner

What do we love about Loma Linda University?

Loma Linda University was formed in 1905. Beginning its history as a sanitarium, Linda Loma quickly evolved into a medical college with an evangelical affiliation.

Based in Loma Linda California, the private University retains an affiliation today with the Seventh-day Adventists as well as a focus on health sciences. Loma Linda serves a little over 3000 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Loma Linda’s online graduate degree options are quite varied. Linda Loma’s School of Public Health offers an extremely wide selection of both fully online and hybrid public health doctoral concentrations, including an online DrPH in Health Education and a hybrid Health Policy and Leadership .

Are seeking post-graduate degrees. More than two-thirds of current enrollees are enrolled in advanced degree programs.

Are not affiliated with the evangelical faith. Many programs are taught from a faith-based perspective.

Nebraska Methodist College

• #14 Most Affordable Online PhD Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #15 15 Most Affordable Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
• #20 Top 20 Most Affordable Online PhD of Nursing (DNP) Programs

Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Nebraska Methodist College

Nebraska Methodist College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

What do we love about Nebraska Methodist College?

Nebraska Methodist College was founded in 1891 and is, today, a private institution that places an emphasis on healthcare degrees at every level. Based in Omaha, the Nebraska institution is modest in size but offers a refined focus in advanced healthcare and health education degrees.

Nebraska Methodist College today serves a little more than 1000 students at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Nebraska Methodist College is particularly noted for its health-related doctoral programs in areas like nursing and allied health professions. This makes it a particularly strong draw to PhDs in fields like public health policy, and education and leadership in healthcare.

For instance, the school offers a fully online Public Health Policy Doctorate Degree (EdD) .

Are looking for a supportive learning environment. Students report that advisors and professors go above and beyond to support their learning goals.

Are seeking scholarships. Students note that the number of scholarships offered by Nebraska Methodist is comparatively small.

Indiana University Bloomington

• #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Indiana 2024
• #2 Best Colleges in Indiana 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities in Indiana 2024
• #2 Best Grad Schools in Indiana 2024
• #1 15 Most Affordable Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
• #1 10 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of English Programs
• #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Indiana
• #2 Top 20 Most Affordable Online Doctorate of Education (PhDs)
• #2 Best Online Degree Completion Programs for Returning Students
• #3 Top 20 Best Online MBA Programs that Can Be Completed in One Year 2024
• #5 Top 10 Most Affordable English PhD Programs (Doctorates) 2024
• #5 Best Online Master's Programs in Indiana 2024
• #6 Most Affordable Online Computer Science PhDs (Doctorates) 2024
• #13 Best Schools in the World for Earning an MBA Degree Ranked for 2024
• #18 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students
• #18 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Indiana University Bloomington

Indiana University Bloomington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Communications
• Computer Science
• Mathematics
• James Watson
• René Girard
• David Chalmers
• David Starr Jordan
• Alice Dreger
• Stephen F. Cohen
• Robert M. French
• Isiah Thomas
• Marcia Baron
• Will Shortz

What do we love about Indiana University Bloomington?

Indiana University Bloomington was founded as State Seminary in 1820 and evolved into Indiana College within the decade. The Bloomington campus is the flagship institution in the state public university system.

Indiana University Bloomington is noted for its high level of research activity, and has been referred to as a “Public Ivy.” With top-ranked programs in areas like environmental policy, public finance, and nonprofit management, Bloomington serves more than 45,000 undergraduate and graduate students today.

Graduate students seeking online doctoral in public health options can access Indiana University Bloomington’s Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) with a concentration in Global Health Leadership .

Like to get involved in campus life. With more than 700 groups and clubs, Bloomington offers an incredible variety of social and recreational opportunities.

Prefer a small campus atmosphere.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• #17 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2024
• #1 Best Public Colleges in North Carolina 2024
• #1 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina 2024
• #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
• #2 Best Grad Schools in North Carolina 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities in North Carolina 2024
• #2 Best Colleges in North Carolina 2024
• #10 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #20 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #22 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #23 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #1 Best Online Master's in Healthcare Administration
• #1 Best Online Master's Degrees in Accounting
• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Healthcare Administration Masters
• #2 15 Most Affordable Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
• #2 Best Online Master's Programs in North Carolina 2024
• #2 Best Online Doctorate of Physical Therapy Programs (PhDs)
• #2 Best Online MBA Programs in North Carolina
• #2 Best Online MBA Degree Programs for 2024 with No GMAT Required
• #3 The Best Online MBA Degree Programs in 2024 Ranked for Students
• #3 Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics
• #3 Best Online Master's in Public Administration Degree Programs
• #4 Best Online Master’s in Communications
• #4 Fastest Online Doctoral Degree Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
• #5 Top 20 Best Online MBA Programs that Can Be Completed in One Year 2024
• #7 Guide to Free Online Courses for MBA Students in 2024
• #8 Best Online MBA Degree Programs No GRE Required Ranked for 2024
• #8 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #9 Best Online Master's in Management
• #10 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #13 Most Affordable Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
• #14 Best Schools in the World for Earning an MBA Degree Ranked for 2024
• #20 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students

Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Lawrence Ferlinghetti
• Francis Collins
• James E. Webb
• Howard T. Odum
• Jeffrey Beall
• Charles Tart
• Robert F. Furchgott
• Sidney Powell
• Christine Blasey Ford
• David Brinkley
• James Rachels

What do we love about the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill?

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill is considered a “Public Ivy,” a school with state funding that offers the prestige and educational experience akin to those at a private Ivy League school.

The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill is the flagship campus for the broader University of North Carolina system and began enrolling students in 1795. This makes UNC the only public school in the U.S. to both teach and graduate students in the 18th Century!

UNC Chapel Hill also distinguished among R1: Doctoral Universities. Its very high level of research activity makes Chapel Hill a strong draw for PhD candidates. For example, doctoral students in public health can access the Gilling’s School of Public Health’s online Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program in health leadership degree fully online.

Desire a well-rounded education. All students are required to complete a liberal arts education on the way to their chosen major. Popular majors include biology, business administration, and psychology.

Prefer a more conservative environment. Many students at UNC note that the campus culture tends to lean to the liberal side of the political spectrum.

University of South Florida

• #5 Best Grad Schools in Florida 2024
• #5 Best Colleges in Florida 2024
• #5 Best Research Universities in Florida 2024
• #1 Most Affordable Online Master's of Music Education Programs
• #1 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Cybersecurity
• #4 Top 20 Most Affordable Online Business Administration Doctorates
• #4 Fastest Accelerated Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
• #5 15 Most Affordable Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
• #6 10 Best Online Master's of Music Education Degree Programs
• #6 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Information Technology
• #8 20 Best Online Master's of Speech Pathology Degree Programs
• #8 Most Affordable Online Master's of Speech Pathology Programs
• #12 Top 15 Most Affordable Online Economics PhD Programs (Doctorates) 2024
• #13 Most Affordable Online Applied Behavioral Analysis PhD Programs
• #16 20 Fastest Accelerated Online English Doctorates (PhDs) 2024

Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of South Florida

University of South Florida’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Engineering
• Joe Barresi
• Shlomo Sawilowsky
• Tony La Russa
• Saraju Mohanty
• Joanna Fowler
• J. Budziszewski
• Eric M. Bost
• Susan Cutter
• David A. Wolfe
• Randy Borum

What do we love about the University of South Florida?

University of South Florida was founded in 1956, which makes it the first state university in Florida to be established in the 20th Century. One of 12 schools in the State University System of Florida, the public research university is based in Tampa with satellite campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota.

With an enrollment of roughly 50,000 students at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, University of South Florida is the fourth largest institution in the state of Florida.

USF is noted for its very high level of research activity, which has earned it a place among R1: Doctoral Universities.

The College of Public Health at the University of South Florida offers a fully online Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree with concentrations in both Advanced Practice Leadership in Public Health and the Doctor of Public Health .

Are looking for a lot of options. USF offers more than 240 undergraduate, master’s and doctorate degree programs across 14 colleges.

Are looking for an intimate academic experience. The Tampa campus alone serves more than 41,000 students across over 1500 acres of land.

Other Options for Aspiring Public Health PhDs

Students considering an online doctoral in public health should also check out the best on-campus options to compare features like cost, curriculum, acceptance rate, and more.

