Public Health, DrPH

The DrPH program is structured as a 3-year, cohort-based program that includes 18 units of public health foundational coursework, 25 units of core courses, 9 units of concentration courses, 6 units of electives, and 8 units of dissertation work. CSULB’s DrPH program considers both previous postbaccalaureate academic coursework and career interests in mapping their program of study.

DrPH students can select one of the following three concentrations. Please note concentrations do not appear on transcripts.

DrPH Concentrations

The Public Health Informatics and Technology concentration prepares students to be leaders in designing, evaluating, and managing public health informatics systems in a way that ensures that the diverse needs of the community are met to reduce health disparities and to address public health challenges on a national or international scale.
The Global Health concentration prepares students to work in global health programs, including jobs abroad or with domestic agencies that conduct public health programs with other countries.
The Health Policy & Management concentration prepares students to be leaders in advocating for changes to health policy at a local, national, and global level as well as manage efforts to improve the effectiveness of public health, health care, and health policy to reduce health disparities.

The CSULB DrPH program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (Council on Education for Public Health, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 220, Silver Springs, MD 20910-5600, phone: (202) 789-1050).

Admissions

To be admitted to the DrPH, a prospective candidate must apply via Cal State Apply. Contact the Director of the DrPH Program for current requirements. The graduate of the Doctoral Degree Program will be prepared for advanced leadership positions to improve health in such organizations as non-governmental agencies, research centers, institutions of higher education, health care and professional associations, and global organizations.

Admission Requirements for the DrPH Program

Applicants must apply both to the Department and the University. Applications are available online.

Each applicant must submit the following documents to the university’s Office of Enrollment Services.

A copy of official transcript(s) from all institutions attended

Letter of intent to enroll in the DrPH program with specification of the concentration selected.

Statement of purpose and personal history statement

CV/Resume

Three letters of recommendation from professors and/or supervisors/employers who have observed your work

TOEFL (score of 90) or ITLES (score 6.5) for international students. (If you have graduated or attended an institution of higher learning for at least one year, you do not need to take these tests).

Each applicant must also meet the following admission requirements:

Have a graduate degree in public health from an accredited institution or equivalent. If you do not have an MPH or an equivalent degree, a conditional acceptance may be given, pending successful completion of the following six MPH foundational courses during your first year: Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Research Methods, Environmental Health, Introduction to Public Health, Seminar in Community Analysis and Program Planning.

Have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0

A minimum of one year of experience in Public Health

Advancement to Candidacy

Students must satisfy the general university requirements for advancement to candidacy:

Maintain at least a 3.0 average for all course work attempted as a graduate student;

Complete the following: HSC 700, 708, 724, 728, 770, 775, 785, 796, 6 units of electives, enrollment in some of the concentration courses, HSC 797, completion of 3 units of 798 and passing the qualifying Examination.

Approval by the Director of Graduate Studies and Associate Dean for Academic

DrPH Program of Study Requirements

Prerequisites:

H SC 500 - Elements of Epidemiological Research (3 units)
H SC 503 - Principles of Public Health Statistics (3 units)
H SC 528 - Principles of Environmental Health (3 units)
H SC 570 - Theoretical Concepts and Issues in Health Science (3 units)
H SC 624 - Seminar in Community Analysis and Program Planning (3 units)
H SC 696 - Research Methods (3 units)

Take 25 units of DrPH Core courses:

H SC 700 - Current Issues in Applied Epidemiology (3 units)
H SC 703 - Advanced Public Health Statistics (3 units)
H SC 708 - Ethics for Public Health Leaders (3 units)
H SC 724 - Program Development to Implementation in Health Promotion (3 units)
H SC 728 - Advanced Environmental Health & Social Justice (3 units)
H SC 770 - Advanced Public Health Theoretical Concepts (3 units)
H SC 775 - Professional Development (1 unit)
H SC 785A - Doctoral Practicum (3 units)
H SC 796 - Public Health Research & Evaluation (3 units)

Elective Courses:

Take 6 units for any of the following courses:

H SC 705 - Foundations in Public Health Leadership (3 units)
H SC 780 - Selected Topics in Advanced Public Health (3 units)
H SC 786 - Teaching Practicum (1-3 units)
H SC 795 - Directed Individual Study (1-3 units)

Concentration Courses:

Select your area of concentration and take 9 units.

Take 8 units of Dissertation Research as your Culminating Project:

H SC 797 - Doctoral Pre-Dissertation Study (1 unit)
HSC 798: Doctoral Dissertation (7 units) - This is a series of three courses H SC 798A , H SC 798B , and H SC 798C .
As part of the HSC 798A course, students will defend their doctoral research proposal, and that will be considered as students Qualifying Examination. Students will then Advance to Candidacy and continue taking the other research. Towards the end of the H SC 798C course, students will defend the final research proposal. Upon successful completion of the research courses, students will graduate, provided that studetns have completed all the other doctoral level courses.