Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Residential and Online | GW
The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Program at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (GWSPH) is a leadership degree. We train public health thought leaders and practitioners ready to shape public health policy and practice and lead organizational change in the U.S. and worldwide.
This is a public health leadership training program that delivers practice-based curriculum to equip public health leaders with skills for the development, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs and (systems) policies.
The DrPH program training utilizes domestic and global health opportunities that build on our location in Washington, D.C. to prepare our students for senior-level public health leadership roles in the U.S. and globally. Focusing on leadership and practice, we provide an interdisciplinary approach to meet the diverse needs of our students through rigorous course work in global health; environmental & occupational health; health policy & management; social and behavioral science, prevention & community health; exercise & nutrition; biostatistics; and epidemiology.
The DrPH program is designed to promote the principles of academic public health practice:·
- Longstanding and recent challenges (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic, racism, violence and a less than adequate national public health infrastructure) illustrate the need for public health professionals who can provide the leadership to expand and strengthen the U.S. and global public health systems.
- To prepare professionals with the necessary skills to provide this leadership.
The DrPH program requires the completion of 48 credits. Coursework can generally be completed in 3 years as a full-time student, though we offer flexible pathways to degree completion.
The DrPH program offers both residential and online admissions. The program of study is identical, and the only variation is the program delivery. To apply for our residential DrPH program, please click this link. To apply to our online DrPH program, please fill out this short form:
DrPH Program Director: Eugene Migliaccio
DrPH Associate Program Director: Jennifer Skillicorn
GWSPH Doctoral programs admit students for the Fall term each academic year. Applications will be accepted beginning in August and are due no later than January 15th (extended) for the next matriculating cohort beginning in the following Fall term. Find GWSPH graduate admissions information here.
Applications will be reviewed following the January 15th (extended) deadline and those applicants selected for an interview can expect to be contacted by mid-February.
A Master's degree is required. Applicants who have completed an MPH degree from a Council of Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredited program are strongly preferred for admission to the DrPH Program. Applicants with a master’s degree in another field should explain their relevant training, research experience, work experience and educational background comparable to the MPH. DrPH applicants admitted without an MPH may be required to take additional coursework at the graduate level that does not apply toward the minimum 48 credits required for the DrPH program.
Admission to this program is highly selective, successful applicants have competitive academic credentials including a minimum 3.4 graduate GPA and four years or more of relevant health-related professional work experience post-graduate degree.
Submission of GRE scores is not required.
- DrPH Core Requirements
PUBH 6080 | Pathways to Public Health (0 credits)
PUBH 8706 | Leadership Principles and Practice I (3 credits)
PUBH 8710 | Public Health Project Management and Social Entrepreneurship (3 credits)
PUBH 8714 | Leadership Principles and Practice II (3 credits)
PUBH 8716 | Education and Workforce Development Approaches for Public Health Leaders (3 credits)
PUBH 8718 | Public Health Communications and Marketing (3 credits)
PUBH 8720 | Social Change and Collective Impact (3 credits)
PUBH 8722 | Public Health Policy Analysis (3 credits)
PUBH 8724 | Organizational Leadership and Change Management (3 credits)
PUBH 8730 | Doctor of Public Health Immersion (2 credits)
PUBH 8731 | Applied Public Health Methods I: Program Planning, Implementation and Evaluation (3 credits)
PUBH 8732 | Applied Public Health Methods II: Mixed Methods (3 credits)
PUBH 8733 | Applied Public Health Methods III: Evidence for Decision-Making (3 credits)CORE/FOUNDATIONAL TOTAL: 35 CREDITS
- Dissertation Portfolio Coursework
PUBH 8700 | DrPH Seminar and Introduction to DrPH Applied Practice Experience (DAPEx) (3 credits)
PUBH 8703 | Dissertation Portfolio: Independent Study I for DAPEx and Dissertation Proposal Development (1 credit)
PUBH 8705 | Dissertation Portfolio: Independent Study II for DAPEx and Dissertation Proposal Development (1 credit)
PUBH 8707 | Dissertation Portfolio: Dissertation Proposal Development (3 credits)
PUBH 8709 | Dissertation Portfolio: Dissertation Proposal Defense (3 credits)
PUBH 8711 | Dissertation Portfolio: DAPEx and Dissertation Implementation (1 credit)
PUBH 8713 | Dissertation Portfolio: Dissertation Development (1 credit)
PUBH 8715 | Dissertation Portfolio: Dissertation Defense (0 credits)DISSERTATION PORTFOLIO TOTAL: 13 CREDITS
- Comprehensive Exam
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION (no credits)
All DrPH students are required to pass a Comprehensive Examination, which typically occurs following the Spring semester of Year 2. Comprehensive exams must be successfully completed within three years of matriculation to the DrPH program.
- Non-Academic Requirements
Professional Enhancement
Students in the DrPH program must participate in eight hours of Professional Enhancement. These activities may be Public Health-related lectures, seminars, and symposia related to your field of study.
