Public Health, DrPH

Program Directors by Concentration Area:

• Environmental and Occupational Health: Greg Kearney (2227, East Carolina Heart Institute; 252-744-4039; kearneyg@ecu.edu)
• Health Policy, Administration, and Leadership: Ruth Little (2221, East Carolina Heart Institute; 252-744-3123; littlena@ecu.edu)

The goal of the Public Health, DrPH program is to educate leaders who can transform the health system into one that provides high quality care; reduces per capita costs of health care; improves population health; and addresses health needs of the rural, poor, underserved multicultural populations to reduce health disparities. The DrPH is a terminal degree for individuals who intend to pursue leadership careers in applied, practice-based, public health research and leadership.

The DrPH program offers two concentrations: (1) environmental and occupational health, and, (2) health policy, administration, and leadership. Both concentrations have specific course content that embeds rural health throughout the plan of study. Graduates of this program will be prepared for leadership positions in government (local, state, or federal public health institutions), non-profit institutions (health advocacy or community service), or for-profit institutions (health care organizations, health research organizations, health insurance, pharmaceutical industry and health-related industries) with preparation for research and teaching in higher education.

The DrPH is a 50 s.h. to 74 s.h. program. The minimum degree requirement depends on the student’s academic background. Students with an MPH from an accredited program will have taken the 24 hours of foundational courses and will have met that requirement. Those without an MPH degree or equivalent will be required to take the foundational courses before taking the doctoral level courses. Experience in health practice is highly desired.

Consistent with a practice-focused degree and with public health discipline expectations, the degree will require both a practicum/field placement and a dissertation. Special consideration may be provided at the discretion of the program directors to those with exceptional backgrounds or uniques skill sets. The program offers flexibility for today’s working professional seeking an advanced degree while at the same time, ensuring that graduates of the program demonstrate the skills needed to be transformational leaders in public health.

The basic curriculum plans for each level of experience and each concentration are as follows: