The doctoral program in Public Health (DrPH) offers advanced training in public health. The specific area of study (i.e., concentration) for the DrPH program is leadership and management. The DrPH program provides students with opportunities to achieve public health competencies in the full range of academic or professional roles within community practice, research, and teaching.

University Policies

Policies detailed in the current Policies and General Information Bulletin apply.

Admissions Requirements

Admission requirements are detailed in the Admissions section of the current Policies and General Information Bulletin.

Degree Requirements

Coursework.  The program requires 49 units, consisting of 14 courses. Students complete 35 units of core courses, 10 units of concentration coursework, and 4 units of a pedagogy/transdisciplinary course.

Tools. One research tool and one teaching tool.

• Research Tool. In lieu of a specific language requirement, students must demonstrate proficiency in research. The research tool requirement can be fulfilled upon satisfactory completion of CGH 402 - Advanced Research Methods.
• Teaching Tool. Students must demonstrate proficiency in education and workforce development. The teaching tool requirement can be fulfilled upon satisfactory completion of TNDY 430 - Transdisciplinary Pedagogy for Ethical Education.

Advanced Practicum. All DrPH students are required to complete an applied practice experience in public health. DrPH students have an opportunity to demonstrate attainment of and reinforce foundational and/or concentration-specific competencies; synthesize, integrate and apply the skills, knowledge and training acquired through courses of study; complete a project that is meaningful for an organization and to advance public health practive; and collaborate with practitioners, allowing opportunities to develop leadership competencies and contribute to the field. No waivers are granted for this requirement.  

Qualifying Examination. The qualifying exam is intended to assess the depth and breadth of a student’s knowledge and aptitude in approaching and solving fundamental issues in public health. Successful completion of the qualifying exam is required for advancement to candidacy.

Scholarly Product. Each candidate must generate a field-based, high-quality written product consistent with advanced practice designed to influence programs, policies, or systems addressing public health. The product must demonstrate sythesis of foundational and concentration-specific competencies. A defense is scheduled after submission of the scholarly product upon approval by the candidate’s Guidance Committee.

Transfer Credit.  The University’s policy on transfer credit applies. The DrPH program permits the transfer of up to 13 semester units from prior graduate work completed outside of CGU with advisor approval.

School of Community and Global Health (SCGH) Practical Experience Milestone

Students pursing a public health degree (Master of Public Health or Doctor of Public Health) must meet the Practical Experience Milestone by completing an applied practice experience through an internship or practicum within a public health agency (paid or unpaid, for credit or not for credit).

Students must have their milestone approved by the school prior to the submission of their completed Final Approval Form. This milestone is to be completed during the time to degree at CGU (7 years for doctoral students, 5 years for masters students). Students may have a maximum of 4 years of experience for the Practical Experience Milestone.

 

Interprofessional Co-curricular Requirement

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) requires DrPH students to meet the following foundational competencies related to interprofessional practice (IPP):

“Integrate knowledge, approaches, method, values, and potential contributions from multiple professions, sectors, and systems in addressing public health problems.”

 

“Propose interprofessional team approaches to improving public health.”

 

The co-curricular requirement assesses student demonstration of these competencies. The requirement can be fulfilled through satisfactory completion of CGH 489e - Interprefessional Practice Co-Curricular Requirement.

Foundational Knowledge in Public Health

All DrPH students should be grounded in foundational public health knowledge in the areas of profession and science of public health as well as factors related to human health. Validation of foundational public health knowledge is verified through completion of the Foundational Knowledge in Public Health Assessment Modules. Upon satisfactory completion of the modules, a milestone of completion will recorded on the student’s transcript. Students entering the program with an MPH must complete the modules by the end of their first year in the program. Students entering the program without an MPH and are completing the Foundations in Public Health certificate must complete the modules within one year of the certificate’s conferral.

Interprofessional Co-curricular Requirement

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) requires DrPH students to meet the following foundational competencies related to interprofessional practice:

“Integrate knowledge, approaches, method, values, and potential contributions from multiple professions, sectors, and systems in addressing public health problems.”

“Propose interprofessional team approaches to improving public health.”

The co-curricular requirement assesses student demonstration of these competencies. The requirement can be fulfilled through satisfactory completion of CGH 489e, Interprofessional Practice Co-Curricular Requirement. Upon satisfactory completion of the requirement, a milestone of completion is recorded on the student’s transcript.

Time to Degree Extensions

Students who have met the university’s time to degree limit for doctoral degrees (i.e., 7 years, 6-1/2 years if 12 units of credit is transferred) are allowed only three (3) extensions. For a student’s first request, extensions are granted for a period of two years. Up to two additional one-year extensions may be approved given individual circumstances. 

Students who have met the time to degree limit and are changing their bulletin year to the current bulletin year are allowed only three (3) extensions, not including those extensions previously requested and approved prior to the effective bulletin year change. For a student’s first request, extensions are granted for a period of two years. Up to two additional one-year extensions may be approved given individual circumstances.  

Students who do not graduate within three extensions will be withdrawn from the degree program.  Students can apply for reinstatement but must obtain necessary department approvals. 

Grades

In keeping with our expectations for graduate students, the grading basis for core and concentration courses must be a letter grade not Pass/Fail. Courses associated with applied, practical experiences and milestones are the exception:

• CGH 489e: Interprofessional Practice Co-curricular Requirement
• CGH 306: Supervised Field Training in Public Health
• CGH 406: Advanced Practicum in Public Health
• CGH 417: Health Systems Engineering and Integration
• CGH 412: Community Based Translational Research to Promote Population Health