Public Health (DPH)

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Program Description

The DPH is the highest professional degree in public health. The goal of our DPH program is to develop transformative leaders in public health practice who can collaborate with diverse partners across settings and sectors, synthesize knowledge, and generate practice-based evidence. Our program focuses on training innovative leaders who will develop, implement, and disseminate evidence-based programs and policies to address global public health issues, framed by a health equity lens. Students are trained by an interdisciplinary faculty with expertise in research and practice, and they benefit from NYU’s location in New York City and an expansive global network.

GPH uses an interdisciplinary approach in its DPH curriculum, with training in the areas of data and analysis; leadership, management, and governance; policy and programs; and education and workforce development. The GPH program has a specialized focus on communication, collaboration, leadership, implementation science, and ethics.

A total of 42 credit hours is required for the DPH, including 15 credits of electives. Students are expected to complete the degree within five to seven years, depending on previous academic coursework in public health, and whether the student is registered on a full-time or part-time basis.

GPH strongly believes in the importance of faculty mentoring. Early in the first semester, each DPH student will be assigned a faculty mentor, based on areas of common interest. The faculty mentor will help the student with selecting relevant electives and developing a plan with recommendations regarding an applied practice experience, qualifying exam preparation, dissertation focus, and other academic issues. Faculty mentors will also help students network with other NYU faculty and with health professionals working in the field.

In addition to faculty mentors, the program will provide coaching to every candidate, helping students develop hands-on leadership and professional skills under the guidance of experienced public health professionals.

Admissions

Applicants to the DPH program are expected to have earned an MPH or another relevant graduate degree (e.g., in epidemiology, medicine, nursing, social work, or public administration). Additionally, applicants must have at least 3 years of full-time public health or other relevant work experience after earning their graduate degree.
Students entering the program with a graduate degree but without an MPH are required to complete the five pre-requisite courses in epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy and management, environmental health, and social and behavioral science, before matriculating into the program. Successful applicants will have relevant public health work experience, a demonstrable potential for leadership in public health, and a clear sense of why they wish to pursue a DPH.

All applications to the DPH program at NYU GPH must be submitted through SOPHAS, the common application for schools and programs of public health.  A complete application includes the following required materials:

  1. A complete and submitted SOPHAS application;
  2. A curriculum vitae;
  3. Three letters of recommendation;
  4. A personal statement explaining why you’re interested in the program and career goals;
  5. A writing sample (e.g., report, published paper, manuscript, etc.) that demonstrates the applicant's critical and analytical skills and facility in writing. The applicant should be the primary author of the writing sample, or the primary author of important sections of the document.  
  6. An official copy of transcripts from all institutions attended or attending.