DrPH in Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences

Students who graduate from this degree program can expect to develop the following competencies as they successfully meet and complete the program degree requirements.

• Incorporate knowledge of the qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, and policy analysis research and evaluation methods to address public health issues and population health at multiple levels (individual, group, organization, community and population)
• Develop the professional leadership and management skills to coordinate community organization and mobilization, develop needs assessments and strategic plans, and design interventions in diverse global health settings
• Critically analyze the impact of social and behavioral determinants on individual, community and population health
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct and apply the interpretation of formative research to develop public health interventions in diverse contexts
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of program planning and development of implementation plans
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge of evaluation theory and be capable of implementing monitoring and evaluation systems
• Demonstrate culturally competent capacity to understand the role of gender, culture, social, economic, and historical contexts in demonstrating and implementing global public health programs
• Demonstrate knowledge of health literacy and effective communication related to health education and messaging

To be eligible for the DrPH program, students must have completed an MPH degree or equivalent with an outstanding academic record.

Applicants must meet the school’s admission requirements, submit the application through SOPHAS and include in their application three letters of reference from individuals who are familiar with their academic and/or professional performance.

Practical experience in public health is highly preferred. A post-bachelor’s degree GPA of 3.5 or higher and GREs in the upper 50th percentiles are also preferred. All applicants will be reviewed by faculty members prior to acceptance in order to assess interest and ensure that department faculty members have the expertise to mentor applicants’ chosen areas of study.

Complete applications must be received by the priority deadline of December 1 to be considered for fellowships and other student funding. To be considered for admission to GCHB doctoral programs without funding, the completed application must be received by January 15.

A complete application includes all required documentation --career statements, letters of recommendation and verified transcripts and GRE scores. We recommend applications and required documentation be submitted in sufficient time for SOPHAS to receive and verify transcripts and GRE scores to meet the respective deadlines.

For further details regarding admissions requirements to the school, see the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine “Policies and Procedures for Doctoral Programs” guide.

The DrPH degree in Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences requires a total of 72 post-baccalaureate credits, 36 of which must be fulfilled through advanced doctoral study at Tulane SPHTM. Up to 36 credits may be applied from a MPH or equivalent degree; however, only those that fulfill the GCHB DrPH competencies will be accepted. If a prerequisite course or equivalent has not been fulfilled, the student must take the prerequisite course. 

Additional prerequisites may be required above the 36 credits of advanced doctoral study if a student has not fulfilled prerequisite requirements for the MPH degree. 

Prerequisite Coursework (from prior master's degree)

• GCHB 6030 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Global Health or equivalent
• GCHB 6340 Monitoring and Evaluation or equivalent
• SPHL 6020 Foundations of Public Health or equivalent
• SPHL 6050 Biostatistics for Public Health or equivalent 
• SPHL 6060 Epidemiology for Public Health or equivalent 
• SPHL 6070 Health Systems, Policy and Management or equivalent
• SPHL 6080 Design Strategies for Public Health programs or GCHB 6110 or equivalent 

Advanced Doctoral Study (36 credits)

• GCHB 7250 Research Methods in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (3)
• GCHB 7280 or 7290 Qualitative Methods I or II (2)
• GCHB 8200 Evaluation Theory  (3)
• GCHB 8820 Advanced Program Planning/Grant Writing (3)
• GCHB 8800 or 8830 Senior Graduate Research Seminar (1)

Select courses from each category. 

• Advanced Public Health 1 Social Determinants/Health Communication
  (TBD in consultation with student’s advisor) (3)
• Advanced Public Health 2 Health Policy
  (TBD in consultation with student’s advisor) (3)
• Advanced Public Health 3 Health Systems Course
  (TBD in consultation with student’s advisor) (3)
• Advanced Monitoring and Evaluation, choose 1 from below (3)
  •     GCHB 7070 Social Impact of HIV/AIDS
  •     GCHB 7120 Monitoring and Evaluation of Maternal Child Health
  •     GCHB 7210 Survey Data for Family Planning/Reproductive Health
     

Electives (12 credits)

Additional credits may be needed to obtain a total of 72 credits 

Research Ethics

Doctoral students are required to take online research ethics study via CITI or another equivalent training program in research ethics. This certification must remain current throughout the duration of the student’s academic program.

Practicum  

The practicum requirement is a 300 hour advanced field experience where students demonstrate competencies in advanced practice skills under the direction of a qualified preceptor in the practice setting. The advisor works with each student to develop measurable learning objectives prior to the practicum experience. This practicum should focus on developing advanced leadership skills in public health disciplines, including the skill of reflective practice and assessment of self, teams, peers, and supervisors. 

