A diverse array of research at the frontier of scientific inquiry and discovery about interactions between environmental factors and human health is conducted in the Environmental Health Science Department. The research generates information critical for analysis of health risks posed by the mixture of chemical and microbiological agents present in community and occupational settings.

Academic Programs

Doctor of Public Health: Degree Requirements

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The minimum number of required hours for the DrPH will be 57 hours.

Prerequisite Curriculum (15 credit hours)
All students are required to have completed five public health core classes at the master’s level (MPH core) before taking the advanced DrPH core series. Hours earned for prerequisite coursework will not be applied to the DrPH degree requirements.

DrPH Core Curriculum – Part A (15 credit hours)

Advanced Public Health Core
Depending on the background of the student, four out of the following five core courses at the doctoral level will be required for the DrPH program.

Human Ecology of Health and Illness
Intro to Epidemiology II
Introduction to Biostatistics II
Fundamentals of Risk Assessment
Advanced Topics in Health Policy

DrPH Core Curriculum – Part B (9 credit hours)

Public health methodology courses with an emphasis on program evaluation (6 hrs)
Current Topics in Public Health PBHL 8100 (3 hrs)

Advanced Courses in Area of Major & Electives (18 credit hours)

Four advanced areas of specialization will be provided within the DrPH program:

environmental health
gerontology
- Students who wish to specialize in Gerontology are expected to have already completed a graduate level Certificate of Gerontology or graduate level gerontology degree. The certificate can be obtained in association with the M.P.H. program, or as a stand-alone graduate certificate.
health policy
health promotion

Biostatistics and Epidemiology may be added as major areas of specialization in the future. Students will be required to complete nine semester credit hours in their chosen specialization areas, and nine semester credit hours in minor or elective courses. A maximum of six hours can be independent research hours.

College Seminar (2 hrs)

Teaching Competence, Qualifying Exam, and Dissertation (13 credit hours)

According to the DrPH Core Competencies, all students in the doctor of public health program need to demonstrate satisfactory teaching competency. The purpose of the teaching competency is to provide continued education and in-house training. Students who do not have college-level teaching experience will be expected to teach (or co-teach) a public health related course or organize and teach a workshop on a public health related topic. Students will demonstrate competencies in all aspects of preparing the course (or workshop), including developing a syllabus (or organizing a workshop), preparing and teaching lectures/ class activities, and grading students’ work (or evaluating learning outcomes at the workshop). Students can earn up to three credit hours for their teaching experience, but these credits do not replace degree requirement.

All DrPH students will be required to pass a qualifying exam and complete at least nine semester credit hours of doctoral dissertation. After passing the qualifying exam, students will be admitted to candidacy. After being admitted to candidacy, students must take at lease 10 credit hours of dissertation writing.

The total minimum required hours for the Dr.P.H. program will be 57 credit hours beyond the M.P.H. degree. Six of the 57 hours can be independent research hours.

More Information

Degree Requirements Core DrPH Competencies Frequently Asked Questions Apply Now

Contact Information

Ashley Wells DrPH Coordinator N123 Paul D. Coverdell Center Athens, GA 30602 706.583.0059 drph@uga.edu Dr. Su-I Hou DrPH Graduate Coordinator 309 Ramsey Student Center 300 River Road Athens, GA 30602-6522