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Online DrPH in Leadership, Advocacy, and Equity

The DrPH is the highest professional degree in the field of public health practice. Beyond public health, the DrPH in Leadership, Advocacy, and Equity is intended for early to mid-level career professionals to prepare them for positions of leadership in any practice setting. Spanning the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, the program is interdisciplinary in nature, providing an incubator for creative, innovative collaborations across varied backgrounds, experiences, and practice settings of students, faculty, staff, and external preceptors. Real world challenges, data, and opportunities will be integrated throughout the program, leading to a greater network for alumni and highly competitive graduates in positions of leadership.

Courses are delivered in a combination of case studies, discussion, didactic pedagogies, integrated opportunities to engage in real-world challenges, and the development of a successful work portfolio. The work portfolio demonstrates mastery at the doctoral level of a broad set of competencies, including concentration specific skills in leadership, advocacy, and equity. The work products from the portfolio are the results of the integrated learning experience and applied practice experience and should be fully transportable for graduates in positions of leadership.

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Program Competencies

Analyze the impact of historical and contemporary multilevel bias, trauma, and resilience on health inequities between marginalized groups.
Develop priority settings to address complex health topics that pose the greatest public health threats by utilizing equity focused health impact assessment tools and methodologies.
Design an advocacy strategy that promotes health equity in a specified community by identifying and mapping stakeholders, appropriate platforms, key processes, and engaged organizations.
Construct a responsive, strategic plan that identifies key strengths and challenges in an organization by performing and using a mixed methods needs assessment.
Translate evidence-based research and practice-based findings into culturally responsive, sustainable programs and initiatives.
Propose a program or initiative that addresses an identified health equity need, and advocates and empowers individuals and communities to achieve optimal wellbeing.

Admissions Requirements

A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning
A master's degree is not required for admission, but students without an MPH degree will be required to complete the Foundational Master of Public Health curriculum (5 courses, 15 credit hours)
Academic achievement - typically a GPA above 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
At least 3 years of work experience
No standardized tests are required (except English proficiency for international students)

Degree Program Requirements

Prerequisite Coursework* (15 semester hours)

SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health
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 in PH Programs

* Waived with an earned MPH or equivalent coursework with an A or B on transcript

DrPH Foundational Required Courses (18 semester hours)

SBPS 6810 Community and Public Education
SPHL 7250 Methods of Research in Public Health
SBPS 7100 Public Health Policy and Practice
SBPS 7220 Community Organization: Community Work for Social Justice
SPHL 7020 Leadership Theory and Practice for Public Health Professionals
SPHL 8010 Budget and Financial Management

DrPH Advanced Required Courses (15 semester hours)

SBPS 8750 Social Determinants of Health I: Theory
SPHL 8770 Social Determinants of Health in Public Health Practice
SPHL 8100 Health Equity and Advocacy
SPHL 8020 Leadership and Strategic Management
SBPS 8820 Advanced Program Planning and Grant Writing

Practicum and Portfolio (3 semester hours)

Applied Practice Experience
Integrative Learning Experience

Electives (6 semester hours)

Elective hours may be chosen from any online 7000 or 8000 level course across SPHL or in other schools with pre-approval from the faculty advisor.

Program Director: W. Susan Cheng, PhD, MPH

Phone: 504-988-3786 or 800-862-2122
Email: drph@tulane.edu

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