The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree is designed for professionals with MPH’s to prepare for teaching, research, or advanced administrative positions in a major area of specialization within the broad field of public health. In general these areas of specialization coincide with the school’s departments. The degree program is administered through the Doctoral Policy and Planning Committee (DPPC) of Mailman School of Public Health, which carries out faculty policy, the doctoral program, and sets standards for granting the degree. The departments of Biostatistics, Environmental Sciences, Epidemiology, and Sociomedical Sciences actively participate in the DrPH program.

The Dr.P.H. degree calls for completion of an approved program of study totaling no fewer than 30 doctoral points of credit beyond the M.P.H. level, with individual programs reviewed by departments. At a minimum, the candidate is required to spend the equivalent of two terms of full-time coursework (30 points) in residence. Doctoral students must then follow the below outlined continous registration policy. The Dr.P.H. degree is awarded upon completion of doctoral coursework after the master’s degree, passing of qualifying examinations, and preparation and defense of an original scholarly investigation.

The completion of doctoral study can be expected to take at least three full-time academic years and, in most cases, extends beyond that. There is a University time limit of seven years from the date of first registration as a doctoral student until completion of all requirements.