Online Doctor of Public Health in Leadership in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Foundational Course Requirements:

• Professional Skills for Public Health Leaders
• DrPH Advanced Writing Seminar
• Theory to Practice: Social and Behavioral Approaches in Public Health
• Health Equity Frameworks and Theories
• Public Health Leadership
• Strategic Leadership in Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Financial Management for Public Health Leaders
• Strategic Communication in Public Health Leadership
• Evidence-Based Program Planning for Health Equity

Advanced Course Requirements:

• Advanced Public Health Evaluation Methods 
• Grant Writing for Public Health Practice
• Systems Collaboration and Partnerships in Practice
• Implementation Science: Applications in Practice
• Advocacy in Action: Policy Strategies for Public Health Leaders
• Social Determinants of Health I: Theory
• Practice Based Portfolio: Experiential Learning
• Practice Based Portfolio: Culminating Experience

Students without a CEPH-accredited MPH degree will also be required to take 15 semester hours of foundational courses:

• Foundations in Public Health*
• Biostatistics for Public Health (or equivalent)**
• Epidemiology for Public Health (or equivalent)**
• Health Systems Policy and Management (or equivalent)**
• Design Strategies in Public Health Programs (or equivalent)**

*Students without a CEPH-accredited bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree must pass a Challenge Exam or take SPHL 6020 Foundations in Public Health. 

**Some prerequisite coursework may be waived with an earned MPH or equivalent coursework with a B or higher on the transcript.

DrPH students complete two practice-based portfolios: experiential learning and a culminating experience.

• A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
• A Master of Public Health degree (MPH) from a CEPH-accredited institution of higher learning.
  • Applicants with an MPH degree that is not from a CEPH-accredited school or program will be considered but may be required to complete some or all of the prerequisite coursework and will be required to pass a challenge exam for SPHL 6020 - Foundations in Public Health.
  • A few outstanding applicants without an MPH degree will be considered but will need to successfully complete the Public Health Certificate. The Public Health Certificate is the 5 courses that would be considered your Prerequisite Coursework. Applicants admitted through this pathway will automatically matriculate into the DrPH program if they successfully complete the Public Health Certificate with a grade of B or better in all 5 prerequisite courses.
• Academic achievement - typically a GPA above 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• At least 3 years of work experience 

You'll need to create an account on SOPHAS to apply.

SOPHAS fees are $150 for the first program and $60 for each additional program.

Materials required in SOPHAS:

• Official transcripts sent directly to SOPHAS from all attended institutions (degrees earned abroad require a WES, ECE, or TEC (formerly known as SpanTran) evaluation) 
  • In your application, enter your courses and grades. Once SOPHAS receives your official transcripts, a representative will confirm that all academic information is correct and mark your application as “Verified.” This step is necessary for your application to be considered complete.
• CV 
  • We ask that you submit a curriculum vitae (CV) or a resume. A resume is a one-page summary of your work experience and background. On a CV, you may include certifications, publications, civic work, volunteerism, professional presentations, and training. Additionally, please ensure your CV highlights at least three years of relevant work experience, whether paid or unpaid. If you do not have a CV, your enrollment advisor can provide you with a template.
• 3 letters of recommendation 
  • The letters of recommendation should illustrate your characteristics for success in graduate study. The letters should be from professional associates — such as former employers, mentors, faculty, and advisors — not from family or friends. The letters of recommendation demonstrate to the admissions committee that the writer believes you're a qualified candidate for doctoral studies.
• Personal Statement that clearly and directly addresses the following:
  • Describe your professional experience that has demonstrated leadership in advocacy and equity.
  • Discuss your future goals in the field of public health and how a DrPH from The Celia Scott Weatherhead School will help you achieve those goals.
• All application materials must be received in SOPHAS in order for your application to be reviewed. 

All application materials must be received in SOPHAS for your application to be reviewed. We're only able to accept bachelor’s degrees from regionally accredited universities and colleges.

Earned your degree abroad?

International students (or students who have earned their degree outside the US or Canada) must submit a course-by-course evaluation of international coursework. Evaluations can take a month to complete from the time the agency receives your international transcript(s), so we recommend getting an early start on this process in order to ensure the evaluation is received by the deadline for which you are applying. We can accept WES, ECE, and TEC (formerly known as SpanTran) evaluations. Please have this evaluation sent directly to sphtmadmissions@tulane.edu. If you use TEC (formerly known as SpanTran), please be sure to use the custom application they've created, which you can access by clicking here. 

Non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores (min 89 TOEFL/min 6.5 IELTS/min 120 Duolingo) unless eligible for a waiver. Please refer to the international student section in the FAQ to determine whether you are required to submit scores