Doctor of Public Health – Isn’t that just a PhD?

“So, are you going to do a PhD?”

This is a question I have been repeatedly asked by my peers over the course of my Master of Public Health (MPH) degree at McMaster University. It’s a common perception that after your MPH, your options for further schooling would be to pursue another professional degree (medicine, nursing, dentistry, etc.) or do a research-intensive PhD.

What if I were to tell you there is another option?

…Enter, the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH or DPH) degree.

CountryUniversityFaculty/Member InstitutionOn-Campus or Online5 years full-time / 7 years part-timeLength
AustraliaJames Cook UniversitySchool of Tropical Health and MedicineOn-CampusBoth4 years
AustraliaLaTrobe University School of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth3 years
AustraliaUniversity of Wollongong School of Health ScienceOn-CampusBoth4 years
AustraliaUniversity of New South Wales School of Public Health and Medicine (Future Health Leaders ProgramOn-CampusBoth3 years
AustraliaFlinders University School of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth3 years
CanadaUniversity of TorontoDalla Lana School of Public HealthOnlineFull Time4 years
CanadaUniversity of MontrealSet to offer a DrPH program in 2023. The link was not located by our team.
EnglandUniversity of LondonLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineOn-CampusBoth3 – 4 years
EnglandChester UniversityOn-CampusBoth4 years full time / 7 years part time
EnglandTeesside UniversityOnline/On-Campus HybridBoth4 – 6 years
GermanyUniversity of Bremen
JapanKyoto UniversitySchool of Public HealthOn-CampusNot Referenced3 years
MalaysiaUniversity Putra MalaysiaDepartment of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesOn-CampusFull Time3 years
MalaysiaNational University of MalaysiaDepartment of Community Health, Faculty of MedicineFull Time6 – 12 Semesters
MalaysiaUniversity of MalayaDepartment of Social and Preventive MedicineOn-CampusFull Time3 years
MalaysiaUniversity of Science MalaysiaDepartment of Community MedicineOn-CampusFull Time4 years
MalaysiaUniversiti Malaysia SarawakFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesOn-CampusFull Time3 years
PhilippinesUniversity of the PhilippinesCollege of Public HealthOn-CampusFull Time6 semesters and 3 short terms
SenegalUniversité Cheikh Anta Diop de DakarDepartment of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Public Health
ThailandNaresuan University3 years full-time / 4 years part-timeOn-CampusFull TimeNot Mentioned
ThailandMahidol UniversityDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Public HealthOn-CampusFull TimeNot Mentioned
United StatesBoston UniversityBoston University School of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth3 years full-time / 4 years part time
United StatesClaremont Graduate UniversitySchool of Community and Global HealthOn-CampusFull Time4 – 5 years
United StatesUniversity of ColoradoColorado School of Public HealthOn-CampusNot Referenced5 – 7 years
United StatesColumbia UniversityMailman School of Public HealthOn-CampusFull Time4 – 5 years
United StatesDrexel UniversityDornsife School of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth5 years full-time / 7 years part-time
United StatesEast Tennessee State UniversityCollege of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth3 years
United StatesGeorge Washington UniversityMilken Institute School of Public HealthOn-CampusNot ReferencedUnspecified
United StatesGeorgia Southern UniversityJiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth3 years full time / 4 years part time
United StatesGeorgia State UniversitySchool of Public HealthOn-CampusPart Time3 years
United StatesHarvard UniversityChan School of Public HealthOn-CampusFull Time3 – 4 years
United StatesJohns HopkinsBloomberg School of Public HealthOnlinePart Time4 – 6 years
United StatesLoma Linda UniversitySchool of Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridBoth3 – 7 years
United StatesNew York Medical CollegeSchool of Health Sciences and Practice, and Institute of Public HealthOn-CampusFull Time2 years
United StatesPennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State College of MedicineOn-CampusFull Time4 years
United StatesRutgers UniversityRutgers School of Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridPart TimeNot Mentioned
United StatesSUNY Downstate Health Sciences UniversitySUNY Downstate Medical Center School of Public HealthOn-CampusNot ReferencedNot Mentioned
United StatesTexas A&MTexas A&M School of Public HealthOn-CampusNot ReferencedNot Mentioned
United StatesTulane UniversityTulane University School of Public Health and Tropical MedicineOn-CampusBothNot Mentioned
United StatesUniversity at AlbanyUniversity at Albany School of Public HealthOn-CampusBothNot Mentioned
United StatesUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham School of Public HealthOn-CampusFull TimeNot Mentioned
United StatesUniversity of ArizonaMel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth3 – 5 years full time / 5 – 8 years part time
United StatesUniversity of ArkansasMedical Sciences Fay W. Boozman College of Public HealthOn-CampusFull Time4 – 5 years
United StatesUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeley School of Public HealthOn-CampusFull Time3 – 4 years
United StatesUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia College of Public HealthOn-CampusPart Time4 years
United StatesUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicago School of Public HealthOnlinePart Time4 – 6 years
United StatesUniversity of North CarolinaGillings School of Global Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridBoth3 years
United StatesUniversity of South FloridaUniversity of South Florida College of Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridPart Time3 years
United StatesUniversity of Texas Health Science CenterHouston School of Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridFull Time3 – 5 years
United StatesEast Carolina UniversityDepartment of Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridFull Time3 years
United StatesIndiana UniversityRichard M. Fairbanks School of Public HealthOnlinePart Time3 years
United StatesMorgan State UniversityMorgan State UniversityOn-CampusFull Time4 years
United StatesWalden UniversityWalden UniversityOnlineFull Time2 – 3 years
United StatesMercer UniversityCecil B. Day Graduate and Professional CampusOnline/On-Campus HybridNot ReferencedNot Mentioned
United StatesSamford UniversitySchool of Public HealthOnlineBothNot Mentioned
United StatesNew York University (NYU)School of Global Public HealthBoth5-7 years
United StatesUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOnlineFlexibleNot Mentioned
United StatesETSU College of Public HealthCollege of Public HealthNot ReferencedNot Mentioned
United StatesCapella UniversityCapella UniversityOnlineNot ReferencedNot Mentioned
United StatesMedical College of WisconsinMedical College of WisconsinOnline/On-Campus Hybrid
United StatesFlorida A&M UniversityFlorida A&M University Public HealthOn-CampusNot Referenced
United StatesJackson State UniversityJackson State UniversityOnline/On-Campus HybridNot Referenced
United StatesUniversity of IllinoisChicago School of Public HealthOnlineNot Referenced
United StatesThe George Washington UniversityMilken Institute School of Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridFull Time7 years
United States – Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto RicoFaculty of Biosocial Sciences and Graduated School of Public HealthNot referenced
United States – Puerto RicoPonce Health Sciences UniversityPonce Health Sciences UniversityOn CampusBoth5 years