University of Michigan

• #4 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
• #9 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #11 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #11 Best Universities in the World 2024
• #22 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
• #1 Best Research Universities in Michigan 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in Michigan 2024
• #1 Best Grad Schools in Michigan 2024
• #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Michigan 2024
• #1 Best Public Colleges in Michigan 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Nursing Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #10 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #11 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #12 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #13 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #14 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Michigan
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Michigan 2024
• #1 Best Online Master’s in Health Science
• #1 Best Online MBA Degree Programs No GRE Required Ranked for 2024
• #1 Top 5 Best Online Sociology PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates) 2024
• #1 Fastest Online Master's Degrees Ranked for Students in 2024
• #2 Best Online History Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs) 2024
• #2 Top 10 Best Online Communications PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #2 Best Online Master's Programs 2024
• #3 Top 3 Best Online Economics PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #4 Top 6 Best Online Clinical Nutrition PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #6 Guide to Free Online Courses for MBA Students in 2024
• #5 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Michigan

University of Michigan’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Claude Shannon
• Arthur Miller
• Alvin Plantinga
• George Dantzig
• Edgar F. Codd
• Hans-Hermann Hoppe
• Stephen Smale
• Urie Bronfenbrenner
• John Henry Holland
• Amos Tversky
• Marshall Sahlins

University of California, Berkeley

• #2 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #2 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
• #4 50 Best Graduate Schools Ranked for Prospective Students in 2024
• #5 Best Universities in the World 2024
• #16 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
• #18 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
• #1 Best Public Colleges California 2024
• #1 Most Affordable Colleges in California 2024
• #2 Best Colleges in California 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities in California 2024
• #2 Best Grad Schools California 2024
• #2 Best Research Universities for Social Work Degrees
• #3 Best Research Universities for Communications Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Engineering Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Sociology Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Chemistry Degrees
• #4 Best Research Universities for Computer Science Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Anthropology Degrees
• #5 Best Research Universities for Math Degrees
• #6 Best Research Universities for Physics Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for History Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #7 Best Research Universities for Philosophy Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Earth Sciences Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Biology Degrees
• #8 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #9 Best Research Universities for Religious Studies Degrees
• #1 Best Online History Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs) 2024
• #1 Top 3 Best Online Economics PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #2 Fastest Accelerated Online Computer Science Doctorates (PhDs)
• #2 Most Affordable Online Computer Science PhDs (Doctorates) 2024
• #2 Top 5 Best Online English PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #3 Top 6 Best Online Clinical Nutrition PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #4 Guide to Free Online Courses for MBA Students in 2024
• #6 Best Schools in the World for Earning an MBA Degree Ranked for 2024
• #9 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Daniel Kahneman
• John Kenneth Galbraith
• Timothy Leary
• Shing-Tung Yau
• Ken Thompson
• Niklaus Wirth
• Douglas Engelbart
• Theodosius Dobzhansky
• Betty Friedan
• Octavio Paz
• Gary Snyder

Tufts University

• #4 Best Private Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
• #4 Best Research Universities in Massachusetts 2024
• #12 Best Research Universities for Education Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Political Science Degrees
• #21 Best Research Universities for Economics Degrees
• #24 Best Research Universities for Psychology Degrees
• #25 Best Research Universities for English Degrees
• #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Massachusetts
• #1 Top 6 Best Online Clinical Nutrition PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)

Career Outlook for Public Health degree at Tufts University

Tufts University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Norbert Wiener
• Vannevar Bush
• Eugene Fama
• Jamie Dimon
• Gordon S. Wood
• Roderick MacKinnon
• Peter Navarro
• Mariana Mazzucato
• John Ciardi
• Richard N. Goodwin

University of Minnesota

• #1 Best Research Universities in Minnesota 2024
• #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Minnesota 2024
• #1 Best Colleges in Minnesota 2024
• #1 Best Grad Schools in Minnesota 2024
• #1 Best Public Colleges in Minnesota 2024
• #1 10 Best Online Master's of Music Education Degree Programs
• #1 Best Online Master's Programs in Minnesota 2024
• #1 Best Online MBA Programs in Minnesota
• #1 Best Online Colleges in Minnesota 2024
• #1 Top 20 Best Online MBA Programs that Can Be Completed in One Year 2024
• #1 Best Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Minnesota
• #3 Top 50 Best No GRE Online PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #4 Top 10 Best Online Counseling PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
• #4 Most Affordable Online Computer Science PhDs (Doctorates) 2024
• #8 Top 15 Most Affordable Online Economics PhD Programs (Doctorates) 2024
• #11 Best Online Bachelor's in Construction Management Degree Programs
• #7 Top 20 Best Business Schools for MBAs Ranked for Students
• #25 The Best Traditional MBA Programs Ranked for Students in 2024

Career Outlook for Public Health degree at University of Minnesota

University of Minnesota’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:

• Arthur Compton
• Deke Slayton
• Ernest Lawrence
• Norman Borlaug
• Thomas Friedman
• Melvin Calvin
• John L. Holland
• Christiaan Barnard
• Edward B. Lewis
• Roy Wilkins
• Alexander Wendt
• Lars Peter Hansen

See the complete List of Online Programs .

