Explore Doctorate Degree Programs in Public Health

Pursuing higher positions in public health can be beneficial for individuals with leadership qualities. Those in public health who seek the most from their degree should consider enrolling in public health doctoral programs across the country.

As one would expect, the doctoral level of public health typically has a multitude of specializations at each university, including Biostatistics, Leadership, Environmental Health, and Health Promotion/Disease Prevention. Additionally, entry requirements vary by university and program, with a focus on years of professional experience.

The 2009 ASPH Doctor of Public Health Core Competency Model remains useful historical context for understanding how DrPH programs evolved, especially around leadership, communication, management, applied research, and public health practice. However, students comparing programs in 2026 should focus on whether a DrPH program is CEPH-accredited and how it addresses current CEPH DrPH foundational and concentration-specific competencies.

Nearly every doctoral program requires a dissertation to demonstrate students’ knowledge and understanding of how to solve complex yet practical issues in public health. Most DPH students select their dissertation topic based on their specialty, but common dissertation topics include public health program design and implementation strategies, historical policy analysis and program improvement, legislative analysis and research, and new practice strategies based on innovative techniques and statistical data analysis.

George Washington University

School of Public Health

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Doctor of Public Health

Designed for experienced public health professionals, the George Washington University’s online DrPH program will prepare you to shape public health policy and programs in the U.S., and worldwide. No GRE required.

• Complete the online DrPH program in as few as 36 months. 
• The online DrPH program is CEPH accredited. 
• No GRE required.

Request more info from GWU

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When considering a terminal degree in public health, individuals have the option of receiving a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Health, or a Doctorate of Science (ScD) in Public Health. 

A DrPH is an advanced graduate-level degree that focuses on the professional and practical elements of the field, rather than the academic. It is designed for public health practitioners and is geared towards practice and fieldwork. It is multidisciplinary and will cover everything from communications and marketing to advocacy and economics. It was developed to train students and practitioners for careers in public health leadership. Career options for those with a DrPH include:

The PhD in Public Health is designed to prepare students for professions in academics and research. Understanding research theories and methodologies is an important part of this degree. The PhD is more narrowly focused and lends itself to careers in (but not limited to):

Similar to the PhD, the ScD in public health is designed for individuals seeking to develop the methods and skills needed for a research career. Even though ScD programs are rarer than PhD programs and more scientifically focused, students with this degree will still have plenty of career opportunities. These programs will prepare students for careers teaching at a university, conducting research in a national laboratory, or doing field work with populations across the globe. Career options for those with a ScD include:

Individuals choose to work in Public Health for a variety of reasons. Some Doctors choose to earn a degree in public health to help larger populations and to understand health and medicine from a different perspective. A career in public health can be extremely rewarding, but it is also hard work. It requires patience and the ability to remain steadfast, whether the task is education over a long period of time or conducting research. The right individual will have the right balance of patience and persistence. A desire to educate and help on a large scale, combined with the ability to motivate others, makes for an ideal candidate.

The career options for an individual with a terminal degree in public health include education, policy development & analysis, health care administration, epidemiology, and research, to name a few. Corporate Medical Directors, Bio-terrorism Researchers, and Tropical Disease Specialists are among the most specialized and rare occupations for an individual with a Doctorate in Public Health. Careers in government, academia, and international health organizations are among the more common paths for an individual with a degree in public health.

Information Last Updated: May 2026