DrPH vs PhD

A DrPH is a professional degree designed for public health professionals who wish to work as a leader or administrator in private, public, or academic sectors. It sounds potentially even more diverse than an MPH, and that is really saying something. As a PhD is more commonly understood, I’m going to focus this blog post on introducing the DrPH degree, comparing it to a PhD, and discussing considerations for successful admission.

There are a few key distinctions between a DrPH and a PhD degree in Public Health:
See below for a side-by-side comparison of the two degrees (same information) in a table format.

1. Average length of study

  • DrPH – 3 to 4 years full time on average, 5-7 years part time (only some schools offer a part time option)
  • PhD – 4 to 6 years full time on average

2. Research intensity

  • DrPH – Often have research methods courses and involve a 1 to 2 year dissertation where students lead a major research project with supervision from a committee, and a written/oral defence
  • PhD – Emphasis on advanced research methods and statistical analysis courses, as well as a rigorous investigation of a specific topic in public health involving a 3 to 4 year thesis dissertation with supervision from a committee and an oral defence/examination

3. Practical experience

  • DrPH – Several programs require students to do a practicum/internship related to public health that may vary in length
  • PhD – This may depend on separate programs, but practice-based experience is typically not the focus of this degree

4. Experience prior to admission

  • DrPH – An MPH (or equivalent master’s-level degree) and at least 2 years of work/professional experience, and for some schools up to 4 years of experience and GRE scores
  • PhD – An undergraduate or masters-level degree and generally some research experience

5. Career outcomes

  • DrPH – Leadership roles in various health sectors and more practice-oriented work
  • PhD – Primarily academia or research settings

Now this isn’t to say that there isn’t a considerable overlap; most DrPH degrees will require you to complete a research dissertation just like a PhD and there is always the option of DrPH degree-holders to work in academic and research-intensive settings. There are also options to specialize in specific aspects of public health for both a DrPH and PhD (epidemiology, social/behavioural sciences, health policy, etc.). But there are enough key differences to consider these two degrees as quite distinct from one another.