MPH in Epidemiology – Hybrid

Launched in 2015, the Master of Public Health in Epidemiology (MPH-EPI) will prepare you for new levels of leadership in your career while fitting around your busy schedule. In the MPH-EPI program, you will study with one of the world’s most accomplished epidemiology faculties.

By providing a combination of online, in-person, and in-the-field learning, this rigorous hybrid part-time, two-year degree program will provide you with the advanced research and epidemiological skills you need to pursue senior positions in academia, hospitals, public health agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector.

The Format: Hybrid (Both Online and On-Campus Opportunities)

The MPH in Epidemiology’s unique part-time format—a blend of on-campus, online, and field learning—combines the best of what the Harvard Chan School has to offer and is designed to fit the lives of busy professionals.

• On Campus — The program includes two required, three-week intensive on-campus sessions in June 2024 and June 2025.
• Online — The online period of the program is July through May in both the first and second year. You will participate in mostly asynchronous courses that include interactive exercises, modular video sessions, and case-based studies.
• In the Field — Mentored by Harvard faculty, you will complete a self-designed, year-long practicum project culminating in a final presentation and paper before graduatio

Who Should Apply?

The MPH in epidemiology is designed for individuals seeking specialization in advanced quantitative methods of epidemiology and its applications for clinical and population health research, policy, and programs. The degree also provides a public health framework for epidemiologists.

Eligible applicants for the MPH in epidemiology should meet one of the following criteria:

• Hold a doctoral degree in a health profession or academic area related to public health.(International medical degrees also qualify as a doctoral degree.)
• Hold a professional master’s degree
• Hold a bachelor’s degree with at least 5 years of post-baccalaureate experience in a relevant health-related field.

Current medical and dental students are not eligible for the MPH in epidemiology program.

For more information about the program, please contact [email protected] .

Graduate Programs

Public health (online).

The online Master of Public Health (MPH) is designed to prepare tomorrow’s public health leaders with the analytical capabilities, evidence-based knowledge, and leadership and communication skills required to tackle some of the most pressing global public health challenges.

Courses will be delivered completely online and will combine asynchronous and synchronous components to support student learning. Synchronous sessions allow students the opportunity to meet face-to-face with their  instructors on a weekly basis for more in-depth discussion of course content. The online MPH is committed to being flexible so that non-traditional adult learners, working professionals, and international students can complete the degree requirements in as few as 24 months. The optimal students for the online MPH are individuals who have at least 2 years of prior work experience who either want to advance their skill sets in public health or are looking for a career change into the public health profession.

This program will train students to examine health-related issues using methodological data tools including biostatistics, survey methods, and qualitative methods to critically assess a population’s health and develop action-based interventions that promote physical and mental health, and the prevention of disease and disability. Through leadership training, students will acquire strategies to motivate, influence and enable others to contribute to the communities and organizations in which they work. The program will also provide students with the communication skills to better articulate, translate, and convey evidence-based science and information to affect change and advance public health. The combination of courses and a practicum will provide students with an integrative learning experience and opportunity for real-world application.

Additional Resources

The MPH program provides student support in the form of career services, as well as general support for students’ timely progress through requirements (including specific requirements for the MPH Practicum). 

Students in the online concentration will have access to the same learning resources as in-person MPH students. This includes Brown University’s extensive collection of library/information resources; the Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning’s English language support and Writing Center; Student Accessibility Services; and telehealth and tele-mental health services. They will also have access to help desk support for registration, Brown e-mail, Canvas, and all University-supported software.

Application Information

Entering students will be required to have an undergraduate degree and having at least 2 years work experience is required. The generalist concentration with the online modality is designed for domestic students who cannot leave their families, jobs, or communities to relocate to Providence, and also international students who similarly do not have the ability to come to Brown.

Applicants to this School of Public Health program should apply through SLATE . Brown University School of Public Health GRE reporting code: 7765.

If you have any questions regarding the application process for this program, please email [email protected]

Fall 2024 Application Opens: December 1, 2023 Early Action Deadline: March 15, 2024 Priority Deadline: May 1, 2024 Final Deadline: June 1, 2024 Semester Starts: September 4, 2024

Spring 2025 Application Opens: May 1, 2024 Early Action Deadline: July 15, 2024 Priority Deadline: September 15, 2024 Final Deadline: October 15, 2024 Semester Starts: January 22, 2025

*Please note: The  online MPH program has transitioned the application to SLATE and no longer  utilizes SOPHAS as the application system

Application Requirements

Gre subject:.

