Health Policy

The doctor of public health (DrPH) health policy specialty field degree program focuses on understanding and learning to apply to complex and real world problems the policy framework of public health and health care. Particular emphasis is placed on areas affecting medically underserved and vulnerable populations. The specialty field allows candidates to work at the nexus of health policy, public health practice, and health services research.

Goals

The goal of the health policy specialty field is to create doctoral-level public health professionals who are uniquely equipped to provide real-world leadership at the national and state levels in all phases of public health, health care, and health policy development and implementation. The objectives of this specialty field are to:

• Provide advanced training on cutting edge issues in health policy;
• Equip candidates with the research and analytic methods to conduct the types of advanced analyses that can make a real difference in health care and public health.

Graduation Requirements

1. Graduate credit requirement: 48 graduate credits are required.
2. Course requirements: successful completion of the foundational and research methods courses. The program-specific specialty field courses and the professional leadership credits are required.
3. Comprehensive exam: Once the course of study is completed, students are required to pass the comprehensive exam to be officially admitted to the candidacy phase.
4. Dissertation: PUBH 8422 Advanced Health Care and Public Health Research Design plus 6-9 dissertation research credits are required. Once the proposal has been successfully defended and dissertation research credits have been met, the oral defense may be scheduled.
5. Grade point requirement: A 3.0 (B average) overall grade-point average is required.
6. Time limit requirement: The degree must be completed within seven (7) years.
7. No transfer credits are accepted.

• The SOPHAS online application form
• Official transcripts from all academic institutions from which you earned credit
• Official and current GRE test scores (GW Institution Code: 5268)
• Two letters of recommendation (Note: A third letter is required of doctoral applicants)
• Applicants who hold a master’s degree are exempt from the GRE requirement (faculty have the option of requesting a GRE). However, international applicants are not eligible for this waiver. International applicants should review the Milken Institute School of Public Health Language Proficiency and International Testing Requirement.
• Applicants to graduate certificate programs with at least four years of relevant work experience may be eligible for a waiver of the standardized exam requirement.
• Statement of purpose
• Official TOEFL or IELTS score

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

• Assistantships
• Merit scholarships