Ok, so a DrPH sounds intriguing, now what?

Well, let’s work backwards from career outcomes and admission, and think about what schools are looking for in prospective students and what you can do after graduation to set yourself up for success.

A 2014 survey from the US found that Directors of DrPH programs valued previous academic performance, GPA, GRE scores, statement of purpose, writing samples, references, and previous experiences – in short, the usual.

Beyond that, you may also want to consider the core competencies of DrPH as suggested by the Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health: advocacy; communication; community/cultural orientation; critical analysis; leadership; management; and professionalism & ethics. What I find unique is the focus on leadership potential. I think most of the requirements and competencies are areas that Canadian MPH students have skills in and will build upon when they enter the public health workforce, but the real challenge (especially for me personally) is the leadership and management experience. This is where I think extracurricular involvement, continuous learning of new skills such as facilitation and team building, and the ability to reflect on past experiences can really help set you apart.

It’s important to highlight that at the time of writing this, there are no DrPH programs offered in Canada (might explain why it’s not that well known here!). Most of us aspiring to pursue this program of study will have to travel abroad to either the US or UK (or somewhere else) for a portion of DrPH degree and might also be able to continue working full-time while we finish our DrPH (some universities offer online learning).

In summary, the DrPH is an inter-disciplinary degree that is ever-growing and becoming more renowned around the world. The DrPH path is worth exploring, as more Canadian MPH graduates reflect on their future educational goals and are aiming to pursue leadership positions in their careers – in addition to public health practice and research.

Key resources for further reading:

  1. Peer-reviewed publication based on survey study of US DrPH Program Directors: “Doctor of Public Health Education and Training – Where Are We Now?”
  2. Peer-reviewed publication of US DrPH programs: “A Review of the Status of the Doctor of Public Health Degree and Identification of Future Issues
  3. Blog – “What is the Difference Between a DrPH and a PhD in Public Health?
  4. Wikipedia’s Doctor of Public Health page which includes a list of universities that offer DrPH degrees
  5. Core competencies of DrPH as a reference for DrPH programs

Disclaimer: These were the results of Google and Google Scholar searches and is by no means an exhaustive analysis. This blog post is meant to give a brief snapshot of what is out there regarding a DrPH from the perspective of a prospective Canadian public health student. I would also like to thank Dr. Emma Apatu (DrPH, Director of Master of Public Health program, McMaster University) for reviewing the first draft of this blog.

