Learn from Practice & Experience

The DrPH degree programs offers training for careers in which advanced expertise in program planning, implementation, evaluation and policy analysis are required. Students’ doctoral project (Integrated learning experience) and applied practice experience are key components in the development of critical thinking and leadership skills.

A minimum of two years is generally required to complete course work, if full time. Program plans are described under individual majors. The number of units of course work required to complete the program may be reduced accordingly but is not to be fewer than 54 units plus applied practice experience and integrated learning experience units at Loma Linda University.

The overall DrPH curriculum is designed using a faith-based lens to accurately reflect the mission and vision of Loma Linda University and the School of Public Health.  Additionally, nine units of courses offered by the LLU School of Religion are included in the curriculum to allow the students to enhance personal spiritual development as well as application of faith-based values to professional practice.

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DRPH DEGREES OFFERED

Health Education

Health Education

The Doctor of Public Health in Health Education is designed for individuals who desire to add depth to their health education specialization and develop research, writing, professionalism, management, and leadership capabilities. The emphasis in health education offers advanced knowledge and competencies in the health education process and includes planning and evaluation of health behavior change, advocacy and communication, and critical analysis.
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Health Policy and Leadership

Health Policy and Leadership

The primary focus of this program is to enhance the skills and abilities of those in positions of leadership; to develop competencies in policy development, analysis, and implementation; applied to health care and social determinants of health—to add to the body of knowledge about leadership through observation, reflection, and research; and to bring together leaders who desire to learn, mentor, and model exemplary leadership.
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Preventive Care

Preventive Care

The Preventive Care Program is designed to prepare high level specialists in wellness and lifestyle management intervention. Emphasis is on academic preparation, practical skills, and administrative abilities in developing, implementing, and evaluating programs and protocols designed to address a wide spectrum of health issues—particularly those dealing with chronic disease. These programs and protocols include health risk appraisal, nutritional assessment and recommendations, exercise testing and prescription, and smoking cessation counseling.
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Epidemiology

Epidemiology

This program will prepare Doctor of Public Health graduates for career options, including public health practice, teaching, and epidemiological research. The program is 62 units and the average time frame is 3-5 years. Students are responsible for gaining the commitment of an appropriate faculty member to serve as their research mentor.
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Degree Requirements

Admissions Requirements

The admissions requirements for the doctoral degree programs described below are in addition to the University admissions requirements. The minimum eligibility requirements for admission to a doctoral degree program include the following:

  • An M.P.H. degree or master’s degree in a related field from a regionally accredited institution, with a G.P.A. of 3.5 or above. Applicants with a master’s degree in another field may indicate their relevant training, research and/or practice experience, or educational background comparable to the M.P.H. or the M.S. degrees. Dr.P.H. and Ph.D. degree applicants who are admitted without a CEPH accredited M.P.H. degree will be required to take PHCJ 606 Public Health Fundamentals, EPDM 509 Principles of Epidemiology, STAT 521 Biostatistics I or AHRM 514 Biostatistics  (that covers SPSS and R, SAS), or equivalent courses to fulfill the public health fundamental learning outcomes described in section D.1 of the 2016 CEPH criteria. 
  • Religious affiliation is not a requirement, but students are expected to adhere to on-campus requirements of modest dress, abstinence from alcohol and smoking, and attendance at weekly chapel, as applicable.
  • The GRE is not required for applicants who meet the admissions criteria. If an applicant does not meet the minimum GPA requirements, the GRE is required in order for the application to be considered. For prospective students who wish to strengthen their application, GRE scores can be submitted as an option, but it is not required. GRE scores must have been attained within the last five years.

Applied Practice Experience and Integrated Learning Experience

All DrPH students will engage in an applied practice experience that results in a product that is relevant to public health organizations. The culminating activity is an integrated learning experience that includes a field-based project emphasizing advanced practice and demonstrates integration of foundational and concentration specific competencies.

Corequisites

Students must have an MPH from an accredited institution or complete 15 units from the public health core (PCOR) prior to taking doctoral level public health core courses.​

Advancement to candidacy

Advancement to candidacy is granted by the Academic Dean. When the doctoral foundational course work is completed, the student must successfully pass a written comprehensive examination. In addition, comprehensive examination on concentration specific courses may occur at the program level. The next step is the qualifying examination. The student is required to submit a concept paper describing the proposed Doctoral Project, and proposed Doctoral Project Guidance Committee. Student is advanced to candidacy when they successfully defend (oral examination) their Doctoral Project Proposal that includes the rationale and significance of the proposed project to the field, approach and tools, and the outcomes (deliverables).​

Teaching Experience

All doctoral students are required to serve as a teaching assistant for a minimum of one quarter. Additional information is detailed in the school's Doctoral Handbook.​​

Professional Development

All doctoral students are required to present their work (applied practice experience or integrated learning experience) at a scientific or professional conference either as a poster or as short oral presentation.​

DrPH Foundational Competencies

Critical Analysis

The common core curriculum is based on the doctoral foundational competencies from 2016 CEPH criteria. These include:

Critical Analyses: Able to synthesize and apply evidence based research and theory from a broad range of public health disciplines and health related data sources to advance programs, policies, and systems promoting population health.

Competencies:

  1. Analyze quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods and policy analysis research and evaluation methods to address health issues at multiple levels (individual, group, organization, community and population).
  2. Design a quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, policy analysis or evaluation project to address a public health issue.
  3. Explain the use and limitations of surveillance systems and national surveys in assessing, monitoring and evaluating policies and programs and to address a population’s health.

Leadership, Management and Governance

Leadership, Management and Governance:  Ability to create, communicate and apply shared vision, inspire trust and motivate others, build capacity and strategies, and identify and analyze ethical issues in addressing public health problems.   

Competencies:

  1. Propose strategies for health improvement and elimination of health inequities by organizing stakeholders, including researchers, practitioners, community leaders and other partners.
  2. Propose strategies to promote inclusion and equity within public health programs, policies and systems.
  3. Create a strategic plan
  4. Create organizational change strategies
  5. Propose human, fiscal and other resources to achieve a strategic goal.
  6. Cultivate new resources and revenue streams to achieve a strategic goal.
  7. Assess one’s own strengths and weaknesses in leadership capacities including cultural proficiency.   
  8. Facilitate shared decision making through negotiation and consensus building methods.
  9. Integrate knowledge, approaches, methods, values and potential contributions from multiple professions and systems in addressing public health problems.
  10. Communicate public health science recognizing different communication styles and tools to diverse stakeholders including individuals at all levels of health literacy, for purposes of influencing behavior and policies.

Policy, Advocacy and Programs

Policy, Advocacy and Programs: Ability to design system-level interventions that influences population health outcomes in transdisciplinary team approaches that promote health equity and disease prevention across diverse communities and cultures.

Competencies:

  1. Design a system-level intervention to address a public health issue.
  2. Integrate knowledge of cultural values and practices in the design of public health policies and programs.
  3. Integrate scientific information, legal and regulatory approaches, ethical frameworks and varied stakeholder interests in policy development and analysis.
  4. Propose inter professional team approaches to improving public health.

Education and Workforce development

Education and Workforce development: Ability to develop and apply pedagogical principles and skills to identify learning needs of a population and promote learning in academia, organizational and community settings.

Competencies:

  1. Assess a population’s knowledge and learning needs.
  2. Use best practice modalities in pedagogical practices.
  3. Deliver training or educational experiences that promote learning in academic, organizational or community settings.