Public Health, Dr.P.H. (Health Management and Policy Concentration)

General Program Information

Doctor of Public Health Degree

The Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.) program offers an advanced professional degree designed for those who wish to pursue or further their career in public health practice. It prepares practitioners with competence in administration, advocacy, problem solving, research, and communication. Graduates are qualified to serve in a variety of leadership capacities at state, national, and international levels, enhancing the public’s health in both rural and urban settings. Three areas of concentration currently exist within the degree - community health, epidemiology, and health management and policy. For more information on admission and degree requirements see the Dr.P.H. entries under the Community and Behavioral Health Department, Biostatistics and Epidemiology Department or Health Services Management and Policy, respectively.

Program Admission Requirements

Admission to the Doctor of Public Health program is competitive and based on scholarship, letters of recommendation, and evidence of potential success. Applicants must meet the requirements for admission to the Graduate School. Applications must include:

1. Evidence of successful completion of an M.P.H. or equivalent degree in a related field.
2. Application form and accompanying fee.
3. One official transcript of all previous undergraduate and graduate work (except previous coursework completed at ETSU).
4. A personal essay that includes a written statement of career and educational goals, professional experience, and prospective area of interest for the dissertation.
5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are optional for applicants seeking admission to the DrPH. 
6. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant’s academic, professional, or personal achievement, competence, ethics, and potential.

Dr.P.H. Graduation Requirements

Completion of the Dr.P.H. degree will require (1) a minimum of 58 credits of coursework beyond the master’s degree as described; (2) a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; (3) passing the doctoral comprehensive candidacy examination; (4) satisfactory completion of a practicum; (5) completing a dissertation of publishable quality; and (6) passing the final dissertation defense. All students must pass Institutional Review Board certification sponsored by ETSU if working with human subjects, as well as HIPAA certification if their research/practicum falls under the requirements to secure the privacy and confidentiality of patient records.

Public Health, Dr.P.H. Degree Requirements: 58-61 credits

Public Health, Dr.P.H. Core Requirements: 22 credits

• COBH 6150 - Program Implementation and Evaluation in Public Health (3 credits)
• COBH 6160 - Leadership and Systems: Mobilization of Public Health Assets (3 credits)
• COBH 6250 - Program Planning and Design for Public Health (3 credits)
• EPID 6490 - Advanced Research Methods in Public Health (4 credits)
• HSMP 6120 - Interprofessional Communication and Workforce Development in Public Health (3 credits)
• HSMP 6330 - Health Policy, Advocacy, and Ethics (3 credits)
• HSMP 6340 - Strategic Management and Resource Alignment in Public Health (3 credits)

Health Management and Policy Concentration: 12 credits

• HSMP 5300 - Quality Improvement in Health Services Organizations (3 credits)
• HSMP 6310 - Population Health Management (3 credits)
• HSMP 6320 - Health Services Research Methods (3 credits)
• HSMP 6840 - Organizational Behavior in Health Services Management (3 credits)

Advisor Approved Electives: 9 credits

Any COBH, HSMP, EPID, BSTA, SOCI, PSYC, ELPA courses at or above the 5000 level.

Practicum Experience: 6 credits

• HSMP 6850 - Doctor of Public Health Practicum - Health Management and Policy (1-6 credits)

Culminating Experience: 9-12 credits

• HSMP 6960 - Doctor of Public Health Dissertation - Health Management and Policy (1-12 credits)