Not required

GRE General:

Official transcripts:.

Required (international transcripts evaluated by WES if applicable)

Letters of Recommendations:

Personal statement:.

2 years of work experience required.

Additional Materials:

Application Fee

Additional Requirements:

International applicants.

• Language Proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS if applicable)
• International transcripts evaluated by WES (if applicable)

Comprehensive application requirements are detailed on the School of Public Health's   admissions requirements website .

Restrictions and Licensing Requirements

To comply with OFAC restrictions and licensing requirements, Brown University currently does not offer online programs to individuals physically located in the following areas: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Please note that this limitation is location based, as well as applies to all citizens of these countries, regardless of location, who are ordinarily resident in these countries. View more information pertaining to embargoed country regulations for online courses .

Dates/Deadlines

Priority deadline, application deadline, tuition and funding.

Graduate Tuition & Fees: Please visit the Bursar's Office for up-to-date tuition rates.

Most students are self-supported through a combination of scholarships, loans, outside funding, and/or assistantships. Please visit the  master's funding website  for more information.

Completion Requirements

Students are required to successfully complete 12 online courses, as well as a 145 hour practicum experience. Courses will have both synchronous and asynchronous components to flexibly support student learning.

Non- traditional adult learners and working professionals can expect to complete the standard course sequence in as few as 24 months. Admitted students seeking to complete their coursework quicker can inquire about a "fast-track" custom plan of study that would allow for program completion in as little as 16 months. 

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Doctoral Degrees

The Bloomberg School’s doctoral degree programs target students with specific career goals in public health research, teaching or leadership, and typically require a longer time commitment. We offer two different doctoral degree programs.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

In the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree program at the Bloomberg School, students focus on the creation of new and innovative knowledge – it’s primarily a degree for individuals with goals in public health research or teaching. Generally, the program consists of one to two years of full-time coursework, followed by two to five years of full-time, independent research. PhD programs are based within individual departments, so students should explore and contact their department of interest for more information.

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree program at the Bloomberg School is designed for the student who already has an MPH or equivalent degree and who intends to pursue a leadership position as a public health professional.

Through the integration and application of a broad range of knowledge and analytical skills in leadership, policy, program management and professional communication, coupled with preparation in a specific public health field, graduates of the DrPH program are prepared for either domestic or international careers in public agencies or private sector settings that emphasize improving population health.  

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Home > Online Programs > Bachelor of Science in Public Health > UTA BSPH Graduate Katherine Barrow Works to Improve Healthcare Access and Services for People With Disabilities

UTA BSPH Graduate Katherine Barrow Works to Improve Healthcare Access and Services for People With Disabilities

• Published On: April 19, 2024

Her older brother, Andrew, has Lowe Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that impacts the eyes, brain, and kidneys. It’s caused by a mutation in the OCRL1 gene and can result in a range of medical issues related to those organs, as well as physical, cognitive and development disabilities. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the condition effects only one in 500,000 people.

“I’ve always been involved in healthcare because of Andrew,” Barrow said, noting that she has also been part of his caregiving team, along with their parents. After graduating from high school in her hometown of Aledo, Texas, she even studied biochemistry and genetics at Texas A&M University for a few years before taking a different path.

Barrow worked with older adults as a caregiver, case manager and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) prior to joining Texas Health Resources in Fort Worth in 2015, where she served as a care technician assisting hospital patients with activities of daily living. She enjoyed the job, which involved coordinating care with nurses and being a consistent point of contact for family members.

“It was a very fulfilling career,” Barrow recalled, though she also had other ambitions. “I wanted to make a difference on a bigger scale than just an individual at a time,” she said.

She considered ways to help people before they ended up in the hospital, through education and community outreach. “Heart disease, stroke risk, so many things we don’t have absolute control over, but we do have some impact on,” she said. “If we could mitigate some of the risk factors, we could make a difference.” Barrow was also familiar with the challenges that people with disabilities commonly face in accessing healthcare and support services, whether due to insurance, bureaucracy, communication issues or other obstacles.

In 2019, she enrolled in the online Bachelor of Science in Public Health program at The University of Texas at Arlington to get a solid foundation in public health and explore her options. She also needed skills that could help her pursue a long-term goal: starting a nonprofit organization to help families like hers.

“Everything in our country involves, in some way, shape or form, public health,” she said. “From police departments and mental health issues to a pandemic and epidemiology, and contact tracing to accommodations for people with disabilities.”

