57 hours

Step 1: Apply to SOPHAS

All applicants to the Doctor of Public Health degree must have: A master’s-level degree in public health (MPH or MSPH). Students with other master’s degrees may be considered and accepted provisionally, but will need to complete the five MPH core courses (15 hours) prior to acceptance into the DrPH program. These courses will not apply to the DrPH degree. All master’s degrees must be from an accredited institution. At least three years of experience in the public health area after having completed a master’s degree. Applicants are expected to have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. DrPH degree program applicants must apply via the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS). For detailed information, please visit the SOPHAS website. Official academic transcripts should be sent directly to SOPHAS from the registrars or records offices at the institutions you attended.

A resume/CV and statement of purpose must also be included in your SOPHAS application. The statement of purpose is your opportunity to communicate to us how this program fits with your career and educational goals. You should also highlight your relevant experience and preparation for this program. Three letters of recommendation must also accompany your SOPHAS application. List the names and contact information of your recommenders in your SOPHAS application. Be sure to follow up with all your references/recommenders regularly to ensure that the recommendation process has been completed.

Official TOEFL or IELTS scores sent by testing agency to the University of Georgia. International Applicants only – additional supplemental information is needed. World Education Services (WES) Course Evaluations. Only WES evaluations of international coursework are accepted for inclusion in your SOPHAS application. Any WES-evaluated coursework cleared through SOPHAS will be reviewed once both application steps are fully completed. For specific details, please refer to www.wes.org/sophas. Certificate of Finances (COF) Form and Visa Information. Please visit the UGA Graduate School website for more information.

Step 2: UGA Graduate School Supplemental Application Fee

Applicants are not required to submit a supplemental UGA Graduate School application. However, a supplemental application fee is still required. The GRE is no longer a requirement for DrPH admissions consideration. It is recommended that students have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Fall Admissions Cycle: January 31: Deadline to have a complete application submitted to be considered for full admission committee review.

HPAM 8300

Research Methods in Health Policy

3

HPAM 8410

Advanced Health Informatics

3

HPAM 8450

Advanced Policy Evaluation in Public Health

3

HPAM 8700

Advanced Management of Public Health Organizations

3

HPAM 8760

Public Health Law and Ethics for Public Health Practitioners

3

HPAM 8800

Leadership in Public Health

3

HPAM 8840

Managerial Epidemiology for Public Health Practitioners

3

HPAM 8850

Economic Evaluation Methods in Health

3

HPAM 9100

Doctor of Public Health Seminar I

3

HPAM 9200

Doctor of Public Health Seminar II

3

HPAM 9300  (min. 12 hours)

Doctoral Dissertation

1-12

PBHL 9560

Residency in Public Health

1-9

Choose a minimum of 12 credit hour(s) from the following:

Electives selected based on a discussion with academic or dissertation advisor (excluding BIOS 7010, EHSC 7010, EPID 7010, HPAM 7010, and HPRB 7010).

The Applied Practice Experience (APE) provides students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired through their coursework and further develop and demonstrate attainment of program competencies. All Doctor of Public Health students are required to engage in one or more applied practice experiences in which they are required to complete at least one project that is meaningful for an organization and to advance public health practice. Relevant organizations include governmental, non-governmental, non-profit, industrial, or for- profit settings. The student’s own work setting may be used, however, the selected project must not be in the realm of the day-to-day work responsibilities of the student. The work product may be a single project or a set of related projects that demonstrate depth of competence. The applied practice experience must be approved, in advance, by the Doctor of Public Health Program Coordinator and DrPH Practice Coordinator.

Students will be eligible to sign up for the three-credit hour course to complete the Applied Practice experience if the following conditions are met: 1. The student is in good academic standing as outlined by the DrPH program and Graduate school with a GPA of 3.0 or better and no grade less than B in core courses. 2. The student has demonstrated professionalism during coursework. 3. The student has completed at least two semesters in the DrPH program and completed all core courses, however, the final core course and the APE course may be taken concurrently. 4. The student has met all departmental requirements, completed APE Advisement, submitted all required documentation, and received approval from the DrPH Coordinator and DrPH Practice Coordinator.

Select additional courses, as needed, in consultation with an advisor to meet the minimum number of required credit hours for this program.

Many of our graduates have continued in their current working setting and made career progresses, e.g. promotions at the CDC, or conversion into a permanent or senior level position. Graduate also take managerial positions at nonprofit organizations including CARE, National Collaboration for Health Equity, etc. Graduates provided consulting and teaching as well. Graduate also take managerial positions at nonprofit organizations including CARE, National Collaboration for Health Equity, etc. Graduates provided consulting and teaching as well.

No courses taken prior to a doctoral student’s admission to their degree program at The University of Georgia are eligible for transfer. Doctoral students who have matriculated and are active in the Doctor of Public Health program may take courses at other accredited institutions and have up to nine semester hours of credit transferred to the UGA program of study with the prior approval of the DrPH Program Coordinator.

The College of Public Health does award a small number of assistantships. Graduate Assistants work for the college for 13-20 hours per week. In addition to their monthly paycheck for their work, their tuition is waived (though student fees must still be paid by the student). Assistantships are generally awarded by faculty who receive money from research grants for research assistants. There is no formal application process. Students are encouraged to contact their department head to determine the best way to find available assistantship positions. Generally, once students are admitted to the program, they will receive any announcements regarding open positions through the student e-mail listservs. Assistantships are generally awarded for one academic term (Fall and Spring semesters) at a time.

Students are encouraged to pursue research opportunities outside of Athens, when appropriate and in consultation with their committees.

The DrPH program has a practice coordinator and currently has 200 approved sites for the required Applied Practice Experience (APE). Students can select from agencies currently partnered with the DrPH program or can find a unique APE experience for the program to establish a new partnership.

Students can obtain a certificate in Disaster Management, Gerontology, Global Health, Infectious Disease, Obesity and Weight Management, and Social Determinants of Health. Many faculty at the College of Public Health conduct research in communities and offer students the opportunity to engage in service and experiential learning, during their time in the DrPH program.

Public Health Association (PHA) UGA Future Health Promoters Environmental Health Science Club at UGA Graduate Scholars of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UGA American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) -UGA Chapter Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) – UGA Chapter American Mock World Health Organization – UGA Chapter Partners in Health: Engage UGA UGA Global Health Union Disaster Dogs Sigma Phi Omega

Other programs in the College of Public Health include: Master of Public Health Master of Health Administration PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics PhD in Health Promotion and Behavior PhD in Environmental Health