Professional Enhancement activities supplement the rigorous academic curriculum of the SPH degree programs and help prepare students to participate actively in the professional community. You can learn more about opportunities for Professional Enhancement via the Milken Institute School of Public Health Listserv, through departmental communications, or by speaking with your advisor.
Students submit a completed Professional Enhancement Form to the Office of Student Records which is required documentation to be cleared for graduation.
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Training
All students are required to complete the Basic CITI training module in Social and Behavioral Research. This online training module for Social and Behavioral Researchers will help new students demonstrate and maintain sufficient knowledge of the ethical principles and regulatory requirements for protecting human subjects - key for any public health research.
Academic Integrity Quiz
All Milken Institute School of Public Health students are required to review the University’s Code of Academic Integrity and complete the GW Academic Integrity Activity. This activity must be completed within 2 weeks of matriculation. Information on GWSPH Academic Integrity requirements can be found here.
Online Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
The Online Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health is an interdisciplinary leadership training program designed for experienced professionals. Offered in a 100% online format, this program prepares you to drive the global conversation and confront today's biggest public health challenges without pausing your career.
What is the online DrPH format and experience?
The online DrPH is delivered through a flexible blend of weekly live online classes and interactive, asynchronous coursework, complemented by real-world field experiences.
- Live Online Classes: Engage directly with GWU’s expert faculty and a close-knit cohort of public health peers.
- Asynchronous Modules: Complete rigorous, evidence-based coursework on a schedule that accommodates your full-time professional commitments.
- Applied Practice Experience (DAPEx): Apply your leadership training by addressing complex, real-world organizational challenges within your own community or workplace.
What are the admission requirements for the online DrPH?
Admission to the GW DrPH program is highly selective. Successful applicants have competitive academic credentials, including a minimum 3.4 graduate GPA and four years or more of relevant health-related professional work experience following a post-graduate degree.
Standardized test scores, such as the GRE, are not required. A complete application includes:
- Current Resume or CV: Highlighting your progressive leadership responsibilities and public health impact.
- Statement of Purpose: Detailing your executive career goals and alignment with the program.
- Letters of Recommendation: Providing professional insight from supervisors or academic mentors.
- Official Transcripts: From all previously attended higher education institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Online Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
How long does it take to complete the online DrPH program?
The program requires the completion of 48 credits. While flexible pacing options are available to accommodate your professional schedule, most students complete the online DrPH degree in 36 months (3 years) of study.
Are GRE scores required for admission?
No, standardized test scores such as the GRE are not required to apply to the online DrPH program. Admissions decisions are based on a holistic review of your academic credentials, professional public health experience, and leadership potential.
Does the online program require a practicum or dissertation?
Yes. To ensure practical application of your leadership skills, all students must complete the DrPH Applied Practice Experience (DAPEx) in a real-world setting. Additionally, you will complete a Comprehensive Examination and a practice-based dissertation portfolio prior to graduation.
What career paths are available to online DrPH graduates?
Graduates are prepared for C-suite and executive leadership roles across healthcare systems, government agencies, and NGOs. Common career paths include Health Department Director, Chief Population Health Officer, and Executive Policy Advisor.
The DrPH Applied Practice Experience (DAPEx) benefits students by providing an opportunity for each student to apply their public health leadership and management skills in real-life settings. The DAPEx is a requirement component of the Doctor of Public Health Program
- The DAPEx is structured as a three-way partnership between the student, GWSPH, and a sponsoring agency/organization.
- Practice experiences are pre-approved, planned, supervised, and evaluated.
- Students are directly exposed to leadership experiences in a public health practice setting.
- GWSPH’s location in the nation’s capital offers robust opportunities affording students access to a multitude of DAPEx sites.
More information will be available in the Fall term.
Program Guides by Department
Students should always refer to the guide from the year in which they matriculated into the program. For the current, school-wide DrPH program guide, click the "PROGRAM GUIDE" button.
- School-wide DrPH
Past Program Guides
- Environmental & Occupational Health Department
- Program Guide 2020- Environmental & Occupational Health DrPH
- Program Guide 2018- Environmental & Occupational Health DrPH
- Program Guide, 2016- Environmental & Occupational Health DrPH
- Global Health Department
- Program Guide 2020- Global Health DrPH
- Program Guide 2018- Global Health DrPH
- Program Guide 2016- Global Health DrPH
- Health Policy Department
- Program Guide, 2020- Health Policy DrPH
- Program Guide 2018- Health Policy DrPH
- Program Guide 2016- Health Policy DrPH
- Prevention & Community Health Department
- Program Guide 2020- Health Behavior DrPH
- Program Guide 2018- Health Behavior DrPH
- Program Guide 2016- Health Behavior DrPH
TAs a School-wide program, the DrPH students will have access to faculty throughout all of the Milken Institute School of Public Health who will be involved in varying capacities such as mentoring, coaching, advising, teaching and applied dissertation support. Examples of faculty involved in the DrPH program follow.
- Governance Committee
- Teaching Faculty