Comprehensive Exam

On completion of the coursework listed above, students will be required to pass a comprehensive examination to demonstrate doctoral program competencies as well as knowledge related to their content area of expertise. 

Dissertation

DrPH students must complete a dissertation focused on public health that advances the field of knowledge, practice, or policy. Dissertations may include demonstration projects with a strong monitoring and evaluation component, in-depth policy analyses, detailed programmatic proposals, implementation of routine or standardized instruments, secondary analyses, and other applied emphases, consistent with the purpose of the DrPH program. 

Academic Standards

Students in the DrPH program are required to maintain standards of performance required by the School. 

1. Achieve an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 out of a 4.0. GPAs below 3.3 cannot be rounded up.
2. Not have a grade below a B in more than 2 courses. 
3. Not receive an F in any course.

The DrPH degree in Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences requires a total of 72 credits post-baccalaureate degree with 30 credits of doctoral study at Tulane SPHTM. Up to 42 credits may be applied from the MPH or equivalent, however, these credits will be reviewed and those that do not fulfill the DrPH competencies may not be accepted. If a MPH requirement has not been fulfilled, the student must take the core or prerequisite course in addition to the 30 credits of advanced doctoral study. 

Prerequisite Coursework (from prior master's degree)

• BIOS 6030 Introductory Biostatistics (3)
• EPID 6030 Epidemiological Methods 1 (3)
• GCHB 6030 Social and Behavioral Aspects of Global Health (3)
• GEHS 6030 Survey of Environmental Health (3)
• GHSD 6030 Health Systems, Management and Policy (3)
• GCHB 6110 Health Promotion and Health Education Programs (3)
• GCHB 6120 Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Education and Communication Programs (3)

Advanced Doctoral Study (30 credits)

• GCHB 7250 Research Methods in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (3)
• GCHB 8120 Evaluation Theory (3)
• GCHB 8210 Advanced Monitoring and Evaluation (3) 
• GCHB 7070 Social Impact of HIV/AIDS (3) OR
  GCHB 7120 Monitoring & Evaluation of Maternal and Child Health (3) OR
  GCHB 7210 Survey Data for Family Planning & Reproductive Health (3)
• GCHB 8820 Advanced Program Planning/Grant Writing (3)
• GCHB 8800/8830 Senior Graduate Research Seminar (1)
• GCHB 7280 or 7290 Qualitative Methods (TBD by advisor/student) (2)
• SPHL 8800 Interdisciplinary Seminar (1) 
• Advanced Public Health-1 (Social Determinants/Health Communication course) (TBD by advisor/student) (3) 
• Advanced Public Health-2 (Health Policy course) (TBD by advisor/student) (3)
• Advanced Public Health-3 (Health Systems course) (TBD by advisor/student (3)

Elective Credits 5 credits at the 7000 and 8000 course level - TBD by the advisor/student

Research Ethics

Doctoral students are required to take online research ethics study via CITI or another equivalent training program in research ethics. This certification must remain current throughout the duration of the student’s academic program.

Practicum  

The practicum requirement is a 300 hour advanced field experience where students demonstrate competencies in advanced practice skills under the direction of a qualified preceptor in the practice setting. The advisor works with each student to develop measurable learning objectives prior to the practicum experience. This practicum should focus on developing advanced leadership skills in public health disciplines, including the skill of reflective practice and assessment of self, teams, peers, and supervisors. 

Comprehensive Exam

On completion of the coursework listed above, students will be required to pass a comprehensive examination to demonstrate doctoral program competencies as well as knowledge related to their content area of expertise. 

Dissertation

DrPH students must complete a dissertation focused on public health that advances the field of knowledge, practice, or policy. Dissertations may include demonstration projects with a strong monitoring and evaluation component, in-depth policy analyses, detailed programmatic proposals, implementation of routine or standardized instruments, secondary analyses, and other applied emphases, consistent with the purpose of the DrPH program. 

Academic Standards

Students in the DrPH program are required to maintain standards of performance required by the School. 

1. Achieve an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 out of a 4.0. GPAs below 3.3 cannot be rounded up.
2. Not have a grade below a B in more than 2 courses. 
3. Not receive an F in any course.

Department Chair: Richard Oberhelman, MD

Program Director: David Seal, PhD

Program Manager: Anita Jobson

Email: gchb@tulane.edu

Phone: (504) 988-5391