Doctor of Public Health
Get the advanced training you need to take a leadership position in public health with a DrPH degree from UNMC.
Get the training you need to take a leadership position in public health with a DrPH in public health practice.
Why Get a Doctor of Public Health Degree?
Are you an experienced public health practitioner who wants to move into a leadership position? Consider a DrPH degree, which trains you to develop, implement and evaluate national and global public health policies and programs.
Designed for individuals with an MPH, the DrPH differs substantially from a PhD. The purpose of a DrPH is to prevent disease or injury and to improve health within a specific community through the lens of leadership. A PhD degree focuses on the skills needed to make research-based contributions to the field of public health.
Why Get a DrPH at UNMC?
UNMC has a history of meeting unprecedented global health challenges, from the Ebola outbreak to the spread of COVID-19. At UNMC, experienced faculty train you at the forefront of health sciences research.
Our DrPH program is fully online and asynchronous. This allows you to work while completing your degree in as few as three years without ever being required to visit campus. Designed for public health professionals with three or more years of experience, our program offers you the flexibility to design an individualized educational experience to meet your career goals. Students also have the options to complete the practicum and practice-based dissertation in their own work setting, if that fits with their career goals.
You'll gain skills in data analysis; leadership, management and governance; policy and programs; and education and workforce development. In addition, you'll receive advanced training in epidemiology, emergency preparedness, or advocacy and leadership.
Program Snapshot
Program Highlights
Concentrations
We offer three concentrations. The epidemiology concentration is designed to develop public health leaders skilled at identifying factors that affect the health of a population and developing, implementing and evaluating disease control and prevention strategies. The emergency preparedness concentration will enhance the practice of disaster planning and response for health care, public health, humanitarian and private sector emergency managers. The advocacy and leadership concentration is designed for public health practitioners who want training and skills in communication, community organizing, evaluation, and leadership theory.
Dissertation
DrPH students complete a practice-based dissertation consistent with advanced practice to influence programs, policies or systems addressing public health issues.
Careers and Outcomes
DrPH graduates advance programs, policies and systems to improve population health in the United States and globally.
Job Opportunities
- Local, county, state or federal health agencies
- Nonprofit organizations and foundations
- Health-related startups
- International organizations
- Research institutes
- Community organizations
- Consulting firms
- Universities
Job Titles
- Health Department Director
- Health Policy Analyst
- Public Health Program Director
- Community Health Manager
- Senior Policy Fellow
- Consultant
- Professor
Related Programs
Students who are interested in the Doctor of Public Health degree may also wish to explore:
Public Health Centers
Our centers work at the forefront of public health policy, education and research. They provide, planning, training and analysis across a wide range of areas, including biopreparedness, global health and rural health research.