Barrow graduated in 2023. She believes the career development activities built into many BSPH courses were essential to her success. “It’s [helpful] to see what you want to do—what steps you need to take, where are the gaps—so that you can figure out how to fill them,” she said. “That’s something that I hadn’t found in other programs.”

Learning Her Way

Barrow continued working full time while earning her BSPH, and says the program paired well with her rotating night-shift schedule at the hospital. “The fact that it was completely online was a major selling point for me,” she noted, since some weeks she worked Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, others she was on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. “It could be anywhere on the map,” she said.

Learning online also suited her for another important reason: “I am an introvert,” she shared.

For Barrow, the term means more than just being shy, or hesitant to speak in class. When she began the program, she was most comfortable studying on her own and limiting her interactions with other students. She says her online experience at UTA helped her balance private time with a communal learning experience that she ended up enjoying. “The program worked really well with my introversion,” she confirmed.

“Life is a group project,” Barrow advised, pragmatically. “As much as we would love it to be otherwise, particularly us introverts, in the real world we have to interact with other people. There’s just no way around it. And the best you can hope for is a good group along the way.”

She found that good group in her online BSPH classmates. Their welcoming attitude toward her made a lasting impression. “There was a pretty wide array of students, and I actually have a few that I still talk with on a regular basis,” she revealed. “You can make friends in an online-only program.”

Professors were supportive as well, giving Barrow the space she desired while letting her know they were only a text, email or call away. When she received some devastating health news, the grace they showed her also helped her cope. “I was actually diagnosed with cancer during my degree,” she said, “and that was intense.”

Barrow had endometrial adenocarcinoma. It was a surprising discovery. “Initially, I was told I was too young for it,” she confided. “I really wish the doc would have told that to the cancer.”

She decided that the diagnosis didn’t have to derail her progress, and the UTA faculty agreed. “My professors were amazing,” she said, explaining how they extended deadlines as needed and allowed her to complete some group projects on her own.

“I was so ‘overpeopled’ having to advocate for myself with insurance companies and deal with the referral process, find an in-network oncologist, and later a hospital that was in network,” she remembered.

The faculty’s kindness and understanding ultimately helped her stay on track. “I was able to continue to go to school and finish my degree, despite navigating all of that,” she said, “because the professors are [incredibly] awesome and were able to work with me.”

Empowering Patients, Families and Communities

Since graduating from UTA, Barrow has started a master’s program in public service and administration at Texas A&M. This time she’s attending classes in person. She credits the online BSPH program with helping her adapt to a different learning environment.

“Being able to work online and not have to face people day in and day out while I achieved something was absolutely critical to being able to transition to an in-person program,” she said.

Barrow has also been named a Bush Board Fellow for the American Red Cross. She values the opportunity to learn nonprofit governance from one of the nation’s largest public health organizations. As a nonvoting board member, she contributes ideas, supports Red Cross events and organizes her own projects.

Now that Andrew is in his early forties, Barrow’s personal advocacy work is taking on a new urgency as well. Like many families of adults with disabilities, hers is working on succession planning for his future. She wants to help others in their position work through the practical and systemic hurdles associated with transitioning care and guardianship to a sibling when parents pass on.

“That’s already a stressful and confusing enough time for siblings as they’re navigating the loss of a caregiver and parent and exploring what it means to be ultimately responsible for [a] sib’s care,” she observed.

This has become more of a focus area for her nonprofit too, now that she’s actively working with colleagues from her master’s program to get the organization going. She wants to create a holistic, tech-enabled program model that helps people with disabilities get the support they need, while also “advocating for a more transparent and user-friendly system for accessing [services],” she said.

Barrow hopes to file for the organization’s initial IRS 501(c)(3) determination before she graduates, bringing an idea she first had as a teenager over twenty years ago full circle. “It has changed some, partly because technology has changed,” she acknowledged, “but also because I have.”

She says earning a BSPH gave her the incentive she needed to take the next step in her education and achieve her goals. “Having my bachelor’s degree was an immediate bolster to my confidence,” she said, highlighting her work with UTA faculty and students and the impact it continues to have in her life.

“I would not trade the online-only BSPH program for everything in the world,” she said. “That was so instrumental in allowing me to get to this point.”

As Barrow carries her public health research, education and advocacy skills into the next phase of her career, she’s excited about giving that knowledge to others, and making life better for people with disabilities as a result. “Public health is a massive field,” she said. “But everything’s connected. Whether it’s funding sources or ideas, there is something to be learned and shared everywhere.”

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