CountryUniversityFaculty/Member InstitutionOn-Campus or Online5 years full-time / 7 years part-timeLength
AustraliaJames Cook UniversitySchool of Tropical Health and MedicineOn-CampusBoth4 years
AustraliaLaTrobe University School of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth3 years
AustraliaUniversity of Wollongong School of Health ScienceOn-CampusBoth4 years
AustraliaUniversity of New South Wales School of Public Health and Medicine (Future Health Leaders ProgramOn-CampusBoth3 years
AustraliaFlinders University School of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth3 years
CanadaUniversity of TorontoDalla Lana School of Public HealthOnlineFull Time4 years
CanadaUniversity of MontrealSet to offer a DrPH program in 2023. The link was not located by our team.
EnglandUniversity of LondonLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineOn-CampusBoth3 – 4 years
EnglandChester UniversityOn-CampusBoth4 years full time / 7 years part time
EnglandTeesside UniversityOnline/On-Campus HybridBoth4 – 6 years
GermanyUniversity of Bremen
JapanKyoto UniversitySchool of Public HealthOn-CampusNot Referenced3 years
MalaysiaUniversity Putra MalaysiaDepartment of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesOn-CampusFull Time3 years
MalaysiaNational University of MalaysiaDepartment of Community Health, Faculty of MedicineFull Time6 – 12 Semesters
MalaysiaUniversity of MalayaDepartment of Social and Preventive MedicineOn-CampusFull Time3 years
MalaysiaUniversity of Science MalaysiaDepartment of Community MedicineOn-CampusFull Time4 years
MalaysiaUniversiti Malaysia SarawakFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesOn-CampusFull Time3 years
PhilippinesUniversity of the PhilippinesCollege of Public HealthOn-CampusFull Time6 semesters and 3 short terms
SenegalUniversité Cheikh Anta Diop de DakarDepartment of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Public Health
ThailandNaresuan University3 years full-time / 4 years part-timeOn-CampusFull TimeNot Mentioned
ThailandMahidol UniversityDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Public HealthOn-CampusFull TimeNot Mentioned
United StatesBoston UniversityBoston University School of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth3 years full-time / 4 years part time
United StatesClaremont Graduate UniversitySchool of Community and Global HealthOn-CampusFull Time4 – 5 years
United StatesUniversity of ColoradoColorado School of Public HealthOn-CampusNot Referenced5 – 7 years
United StatesColumbia UniversityMailman School of Public HealthOn-CampusFull Time4 – 5 years
United StatesDrexel UniversityDornsife School of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth5 years full-time / 7 years part-time
United StatesEast Tennessee State UniversityCollege of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth3 years
United StatesGeorge Washington UniversityMilken Institute School of Public HealthOn-CampusNot ReferencedUnspecified
United StatesGeorgia Southern UniversityJiann-Ping Hsu College of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth3 years full time / 4 years part time
United StatesGeorgia State UniversitySchool of Public HealthOn-CampusPart Time3 years
United StatesHarvard UniversityChan School of Public HealthOn-CampusFull Time3 – 4 years
United StatesJohns HopkinsBloomberg School of Public HealthOnlinePart Time4 – 6 years
United StatesLoma Linda UniversitySchool of Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridBoth3 – 7 years
United StatesNew York Medical CollegeSchool of Health Sciences and Practice, and Institute of Public HealthOn-CampusFull Time2 years
United StatesPennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State College of MedicineOn-CampusFull Time4 years
United StatesRutgers UniversityRutgers School of Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridPart TimeNot Mentioned
United StatesSUNY Downstate Health Sciences UniversitySUNY Downstate Medical Center School of Public HealthOn-CampusNot ReferencedNot Mentioned
United StatesTexas A&MTexas A&M School of Public HealthOn-CampusNot ReferencedNot Mentioned
United StatesTulane UniversityTulane University School of Public Health and Tropical MedicineOn-CampusBothNot Mentioned
United StatesUniversity at AlbanyUniversity at Albany School of Public HealthOn-CampusBothNot Mentioned
United StatesUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamBirmingham School of Public HealthOn-CampusFull TimeNot Mentioned
United StatesUniversity of ArizonaMel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public HealthOn-CampusBoth3 – 5 years full time / 5 – 8 years part time
United StatesUniversity of ArkansasMedical Sciences Fay W. Boozman College of Public HealthOn-CampusFull Time4 – 5 years
United StatesUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeley School of Public HealthOn-CampusFull Time3 – 4 years
United StatesUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of Georgia College of Public HealthOn-CampusPart Time4 years
United StatesUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicago School of Public HealthOnlinePart Time4 – 6 years
United StatesUniversity of North CarolinaGillings School of Global Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridBoth3 years
United StatesUniversity of South FloridaUniversity of South Florida College of Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridPart Time3 years
United StatesUniversity of Texas Health Science CenterHouston School of Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridFull Time3 – 5 years
United StatesEast Carolina UniversityDepartment of Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridFull Time3 years
United StatesIndiana UniversityRichard M. Fairbanks School of Public HealthOnlinePart Time3 years
United StatesMorgan State UniversityMorgan State UniversityOn-CampusFull Time4 years
United StatesWalden UniversityWalden UniversityOnlineFull Time2 – 3 years
United StatesMercer UniversityCecil B. Day Graduate and Professional CampusOnline/On-Campus HybridNot ReferencedNot Mentioned
United StatesSamford UniversitySchool of Public HealthOnlineBothNot Mentioned
United StatesNew York University (NYU)School of Global Public HealthBoth5-7 years
United StatesUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOnlineFlexibleNot Mentioned
United StatesETSU College of Public HealthCollege of Public HealthNot ReferencedNot Mentioned
United StatesCapella UniversityCapella UniversityOnlineNot ReferencedNot Mentioned
United StatesMedical College of WisconsinMedical College of WisconsinOnline/On-Campus Hybrid
United StatesFlorida A&M UniversityFlorida A&M University Public HealthOn-CampusNot Referenced
United StatesJackson State UniversityJackson State UniversityOnline/On-Campus HybridNot Referenced
United StatesUniversity of IllinoisChicago School of Public HealthOnlineNot Referenced
United StatesThe George Washington UniversityMilken Institute School of Public HealthOnline/On-Campus HybridFull Time7 years
United States – Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto RicoFaculty of Biosocial Sciences and Graduated School of Public HealthNot referenced
United States – Puerto RicoPonce Health Sciences UniversityPonce Health Sciences UniversityOn CampusBoth5 years

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